In different parts of the world, different countries have developed unique ways of dealing with certain problems, as well as helping their citizens have a better life and be healthier. Some of these ideas haven't gotten to other parts of the world and it’s a real shame. While this is not a definitive list, it is still filled with amazing ideas that every country should adopt.

State-provided new baby kit

Every pregnant Finnish woman is eligible for a free, government-sponsored ‘maternity box’. The kit comes with mattress, sheets, jumpsuits, socks, diapers and several other items a new baby will need. Even the box it comes in can be used as a cot. The point of this is to provide every future citizen of Finland an equal start in life.

Paid maternal and paternal leave

In several countries, both mother and father are entitled to paid leave when their child is born. The most generous country in that regard is the Czech Republic. Both parents get a minimum of 14 weeks of paid leave, and if it’s their first child – the parents can get 48 months of government-paid leave!

50% tax reduction on Christmas

A.A Milne became famous for his Winnie the Pooh stories. Not only do the books offer wonderful tales for children, but wise words about life too. The books are also beautifully illustrated by E. H. Shepard. Even as an adult, I still turn to the lovable characters of the Hundred Acre Woods for their inspiring quotes.

Sometimes you may feel like your body is beginning to creak and fail you on the outside, but do you ever stop to consider the incredible work that is taking place inside of it? There is so much going on and everything fits together so well, that it's almost impossible to comprehend. This presentation will remind you that there are miracles going on inside your body every single day.

If as a child, you dreamed of exploring space, you’ll be happy to learn that there is a place that looks as alien as anything you may have seen in the movies, and it’s right here on Earth. Located in San Juan County, in the north of New Mexico, USA, lie the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah and Bitzi/De-Na-Zin Wilderness areas. Anyone stepping into this land will feel as if they’ve landed on the set of a sci-fi film.

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In Navajo, Bitzi means ‘cranes’, and researchers have found many petroglyphs (ancient drawings) of cranes in the area. Looking at these amazing rock formations, it’s easy to tell why the Navajo called it that.

“I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams...” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

This is a story of a 90-year-old woman who lost most of the people that were near and dear to her before she was diagnosed with cancer herself. Although her doctor recommended that she should start treatment, she boldly decided that she wanted to enjoy the time she has left. Read Norma's heartwarming story: 

Norma, a Midwestern housewife from Michigan, has been faced with a lot of death in recent years, only to be diagnosed with cancer herself. 

Her daughter, Stacy, died of cancer in 2008 aged just 44. Her beloved brother, Ralph, passed away in June last year, and he was followed by her husband of 67 years, Leo, just one month later.

Rice is a popular dish enjoyed around the world. It pairs well with many food flavors and textures, making it a common side dish in many cultures’ cuisines. It is eaten in large quantities in India and China, where it is an inexpensive staple. However, the downside to this delicious food is that it’s not the healthiest choice – it’s high in carbohydrates, as much as 200 calories per cup, and it quickly converts to sugar and body fat. It’s not only bad for your weight but also your health. Rice consumption has been linked to higher incidences of diabetes.

If this staple food were to be less calorie dense what an amazing impact that would have on people’s health. The good news is that researchers in Sri Lanka have been pondering that question and made a remarkable discovery.

By tweaking with how rice is cooked, Sri Lankan undergraduate student Sudhair James, supervised by his professor Dr. Pushparajah Thavarajah, at the College of Chemical Sciences, has found a way to reduce the calorie intake by half. The pair tested 8 different recipes and 38 types of rice to find the winning formula. They discovered that making two slight changes to the traditional boiling method of cooking rice can alter the way the body absorbs the carbohydrates.

The good news is this method doesn’t reinvent the wheel in cooking so it’s easy to apply to your everyday life. Traditionally rice is cooked in a pot. The new method only involves two changes to the way one usually boils rice.

Skin fungus is a common infection that is caused when certain fungal pathogens breed in moist or warm environments. Fungus usually grows in shoes, socks, public areas like swimming pools or gyms, and in showers. The microscopic fungus lives on toenails, hair and skin and the most common symptoms are usually peeling, itchiness or burning skin. If you suffer from some of these symptoms, there are a number of home remedies that can easily treat fungal infections.

Image: Praisaeng/ freedigitalphotos.net

1. Stay Clean
Our feet can easily be our dirtiest body part, and it is so easy to neglect their health. In order to prevent or cure fungal infections, the first step is to keep your feet as clean as possible. This can be done by regularly having foot baths in which you wash your feet thoroughly with soap and water. It is also recommended to scrub and exfoliate your feet every week to remove the dead skin cells that may hold fungal bacteria.

As Mother's Day approaches, we all start to rack our brains for a special gift we can give to our mothers, which isn't just any gift. Whether it's a child or adult giving the gift, a gift that includes the giver's personal touch is always just a little more special. 

