Diabetes is a condition wherein the blood sugar levels in one’s body are higher than the standard limit. Among the commonly known types of situations, type 2 diabetes affects millions of people each year. In type 2 diabetes, the body does not make insulin (a vital compound that breaks down glucose from food to convert into energy). In some cases, the body is unable to absorb the insulin, resulting in elevated blood sugar levels.
It is easy to prevent type 2 diabetes and delay any complications that might arise out of condition. Have a look at what medical professionals recommend for patients of varying ages.
Weight loss and management
Being obese or overweight increases the risk of diabetes significantly. It is one of the leading causes of type 2 diabetes and complications associated with the condition. Weight management effectively starts with shedding those excess pounds first and then planning an active lifestyle that prevents further weight gain. Even losing just 7-10% of current body weight can reduce the chances of type 2 diabetes by half.
Limit smoking and alcohol consumption
Research indicates that consuming moderate amounts of alcohol, the recommended limit for men and women, actually helps insulin to break down the glucose cells. However, excess consumption does increase the risk of type 2 diabetes significantly. Studies also show that frequent or heavy smokers are at a higher risk of suffering from diabetes in comparison to nonsmokers. So, it is time to kick the habit for good.
Stay active
Inactivity often is linked to type 2 diabetes’s triggers, which does not mean one must compulsorily hit the gym and pump some iron to stay active. A casual half-hour of brisk walking can bring upon the same level of effect to reduce the risk by at least 30%. Experts recommend walking at least five hours every week to improve the body’s cardiovascular activity. Regular workout improves the muscles’ ability to circulate insulin throughout the body better and absorb glucose.
Plan a healthy diet
Dietary changes form a crucial part of diabetes management as one must complement a healthy lifestyle with good food. The daily diet must include a proper balance of whole grains and foods made with whole grains. These include quinoa, buckwheat, millet, barley, brown rice, and even oats as a substitute for products that are refined or processed carbohydrates. One must avoid the frequent consumption of sugar-based beverages like flavored colas and soft drinks. Coffee and tea are acceptable choices. Also, note that there is a direct link between sugar consumption and weight gain. Avoid foods and certain condiments that contain highly processed fats and trans fats. These are products that are readily available on the shelves in the market. Finally, one must also reduce the consumption of red meats and switch to more lean cuts to help lower the risk.
-
Easy steps to clean the seat cushions on patio furniture
Read morePatio furniture seat cushions make our outdoor space comfortable and beautiful. Unluckily, they go through the tough weather abuse, and thus, needs to be cleaned regularly in order to remove dirt and stains. Here are some amazing tips on how to clean your patio furniture seat cushions off stains so that you don’t have to change them every season.
While most Patio furniture seat cushions are able to stand the sun damage, the top layer protection wears off in the years to come. When buying patio furniture seat cushions and covers for your furniture, pick up styles with zippers or look for snaps that usually make the fabric removal easier.
Pretreating stains on patio furniture seat cushions are very important. The stain remover type that you should use is determined by the stain type – tannin, protein, oil, dye, or combination of any of these. The crucial thing while cleaning the covers is giving the procedure its due time required for it to work.
Tree Sap– Often described as a combination mark, tree sap stain requires detailed treatment. Initiate the process by handling the waxy constituent of the stain. This can be started with the help of a pre-treater. You can also use any stain remover. Once it is pre-treated, rub it using a heavy-duty liquid detergent. Scrub the stain gently and rinse it with hot water. Wash the cover with hot water and see the magic.
Grass –For removing grass stains, it is necessary to pretreat the mark using a heavy-duty liquid detergent. Use a soft brush to apply the detergent onto the damaged area using a soft brush, rinse it properly and then let the cover soak in a solution made with warm water and all-fabric oxygen-based bleach for minimum one hour before washing it off.
