HOW TO REDUCE ALLERGENS IN YOUR BEDROOM

With so many hours spent in bed every night, your bedroom is one of the most important rooms to keep clean, particularly if you have allergies. 

Why we should try to keep bedrooms dust and allergen free,

If anyone in your family suffers from allergies, it’s important to try and reduce allergens in the air and on surfaces, to lower the risk of an allergic reaction. 

Tips to reducing allergens in your bedroom:
Keep your bedroom clean

Wash all bed linen once a week on a hot wash (at least 60ºC) to kill dust mites.

Use a vacuum cleaner with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter to clean carpets

Use a Dettol antibacterial surface cleanser or surfaces wipes to remove any pollen, pet hair and dust mite debris from hard surfaces. 

Make sure any decorative pillows, throws, rugs or other fabric items are fully washable. Machine washing will remove dust, allergens and dirt. 

Fit mattresses, duvets and pillows with dust mite impermeable covers

Choose lightweight washable cotton curtains, vertical blinds or roller blinds if possible - horizontal blinds and shutters will collect more dust. Always clean blinds with a damp cloth.
Keep your bedroom tidy

Soft furnishings are a haven for dust mites. Throw away anything that you don’t need, and try to keep cushions, pillows and blankets to a minimum. 

Put cosmetics, jewelry and clothes away in closed cupboards so that they don’t accumulate dust. 

It’s useful to keep out of season clothes in vacuum zip bags to keep dust at bay.

Avoid storing items under the bed – boxes and suitcases are harder to vacuum around, meaning dust mites and allergens can collect.



BY STEPHANIE E. HEMEN

WATERMELON AND IT’S HEALTH BENEFITS

  

 Watermelon is a delicious and refreshing fruit that's also good for you. 

It contains only 46 calories per cup but is high in vitamin C, vitamin A and many healthy plant compounds.

Watermelon is a surprisingly healthy fruit. It has a high water content and also delivers many other important nutrients, including lycopene and vitamin C.

These nutrients mean that watermelon isn't only a tasty low calorie treat it's also very good for your health.

Contains Nutrients and Beneficial Plant Compounds

As far as fruits go, watermelon is one of the lowest in calories — only 46 calories per cup (154 grams). That's lower than even low-sugar fruits such as berries

One cup (154 grams) of watermelon has many other nutrients as well, including these vitamins and minerals: 

Is Good for Skin and Hair

Two vitamins in watermelon A and C are important for skin and hair and skin

Vitamin C helps your body make collagen, a protein that keeps your skin supple and your hair strong.

Vitamin A is also important for healthy skin since it helps create and repair skin cells without enough vitamin A , your skin can look dry and flaky.

Both lycopene and beta-carotene may also help protect your skin from sunburn.

Can Improve Digestion 

Watermelon contains lots of water and a small amount of fiber both of which are important for healthy digestion.

Fiber can provide bulk for your stool, while water helps keep your digestive tract moving efficiently.

Eating water-rich and fiber rich fruits and vegetables, including watermelon, can be very helpful for promoting normal bowel movements.

May Lower Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Inflammation is a key driver of many chronic diseases.

Watermelon may help lower inflammation and oxidative damage, as it's rich in the anti-inflammatory antioxidants lycopene and vitamin C .

BY; STEPHANIE E. HEMEN

HEALTHY BENEFIT OF LOCUST BEANS

Commonly referred to as iru by Yorubas, ‘ogiri', ‘dawa dawa’ by Igbos, is a local seasoning or condiment used in soups and stews. A very popular soup ingredient, globally, it is referred to as African locust bean with the botanical name as Parkia biglobosa. It can be found in a wide range of environments in Africa and is primarily grown for its pods that contain both a sweet pulp and valuable seeds. The yellow pulp, which contains the seeds, is naturally sweet “and is processed into a valuable carbohydrate food known as sikomu and daddawa among the Yoruba and Hausa people respectively. 

The most valuable parts of the locust bean are high in lipid (29%), protein (35%), carbohydrate (16%), and is a good source of fat and calcium for rural dwellers. The seed is first cooked to remove the seed coat and then fermented to produce the desired result. When it is fermented, the Yoruba have a way of getting two types from it, the mashed type and the loose or free type, and they are used for different types of soups, but for the same purpose.

1. The fermented locust bean seed is used in controlling diabetes and cholesterol level. 

2. It helps to promote good sight and aids digestion.

3. It is used for treating stroke and hypertension.

4. The water and alcoholic extracts of fermented locust bean is used to reduce blood sugar.

5. It is used in the management of bacterial infections.

6. The locust bean contains tannins, which is often recommended for the treatment of diarrhoea.

7. It is a potential benefit for enhancing weight loss. The crushed bark of the locust bean tree has also been revealed to help in wound healing and serves as one of the ingredients used in treating leprosy. The decoction of the bark is also used as bath for fever and as a hot mouth wash to steam and relieve toothache in Cote d’Ivoire.

