Afternoon nap

An hour of nap in the afternoon can recharge a person's brain power and improve the brain's memory. Scientists have found that a short nap makes it easier for the brain to store and retrieve items of short term information needed for working or studying.

Infants need to sleep many times a day. Sleep is very beneficial for a developing infant.

Children need to take a 90 minute nap.

Pregnant ladies in the third trimester also will benefit from a short nap in the afternoon.

According to Dr. Sara Mednick member of National Sleep Foundation and Associated Professional Sleep Societies a nap has numerous benefits as follows:

• Increases your on the job alertness by 100 percent.
• Sharpens your thinking so you make more accurate judgments and better decisions.
• Ramps up your productivity.
• Regenerates skin cells so you look younger.
• Increases your sex drive.
• Helps you lose weight by altering metabolism and shifting chemicals that affect appetite.
• Reduces your risk of heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular problems.
• Lifts your mood by bathing your brain in the neurotransmitter serotonin.
• Speeds up your ability to perform motor tasks, like typing, operating machinery, even swimming.
• Improves your accuracy in everything.
• Improves the way your body processes carbs, which reduces your risk of diabetes.
• Sharpens your senses so you take in what's important in your environment.
• Puts your brain into its creative gear so you can come up with fresh ideas.
• Triggers a naturally occurring hormone that blocks the destructive chemicals produced by stress.
• Boosts your ability to learn something new and better yet, remember it.
• Zaps the need for drugs like caffeine and alcohol to manipulate your mood and energy level.
• Relieves migraines
• Actually improves your nighttime sleep.
• Makes you feel good all over

Nails and your health

Your nail appearance can tell you about many illnesses in your body.

• Very pale nails which reflect the blood flow in the skin underneath can indicate anemia.
• White spots can signal liver problems and Zinc deficiency.
• Brown tips on nails mean kidney problem.
• Red moons signal heart disease.
• Yellowed, thickening, and slow-growing nails tell about a respiratory illness or from swelling of your hands (lymphedema).
• Nail problems such as pitting: small depressions in the nails and splitting can be the result of skin disorder; psoriasis.
• Clubbing occurs when the tips of your fingers enlarge and your nails curve around your fingertips. This condition results from low oxygen levels in your blood and could be a sign of lung disease. Clubbing is also associated with inflammatory bowel disease; cardiovascular disease; and liver disease.
• Spoon nails are soft nails that look scooped out. The depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid. Spoon nails may be a sign of iron deficiency anemia.
• The condition known as Terry's nails, your nails look opaque, and the tips have white bands like French manicure. Sometimes this can be attributed to aging. In other cases, it can be a sign of serious illness, such as: congestive heart failure; diabetes; liver disease; or malnutrition.
• Beau's lines are indentations that run across your nails. They can appear when growth at the area under your cuticle is interrupted by injury or severe illness. Diseases associated with Beau's lines are: Uncontrolled diabetes; Circulatory diseases; Illness associated with a high fever caused by pneumonia, scarlet fever, mumps, measles; or malnutrition.
• If your fingernails become loose and can separate from the nail bed, this may be associated with:Injury or infection; Thyroid disease; Drug reactions; Reactions to nail hardeners or acrylic nails; or Psoriasis.

Valentine's day and Aphrodisiac foods

Aphrodisiac is named after Aphrodite; the Greek goddess of love. Food containing aphrodisiac substance or quality are the ones that excites sexual desire. But before you run to the store and stock up on all or some of the following foods; remember that your mind is the most powerful aphrodisiac of them all.

Some foods do actually stimulate blood flow and combined with the look, mouth feel and aroma have been used as aphrodisiacs throughout time. It is the combination of the senses that create these aphrodisiac qualities.

The following are some foods that could make you and your Valentine extra special:

CHOCOLATE/TRUFFLES

Ever wonder why Valentine's Day has become synonymous with chocolate? It is much more than just a marketing gimmick. Chocolate is a great source of quick energy and can elevate people’s moods. One hundred gram bar of dark Chocolate contains three stimulants: 810mg of Theobromine (a vasodilator which helps with blood flow), 80mg of Caffeine and PEA(phenylethylamine) known as the love chemical. PEA releases dopamine in the pleasure center of the brain and helps induce feelings of excitement, attraction and euphoria. The sexual lure of more expensive chocolate truffles lies in the musky aroma and smooth mouth feel. While it is not proven that chocolate is a true aphrodisiac, many would suggest being happier and in a better mood leads to a better romance.

