Sick During pregnancy

Sick During pregnancy

So I am 24 weeks pregnant and I have the cold in this heat!!!  This can’t be good, can’t take any medication and have a toddler which I have to take care of… so what to do, what to do?

It started from a sore throat and then a stuffy nose and now a full on cold during pregnancy, but guess what there are many safe and natural remedies that can help me with this cold which I already have in my pantry.

Some good news is that even though I am pregnant and have a cold it won’t pass to my baby but it is possible that my symptoms could last longer during pregnancy since my immune system is working at a slightly lower function and my body may not be able to deal with the cold symptoms as effectively.

Some medications during pregnancy are recommended by the government like Tylenol for fever or pain as well as over the counter cough and cold medicines such as Robitussin and Coricidin for cough and congestion after the first trimester. Even though these medications are recommended by the government there have been studies that Tylenol during pregnancy has been recently linked to an increased risk of ADHD in children. Tylenol is also hard on the mother’s liver, especially during pregnancy. 

Some natural cold and cough remedies to use during pregnant-

Garlic

          Daily consumption of a garlic supplement reduces people’s chance of a cold by over 60%, but if you are already sick garlic helps with getting better faster. During pregnancy its best to have 1 crushed, raw garlic clove with each meal. If your cold is very bad you should increase your garlic intake to 1 crushed, raw clover per every 23 hours. It have it taste better you can have the garlic with honey.

Apple Cider Vinegar

          IT alkalinizes the body and most illnesses can’t thrive in alkaline environments. It also contains good bacteria which help to fight of infections.

          Mix 1-2 tablespoons into water or tea and drink 3 times a day.

          You can also gargle to Apple cider vinegar to soothe a sore throat.

Honey

          Raw, local honey is best to use to antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiseptic.

          Take 1 teaspoon three times a day.

Onion

          Raw onion has phytochemicals that help keep the respiratory tract open. You can make black bean or beef burger and to with lots of onions and mustard. You can add sauerkraut for an extra dose of probiotics.

Lemon

          Lemon is antibacterial. Also helps alkalinize the body. Rich in vitamin C. Take two lemons, juice and add to a quart Mason Jar. Add filtered water and 1 tablespoon of raw honey and a dash of sea salt for added minerals. Drink throughout the day.

Coconut Oil

          Coconut Oil is antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal. You can add 1/8 teaspoon of Peppermint extract to 2 tablespoon of raw coconut oil. Mix well and add either 10 drops of stevia or 1 tablespoon of raw honey. Mix well. Then spread thin on a piece of parchment paper. Put in freezer for 15 minutes. Eat as a yummy, Peppermint bark dessert.

Warm salt water

          Use as a gargle for a sore throat or with a neti pot for congestion

High quality probiotic

          Supports general health and a good immune response.

Elderberry syrup

          My all time favorite to use is the Elderberry Syrup. Many people have great success with elderberry syrup to relieve cough and cold symptoms. It’s an immune booster which can help speed up recovery. You can often find it in the natural section of your local grocery store.

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The Promise 2017 Film

The Promise

 

“The Promise” officially open in theaters Friday April 21st. But on IMDb, a website where people can rate movies, the film has received more than 120,000 ratings — nearly 62,000 of them the lowest: one-star before the movie had even been released.

The ratings have nothing to do with the quality of the film, as it’s almost certain that most people haven’t seen the movie yet. Instead, a group of Internet trolls gathering on a Turkish message board decided to try sinking “The Promise” with bad reviews.

The film — starring Charlotte Le Bon, Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac, and directed by Terry George of “Hotel Rwanda” fame — focuses on a fictional love-triangle between the main characters. Two of the characters play Armenians, while the other plays an American photojournalist.

That sounds like standard silver screen fare, but it’s set against the backdrop of the mass killing of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians in the final years of the Ottoman Empire, beginning in 1915. Worldwide, at least 26 countries recognize the deaths as genocide, a term coined in the 1940s by Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin, who investigated the massacre, to describe the deliberate attempt to exterminate groups.