BY STEPHANIE E.HEMEN

OUR INDIGENOUS DANWAKE

Danwake is our very own indigenous meal…wondering who we are -- proudly AREWA..OK! So this meal is very easy to prepare, no stress at all… reason why I love it; more so we now do have readily available flour which can be purchased at the supermarket. Amazing right?

So let’s take a look at the servings that go with Danwake… there are no specific or constant servings, it solely depends on your choice, but of course I can tell you the seevings that people do take it with. Before we do that, how about ingredients for Danwake:-

Ingredients includes:
Ground pepper
Kuka
Potash…
Yup, that’s it….


How to prepare our Danwake:


Get your ground beans powder ready in a bowl and add your kuka and mashed potash.
Add cold water. Mix until it becomes a paste.
While at it, ready some water in a pot. Allow it to come to a boiling point. Form your paste and roll into balls, and drop them one after the other in the hot water. Allow it to cook for say 15 minutes. Get a sieve and drain out the hot water.
Rinse with cold water once... and voila! It's that easy. Your Danwake is ready.

SOME SERVINGS TO GO WITH YOUR DANWAKE INCLUDE:


GROUND PEPPER
VEGETABLES
STOCK CUBES
BOILED EGGS
GROUNDNUT OIL.


BY RUKKAIYA GARBA

MY WAINA

Waina is basically a slightly fermented rice meal that is accompanied with a Nigerian soup like miyan taushe or groundnut soup. When visiting any of the northern states you will find waina being sold on the streets. The type of waina that is eaten with soups are not sweetened.

There are special pots made for this purpose. Some are made of clay and some are made of metal. You can also use your pan cake puff pan, which you can buy in the market. For many Nigerians in the south, waina is not a common feature on the menu but guess what; after reading through these recipes, you will change your mind -- after all it's made of rice and Nigerians love rice. Understanding that rice is actually the most consumed food item in Nigeria, the type of rice used for waina also known as masa is called jasmine rice, but of course in the open market you can simply ask for rice for tuwon shinkafa.

In making waina, you can break the process into days. The initial softening of the rice by soaking for about 12=18 hrs is the most vital step. This is critical to getting a nice finished product. When this processed rice is left in the fridge, it slows down the fermentation process. The next stage involves adding yeast and baking powder which also requires another 3 to 4 hrs waiting period. But again, these are times one could be doing other things. Leaving the batter in the fridge after each step helps to reduce further fermentation or activation of the batter. This is quite a simple dish to make.

RECIPE FOR MAKING WAINA BATTER


1 CUP OF UNCOOKED RICE.
2 TABLESPOONS COOKED RICE.
1/4 TEASPOON YEAST.
1/8 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER
2TABLESPOON SUGAR OR HONEY
1 TABLESPOON FLOUR FOR BAKING (OPTIONAL)


METHOD FOR MAKING WAINA.


Pick out dirt and wash the rice. Soak in 1 ½ cups of water over night, you will notice some foam on top of the water. This indicates a bit of fermentation.
2. Boil about 2 tablespoon rice till soft.
3. Blend the raw rice and sugar, blend batter to a smooth paste.
5.Pour batter into a bowl and add the flour, baking powder and yeast.
6. Allow the batter to rise for about 3 to 4hrs.
7. Mix the batter well and fry in the oiled pan.
8. Serve waina for breakfast or dinner. 

BY RUKKAIYA GARBA

WIG UP

Wigs are wonderfully versatile in the sense that you can style them similarly to how you would your natural hair. Now whether you are wearing a wig for beauty purpose or as a result of hair loss, your lovely wig can give you as much freedom as you would have with your own hair.
If you are looking for wigs that you can wear up, the construction of your wig is extremely important, as a wig wearer, you should be informed about the various wig cap constructions available. Each cap construction offers its own brilliant benefits, and some produce wigs that can put in more effectively.

CAPS CONSTRUCTIONS INCLUDES…


The monofilament wigs…these are cap constructions for an up do as they offer a multi directional hair movement that produces that natural look.
The hand tied cap construction…this is a well-known closely replicating natural hair, allowing wearers to style their hand tied wig into various looks.
Another wonderful natural wig cap construction that can benefit a ponytail style is the lace frontal wig. These are known as one of the most natural caps available and with this comes the option to style it up with ease.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A WIG.


Choose a lighter wig…heavier and thicker wigs are much harder to wear than their lighter counterparts. Many wig wearers find lighter wigs to be easier to wear up and style into natural look.
Make sure it fits perfectly… having the right size wig is always essential for natural look, but having a wig that is the wrong size can be even more obvious and visible when styling. So make sure you choose the one that fits to avoid the bulky look.