PINE NUTS

Pine seeds have the reputation throughout the Mediterranean as one of the most effective ways to stimulate the libido.(Because of it's zinc content)

WALNUTS

Walnuts have been used to "increase" the desire for romance.(Because of amino acid arginine)

ONIONS

Onion, one of the most celebrated aphrodisiacs, has been served to French newlyweds on the morning after their wedding night to restore their libidos. For the same reason there is a belief that teen-age girls should not eat onions.

Arab folklore promises that an aphrodisiac drink of onion juice when mixed with honey is the original Viagra. Onions also stimulate blood flow.

GARLIC

Garlic used for centuries as one of the most widespread ancient aphrodisiac remedies. It stimulates the secretion of gastric juices, adds digestion and increases the blood flow.

CELERY

Celery stimulates digestion and stimulates the sexual organs. Celery seeds is most effective and are used to garnish and enhance fresh oysters and dressings.

GINGER

Ginger helps soothe the stomach and is used to help relieve menstrual cramping. Ginger wine was widely thought to be an aphrodisiac as it had the effect of relaxing the muscles of the uterus and intestines. Ginger ale and candied ginger are also good cures for morning sickness.

FENNEL/POPCORN

The fennel seeds, with a sweet and licorice like flavor and aroma, are one of the oldest spices and when brewed in tea is a remedy for bloating, flatulence and other intestinal problems. Women tent to like licorice flavor. Men tend to like popcorn and butter flavor.

OYSTERS

Always thought of as the aphrodisiac, but it gets a lot of its reputation from the ritual of opening them and swallowing them whole. Oysters are rich in zinc and iron. Iron is known for its transport of oxygen throughout our systems and zinc which helps produce sperm and egg and increases libido. Oysters also contain on average 18 micrograms of Vitamin B12.

CAVIAR

Caviar was thought to have restorative powers and long life. Caviar is from the salted roe/eggs of sturgeon. A lot of caviar's aphrodisiac qualities have to do with being an egg, and the way it is served than anything else.

CARDAMOM

Indian herbal medicine uses powdered cardamom seeds boiled with milk and honey for a remedy against impotence.

WINE/GRAPES

The Greek God Dionysus son of Zeus is the god of wine, fertility and procreation. Even fresh grapes have stimulating properties. Many of the most romantic settings throughout history include feeding a lover individual grapes.

In conclusion just remember the combination of the various sensual reactions: the visual satisfaction of the surrounding area and the sight of appetizing food, the stimulation with pleasing smells and the tactile gratification tend to bring on a state of general euphoria conducive to sexual expression. Another words, setting the proper mood is just as important as the food.

What is the best cure for a Hangover

Three drinks for women on an empty stomach and 7 drinks for men will make them have a bad hangover.

If you have over indulged drinking the night before, and woke up the next morning with a very bad headache and an upset stomach then you know what is a hangover. You may have enjoyed the drinking, but the hangover the next morning is not fun. The effects of those drinks are called trifecta of pain:

1- Direct effect of alcohol itself (dehydration, hyperglycemia, stomach upset and vomiting)

2- withdrawal from alcohol (headache, tremors, eyesight, vomiting)

3- Effects of toxic byproducts(sweats, rapid pulse and skin flushing)

The most common pains of hangover are headaches, stomach irritations, dehydration, and fatigue. Although there are not any perfect solution for a hangover, here are some natural remedies to help you ease off your hangover.

The remedy that helps should contain fat, protein, fructose and vodka. Therefore a 1/4 glass of

combinations of ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, raw egg and vodka might help you. But if you cannot eat or drink this concoction try one or all of these remedies.

Fruits can help reduce the hangover: bananas, limes, lemons, and apples. Try adding lemon juice to your coffee and drink up. Tomato juice which has fructose will help you get the alcohol out your system faster.

Drinking water is also good because this will replenish your system because alcohol dehydrates you. Chicken soup or greasy meal works well in the morning for a hangover. Also peanut butter can not hurt to try.

Just remember drink over full stomach, drink lots of water with your drink and remember Ethanol drinks gives you less hangover; like Gin and Vodka.