Health and Beauty

Blood Sugar Monitors

Blood sugar (glucose) monitors are affordable devices that can be of vital assistance to those who have been diagnosed with diabetes, a disease they may have had for many years prior to the diagnosis and which, if uncontrolled, can be life threatening. According to The Centre for Disease Control (CDC), cases of diabetes are increasing relentlessly as each year passes. This is often the result of people consuming more and more highly processed foods which, when combined with a sedentary lifestyle, has led to a shocking increase in obesity among the population of all ages, but particularly the young, which has serious implications for the future of healthcare.

I, myself, have Type-2 Diabetes. I have set out my experience of the ailment since having been diagnosed in 2020 and the actions I have taken to minimise its impact on daily life. These have included lifestyle changes which, to tell you the truth, have not been as hard to adopt as I thought they would be right at the beginning, and I have lost some 30lbs in the process bringing my weight down to 158lbs. 

Blood Oxygen Monitors

Blood oxygen monitors may have been unknown by most people prior to early 2020 but since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic have been an essential indicator of the state of a person's lungs which could provide a life-saving early warning of infection.

Look here why you should consider measuring these levels on a regular basis.

Blood Pressure Monitors

Heart Rate Monitors

Blood pressure monitors provide you information relating to your heart health without having to leave your home. They are said to be not as accurate as devices used by doctors, but they do allow you to monitor your blood pressure levels with a degree of accuracy whenever and wherever you find it convenient.

We have included more information on why you should measure these levels. 

There is a variety of devices of heart rate monitors to keep an eye on your pulse. There are recommended pulse levels which vary according to your age and the activity you are performing. For example, when exercising your heart rate will rise according to the level of intensity you apply and seniors must not overdo it.

Uric Acid Monitors

Perhaps you are less knowledgeable about the importance keeping informed about your uric acid levels, which you can do at home with the aid of a uric acid monitor. The reason for this is that more and more research is demonstrating that levels outside the norm are quite likely to be the root cause of many ailments, some of which are life threatening.

We expand on the subject of uric acid, and the recommendation to monitor it, here.

Keto Diets and Keto Test Kits

For many people adopting one or other of these keto diets has proved to be beneficial. According to some experts, how such a diet should be followed depends on a number of factors about which we have included more information. This includes what some believe to be possible disadvantages associated with the diet, and others who swear by the positive impact it can have on the body.

Achieving a state of ketosis resulting from a keto diet can take time, so being able to monitor your condition is important. You can do this in several ways, including for example using one of these keto test kits. 

Pegan Diets

This is a relatively new diet created and named by Dr Mark Hyman. It's described in his book The Pegan Diet.  Essentially, it combines a vegan diet with that of a paleo diet to provide the benefits of both. It has gained quite a following and spawned quite a few cookbooks. 

Carnivore Diets

This is a diet which believes that a return to our ancestral ways of eating will help to reduce the incidence of disease about which there has been a huge increase in recent times.

The belief stems from a growing amount of evidence that our present habit of consuming large amounts of carbs may be responsible for a wide range of ailments such overweight and obesity, themselves a major cause of life-threatening diseases.

Thousands of people claim the carnivore diet has brought them a wide range of benefits. So, it is for you to decide in consultation always with a medical professional whether it may be suitable for your own situation. A read of the literature may a good start, and these carnivore diet books will provide just that.

Vegetarian Diets

There are a variety of diets that generally only include plant-based products such as vegetable, fruit, beans, and grains. All kinds of meats, poultry and fish are excluded, but some who follow the vegetarian way of life include eggs and other dairy products. Many of those who have made the transition to a vegetarian diet claim it has brought them many health benefits. One of the reasons for this is that vegetarians tend to have a more healthy lifestyle in general. For instance, most do not smoke or drink alcohol, and they are more active.

Have a look at our small selection of books on the subject if you are interested in adopting such a diet.

Intermittent Fasting

More and more people are reported to have had significant benefits resulting from the practice of intermittent fasting. The idea is that we tend to eat too much and often highly processes foods laden with carbohydrates and sugar. And eating three or more meals each day is believed by a growing number of health professionals to be neither necessary nor harmless especially if a person leads an inactive lifestyle. There are various definitions of what intermittent fasting can mean but basically it about going without food for hours or days to give the body's metabolic system a much-needed rest.

Intermittent fasting is what our ancient ancestors were forced to do and to which the body adapted itself over millions of years. Our present habits, with an overabundance of foods, has led to what experts say is a health crisis of overweight and obesity and as a major cause of ailments such as diabetes and heart disease to name just a few.

Here are some of books on intermittent fasting if you would like to delve deeper into the subject.

Exercise Equipment

Acquiring an item of exercise equipment like the ones we present can involve a significant financial outlay. But they should be seen as a worthwhile investment to keep you in top form when you to follow a suitable program of exercise with dedication, patience, and persistence.

Exercise Videos

Of course, you don't need to buy any exercise equipment to improve your fitness at home. You can, instead, rely on instruction provided in convenient videos. If you prefer this route to fitness, we've added a selection of videos which you might find helpful.

Consumer Smart Wearables

The advent and continuous development of smart wearables offers a new technology that has grown in popularity worldwide for their ability to provide an exciting and ever-growing number of features that promote a host of health benefits. They are seen by many experts as having a promising future in generating real time data on the health of individuals which may become more relevant in a patient doctor relationship. It may also provide invaluable date to shape and focus government health policies to help ensure the enormous budgets are better spent than they are today. 

We have written more about consumer smart wearables, which you may find of interest.

Weighing and Measuring Scales

Setting goals and targets are an important aspect of weight control, so we provide you with a selection of these devices. Just remember only to weigh yourself, say, once a week. Doing so more often and seeing no definitive change could lead to unnecessary disappointment. Dieting and exercising take time to produce health benefits but rest assured that with patience and diligence those results will come.

Genetically Modified Foods

A highly controversial subject with strong arguments for and against the technology. We have written about them and listed some relevant books so you can learn more about their pros and cons and make up your own mind.

Beauty Products

Beauty products cover a vast range and here we look at products related to  dealing with acne and associated skin disorders, anti-aging, which is one of the industries major growth areas, as well as hair care, and shampoos and conditioners. You will also find information on the need for sunscreens together with a selection of premium products, as well as face balms and serums.