Threats to your health as you get older

Health & Fitness

There are many Threats to your health as you get older
Photo by CDC/ Judy Schmidt

While you are young (or even in middle age), it can be hard to foresee the many threats to your health as you get older. However, as your body breaks down in your elder years, you will become more susceptible to a variety of conditions that threaten to shorten your lifespan.

In the paragraphs below, we’ll cover a few common conditions that can be easily anticipated, allowing you to take action to avoid them as much as possible.

1) Blood clots (thrombus)

We put this one first because many people don’t consider blood clots to be as big a threat to their health as some of the other conditions listed in this article.

However, those caught unaware by the risks that blood clots or thrombus pose risk suffering a sudden medical event known as a pulmonary embolism.

Killing as many as 200,000 people in the United States every year, this potentially lethal event occurs when a blood clot breaks free from a vein in the leg or arm and find its way to the lungs, where it gets lodged in an artery or vein.

Here, it begins to cause respiration issues, shock can occur from a lack of oxygenated blood, and lung tissue can begin to die from lack of nourishment.

In the event of a pulmonary embolism, doctors use machines such as the EKOSonic to inject blood thinning drugs and bombard the blockage with ultrasound waves.

This has the effect of clearing the clot, thereby saving the patient’s life. If you find yourself developing blood clots (which announces itself through pain, redness, and swelling in the legs or arms), see your doctor as soon as possible so they can begin to put you on the course of blood thinning drugs.

2) Cardiovascular disease

One of the biggest health menaces in the western world today is cardiovascular disease. Modern diets are filled with excessive amounts of carbs and LDL cholesterol among other inflammatory agents.

Over time, these instigators cause the buildup of plaque in veins and arteries throughout the body, increasing blood pressure and stress on the heart.

Eventually, the passageways can get so narrow that chunks of plaque may get stuck in one of the coronary arteries, triggering a heart attack.

A similar events can happen in the brain, causing a stroke. The former event can kill within minutes or hours, depending on the severity of the incident, and sometimes the patient will get lucky as the blockage resolves itself.

Strokes can cause irreparable damage to a patient’s ability to move, speak, or Reason properly, among other negative effects. To avoid either of these outcomes, eat a healthy diet that limits the amount of food that inflames your arteries and veins, and get regular exercise.

3) Cancer

Taking on many different forms, cancer has become of the greatest scourges that humankind has faced in the modern era. Triggered by a variety of vectors from genetic predisposition to excessive exposure to the sun, one’s risk for this aggressive and multifaceted disease increases as one gets older.

This is due to the fact that cancer results from genetic mutations that occur as cells divide over time. Eventually, an error caused during DNA replication gives rise to a malignant cell that reproduces itself endlessly, swallowing up body resources and negatively impacting its function with every month that goes by.

Prognosis for long-term survival varies greatly depending on the type of cancer that is discovered, the treatment usually involves chemotherapy, improved lifestyle choices, and surgical intervention to remove malignant tissue that presently exists.

Like cardiovascular disease, prevention begins with a commitment to a healthy diet and a regular exercise regimen, but it can also involve things such as avoiding the sun at peak times of the day, reducing stress in one’s daily life, and regular check-ups if one has a family history of developing cancer.

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How Mothers Can Help to Stop Obesity

Health & Fitness

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The role of a mother in the life of their children is tremendous. They also, therefore, play a role in both causing and preventing childhood obesity. If you are a mum, you may feel that preventing obesity in your children is a daunting task, particularly if you are overweight or obese yourself. However, help is out there for you, including through clinics like http://bariatric.stopobesityforlife.com, who can help you transform your own life and that of your children.

A Mother’s Role

There have now been numerous studies that have demonstrated that the habits of a mother rub off tremendously on their children. They, more than anyone else in the family therefore, must set a good example. If they do this as soon as possible, the impact on the overall health and wellbeing of their children can be tremendous. This is particularly important in terms of diet and exercise. Think about how you, as a mother, can help to stop the deadly obesity pandemic in its tracks.