To Armenians, Americans of Armenian heritage and Turks, the facts and especially the nomenclature are deeply emotional issues. Turkey has long argued that the deaths were not genocide, the death toll has been inflated and that the casualties were victims of civil war and unrest. It’s a crime in Turkey, called “insulting Turkishness,” to “even raise the issue of what happened to the Armenians,” according to the New York Times.

To keep its NATO ally Turkey happy, the United States has referred to the deaths as “atrocities,” but stopped short of calling them a genocide. President Obama had promised to change that before being elected president, saying in 2008 that “the Armenian genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence.”

He didn’t keep that promise.

The inevitable controversy over the film surfaced when word of its upcoming release spread to a Turkish message board similar to America’s mischief-making 4chan or its more mainstream cousin Reddit.

There, users decided to flood IMDb’s rating system with one-star reviews, hoping to tank the movie before it came out. (IMDb is owned by Amazon. Jeffrey P. Bezos, the chief executive of Amazon, owns The Washington Post.)

One user’s comment, roughly translated by the Hollywood Reporter, read, “Guys, Hollywood is filming a big movie about the so-called Armenian genocide and the trailer has already been watched 700k times. We need to do something urgently.”

As final credits rolled during the movie’s September premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, it was already among the worst rated movies on IMDb.

Christian Bale and Charlotte Le Bon in “The Promise.” (Jose Haro/Open Road Films)

“All I know is that we were in about a 900-seat house with a real ovation at the end, and then you see almost 100,000 people who claim the movie isn’t any good,” producer Mike Medavoy told the Hollywood Reporter.

At one point, the film had a 1.8 star rating on IMDb, placing it in the company of the 10 lowest-rated films on the entire website. The lowest rated film on IMDb with 1.4 stars is “Code Name: K.O.Z.,” a fictional account of the 2013 Turkish government corruption scandal

Some of these raters left short reviews. “The movie based on a lie so you know what to expect,” read one. “I fell for the positive reviews without realising they are written by armenians to push their political agenda on unsuspecting movie goers,” read another.

This is far from the first time Internet trolls with a political point-of-view have mobilized to offer a low star rating to a piece of entertainment. Both Amy Schumer’s book and latest stand-up special were targeted by members of r/the_donald, a subreddit purportedly composed of President Trump supporters.

Men, meanwhile, gave overwhelmingly low reviews to the female-led “Ghostbusters” reboot last summer, throwing the averages “completely out of whack,” as The Washington Post reported.

[Online reviews of the new ‘Ghostbusters’ are totally out of whack, thanks to men]

It’s difficult to ascertain if the ratings have any actual effect on the eventual sales. They ostensibly exist to help consumers sort through their many options, though some bloggers have claimed there isn’t a correlation between reviews and box office sales.

In Schumer’s case, the uninformed reviews led to negative publicity — such as the piece “Amy Schumer’s Netflix Special Slammed By Users: ‘She’s Lost Herself’” on Yahoo and “Amy Schumer’s ‘Leather Special’ Is Getting Overwhelmingly Negative Reviews From Netflix Subscribers” on Decider — both of which announced the special’s low ratings without the context of where many of them originated.

But there’s no doubt that user-generated, starred reviews are proving to be increasingly useless.

Friday’s release of “The Promise” falls just before the annual Armenian remembrance day of the mass killings, which is Monday.

“The Armenians were killed by their own government, not by the enemy, and they were killed in this systematic way that became the legal definition of the word,” said George, the film’s director.

***From the Washington Post

Rosemary and Tea Tree Dandruff Hair and Scalp Mask

Rosemary and Tea Tree Dandruff Hair and Scalp Mask

Ingredients

• 8 drops cedarwood oil
• 8 drops rosemary oil
• 6 drops tea tree oil
• 1 teaspoon local honey
• 4 ounces olive oil, almond or Coconut Oil (carrier oil)

Directions:

1. Blend ingredients well in container
2. Massage into the scalp
3. Leave on for at least 20 minutes
4. For severe conditions, try leaving it on overnight
5. Shampoo well

Cedarwood Oil

• Cedarwood essential oil is more of a woody, masculine scent. If you prefer something more feminine-smelling oils try lavender and ylang ylang. Cedarwood oil stimulates the hair follicles and increases circulation to the scalp to combat thinning hair. Cedarwood has also been helpful at improving dandruff symptoms.

