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Life is so ironic, it takes sadness to know happiness, noise to appreciate silence and absence to value presence. Everything has a lesson for us to learn. So stay open and say #yes to it all and then let go!
-Make your mark
I was thinking the other day if there were any supplements worth looking at and trying out during this winter season. The following excerpt was taken from Kamal over at http://www.examine.com which I thought was an interesting read and worth sharing, let me know if you have tried any of these.
Here goes
Colds suck, and the flu is worse. So the million-dollar question is: are there supplements that actually work to ward off an infection or lessen its symptoms?
Taken daily, echinacea might reduce the risk and duration of upper respiratory infections:[1] examining the trials reveals a positive but statistically insignificant trend.[2]
Echinacea has the potential to interact with medications, particularly immunosuppressive drugs. Consult with your doctor before you consider trying this supplement.
Echinacea might reduce the risk and duration of upper respiratory infections, but the studies don’t all agree.
Elderberry is known for its antioxidant properties, and in one randomized trial, an elderberry extract reduced the duration and severity of colds more than did placebo.[3] A few human trials have also shown elderberry to reduce the symptoms of the flu,[4] but here the evidence is weakened by small sample sizes and, in some cases, low methodological quality.
Due to the small number of studies, both the efficacy and safety of elderberry are still in doubt.[5]Should you choose to prepare elderberry juice yourself, rather than to purchase a supplement, remember that the berries must be properly cooked, since they can otherwise cause nausea or, worse, cyanide toxicity. Only ever use the berries — the rest of the plant is poisonous and should not be consumed in any form.
Elderberry is a promising but understudied supplement: it may reduce the symptoms of the cold and flu, but the evidence is still preliminary. Beware: the plant is poisonous, and even the berries can be dangerous if not prepared properly.
We know that the human body needs more glutamine when it gets sick, and we suspect that decreased concentrations of glutamine brought about by long exercise periods can suppress immunological functions.[6] What we don’t know is if glutamine supplementation can help fight off either the flu or the common cold.
Glutamine can support immune functions in periods of critical illness, but its effects on the common cold are not well understood. Preliminary evidence suggests that supplementation is more likely to benefit people who participate in prolonged cardiovascular exercise, such as ultra-marathons.
Pelargonium sidoides contains prodelphinidins — tannins that can help prevent bacteria from attaching to the lining of the throat and lungs. Pelargonium sidoides doesn’t seem to ward off colds, but it may be able to reduce their duration and severity.[7][8]
Pelargonium sidoides seems to reduce the duration and severity of colds, but the evidence is still preliminary.
Various probiotics have been shown to interact with immune system cells,[9] yet the evidence for their use in cold prevention is mixed.[10]
Certain probiotics might help prevent upper respiratory infections in athletes,[11] children,[12] and the elderly,[13] but much of the evidence is of low or very low quality. Higher-quality trials are needed to determine if taking probiotics can really help fight infections — and if yes, which strains should be taken.
Probiotics might help prevent infections of the upper respiratory tract, but the evidence is still too weak to recommend their use.
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Vitamin C is marketed as the go-to supplement for preventing and treating colds.
Mechanistically, it makes sense: vitamin C helps immune cells form and function properly, and also supports our physical barriers against pathogens.[14] Moreover, at least 148 studies have found that vitamin C administration helps prevent infections caused by microorganisms.[15]
Yet, the question remains: does supplementation in humans help ward off colds? A recent meta-analysis tried to answer this question,[16] and here are the takeaways:
Vitamin C can reduce the duration of colds (and even help ward them off, if you’re an athlete), but only if you’ve been supplementing regularly. If you start when you’re sick, it’s too late.
Vitamin D receptors are found throughout the body, and vitamin D is involved in many cellular processes, so it should come as no surprise that a deficiency can impair immunity.
Epidemiological studies show an association between low vitamin D levels and a higher risk of viral infections of the upper respiratory tract (URT). According to a 2017 systematic review of randomized trials and meta-analyses, taking vitamin D could help prevent asthma symptoms as well as URT infections.[17] In a randomized trial whose results were published the same year, the incidence and duration of URT viral infections were the same for children taking 400 IU/day and for children taking 2000 IU/day.[18]
Vitamin D serves many functions in the body, and a deficiency seems to impair immunity. Large systematic reviews have found that supplementation can help prevent upper respiratory infections.