What Mothers Can Do

As a mum, it is your responsibility to:
• Be understanding and patient. Children will resist you when you tell them about the foods that are good for them. Be patient, allow them to speak, and counter their arguments reasonably.
• Become a better observer and listener. Look at what your kids do, and whether they do anything your own mother would have been very upset with. Unless you come from a household where both parents are obese yourself, you can guarantee that your own mother was setting a very good example. If your parents were both obese, try to identify which behaviors you are duplicating and reverse those.
• Allow your children to say what they think and feel, and how they experience the food they eat. Listen to what they are saying so that you can try to figure out where they get their bad habits from. This may be from you, but it may also be from their peers, for instance.
• Provide lots of variety in your cupboards, fridge, and daily meals. Turn this into a game, asking children if they know what the nutritional value of different foods is, for instance. You can also have taste journeys, eating things from different countries every day or week.
• Set an example, even if they don’t follow you straight away. Give them the option to join you, but don’t falter from your own healthy eating efforts just because they don’t want to.
• Make it more difficult for them to access unhealthy snacks, foods, and drinks by simply not buying them anymore. This will also make a tremendous difference in your own health.

You are a mother and you are one of the most important people in your child’s life, not just emotionally but in terms of their overall health and happiness as well. The majority of people who are now obese and require surgical interventions started to become overweight as children, and this could have been stopped before it go to this point.

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Ways to preserve your freedom as you get older

Health & Fitness

Getting a mobility scooter is one of the Ways to preserve your freedom as you get older
Photo by CC user Phasmatisnox on English Wikipedia

The aging of the human body is a time-tested reality, yet not everyone wishes to surrender their independence the second they begin to have trouble walking around the neighbourhood.

You needn’t resign yourself to spending your golden years confined to a nursing home if you begin to explore ways to preserve your freedom as you get older.

Here’s what you can do to stay as young as possible, even as your body aches begin to multiply.

1) Get a powered scooter

One of the main threats to your independence as you get older is a gradual loss of mobility. With every step becoming increasingly difficult, many seniors restrict themselves to their home, further increasing the rate of deterioration of their muscles and joints.

A mobility scooter can preserve your independence by making routine trips outside the home free from the anxiety that accompanied them before acquiring this useful vehicle.

2) Exercise regularly

While taking the pain out of walking around is an essential part of preserving your freedom in old age, you should also make the effort to exercise regularly.

The progress of many mobility impediments that are related to age-associated muscle deterioration can be slowed or even reversed by regular bouts of resistance exercise.

By contacting an exercise professional, you can design a program that will build and maintain healthy muscles and joints in areas related to mobility, allowing you to perform everyday tasks you’ll need to do in order to remain independent within your own home.

3) Retrofit your house with mobility aids

Nonetheless, the ravages of old age march on relentlessly with every passing year. As such, it is important to retrofit your home to protect yourself against the sudden losses of balance and strength that are part of getting older.

Grab bars should be installed in the bathrooms, as wet floors pose a particular risk if you are suffering from balance issues. As your leg strength diminishes, installing a stair lift should be seriously considered to mitigate the risk of a catastrophic fall.

4) Keep your mind as sharp as a tack

The integrity of your mental health is another area that needs to be addressed if you hope to remain in your home long term.

While you may be genetically predisposed to conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, there is evidence to suggest that you can stave off the development of these mental disorders by engaging in cognitive exercise on a regular basis.

Doing crossword or Sudoku puzzles daily is one way of accomplishing this, but we also strongly suggest engaging in mentally stimulating activities that have a social component.

Getting out of the house on a regular basis to play chess or cards with friends and/or strangers is a perfect way to stimulate the mind while feeding its desire for social contact at the same time.

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What to do if your vision worsens

Health & Fitness

Do you know what to do if your vision worsens?
Photo by CC user chsia on Flickr

It can be argued that sight is the most vital of the five senses. Your eyes enable you to see and take in the world, helping you to make sense of what is happening around you. Unfortunately, most of us tend to neglect them by failing to give them proper care. We assume that our eyesight will always be sharp and focused – until our vision begins to fail.