Mildew–A growing organism, mildew has the tendency to attach itself to cellulosic like cotton, linen, and fibers. It weakens and damages the fabric by eating up its fibers. It is thus very important to eliminate mildew as it can spread and make its way to your home. In order to get rid of mildew, it is extremely important to treat the dirt or mark with a liquefied detergent. Allow it to sit on the fabric for a minimum of15-20 minutes. Then wash the fabric using hot water. You can also put chlorine bleach on bleached as well as white cotton to help restore whiteness. Oxygen bleach, on the other hand, is used to remove stains on colored fabrics.
Sunscreen– Pretreating, in this case, is extremely crucial. Use a dense liquid detergent or make a paste by mixing powder detergent in water and allow this mixture sit on the patio furniture cushion cover for minimum 30 minutes, it can be kept on overnight as well. Then clean it as usual.
To remove food stains, including sauces, coke, watermelon, etc., use the best suitable detergent, in accordance with the fabric type, to treat the stain.
Washing Patio Furniture Cushions
For patio furniture seat cushions that should not be washed in the washer, spread them a plastic tarp or on the patio, and then rub on a little elbow grease. You can also make your own soap by mixing water and detergent. This mixture should be applied top to bottom with the help of a soft scrub brush. Remember, it should be applied in small sections or the covers would bleed fast.Keep rinsing until the time soil is not cleaned. Ensure that the cleansing agent solution does not desiccate the fabric. Rinse only once the stained part is washed thoroughly as multiple rinsing can take off the color.
In order to ensure that patio furniture cushions dry completely, spread them in the heat or sunlight. You can also hang them from the clothesline to ensure that all the water drips away. It is a possibility that thick cushions might take a few days to dry out, so wash these on a hot, sunny morning to avoid problems of mildew.
-
4 Smoothie Recipes That Help With Weight Loss
Read moreEveryone knows smoothies as a recipe that helps people lose weight. Across the country, nearly 40% of households prefer to have smoothies for breakfast. Besides the fact it is effortless to make one, a good, green smoothie recipe can help people with their weight loss regime. Smoothies are rich in protein and fiber. Unlike traditional breakfasts that we are so accustomed to, drinking a healthy smoothie for breakfast does not make us feel bloated. Besides, starting the day with a healthy meal gives us great motivation to be mindful of how we eat for the rest of the day. It also helps us maintain our fitness levels. Here are some smoothie recipes that one can make to aid them with weight loss:
Peach and cream oatmeal smoothie
Each serving of this smoothie has only 331 calories. This peach and cream oatmeal smoothie recipe will satiate your hunger and aid in weight loss. Here are the ingredients you will need:- 1-1.5 cups peach slices
- 1 cup Greek yogurt, preferably unsweetened
- ¼ cup oatmeal
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-1.25 cups almond milk
Method
Add of the ingredients in a blender and blend it until it’s smooth. You can add some ice chips if you wish.Merry-berry banana breakfast smoothie
Bananas are rich in antioxidants, and this weight loss smoothie recipe is great as it boosts one’s metabolism. For this, you will need:- 1 banana
- ½ cup strawberries
- ½ cup raspberries
- ½ cup blueberries
- 1 cored and sliced apple
- 1-1.25 cups almond milk
Method
Freeze the bananas, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries for five hours or overnight. The next morning, slice the frozen bananas and add them to the blender along with all the other ingredients. Blend it and serve fresh.Dream of orange smoothie
This smoothie’s calorie count is just 129. You would be hard pressed to find a better weight loss smoothie recipe. Additionally, this recipe is quite easy to make.- 1 peeled orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ¼ cup almond milk
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ cup ice
Method
Toss all the ingredients into a blender and churn them until smooth. The ice helps to reduce the thickness of this smoothie.Choc-work smoothie
This one tastes wonderful. If you are looking to treat yourself on your cheat day, then you can certainly enjoy this chocolate based smoothie. Surprisingly, the calorie count isn’t too alarming. One serving has only 151 calories.- 1 banana
- 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- ½ cup ice
Method
Freeze the banana until it is firm. Toss all the ingredients into a blender. Make sure that you don’t add more than one tablespoon of chocolate syrup as it will increase the calorie count drastically. Serve your smoothie while it is cold.