Zinc plays many roles in the body — including several in the immune system alone. If you easily catch colds, make sure your diet provides you with enough zinc. Athletes and other people who sweat a lot are at greater risk of zinc insufficiency, but taking too much zinc is aso a risk, so be careful.
Zinc lozenges can reduce the duration of the common cold when taken within 24 hours of symptom onset.[19] They can limit virus replication at the nasal epithelium and may reduce respiratory tract inflammation. Lozenges with zinc acetate may be more effective than lozenges with zinc gluconate (a more common form), but the trials are few, and a recent meta-analysis doesn’t show a clear difference.[20]
Zinc lozenges can cause nausea and dysgeusia (a change in taste perception), but those symptoms stop when supplementation stops.[19] In addition to nausea and dysgeusia, zinc nasal sprays can cause anosmia,[21] and this loss of smell perception may persist after supplementation has stopped. For that reason, and because the sprays have not been shown to be more effective than the lozenges, the sprays are not recommended.
Taking zinc lozenges throughout the day, starting from the very first symptoms of a cold, may reduce the duration of the illness, but supplementation should not exceed 100 mg of zinc per day for a week. Since zinc nasal sprays might cause a lingering loss in smell perception, they’re better avoided.
Reaching for a supplement or two can seem like a quick and simple way to defend yourself against the cold and flu. Be it for prevention or treatment, however, even taking the best supplements won’t help as much as …
So, as always, choose efficacious supplements to complement your healthy habits — not to make up for a lifestyle that predisposes you to getting sick.
If you like meat and you like pizza well this is the dish for you. Its guilt free and is so versatile, hot or cold, breakfast or lunch the possibilities are endless. Well, maybe not endless but pretty good. Its quick, easy and not too expensive too.
Check this out and let me know what you think
I raided the cupboards and found the ingredients below and racked my brain thinking what to make, I finally came up with paella.
Have a look and feel free to share your opinions
Ingredients
oil
finely sliced
Method
Get your chicken and place on an oven proof dish, put in the oven at about 200 C for around 25 mins.
Pour your rice into a saucepan cover with water and bring to the boil.
Heat the oil in a deep frying pan, add the onions and cook slowly until softened, about 10 mins.
Add the garlic, stir for 1 min, then toss in the peppers, mushrooms, peas and leek. Stir in the spices, then tip in the rice (after you have drained the water from it of course) Stir to coat the rice in the oils and spices for about 2 mins, then pour in the hot stock. Bring to the boil,
Remove your chicken from the oven and add to the rice mixture
Stir well to coat chicken, let the whole lot stand for 5 mins then serve.
One of my favourites here, so here goes
Ingredients
Some low calorie spray
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large saucepan and fry the mince until browned – you may need to do this in batches. Set aside as it browns. Put the rest of the oil into the pan, add the vegetables and cook on a gentle heat until soft, about 20 mins. Add the garlic, increase the heat and cook for a few mins, then return the beef to the pan and boil to reduce it slightly before adding the stock, Worcestershire sauce and herbs. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 45 mins. By this time the gravy should be thick and coating the meat. Check after about 30 mins – if a lot of liquid remains, increase the heat slightly to reduce the gravy a little. Season well, then discard the bay leaves and thyme stalks.
Meanwhile, make the mash. In a large saucepan, cover the potatoes in salted cold water, bring to the boil and simmer until tender. Drain well, then allow to steam-dry for a few mins. Mash well with the milk and then season with some salt and pepper.
Spoon meat into 2 ovenproof dishes. Pipe or spoon on the mash to cover. If eating straight away, heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and cook for 25-30 mins, or until the topping is golden
Then enjoy, I know some people like to use some cheese fir topping but I was trying to watch the calories. Try it out and let me know what you think
“Don’t believe everything you think. Thoughts are just that – thoughts.”
– Allan Lokos
Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes playing a poor hand well.
-Make your mark
It’s not who we are that holds us back, it’s who we think we’re not
-Make your Mark
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