In the following selection of videos, we're bringing you some fresh and simple DIY projects that anyone can try. Some of them are easy enough to try out with grandchildren, while others are more sophisticated, making them perfect for adults. Let them feed your inspiration:

If you've got lots of precious memories to share, why not put them together using this idea? This could be a versatile gift that the receiver can hang up and adapt to different occasions.

Bad breath, although very common, can be quite embarrassing, and very few people will actually come and tell you that you have it. There are many reasons for it, namely alcohol, oral dryness and digestive problems, among many others.  

So how do we make sure we don't have bad breath?

If you suffer from chronic bad breath, then mouthwash may not be enough, especially if you only use it in the morning. However, there are plenty of natural remedies that can keep your breath fresh for a long time, and also help solve the problem that caused it in the first place.

Here are some easy and natural solutions anyone can use, and we're sure that out of all the items on this list, you'll find something that works for you.

At a restaurant, what do you do first? Look at the wine list, then order food? Because if that's the case, change it. To bring out the best flavors in both, first decide what to eat, then pair the right wine with what you've ordered.

When deciding what wine-food combinations work well, focus on bringing out the best characteristics of the wine. Generally speaking, a dry white wine ordered alongside fish is heavenly, but this wine combination is not as palatable when ordered alongside red meat. Another combination you'll likely want to avoid is pairing a bitter wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, with bitter foods, as doing so will multiply the bitterness! While making your choice, bear in mind, that wine should have a higher acidity than the food you ordered, otherwise its taste would be sapless. 

If you're still unsure as to what wines will work best with different foods, the fact file below, pretty much sums it all up, guiding you into what grape varieties pair well with different types of food. 

1. Feelings of numbness

Most of us will have accidentally lay on one of our arms while sleeping at some point, and will be familiar with the numb feeling that tends to result. This sensation comes about because you have inadvertently limited your blood circulation. If you find that you often experience a similar sensation in your limbs without an obvious trigger, it could be a sign that your blood circulation is permanently restricted.

2. Loss of Appetite

If you don't feel hungry, despite having skipped a meal, it could indicate a circulatory problem. Your liver sends signals to your brain to tell it you're hungry, but it can only do this when it receives adequate blood flow. This symptom can also cause weight loss over time as you will eat less.

While a healthy heart is something we all want to have, cardiovascular disease affects more than 1 in 3 adults in the US. Thankfully, adopting some simple, everyday habits can make a big difference in how healthy your heart is. Let's take a look at 16 daily habits that are bad for your heart, as well as how to avoid them.

1. Watching too much television

Even if you exercise regularly, sitting for hours on end increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke. The lack of movement may affect blood levels of fats and sugars. So, spare your heart and walk around periodically, making it a point to stand up for certain activities too.

2. Leaving stress, hostility and depression unchecked

How you handle your emotions can affect your health, and leaving emotions such as stress, resentment and depression unchecked can take a toll on your heart. Rather than bottling up your emotions, talk about your problems. Never underestimate the health benefits of social support and a good laugh every once in a while.  

3. Ignoring the snoring

In some cases, snoring may be more than just a minor nuisance. In fact, snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder that is marked by interrupted breathing during sleep, which can cause blood pressure to skyrocket. And while people who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk for sleep apnea, slim people may have it too. So if you snore and often wake up feeling tired, talk with your doctor.

4. Not flossing your teeth

Studies have shown a strong link between gum disease and heart disease. Flossing is essential for preventing gum disease, due to the sticky, bacteria-laden plaque that builds up on the gums over time. Consequently, bacteria may trigger inflammation in the body. Inflammation promotes atherosclerosis (a disease of the arteries, characterized by the deposition of fatty material on their inner walls). Therefore, treating gum disease can improve blood vessel function.

Heart attacks have been one of the leading causes of death in the US for many years, and very often, symptoms which could have been spotted well-in-advance go unnoticed. You may perhaps be familiar with the classic signs: a heavy sweat, clutching of the left arm, pain in the chest, and so on. But sometimes signs of a heart attack are not so obvious, particularly amongst women, who often don't seem to realize what's happening to them, or appreciate the seriousness of the situation, until it is too late.  

Whatever the symptoms may be, do not wait until it's too late. Be aware of what changes are taking place in your body and take necessary precautions - being alert will help save a life, whether it be your own, or a friend's. 

What is happening to the body in the process of a heart attack 

During a heart attack, the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot, which happens due to the build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries. Consequently, this build-up causes a severe loss of blood supply to your heart, which then causes a heart attack.  

There are two main types:

Sudden: A person may or may not have had any symptoms in the past. All of a sudden, plaque ruptures, which triggers a chain of events and a sudden heart attack.

Gradual: This results from a gradual progression of coronary disease. In these patients, an artery narrows over time. Once it has narrowed down to more than 70 percent, a number of warning symptoms will start to show, possibly even months ahead.  

