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Lung disease and associated respiratory problems are a growing issue. We can all maintain healthy lungs by not smoking, ensuring we exercise regularly and avoiding polluted air where possible. However, a less widely known way we can look after our lungs is by tailoring our diet. Studies have shown that the food we eat has an impact on our lungs, and that some can even have a positive impact on lung function. 

1. Cruciferous Vegetables - These are vegetables in the cabbage family. They are packed with antioxidants, which help cleanse the body of harmful toxins. They also contain glucosinolates - chemicals that are broken down to form active compounds that help inactivate carcinogens and protect cells from damage. The best examples of cruciferous vegetables are broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussel sprouts.  

2. Carotenoids - This orange antioxidant pigment has been shown to reduce the risk of lung cancer developing. One way to recognize a carotenoid is by color. Carotenoids are typically found in fruit and vegetables with orange, red or yellow shades. Sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and apricots are foods with high amounts of carotenoids. Carrots are particularly good for the lungs as they contain beta carotene, which converts into vitamin A, a vitamin shown to considerably reduce the likelihood of asthma.

3. Omega-3 fatty acids - It is well known that this fatty acid is good for your overall health. What is less publicized is that it particularly benefits your lungs. It is a fatty acid, which is found in fish, nuts and flaxseed, and can improve lung function and increase lung capacity by reducing inflammation in the airways.

4. Garlic - This herb is a staple in helping maintain a healthy immune system because it is a natural anti-inflammatory. Recently, a study from the journal Cancer Prevention Research revealed how eating raw garlic twice a week was found to halve the risk of developing lung cancer. Garlic has high levels of allicin - a natural antibiotic - which fights both bacterial and fungal infections in the lungs.

A lady was standing on a street corner waiting for a bus when she happened to notice a weight machine. She fumbled through her purse for a dime and went over to the machine and inserted the coin.

Out came a card that said: "You weigh 126 pounds, and in 30 seconds you will pass gas". Sure enough, after 30 seconds, she broke wind. Astonished that the machine was correct, she found another dime and returned to the weight machine.

After inserting the coin, out popped another card that read "you still weigh 126 pounds and in 30 seconds, a really hot guy will show up and show interest in you."

After another 30 seconds, a muscular blonde, blue-eyed guy emerged out of a nearby alley and beckoned her to go over to him. Seeing as her love life had been quiet for a while, she obliged.

Once was done being the center of attention, she fumbled through her purse and found another dime.

Feeling like Naomi Campbell closing the Versace show at Paris Fashion Week, she shimmied over to the machine and put it in.

Again, a little card popped out that said: "You still weigh 126 pounds, and while you were farting and fooling around, you missed your bus".

The onion is a staple ingredient of a whole variety of dishes around the world. However, it also offers a wealth of health benefits that most people don't know about. Its medicinal qualities have been recognized for centuries and it has been used for its healing powers by a number of cultures and civilizations. If you didn't already know about the incredible healing powers of the humble onion, then prepare to be amazed!

There are many good reasons why onions should be used as part of your diet. Studies on its nutritional value have concluded that they have a number of health benefits and are effective in:

• 
  Lowering your susceptibility to Colon Cancer


• 
  Lowering your susceptibility to Prostrate Cancer


• 
  Lowering your susceptibility to Stomach Cancer


• 
  Helping your sleep patterns and improving your mood


• 
  Providing strength and structure to your skin and hair

Onions can be incorporated into a wide variety of dishes, so it is easy to fit them into your weekly dietary plan. Eating onions just two or three times a week can make a big difference. However, including them in your diet is not the only way you can use onions to positively affect your health. They have a number of medicinal and healing properties that can be used to fight various ailments. We fully expect some of them to surprise you!

Onions contain a compound called Quercetin which has both strong anti-bacterial properties and the ability to fight harmful toxins. It is a powerful antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and can lower cholesterol levels. The densest concentration of Quercetin is found in the outer rings nearest to the bulb's skin as well as the part of the onion that is closest to the root. This goodness is found in both red and white onions, and both types can be used as part of these natural remedies.

Onions are effective in the treatment of cuts to the skin. If you nick yourself with a knife cutting one, apply a slice of the onion to the injured area immediately. The raw onion will prevent infection and clean the wound. Next, take a piece of the onion's skin and place it over the top of the wound, sealing it with an adhesive. You will find that the bleeding stops quickly and the wound looks clean. If you have a larger cut or graze, use gauze to fix a piece of onion over the top of it. You can keep the onion on the wound for as long as required, just make sure you change the gauze regularly.

While it may sound odd, putting an onion in a sock is a surprisingly successful means of lowering your body temperature when you are suffering from a high fever!

Chop up some potatoes and slice an onion in half. Put one half of the onion into one sock, and the other half into the other sock (and add some potato slices in each of the socks as well). Next, put the socks on your feet - ensure that the mixture is pressed against your soles. You should find that your temperature lowers in a relatively short time.

An onion's anti-inflammatory properties make it a powerful defense against earache and it can also be used to soften ear wax, making the wax easier to remove. If you are suffering from an earache, chop up an onion, take the inner part (that is the hard section at the 'heart' of the onion) and place it in your ear for remedial relief. You will achieve best results by implementing the procedure shortly before you got to sleep. If you are someone who suffers from regular, excessive wax build-up, then you might want to perform this trick regularly.

One of the oldest recognized uses of an onion is its employment as a weapon to fight the common cold. If you feel you are developing the tell-tale signs of a coming cold (sniffles, sore throat etc) then raid your cupboard for an onion. It is most effective when eaten raw, and you should try and eat a whole one (perhaps chop it up and mix it in a salad to make it more palatable). Alternatively, boil the onion and use it alongside ginger and honey to make a tea. It will raise your defenses and help you fight off the cold.

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it."

Main >  Health & Lifestyle > Health

Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. It might seem confusing at first, but this condition is relatively easy to treat and is highly manageable. This article will explain what the condition is, look at some of the associated lifestyle factors, and then describe the treatments available.

What is Blood Pressure?

As blood flows through your body, it applies pressure to your artery walls. When the pressure is too high, the heart has to work harder and your arteries can become damaged. This condition usually becomes more common as you age. 

Symptoms

Many people don’t even know they have high blood pressure because there are no outward symptoms. If untreated, this condition can quietly damage the heart, lungs, blood vessels, brain, and kidneys, earning this condition the name “silent killer”.  When you have high blood pressure, the risk for heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke, increase.

How to tell if you have high blood pressure

The best way to know if you are at risk is by having your blood pressure read. The normal rate is 120/80. The top rate is called the systolic pressure and measures the pressure when your heart beats. The lower number is called the diastolic pressure, and this measures the pressure between heartbeats when your heart refills with blood.

Hypertension has no known cause. People with hypertension have a reading that averages 140/90 or higher. If your reading is between 120-139 and 80-89, for systolic and diastolic pressure respectively, you might have a condition called prehypertension. This range increases your risk of developing heart disease. To lower your reading doctors will recommend lifestyle changes.

People with a reading of 180/110 or higher may have hypertensive crisis and might experience anxiety, nosebleeds, shortness of breath and a severe headache. This condition can lead to a stroke, heart attack, kidney damage, or loss of consciousness. Seek medical attention.

Hypertension affects more men and women equally as they age. Men are more likely to develop hypertension before the age of 45, and more women will develop hypertension by the time they are 65. Your risk for hypertension is higher if you have a family member who has high blood pressure, or if you have diabetes. 

Main >  Humor > Funny

A man walks into a a bar, drinks a couple of beers, and prepares to leave. The bartender tells him he owes $8.

"But I already paid you. Don't you remember?" says the customer.

"OK," says the bartender, "if you say you paid, then I suppose you did."

The man goes outside and tells the first person he sees that the bartender can't keep track of whether his customers have paid or not. The second man rushes in, orders a couple beers, and later pulls the same stunt.

The barkeep replies, "OK, if you say you paid, then I suppose you did."

The customer goes outside and tells a friend how to get free drinks. The third man hurries into the bar and begins to drink highballs.

The bartender leans over and says, "You know, a funny thing happened tonight. Two men were drinking beer, neither paid, and both claimed they had. The next guy who tries that stunt is going to get punched in the -- "

The man interrupts, "Don't bother me with your troubles, bartender. Just give me my change and I'll be on my way."

A filthy rich Florida man decided that he wanted to throw a party and invited all of his buddies and neighbors. 

He also invited Leroy, the only redneck in the neighborhood. He held the party around the pool in the backyard of his mansion. 

Leroy was having a good time drinking, dancing, eating shrimp, oysters and BBQ and flirting with all the women. 

At the height of the party, the host said, 'I have a 10-foot man-eating gator in my pool and I'll give a million dollars to anyone who has the nerve

to jump in. 

The words were barely out of his mouth when there was a loud splash. Everyone turned around and saw Leroy in the pool! 

Leroy was fighting the gator and kicking its rear! Leroy was jabbing it in the eyes with his thumbs, throwing punches, head butts and choke holds, biting the gator on the tail and flipping it through the air like some kind of judo instructor. 

The water was churning and splashing everywhere. Both Leroy and the gator were screaming and raising heck. 

Finally, Leroy strangled the gator and let it float to the top like a dime store goldfish. 

Leroy then slowly climbed out of the pool. Everybody was just staring at him in disbelief. 

Finally, the host says, 'Well, Leroy, I reckon I owe you a million dollars.' 

'No, that's okay. I don't want It,' said Leroy. 

The rich man said, 'Man, I have to give you something - you won the bet. How about half a million bucks then? 

No thanks, I don't want it,' answered Leroy. 

The host said, 'Come on, I insist on giving you something. That was amazing. How about a new Porsche and a Rolex and some stock options?' Again Leroy said no. 

Confused, the rich man asked, 'Well, Leroy, then what do you want?' 

Leroy said, 'I want the name of the summamabich that pushed me in the pool!'

Main >  Health & Lifestyle > Health

Every time I learn a bit more about the food I eat, I feel happy I did. Different foods, especially super-foods, the healthiest foods of all, have various benefits. When you know what health secrets each holds, you'll know exactly which foods to add to your diet. If you have a specific problem, perhaps here is where you'll find the right super-food to solve it.

Instructions: Hover over the super-food of your choice to see a list of health benefits. To see the image in its full size, simply click it! To come back to the list, just close the tab.