Rosemary Oil

• Rosemarry oil works well for dandruff due to its ability to minize scalp itchiness and flakes. It helps to treat both dry, dull hair as well as overly oily hair and can help prevent split ends. Rosemary essential oil helps to prevent premature baldness and stimulates the hair follicles.

Tea Tree Oil

• Tea tree is one of the most popular essential oils for soothing damaged skin, but it's also great for scalp health. Since this essential oil is antifungal, it's been successfully used to treat dandruff. Tea tree oil also treats head lice.

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Remedy for Decongestant

So I'm sick.... GREAT!!! My nose is all stuffed ....... I'm not a big fan of taking medication over the counter so I'm trying Natural Remedies. Here is one for everyone who is stuffed and has mucous.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper
• 3 tbsp Honey
• 1/4 cup Lemon Juice
• 1/2 tsp Ginger Powder
• 1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

Directions:

1. Pour 1/4 cup of lemon juice and 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar in a pot and bring to a gentle simmer.
2. Stir in 3 tbsp of raw organic honey and 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper and powdered ginger.
3. Store in a jar in a cool, dark, place.

Adults should take 1 to 2 tbsp daily as needed. Shake well before using, as the powder doesn't dissolve. Might also taste better if you warm the mixture before taking it. 

Cayenne Pepper, Honey, Ginger

     Help loosen mucous from the lungs, making it easier to rid yourself of it and therefore relieving pressure and making you more comfortable. Cayenne pepper also helps with swelling and inflammation that is narrowing nasal passages.

Apple Cider Vinegar

     Helps thin out mucous being secreted, making it easier to drain the congestion.

Lemon

     Also helps with congestion, although the exact scientific reason isn't known and makes the whole thing go down a little easier. 

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Essential Oils

Essential oils have and are being used in medicine, cosmetics, perfumes, food and aromatherapy. Some essential oils can be applied to the skin, others are best taken orally.

**Do not ingest or topically apply any essential oils unless you are absolutely certain that they can be used this way**

Not all essential oils are safe to take internally and some can irritate the skin. Essential oils are a concentrated source of many phytochemicals and some essential oils must be diluted with an unscented carrier oil to be used safely on skin.

One of the primary benefits of essential oils is that, when used properly, they offer many benefits and have few, if any, side effects. Many essential oils are effective against harmful organisms. Some can positively affect your mood and mental state. Some essential oils can even help you reduce a headache or feelings of nausea.

Lavender Oil

• ·         Slows down central nervous system
• ·         Improves sleep quality
• ·         Promote better concentration
• ·         Hair regrowth in those suffering from alopecia areata
• ·         Help fight anxiety
• ·         Heals burns and cuts

Eucalyptus Oil

• ·         Kills insects (ticks and mites)
• ·         Inhaling eucalyptus steam can help alleviate a cough and congestion
• ·         Improves respiratory issues like bronchitis, sinusitis and allergies

Frankincense Oil

• ·         Build immunity
• ·         Reduces inflammation
• ·         Heals age spots
• ·         Supports brain

Peppermint Oil

• ·         Help alleviate nausea, headache, upset stomach, gas, indigestion and anxiety
• ·         Help soothe discomfort associated with irritable bowel syndrome
• ·         Improves focus
• ·         Boosts energy
• ·         Fever reducer

Tea Tree Oil

• ·         Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antiprotozoal
• ·         Inhibits the growth and sporulation of yeast and fungus

Jojoba Oil

• ·         Reduces acne
• ·         Improves skin appearance

Blue Chamomile Oil

• ·         Help with eczema, wounds, bruises, burns canker sores, mastitis
• ·         Chamomile tea can help with insomnia
• ·         Mild anti-anxiety

Rose Oil

• ·         Calms mood
• ·         Contains tocopherol (vitamin E compound)
• ·         Can make skin more permeable
• ·         Reduces skin inflammation

Oregano Oil

• ·         Supports liver health
• ·         Can kill fungus
• ·         Help fight cold

Jasmine Oil

• ·         Stimulating effect – increases alertness, breathing rate and vigor

Bergamot Oil

• ·         Encourage healthy body weight
• ·         Help with vascular and heart health
• ·         Encourages normal cholesterol levels and blood sugar

