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5 Things You Should Know About Autism

Autism can be bewildering, especially to parents with children diagnosed with such condition. Individuals with autism are consistently challenged by the unique characteristics of the disorder, and with the right support system, they will be able to balance these tough characteristics. Having friends and members of the family with the right knowledge about this condition can contribute to a more advantageous future for these unique individuals.

Here are five facts that are worth knowing about a condition that’s too often misunderstood.

1. Children with autism can be affectionate
Those people who do not know anyone with autism may think that children diagnosed with autism are incapable of showing affection. This misconception might have probably stemmed out from the fact that some patients with autism diagnosis do not like to be touched or make eye to eye contact. Like normal people, some are more emotionally inclined, while others are not.

2. They can have successful careers, too
It is another common misconception that many of us believe—that children with autism have naturally slow mental development. However, where a particular skill or ability may be behind, the rest are advanced in individuals with autism. Therefore, it is absolutely possible for them to live successful lives when their best kills are honed and put to maximum use.

3. They are not limited in all abilities
Those with autism may struggle with the control of some skills, like social bonding, impulsivity and communication. However, the struggle to control does not mean that they have limited abilities. Instead, these people require different way of socializing, learning and executing day-to-day activities. Although we may have to approach people with autism in different ways to inspire and empower them, just like any other person, they are capable contributors to the world.

4. Show them how things are done
People, especially children, with this disability are visually inclined. Showing them how things are done instead of just telling them is a big help. You might have to repeat the process many times, but it would be a great relief once you have successfully taught that certain activity to them.

5. The most effective treatment at present are education and therapy, not medical
These treatment methods show the best results when started early. They are intensive in nature and are based on the unique behavior of an individual with autism. Active participation of parents is very critical in the success of the treatment and in nurturing the patient’s social interest.

Autism is a broad spectrum, so children with this condition are like any other diverse group of children growing up as adults with different unique personalities and abilities. Some grow up minimally verbal and may not be able to live independently, while others can live on their own and thrive on their own jobs.

4 Easy, Low-fat Ways to Prepare and Cook Fish

Fish is a versatile ingredient that can be cooked in a variety of ways, and can be used as a low-fat alternative to pork or beef, and sometimes even chicken.

However, because fish have little to no connective tissue or fat, they can be delicate when cooked. Here are a few ways that you can prepare it to get the best results:

1. Marinate it.
The process of marinating adds more flavor and moisture to the fish, as long as you keep the fish sitting in the marinade for no more than 30 minutes.

The marinade can vary in ingredients, but they usually include oil and other acidic ingredients, such as chopped tomatoes, and even lemon juice, along with salt and pepper to taste.

2. Bake your fish.
Cooking your fish in the oven can be an alternative to fried fish that still gives you the satisfying crunch without the fat. Just be sure to keep an eye out for how much butter, mayonnaise, and oil you’re using.

When you do cook fish in the oven, always remember to add a small amount of water or vegetable stock just enough to cover the bottom of the baking pan before covering it in aluminum foil.

3. Pan-fry it.
Pan-fried fish is perhaps the easiest to prepare, and the technique always results in food that is both crispy and tender. Most seafood as well as certain varieties of fish with firm meats, such as cod, can be cut into smaller strips and stir-fried by themselves or with vegetables.

Pan-frying fish also takes less time compared to other methods, as each side will take between four and five minutes to cook.

4. Poach it.
Any fish can be cooked gently in any heated liquid, whether it’s wine, vinegar, fish stock, water, or even milk. The best part about poaching is that you can then use this heated liquid to form the base of your fish sauce.
To poach your fish, be sure to add just enough liquid to cover it and cover the pan with a tight lid. For fillets, cook for eight to ten minutes and fifteen to twenty for whole fish.

When it comes to cooking, always remember the principle of residual heat: when you take the pan away from the stove, the heat will continue to cook the food for several minutes.

The best way to achieve the results you want is by cooking the fish until it’s almost done. After that, remove it from the heat source and let it stand in the pan for the fish to cook on its own.

What You Can Do About Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can cause shallow breaths or breathing pauses while sleeping. These pauses can last for minutes and will result to disruptions and poor sleeping habits overall. The condition is a chronic illness and sometimes goes undetected until the person suffers from medical complications.

What should you do about sleep apnea?

Detection and Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea
There is no test to determine if a person has sleep apnea, because the symptoms are not apparent during waking hours and only sleeping companions will notice the signs, if he/she knows what to look for. The first sign is usually the loud snoring, which can be dismissed as fatigue or habit, so the person who might be suffering from the disorder, as well as members of the family, will have to look for the following signs:

• Chronic loud snoring (which means that the person snores almost every night)
• Pauses in breathing while asleep
• Snorting, choking and gasping sounds while asleep
• Insomnia, disruptions in sleep, and feeling that you’re out of breath
• Fatigue, forgetfulness, irritability or depression, headaches, and sleepiness during waking hours
• Having sore throat or dry mouth when you wake up

However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. So how do you tell the difference? Snoring should not lessen the quality of sleep, but if you feel tired during waking hours no matter how much sleep you’re getting, it could be sleep apnea. If you suspect that you have the condition, you should seek medical help immediately to avoid complications such as hypertension, heart attack, diabetes, obesity, heart failure, and increased likelihood of accidents.