Consider wig tapes…..One of the biggest worries with styling a wig is the fear that the wig will come off or move out of place. But there are simple ways of ensuring that doesn’t happen in the form of a wig tape. Placing wig tape along the contours of where your natural hairline would be, helps to keep your wig secured throughout wear. So there you have it, all the peace of mind needed to wear your wig with confidence whilst styling up.

BY RUKKAIYA GARBA

RELATIONSHIP BREAKUP

WHAT IS A RELATIONSHIP BREAKUP?

A RELATIONSHIP BREAKUP IS A TERMINATION OF AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP BY ANY MEANS OTHER THAN DEATH. BREAKUP IS COMMONLY TERMED ‘’DUMPING” SOMEONE IN SLANG…

BREAKUP IN A RELATIONSHIP IS AN ACT THAT IS BEGIN INITIATED BY ONE PERSON IN THE RELATIONSHIP. IF YOU BREAK UP WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND, BOYFRIEND, HUSBAND OR WIFE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT PERSON ENDS. 

There are few things in life worse than getting your heart broken. Not only is it a supremely sad experience, there are all kinds of other emotions — anger, regret, bitterness, even happiness in some cases — that can be super confusing to sort through. But dealing with a slew of emotions isn’t the only thing that can be confusing post-breakup: Trying to navigate the world of dating after a break up can be tricky, especially if you’re worried about it being “too soon.” So, is there such a thing as too soon to start dating again after going through a breakup? 

“It heavily depends on how long you were in the relationship and how invested you were in your partner. “Some relationships are long gone before the initial breakup, therefore allowing the individual to heal while in the relationship, and move on as soon as they detach themselves from the ‘exclusive label.’

How can you tell if you’re really ready to move on and dive back into the dating pool after a bad breakup? ““It usually means you’re feeling brave enough to risk being brokenhearted. It’s normal to feel ready one day and not ready the next. I usually tell people not to give in to the fear. Sometimes we need to lean into the fear instead of allowing it to dictate the direction of our lives.”

After experiencing bad break up, it’s not uncommon to be afraid to start dating again, because it can feel like you’re signing yourself up to get hurt all over again in the future. But, while it might not be an easy road, if you want the reward (finding love again), you have to be wiling to take the risk of getting hurt again, too. 

There’s no two ways about it, breakups are rarely an enjoyable experience. Even if you’re breaking free from a particularly toxic partner, or when instigating the split is entirely your own move, from actually doing the deed (like a band aid is our best advice) to those first few weeks flying solo when all you’re trying to do is fight back the tears, quell the anger, or just get used to the fact that your person is no longer always there, breakups are pretty much always a rough ride. 

Research indicates that the real difference between a hard and an easy breakup actually lies in whether your partner ‘endorses you’ on the way out,” relationship expert. Explains

“For instance, our confidence is deeply affected when we receive a ‘character assassination’ of sorts by our former partner, or when our self-esteem is strongly aligned with how we feel our ex perceives us.”

The Worst Breakups Are The Most Personal 

We don’t mean personal as in you managed to do it face-to-face, rather than leaving a Post-It note. Rather, it’s largely agreed on by experts that the most damaging breakups come as a result of feeling that you’ve been rejected due to who you essentially are as a person.

BY STEPHANIE E. HEMEN

DEALING WITH LOVE TRIANGLE

A love triangle also called a romantic love triangle or a romance relationship is usually a romantic relationship involving three or more people.

While it can refer to two people independently, romantically linked with a third, it usually implies that each of the three people has some kind of relationship to the other two. Although the romantic love triangle is formally identical to the friendship trend, as many have noted their actual implications are quite different. Romantic love as typically viewed as an exclusive relationship, whereas friendship is not. Statistics suggest that, in western society, willingly or not, most adults have been involved in a love triangle.

You might want to examine your place. There are two primary forms of love triangle, the rivalrous and the split object.

In the rivalrous, you are one of the two people competing for the exclusive love of the third person. In the split object, you are the person whose affection is divided between two lovers. Split objects relationships can also be imaginary. This occurs when someone imagines that they are in love with a romantic partner they have never met, or idealizes a relationship from their past.

You may not have initially chosen your role in the rivalrous love triangle. You may instead consider yourself victim of another person’s adultery. While this may be initially true, if you’ve decided to try to stay within the relationship you are actively choosing a role. it will help you to be honest about this.

       Discuss what happened, while talking about or hearing about a love triangle is difficult, it is important to be open and honest. Do all three people know about the triangle -- while being honest about a love triangle maybe difficult, it is ultimately recommended by most experts. Lack of honesty within a relationship can be corrosive and damaging to everyone in the triangle, including yourself.

BY RUKKAIYA GARBA