FitSugar

Home Remedies: Sleep Issues

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:00:00 -0800

Lack of sleep can cause so many problems from puffy eyes, to headaches, from heart disease, to weight gain, not to mention plain old crankiness. Sometimes you can't help it if your cat was attacking your feet all night, but Prevention has come up with some home remedies for some common sleep issues. Here are its tips.

Revive tired, puffy eyes: Even if you were up all night no one will know. Since black tea contains tannins - astringents that help tighten undereye puffiness - Prevention recommends: "activate the tannins in a tea bag by dipping in a cup of hot water for several minutes. Cool in the fridge, then apply the damp bag as a compress to the closed eye for 10 minutes."
Stop snoring: All you back sleepers who snore, "put a tennis ball in a shirt pocket cut from an old t-shirt and sew it to the midback of your tight pajama top. The discomfort forces you to roll over and sleep on your side - without waking you up." Sounds medieval but it works.
Conquer insomnia: "Before bedtime, eat a handful of cherries, which scientists discovered are jam-packed with melatonin, the same hormone created by your body to regulate sleep patterns." To add to the tranquility, "steep yourself in a hot bath to relax your muscles and your mind." Then when you slide into bed, "rest your head on a lavender-filled pillow - the fragrance induces sleepiness."

Source

Home Remedies: Digestive Issues

FitSugar — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0800

If the four days of feasting over Thanksgiving weekend have taken a toll on your tummy, you might be interested in trying some home remedies. Prevention has created a list of tummy tamers and here are the highlights.

Ease nausea: Give frozen ginger chips a try. Make your own by infusing slices of fresh ginger in hot water. Strain the ginger and place them in an ice cube tray. When you're feeling queasy, crush the cubes and suck on the frozen pieces.

Curb flatulence: Three times a day, take two enteric-coated peppermint capsules (500 mg each). They must be coated so the peppermint can make it to your intestines. This herb will kill the bacteria in your digestive system that's causing your bloated feeling. It also has relaxing effects on your gastrointestinal muscles.

Constipation: Boil 10 grapes in six ounces of milk. Before bed, drink the milk separately and then eat the grapes.

Diarrhea: Mash bananas in white rice and eat in small amounts. The two have binding effects.

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Home Remedies: Cold and Flu

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0800

The colors of Autumn might be lovely, but a few things about the season actually bring me down. I am talking about cold and flu season. If you're unlucky enough to have come down with some bug, you might be able to soothe some of your ailments with ingredients you have in your pantry. Prevention has listed some home remedies for common cold symptoms, and here are the highlights.

Soothe that sore throat: Mix six pressed garlic cloves with hot water, and gargle with this garlic tea twice a day, for three days. The warm liquid soothes inflamed tissues, while the garlic has antimicrobial properties that fight pain-causing bacteria.

Bring down a fever: Try drinking linden flower tea. It controls your body temperature by stimulating the hypothalamus, and also dilates your blood vessels and induces sweating. Pick up the dried herb at a health food store or herb shop. Steep one tablespoon of dried linden flower in a cup of hot water for 15 minutes. Stash makes a linden flower tea, too. Drink this tea three to four times a day. If your fever is over 102° F, take a tepid bath to cool off the body.

To see how you can dull your hacking cough with a few sweet things, just read more.

Suppress a cough: Eating a bit of dark chocolate can help your cough. Theobromine, a compound found in chocolate, has been found to be even more effective than codeine for suppressing coughs, and it won't make you drowsy or constipated. You can also tame your cough with honey. Before bed take two teaspoons of honey and take 500 mg of Ester C 30 minutes prior to lying down to quiet your cough and give your immune system a little lift.

If you have any home remedies for cold symptoms, please share them in the comment section below.

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Home Remedies: Fact or Fiction

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:00:00 -0700

In a perfect world, we could heal all our wounds with ingredients found in our kitchen cabinets. In reality, there are some foods that help the healing process, and some that hinder it. Do you know which is which? Take this quiz and see.

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Take the quiz

Cure It at Home: Poison Ivy

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

So you went hiking last weekend and you accidentally tromped through a patch of poison ivy. You've got a nasty, blistery rash all over your feet and you want it to go away pronto. I've only tried a few of these home remedies, so I can't vouch for all of them, but anything's worth one try when you're itching like crazy.

Jewelweed, a common weed found in damp areas, is often used to help treat the rash. Mash the weed and apply to your itchy skin.
For 20 minutes, take a bath in salt water, or swim in a chlorinated pool to dry out the rash.
Bathe in tomato juice.
To relieve the itch, cut a mango in half and smear the juice over the rashy area for 10 minutes.
Spray the rash with a deodorant containing aluminum.
Apply tea tree oil to the affected area to help dry it out and clear up the rash faster.

Fit's Tip: Of course, if you have a really aggressive case, I'd talk to your doctor about what over-the-counter or prescription meds he would recommend.

If you have any other home remedies for poison ivy, please share them in the comment section below.