Therefore knowing the warning signs of a heart attack today, can help you or someone you know and love survive tomorrow. The sooner you recognize the symptoms and get treatment, the better. 

The symptoms can occur for months or even longer sometimes, and the spectrum of symptoms is very wide.  

Spot the signs well in advance 

1. Difficulty breathing, especially a shortness of breath 

When blood flow to the heart decreases, your lungs will feel the effect as well, as not enough blood gets pumped to your lungs, thus restricting your airflow and causing a shortness of breath. This can become an issue if you can't catch your breath even when sitting still and thus warrants an immediate check-up.

While high blood pressure is caused by a variety of things, its most common cause is hypertension. One of the most effective ways to treat it naturally is with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which aims to bring your body back into balance. Let's take a look:

How It Works

Qi (or Life Force Energy) is at the heart of Chinese reflexology and TCM. It's the energy of creation and it flows through our body, just as blood circulates through our arteries and veins.

Located within the body are 12 primary channels or pathways that enable Qi to flow. When Qi is flowing through the body as it should, we are in a state of balance - we feel energized, alive and healthy. But when Qi is disrupted, the disharmony in your body will manifest as a physical symptom over time. To get a better idea of how Qi works in the body, compare it to the flow of a river. If the river is flowing smoothly, then the ecosystem is in balance. If on the other hand the river is obstructed, sediment begins to accumulate, causing blockages both upstream and downstream. 

In the body, stress tends to be the culprit that constricts the flow of Qi, causing obstructed energy in some areas and limiting energy flow to others. However, applying pressure to specific points has been known to help reduce high blood pressure. These pressure points almost always involve those that treat disharmonies in the kidney and liver meridians (energy channels that transport Qi throughout the body).  

If you look forward to your cup of coffee each morning, what good-enough reason could make you want to quit? True, coffee has a wealth of health benefits - it is a godsend for anyone needing an energy boost, and studies have also suggested that coffee could help protect us from dementia and Alzheimer's. Sipping on three cups a day will give you plenty of beneficial antioxidants too. But there are instances when you should give quitting caffeine more than just a second thought, particularly if you find that coffee is compromising your ability to sleep, you are anxious, or have become addicted to your daily cup.

I for one enjoy my daily cup (or cups) of coffee, but I was curious to discover what will happen to my body when I quit. So from the amazing health benefits, to the temporary symptoms of withdrawal you can expect, here are 10 benefits that may just motivate you to have tea instead of coffee.

The Benefits of Quitting Coffee

This is what will happen to your body in:

1 Day

1. Reduced effects of heartburn, reflux or indigestion often caused by caffeine.

2. Your bowels will return back to normal as caffeine is what generally causes diarrhea. Furthermore, being a diuretic, caffeine increases urination frequency, consequently dehydrating the body. By quitting caffeine for just one day, you will notice a decrease in the number of trips you make to the bathroom.

1 Week

3. It only takes 1 week for the initial addictive signs to diminish - see more in Typical Withdrawal Symptoms below.

4. Your energy levels will become stable. You won't need to rely on false hits of energy from caffeine.

5. Consequently, you'll become less restless, irritable and anxious -caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands, therefore increasing your anxiety levels. Furthermore, caffeine alters your mood. In fact, most coffee drinkers agree they're grumpy prior to having a cup in the morning. Others report feeling lethargic once the coffee has worn off in the afternoon.

6. Your jeans may start to fit a little looser - a noticeable sign if you have your coffee with milk. Nevertheless, many experts have stated that caffeinated beverages generally add empty calories to our diet that we don't need. Sugary beverages are a huge component of the obesity epidemic plaguing the western world. In fact, a study found that when caffeine is in a sugary beverage, it causes people to consume more of it, unlike those without caffeine. Furthermore, it may surprise you to note that having just one less Starbucks Vanilla Latte per day saves you 250 calories per day, 1,750 calories per week or 91,250 calories per year.

Some of us just can't make it through a day without our cup of coffee, and I can't say it's hard to see why. People call coffee "the fuel of the modern man" as a joke, but it's not really too far form the truth. Take a look at any office during the morning hours and the majority of people will be drinking coffee. While I also love tea, there is still much to be said about the benefits and the facts you never knew about coffee:

Your body doesn’t need coffee when you wake up.

We naturally produce a hormone called cortisol which has a very similar effect to caffeine. This hormone is made at certain times of the day based on our circadian rhythm. It's important to identify the best time to drink your coffee so you can enjoy its maximum efficacy.

Coffee isn’t as dehydrating as people think.

Caffeine was once thought to be a significant diuretic, but it's really not true unless it’s consumed in large quantities. In fact, studies have shown that urine output isn’t significantly changed when a person drinks a caffeinated drink or a non-caffeinated drink. So as long as you enjoy your coffee in normal amounts, there’s no reason to fear dehydration.

The "powers" of coffee were discovered by goats.