Causes and Treatments
You are prone to having sleep apnea if you are overweight, hypertensive, a smoker, and if your neck circumference is greater than 40 cm. Your family’s history of sleep apnea and allergies (such as nasal congestion) can also contribute, and even the structure of your chin, septum, and tonsils.

There are three types of sleep apnea, but the most common is obstructive sleep apnea which is the blockage of the airway due to the relaxing soft tissue at the back of the throat. Central sleep apnea on the other hand, is triggered by the faulty brain signals that control the muscles, while complex sleep apnea is a combination of the two. Be warned that people with central sleep apnea do not usually snore, unlike those with obstructive sleep apnea.

The doctor will recommend that you lose weight, stop smoking, limit your alcohol intake, limit the use of sedatives and sleeping pills, avoid caffeine and heavy meals 2 hours before bedtime, and to keep to your sleeping hours. To lose weight and get rid of extra tissue at the back of the throat, you need to exercise regularly so that the muscles in your airways open up and become stronger.

Your sleeping habits also need to change by propping your head up 4 to 6 inches with a special pillow, to sleep on your side, or to use a nasal dilator to open nasal passages.

A Glass of Milk a Day

Some of us think that milk is only for infants or for little kids but what we don’t realize is that milk is good for any given age. Besides, there are so many ways for us to enjoy milk. Remember when you were a kid and you couldn’t have your cereal without milk? Well, there was a good reason for that. That was also a very healthy habit of having milk for breakfast. Milk as we all know strengthens our bones and provides us with the necessary calcium to help build our bones as they slowly decay throughout the day.

Drinking milk on a regular basis has proven to increase not just the strength of your bones but also your strength in general. Although this is not an energy drink which supplies you with adrenaline that makes you feel like you have all the energy in the world, milk slowly makes you stronger.

People of all ages should drink milk. In fact, they should try as much as possible to make it a daily habit. After all, there are so many ways you can incorporate milk into your diet. For one, you can use it as a cooking ingredient. There are so many recipes aside from desserts (which we all know are fond of using milk) that are very heavy on using milk to cook the specific dish. Milk can even be used with tea. After all, milk tea does taste pretty good.

The benefits of milk are huge and it isn’t really that hard to drink at least a glass of milk a day. You can find milk anywhere. Unlike before when the people of older times would have to go all the way to their cattle to milk them, all we have to do is walk a couple of steps from our house or apartment towards the nearest 7/11 or whatever convenient store is out there. Getting milk nowadays is easy, take advantage of it.

When we say drink milk everyday, there are also specific types of milk you should drink and not drink everyday. Milk that has the most artificial content are usually not good for us and you best stay away from those kind of milk if you are planning to drink everyday. When it comes to milk, there is a huge selection to choose from. There’s cow milk, goat’s milk, and what about soya milk? Well, soya milk is pretty popular. That’s because it tastes amazing! Soya milk is one of the most sought after drink of vegetarians. Build a healthy habit, drink a glass of milk a day.

5 Simple Ways to Deal with Jet Lag

You’ve probably heard all kinds of advices when it comes to dealing with jet lag – stay hydrated, mimic the schedule in your destination, or try natural light and melatonin therapy. These advices are quite simple and easy to remember, but they can also be pretty easy to forget when preparing for a trip. To ensure that you can immediately recover from your next long-haul excursion, here are six ways on how you can possibly handle jet lag.


  1. Avoid Taking Naps. It may be difficult to push through the day after being in a long flight, but taking naps will only exacerbate your problem. Instead, keep yourself awake by splashing some cold water in your face or by touring your destination. If you really can’t keep your eyes open, then take a nap that wouldn’t last more than 90 minutes.
  1. Tour Around. Natural light can really do wonders when it comes to resetting our body clock. So as soon as you got your things in your hotel, do some light sightseeing. Explore the neighbourhood you’re in, take a dip in the beach or a pool, or engage in some bus tours. It doesn’t matter what kind of activity you’ll do, as long as you get to spend some time outdoors.


  1. Indulge in a Sensible Dinner. There’s no better way to fight your jet lag than enjoying a sensible dinner. If you’re still up for it, make some reservations for a nice dinner out, or if you’re totally wiped out, just order for some room service. You’ve probably read that avoiding greasy and heavy meals will help in dealing with jet lag, but that’s not really true as the type of food you eat doesn’t really have any bearing on your jet lag.
  1. Take a Hot Bath or Shower. Handle your jet lag better by taking a hot shower or bath when it’s almost your bedtime. The steamy water will help in lowering your body temperature, making you feel drowsy afterwards.
  1. Get a Good Night’s Sleep. There’s nothing more rewarding after a long flight than getting a good night’s rest. Set your room’s thermostat in a comfortable temperature, then close all the drapes to shut out any extraneous light. With this, you can already snuggle in your bed, and allow your body and mind to relax.

With these effective remedies, you no longer need to suffer from the excruciating effects of jet lag. You finally get to enjoy your long hauls and make the most out of your long-awaited trip.


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