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Home Remedy: Soothe Sore Throats

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:15:00 -0800

Sore throats are a common side effect of colds and flu, but also of dry, over-heated homes. Postnasal drip from colds and open-mouth breathing due to nasal congestion can both create sore throats. Although sore throats like these are generally worse in the morning and calm down as the day progresses, it is still nice to soothe the pain. At least you can swallow without pain and eat. Here are some home remedies for soothing a sore throat:

Gargle several times a day with warm salt water using 1/2 tsp. of salt in 1 cup warm water.
Some people find relief by gargling warm water mixed with cayenne, but do not exceed 1/8 tsp. of the hot stuff. The pepper acts like an anesthetic and numbs the pain.
Tea or simply warm water sweetened with honey, which can help relieve coughing, too.
Combine many of the above treatments together and add some vinegar! This spicy, old home remedy is made by adding one tsp. of apple-cider vinegar, a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper, juice from 1/4 lemon, and one tsp. honey to a cup of hot water. Drink four cups per day.

To see a few more soothing techniques, just read more

Cold liquids or popsicles help some sore throats and this is a winning technique with children, young and old.
Sucking on hard candies or throat lozenges (I like Ricola cough drops) can be very soothing, because it increases saliva production and helps keep the throat moist.
Use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier to moisten and sooth a dry and painful throat.
You can always try over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen to help dull the pain.

Not all sore throats can be treated or cured with home remedies. Please review this post When a Sore Throat Needs Medical Attention for symptoms that should send you to a doctor.

Do you have a home remedy for sore throats. Tell me about it in the comments section below.

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Home Remedy: Sore Muscles

FitSugar — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 04:00:00 -0800

I had a rather strenuous week at the gym and now my arm muscles are so sore, I can hardly type.

I've scoured the web for a natural remedy (there's only so much Advil a girl can take) and I've come across something from health.com that looks doable so I'm actually going to try it tonight (full disclosure later).

The remedy: Saturate a cloth with apple cider vinegar and wrap it around the muscle for 20 minutes; the pain should disappear within a few hours. Reapply every three to four hours for continued relief until the pain is gone for good.
Why it works: Apple cider vinegar is a muscle reliever; it helps to draw lactic acid (the stuff that causes soreness) out of your muscles after exercise.

My only issue is the smell. Apple cider vinegar sure is potent stuff, so my soaking will happen in the shower. I'm curious if any of you guys have tried something like this? If so, share it below.

Source

Spring and Bee Stings

FitSugar — Wed, 02 May 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Spring is the season of the birds and the bees, and unfortunately bee stings are a part of the season. According to the Mayo Clinic the range of reactions to the venom of a sting is variable depending on how sensitive you are, but that only a small percentage of folks experience severe (read: anaphylaxis) response to stings and bug bites in general. Most of us experience itching, a stinging sensation and mild swelling that disappears after a day or two. Occasionally, there is a delayed response to a sting or bite that includes: fever, hives, painful joints and swollen glands.

First thing you want to do if you are stung is scrape off the stinger with the flat edge of a credit card or the back of a knife. If you pull the stinger you risk the chance of releasing more of the icky venom, and you don't want to do that.

Next, you want to calm the swelling with ice, this will help with the pain too. Applying 1% hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion will help the symptoms subside. The home remedy of baking soda paste has always worked for me. Mix 3 teaspoons of baking soda with 1 teaspoon water and apply directly to the sting multiple times a day until the symptoms subside.

If you experience a severe reaction including facial swelling, difficulty breathing and shock call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Don't forget to stop and smell the roses this spring, but check for bees first.

Home Spa Treatment: Heal Dry Hands With Heated Socks

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:16 -0800

Colder weather means dry skin, and for me, my hands and cuticles are the worst since I'm constantly washing my hands. Here's a soothing and inexpensive remedy you can treat yourself to at home. If you suffer from dry skin on your feet, you can use this treatment on your tootsies too.

To learn how to heal your dry skin keep reading

Smarter Eats: Use Smaller Plates and Grab It to Go

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:30:34 -0700

I grew up in a house where I was told to clean my plate. Not always a bad thing but it stuck with me for many years, even after serving sizes kept growing. I'm also a fast eater, something I've been working on, but I sometimes overeat before realizing I am full. A few things I've done to help kick my habits are using smaller plates and always taking food to go.

After inheriting some dishware from my grandmother I noticed that the dinner plates used during her era are much smaller than the ones we use today. I now use these dishes at home, which has reduced my portion size - yet I'm just as satisfied after every meal. Scientists confirmed that the brain takes visual cues when it comes to eating. If we see it, we somehow believe that we have to eat it and will end up feeling unsatiated even if we're physically full.

Portion sizes are out of control in restaurants. To remedy this I usually have half of my meal packed up to enjoy as lunch the next day. I don't go out of my way to starve myself, but it's always pretty obvious when you're given too much food at one sitting. If it's a restaurant I frequent a lot and know that the portion is going to be big, I ask my server ahead of time to make me a doggie bag before the plate even gets to my table.