Part of taking care of your eyes involves being aware of and recognizing some of the potential eye problems you can experience. These can be caused by eye diseases, genetics, aging, injury, or other health conditions such as diabetes. Common eye problems you might encounter include blurred vision, blind spots, halos, and the inability to see or focus at certain distances. Some of these issues might clear up on their own, while others can be quite devastating, even leading to blindness. The most common eye problems that can result in significant vision change include:

  • Presbyopia – This refers to a difficulty in focusing on near objects. Aging causes it and it mostly affects people over 40 years.

  • Glaucoma – The elderly are at an increased risk of developing glaucoma. This disease is caused by a buildup of fluid inside the eyes resulting in increased pressure in the eyeballs. It can occur due to injury, diabetes. or aging.

  • Cataracts – These occur when the lenses of the eyes become cloudy. Cataracts are common in the elderly and can cause sensitivity to glare, poor nighttime vision, and halos around lights.

Looking after your eyes

Here is what to do if your vision worsens:

Wearing glasses or contact lenses

Available through prescription, these are useful for correcting short and long sightedness. There are a wide variety of glasses and contacts on the market so it is easy to find something that suits your taste.

Going for laser eye surgery

Popularly known as LASIK surgery, this refractive eye surgery can be used to correct near and farsightedness, cataracts, and even glaucoma. Laser eye surgery is a delicate procedure that has to be done by qualified practitioners. If you are in the Minneapolis area, feel free to contact LASIK Minneapolis eye care practitioners for further information on available procedures.

Getting regular eye checkups

It is recommended that you receive an eye checkup at least once every two years or more frequently as you get older. These checkups can bring potential eye problems to your attention to be dealt with before they become serious.

Proper nutrition

Good nutrition plays a major role in maintaining your vision. Antioxidants and vitamin A found in fruits and vegetables are good for your eyes, so it is a good idea to include these foods in your diet. You also need to watch your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels as all these can cause long-term damage to your eyes if left unchecked.

Remember that you only have one set of eyes. Take good care of them and they will serve you well throughout your life.

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How Women Can Learn to Help Themselves

Health & Fitness

There are many ways How Women Can Learn to Help Themselves
Photo by CC user Kendl123 on Wikimedia Commons

Over the past few decades, we seem to have been inundated with self-help books, courses, programs, and more. Some of these are very good, others are absolutely terrible. Either way, the self-help industry is worth billions of dollars and has a presence all over the world. And thanks to self-help offered through Oakland womens counseling, women all over the world feel like they no longer have to be subservient to their husbands.

Female Issues

In the past, the man was the only provider to the household, which meant any type of counseling was geared towards them as well. Women, after all, should be fine as they could live their life in enjoyment, looking after house and home. Luckily, this has changed a lot and there is now a lot of help out there for women. And it is needed, because women continue to have a hard time with the media enforcing ideas of perfect body images, perfect relationships, and more. Through self-help, however, women are able to grow in their health, whether mentally, physically, or spiritually.

Women all over the world continue to be marginalized and objectified, and the media has a huge role to play in this. What women look for is someone who has been through what they are going through, and have come out victorious. They want to hear from someone who speaks in a language that they understand. This is why they love women like Oprah Winfrey, for instance, who has come from a life of extreme poverty and has grown into one of the richest women on the planet. She has battled racial issues, body issues, relationship issues, financial issues, and more.

Of course, sometimes self-help books and programs are no good at all. It is all too easy for someone to write a book and claim that it will help women change their world. You have to be very critical in this, in other words. While you can trust someone like Oprah Winfrey to a degree (she is a lot of things, but she is not a counselor or psychologist), you can’t trust any book that seems to be on the shelves. A recommended plan of action is to visit a counselor, preferably one who focuses on women’s issues, and have some therapy. They can then provide you with recommendations on which self-help books do work and which ones you need to avoid.

Women face very complex issues and it is heartening to see that we now live in a world where this can be openly discussed. Unfortunately, women’s issues are starting to be commercialized, with capitalism and the media always trying to find an opportunity to make more money. Try not to become a victim of this, since you, as a woman, have already been the victim of thousands of years of patriarchy, media bias, the glass ceiling, oppression, and more. It is time for them to truly take the power back and to learn how women can learn to help themselves in order to achieve that.

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The Importance of Keeping Your Ears in Tip-Top Shape

Health & Fitness

Keeping Your Ears in Tip-Top Shape is important the older you get
Photo by CC user Flávia Costa via gov.br

Many have made the claim that the reason why we have two ears but only one mouth is because we are supposed to listen more than speak. Whatever the case, modern lifestyle nowadays has been pretty rough on our ears. This is why it is really important to get a regular hearing test. Unless one is living off-the-grid in a cave somewhere, one would always have to deal with twenty-first century loud noises like traffic, construction, lawnmower, party music, even monstrous snoring!

Keeping your ears in tip-top shape is vital as you get older, as our sense of hearing, like all the other senses and indicators of good health, experiences a drop in sharpness. Unfortunately, many of us do not notice this until it is too late. Perhaps the reason is because we often do not really pay close attention to how well our ears are functioning. It is only after repeated mentions by the people closest to us (who finally get frustrated repeating things to us) that we are forced to accept and admit the fact that our ears are not as sharp as before.

Symptoms of a Lowered Sense of Hearing

Even though the symptoms are quite subtle, there are noticeable signs that we can feel in order to diagnose a deteriorating sense of hearing. Ironically, sometimes it is often in quiet environments that we first realize that our sense of hearing is going. This is because we usually expect being able to hear very well when there is not a lot of background noise. Thus, struggling with hearing and understanding what other people are saying in a quiet environment is usually the first symptoms of a hearing going south.

Another sign is increased difficulty in understanding what others are saying in noisier surroundings. People often chalk this up to the background noises being too loud, but if this often happens, you might want to get your hearing tested.

Those who get tested and receive hearing aids would immediately notice a significant improvement in their sense of hearing as well as comprehension. They would usually remark, “Oh, I can hear so clearly now! I should have gotten my hearing tested way earlier!”

Take the First Steps to Better and Improved Hearing

Naturally, one could simply take the standard free hearing test, which is available in many places. However, this kind of hearing test is not really comprehensive. Indeed, it only gives you about twenty percent of the big picture.

The UK Hearing Care has a five-phase communication decline hearing and listening assessment. This test does not only cover the standard hearing test but also deeply analyzes and comprehensively grades your listening ability.

There are various reasons why people slowly lose their sense of hearing. The UK Hearing Care’s assessment would also try to look for the causes of individual hearing loss and chart each patient’s progress towards improved sense of hearing. Additionally, it would make recommendations to what kinds of technology could be used to augment one’s ability to hear well. You would be listening with practically a new set of ears!

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Find the True Answers to Your Pain Relief Questions

Health & Fitness

Does chronic physical pain have you on the run?

If so, chances are that you have had just about enough of it. The problem, however, what do you do to remove it altogether or at least make it manageable?

For many people, the answer to that question can oftentimes prove elusive, leaving them both physically and mentally frustrated.

Finding the true answers to your pain relief questions may take you some time, but it will be one of the most worthwhile pursuits in your life.

That said are you ready to find relief from your pain?

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Researching and Reworking Your Strategy

Your first step in the battle against pain (besides finding some temporary relief) is making sure you do your research, allowing you to see what the best pain relief options are on the table.

Some of that research can (and should) be done via the Internet.

With all the information that is out there on the worldwide web, you have myriad of information literally your fingertips.

Start by looking at Michigan pain specialists or those closer to where you reside. From there, get a handful of them and review their websites from top to bottom.

Among the areas you want to focus in on:

  • Experience – First and foremost, how long have they been in the pain field? Do they have years’ of experience or are rather new to this area of medicine? While there is nothing wrong in considering a rather new pain facility, tending to go for one that has been around for a rather long period of time is oftentimes a good bet;
  • Service – As important as experience is, you can never overlook the importance of customer service. Remember, you’re the one in pain, not the specialists. Make sure they take the time to not only answer all of your questions, but also give you a wide-range of treatment option suggestions. Although your first inclination may be to opt for painkillers (they could very well help you temporarily), pain pills are not always going to be a long-term solution. The other danger of painkillers is that unfortunately, many patients can get hooked on them. If that ends up being you, you will be battling much more than just pain;
  • Results – Finally, which pain treatment center can prove to you that it truly does get satisfactory results? No, not everyone that goes to a center will end up being cured, but many others will find the comfort they were indeed searching for. In fact, going to a pain treatment center will give many individuals the new lease on life that they have been looking for over time.