Carrier Oils

• ·         Almond oil
• ·         Avocado oil
• ·         Coconut oil
• ·         Jojoba oil
• ·         Olive oil
• ·         Pomegranate seed oil

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Falafel Recipe

Falafel

Ingredients

• 1 lb dry fava beans (foul), soaked in water overnight
• 1 lb chickpeas (hommos), siaked in water overnight
• 1 bunch of parsley
• 1/2 bunch mint
• 1/2 bunch of coriander (cilantro)
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 1 tsp dry coriander
• 4-5 cloves garlic, mashed
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp falafel spices
• 1 tbs salt
• oil, to fry the falafel
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tsp baking powder

     Tahine Sauce (Taratour)

• 1/2 cup tahine
• 1 cup water
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 clove garlic, mashed
• 1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Soak the foul(fava beans) and hommos (chickpeas) for 12 hours in cold water. Wash and drain
2. Wash the parsley, mint and fresh coriander and chop. Add to the hommos and foul.
3. Blend in the garlic, onions, salt, cumin, dry coriander and falafel spices.
4. Process this mixture or grind in a meat grinder, to obtain a sticky soft batter. Leave to rest for around 1 hour.
5. Stir the batter again and just before frying, add the bicarbonate of soda and baking powder.
6. Dip a falafel scoop in water and plunge scoop inside the batter. If using hands, wet hands with water, take from the batter and form semi-flat balls, bigger than walnuts.
7. Heat the vegetable oil in a deep pan and fry falafel balls until crisp and golden in color. Remove when they float on the oil.
1. I don't fry my falafels, I like to bake to make them healthier.
8. Dilute the tahine with water and lemon juice, add the salt and garlic and blend into a smooth sauce.
9. Serve the falafel with pita bread, sliced tomatoes, fresh mint leaves, chopped parsley and pickled peppers.
10. Drizzle taratour over the falafel when eating. 

EBATES: Always use this before you start shopping online to earn cash back

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Ole Henriksen Truth Serum

OLE HENRIKSEN

Truth Serum

I have been using the Truth Serum from Ole Henriksen and I love it. I love how it makes my skin look. It has vitamin C, very light weight. Doesn't feel heavy on my face. Absorbs very fast.

Fall in love with your skin. Expertly blending the power of nature
and science, OLEHENRIKSEN skincare rituals indulge your senses
while transforming your skin to reveal the radiant healthy beauty
you didn’t know was possible.

Which skin type is it good for?
✔ Normal
✔ Oily
✔ Combination
✔ Dry
✔ Sensitive 

What it is:
A powerful anti-aging serum formulated with vitamin C and collagen for brightening and all-day hydration. 

Solutions for:
- Dryness
- Dullness and uneven texture
- Loss of firmness and elasticity 

If you want to know more…
Truth Serum® is like a daily multivitamin for the skin. Ole Henriksen was an early adopter of vitamin C in skin care, believing that its antioxidant properties and role in supporting natural collagen make it a crucial ingredient. Supercharged with True-C Complex™ and boosted with collagen, this powerful anti-aging serum helps brighten, visibly firm, and deliver all-day hydration. Enriched with orange and green tea extracts, the fast-absorbing, oil-free formula revives the complexion. Indulge in this facial serum's sweet, energizing citrus scent and silky texture as it glides beautifully on the skin. The result? You see a healthier and more youthful-looking Ole Glow™.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates 

What else you need to know:
After meeting two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling and learning about his research on the effects of vitamin C on the immune system, Ole wanted to incorporate this "free radical scavenger" into his skin care philosophy. 

Research results:
In an independent consumer study on 35 women over 8 weeks:
- 97% agree this product smooths skin 
- 94% agree this product leaves skin soft
- 91% agree this product absorbs quickly and easily into skin 
- 85% agree this product improves skin radiance 
- 80% agree this product creates healthier-looking skin

Suggested Usage:
-Apply evenly to face and neck daily, taking time to enjoy the uplifting citrus scent and silky texture.
-After fully absorbed, follow with the Ole Henriksen moisturizer of your choice. 

Precautions:
-For external use only. 
-Use as directed.
-Avoid contact with eyes. In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately.