Healthy mouth-watering veggies you can snack on raw includes:
1. Carrots – are crunchy veggies you can snack on raw. they are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Carrots are rich in Potassium, which is healthy for people with high blood pressure and heart diseases. They are rich in antioxidants (lutein and zeaxanthin) which reduces the risk of some cancers. Contains Vitamin C which boosts your immune system and helps the body fight off diseases and infections. Contains Fiber which is good for your digestive health; it also reduces the risk of colorectal cancer. Contain vitamin A which help reduce risk of diabetes. It also contains vitamin K and small amounts of calcium which are important for bone health.2. Cucumbers: One of the most hydrating foods, cucumbers are one of the healthy veggies you can snack on raw. cucumbers have a low glycemic index. contains essential nutrients that can prevent blood glucose levels from rising too high. Cucumbers contain important electrolytes, and can be eaten to prevent dehydration in hot weathers.3. Tomatoes: made up of 95% water. loaded with folate, vitamin c, vitamin k and potassium. low in carbs. a good source of fiber. packed with antioxidants lycopene and B-carotene, good for skin health and sun-burns. Rich in flavonoids, which decrease inflammation. It also conatins the antioxidant lycopene, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease.4.Broccoli: packed essential nutrients and antioxidants such as vit A, C, K, folate, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, protein and fiber. they also contains bioactive componds that reduce inflammationhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23830380 .
5. Garden eggs:a great source of dietary fibre which helps digestion, also contains vitamin B1, potassium and folate.
6. Cabbage: a fibrous vegetable. contains vitamin C, vitamin K, B6, folate, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and manganese. Also contains powerful antioxidants that reduces inflammations https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25147152
Exercise is often described as an activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness. Being active has been shown to have many health benefits, both physically and mentally. It may even help you live longer. Aerobic exercises including jogging, swimming, cycling, dancing and walking have been proved to reduce anxiety and depression. The health benefits of regular exercise cannot be ignored, and they are beneficial to everyone regardless of age, sex or physical disability. God did not create man to be inactive!
Here are 4 reasons you should exercise regularly this year:
TO IMPROVE YOUR MOOD AND MENTAL HEALTH: Exercise promotes the release of chemicals like endorphins and serotonin throughout the body that help to improve mood and make the person more relaxed. It has been shown to improve mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety and stress. People who exercise regularly feel better about their appearance, which can boost their confidence and improve their self-esteem.
TO HELP MAINTAIN HEALTHY WEIGHT: Along with diet, exercise plays an important role in controlling your weight and preventing obesity. To maintain your weight, the calories you consume must equal the energy you burn. Regular exercise can help prevent excess weight gain and help maintain weight loss. For instance, ensuring you take at least 10,000 steps daily might help you to maintain a healthy weight. You may discuss with your healthcare professional.
TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF CHRONIC DISEASES: There is no secret to the fact that regular exercise is good for your health. Lack of physical activity is a primary risk factor for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, arthritis etc. Regular exercise has been shown to improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin and improve cardiovascular health, decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels.If you have any health condition like hypertension, arthritis etc, it is important to talk to your doctor about how long you should exercise for and what level of intensity is safe for you.
TO STRENGTHEN YOUR MUSCLES AND BONES: Exercise plays a vital role in building and maintaining strong muscles and bones. It helps to release hormones that promote the ability of your muscles to absorb amino acid. This helps them grow and reduces their break down. As people age they tend to lose muscle mass and function which can lead to injuries and disabilities. Practicing regular physical activity is essential to reducing muscle loss and maintaining strength with aging.
Exercise can be a real energy booster for healthy people as well as those suffering from various medical conditions. During exercise, oxygen gets delivered to tissues and organs. This helps the heart and lungs work more efficiently which translates to more energy. One study found that six weeks of regular exercise reduced feelings of fatigue for 36 healthy people who had reported persistent fatigue.
The prestigious NIGERIAN HEALTHCARE MEDIA EXCELLENCE AWARD is here again, and we are pleased to announce that Victory Drugs has been nominated again.
Victory Drugs have been nominated twice in the past and we need your immense support to bring the award home this year. Online voting has been on but will end by midnight on Wednesday 23rd of June 2021.
On the platform, look out for the category tagged “MOST IMPROVED PHARMACEUTICAL RETAIL OUTLET OF THE YEAR“. Kindly vote using the link below and share the link with your friends and family to also vote before the deadline.
I have been loyal to you since you were in the womb and served you dutifully until now. I never asked you for a holiday. I have worked every day. Even if I have offended you, I do not deserve the treatment you are meting out to me.
For many months now, you have been loading me with salt. I keep absorbing water to help me cope with the high salt bombardment. Now, I have absorbed so much water that your blood pressure is much higher than it should be. This has created enmity between me and your heart who is forced to overwork. It keeps blaming me for its misfortune and, in return, strokes me.
As if that is not enough, you refuse to exercise thereby starving me of oxygen supply. This has compromised my fitness. Instead of providing me with enough oxygen, you decided to pump me with lots of herbal concoctions and supplements which make me sicker. Some of them clog together and form stones in me, pinching me and making me uncomfortable. How I wish you could see my tears!!!
You have so damaged me that I can no longer do my duty as security guard. Imagine ordinary proteins run through me to your urine. I can barely stop them. They mock me as they pass through. Why? What have I done? Is it a sin for me to occupy a vital position in your body?
To make matters worse, when you felt a little of my pain, instead of getting help from your doctor and pharmacist, you bombarded me with deadly pain killers and strong antibiotics. Now, I am just too weak to go on. Why? Why? Why? What have I done to deserve all these?
Signed
The Kidney,
Your frustrated servant.
The kidneys are very vital organs that help us to regulate our body fluid (mainly electrolytes and water). These two bean-shaped organs perform two major functions –
maintain electrolyte and water balance between the blood and urine by filtering the blood before sending it back to the heart
remove wastes from the body through urine
Obviously, the kidneys work with the heart and are both involved in controlling our blood pressure.
It is therefore particularly important that we protect our kidneys. Unfortunately, some people indulge in some habits that may damage these indispensable organs. Among factors that may damage the kidneys are certain drugs, especially when used inappropriately. Our major interest in this article is to look at how one might be harming one’s kidneys with drugs.
Drugs that may harm our kidneys include:
Pain killers:
You may damage your kidneys if you take high doses of some over-the-counter pain relievers known as NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen or if you take them longer than you should. Sometimes, regular doses may pose a threat to your kidneys if combined with certain medications or if your kidney is already compromised. Many times, damage to the kidney by pain relievers are aftermath of self-medication. Please discuss with your pharmacist or doctor before taking pain relievers.
Antibiotics:
Indiscriminate use of antibiotics may damage your kidneys. Please do not use antibiotics if not prescribed by your doctor and dispensed by your pharmacist.
Illicit or hard drugs: Many street or hard drugs like heroin and cocaine can damage the kidneys.
Alcohol: Heavy drinking may damage your kidneys.
Herbal medicines or nutritional supplements: A number of herbal medicines or nutritional supplements have been implicated in kidney damage especially in people at risk of kidney damage. Some research works have shown that a good number of herbal medicines or supplements including ginseng and ginger have the potential to cause kidney damage in people at risk of kidney disease or damage. There are many such herbals so please discuss with your doctor and pharmacist if you are at risk of kidney disease or have kidney disease before taking herbal supplements or medicines. Those at risk of kidney disease include hypertensives and diabetics.
Please note that all drugs you take pass through your kidneys. Therefore, misusing or abusing medicines can hurt your kidney, Your pharmacist is a trained drug expert who, along with your doctor and other healthcare professionals work together to safeguard your health. Discuss your medications with him/her. Let them know the combinations of medicines (and herbs) you are using at all times to ensure it is safe for you.
KEY POINTS
All drugs, herbal medicines and nutritional supplements pass through the kidneys and may cause harm if taken inappropriately.
Indiscriminate use of painkillers, antibiotics or other drugs may damage your kidney.
Do not take ‘’prescription only” medicines without prescription from your doctor.
Always take your prescription to a registered pharmacy and discuss with the pharmacist.
Discuss with your pharmacist or doctor before taking herbal medicine or nutritional supplement if you have any underlying medical condition.
Disclaimer : This write-up is not intended to take the place of your doctor’s advice. Please consult your doctor appropriately.
Your health is in your hands!
Lastly, drop a comment, share your experience and let’s know what you think! If you have any health concerns or need a medication, you can also call or chat with us via phone or whatsapp with the following numbers:
08094289951
08094289944
Or by touching the green circular icon at the bottom right corner of your screen.
Nothing spoils a mouthful of a moist and delicious chocolate cake than the “Ugh, what did I just eat?” feeling. And no matter how much you tell yourself that it’s fine to indulge now and then, you still can’t shake that guilty feeling that follows every piece of cake…sigh. So, wouldn’t it be great to have delicious dessert options that won’t leave you feeling like you’ve fallen off the healthy eating wagon? Look no further. We have put together these three tasty, guilt-free cake recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth and your conscience. Prepare to indulge without the regret!
CHOLESTEROL FREE VANILLA CAKE
READY IN: 35 mins Serves 6-8 people
INGREDIENTS 2 and half cups of all purpose flour 2/3cups of vegetable oil (substitute for butter) 5eggwhites (substitute for 2whole eggs) 1cup of sugar or honey. 2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. 1table spoon of baking powder 1teaspoon of distilled of apple cider vinegar. half cup of buttermilk (preferably low fat)
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350°F or 160°C. Grease the bottom of two eight-inch pans and dust with flour (you may also use a parchment paper). Combine all your dry ingredients(flour, sugar and baking powder and mix till they are all incorporated (please note that if you are using honey instead of sugar, you will add it to your wet ingredients).
Pour your egg whites into a large bowl and whisk for about 3-5minutes or till it starts getting foamy. Add your vegetable oil and your vanilla extract and whisk slowly (if you are using a mixer, set it on medium low). Add your other wet ingredients and mix everything slowly till it’s well combined. Then start adding your dry ingredients little by little, make sure the little you added is well incorporated before you add another. (pls do not overmix). Mix for about two minutes till your batter is smooth. Then distribute equally into the greased cake pans. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in pan. Cool completely before frosting. You can use Greek yogurt for your frosting.
Cholesterol per serving (cake only) = 0.8mg-2.2mg, compared to a regular vanilla cake which has 150mg-160mg cholesterol per serving.
3large egg whites, at room temperature ½ cup plain non-fat yogurt 3 tablespoons canola oil or olive oil 1/3 cup of an artificial sweetener (xylitol or erythritol) 2 teaspooons vanilla extract 2 ½ cups of almond flour (you can always get in a supermarket) 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt(optional) 1 teaspoon grinded cinnamon ½ teaspoon grinded nutmeg 1 cup grated carrots (four large carrots) ¼ cup dark raisins
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 400°F or 180°C. Grease two 9-inch cake pan with cooking spray or olive oil, Dust with flour and tap out excess. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg whites, yogurt, oil, and vanilla. Into a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt (if using), cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gradually add to the egg mixture while stirring until incorporated. Stir in the carrots and raisins into the cake batter. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the back of a spoon. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Slide a thin knife around the edges and center of the cake to loosen it from the pan. Invert onto a rack to cool. When ready to serve, transfer cake to a serving tray or plate. you can always frost with unsweetened yoghurt and grated carrots.
This cake has 100-107cal per serving.
SUGAR FREE CHOCOLATE PEAR CAKE
INGREDIENTS 2 and half cups of flour 2 large ripe bananas half cup of honey 1tablespoon of vanilla extract 1tablespoon of baking powder half tablespoon of baking soda
half a cup of Greek yoghurt 1cup of unsweetened cocoa powder 1 large pear. 1 tablespoon of vinegar a quarter cup of olive oil. 2 large eggs or 5egg whites.
DIRECTIONS Blend the bananas, greek yogurt, honey, vanilla extract and oil. (if you don’t have a blender, you can always marsh the bananas with a fork and mix it with the yoghurt, honey, vanilla and oil). Pour the blended mixture into a large bowl. Add the eggs and mix in. Combine the flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda, into another bowl and mix until incorporated. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients till you get a smooth chocolate cake batter. Dice your pear into the mixture and stir with a spoon until well combined. Pour the cake batter into the greased pan. Sprinkle additional diced pear on top of the cake if desired. Bake for 27-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Kindly note than even though these recipes are relatively healthy, too much consumption isn’t healthy. You can take a slice up to three times in a week.
Lastly, drop a comment, share your experience and let’s know what you think! If you have any questions or concerns about your health or need any medications , please contact us via phone or whatsapp with the following numbers:
08094289951 Sola
08094289947 Josephine
08094289944 Gbenga
Or chat with us by touching the green circular icon at the bottom right corner of your screen.
Do not forget to protect yourself when you go out. Wear a nose mask properly, maintain social distancing and maintain proper hygiene when you get home. Properly dispose face masks, wash your clothes, wash or sanitize your hands and possibly take a bath before you come in contact with anyone. This will help you and your household greatly if you were in contact with an infected person.