Educating yourself on the truths and falsehoods of proper pain management is definitely something you want to undertake.

Remember, it is your physical and emotional health that is on the line, so don’t end up settling for one form of treatment or another.

It is important that you explore as many options as possible, ultimately opting for the one best projected to remove or at least reduce your pain.

Finally, think about how chronic pain has dealt your life (and those closest to you) a blow over time.

In some cases, people live with chronic pain for decades, ultimately realizing a less than stellar quality of life.

Such a life can be shortened by a bad attitude, negative physical actions (overeating, not exercising etc.), and ultimately just giving up and being resigned to the fact that things in fact will not improve anytime soon.

In the event a pain treatment center specialist has not crossed your mine before, change that line of thinking as you move forward.

Not only can a change of attitude end up freeing you somewhat (or even eliminating you) from the level of pain you currently suffer, but it can prevent you from potentially putting yourself in that position again.

Yes, getting rid of your chronic pain can be both time-consuming and expensive, but what other options do you have?

Living the remainder of your life in near or constant pain is not a very rosy picture.

Take a chance on a pain treatment center today; hopefully getting you back on the road to recovery tomorrow.

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Lifestyle Tweaks To Help You Lose Weight

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Losing weight is really important for many individuals from around the world. Unfortunately, most focus on what they eat and working out. While it is true that some products like Le-Vel reviews are interesting and can help you to have a more active life, the truth is that it is your lifestyle that needs to change first. Lifestyle changes are highly important if you want to gain a sustained weight loss as opposed to simply losing some weight and then put it back on.

Limit Eating Out

If you are currently used to eating out many times per week at restaurants or fast food joints, stop. It is all you need to do in order to drastically improve your weight loss efforts. If this is something that you really enjoy, you can always go for just one outing per week. It is more than enough. Also, instead of ordering the really large portions, go for something healthier and smaller.

Shop Intelligently

When you change your shopping habits you will be able to avoid that unwanted situation in which you feel a craving and you actually have it inside the home. Our routine is what destroys our weight loss efforts the most. When you go to the supermarket make it a habit to avoid the sugary and salty regions. Simply avoid them. Do not buy candy and do not invest money in that. It will be a little difficult on the long run but after some time you will get used to it.

Prepare Your Breakfast Ahead Of Time

One of the biggest problems with losing weight is that people do not really eat a good breakfast. You should never skip your breakfast as it really is the most important meal of the day. We recommend that you prepare the breakfast ahead of time. Simply mix protein with some whole grains for a total of around 300 calories. You can even make it a meal to take on the go if you have to go to work. Sandwiches can also be prepared ahead of time. It is basically impossible to lose weight on the long run if you do not eat a good breakfast every single tip. This is a very easy weight loss tip that will help you so much more than what you think at the moment.

Start Working Out Even If Just For A Few Minutes

Watching TV is something that so many do these days. Why not make this a part of your weight loss process? During the commercials all that you have to do is exercise a little. Jumping jacks and crunches can be done in that short time frame. It is even possible to start dancing while the dishes are done. The calories that you will burn will eventually add up and more importantly, you can keep your mind away from junk food. Since we talk about exercising, do your best to quit smoking! Believe it or not but this will make you healthier and will increase your desire to work out!

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Superbug on the run: steps hospitals have taken to kill MRSA

Health & Fitness

Medical professionals of all kinds have done their part to help kill MRSA
Photo by unsplash.com and pexels.com

There are superbugs, and then there is MRSA. This is regarded as one of the most lethal out there and several years ago, there was something of an epidemic.

This isn’t some sort of minor infection that one can pick up; it’s a form of bacteria that happens to be hugely resistant to most antibiotics out there. In other words, it’s highly difficult to treat and as such, very dangerous for all of those patients who are already at risk from their existing problems.

Fortunately, the problem has eased substantially over recent times. Immense research has been conducted on MRSA, with conclusions being drawn on what can prevent it from becoming a problem again. Hospitals now have extremely strict protocol and to highlight some of steps they take, we’ve listed some of the policies that the majority implement to prevent the deadly superbug from endangering the health of patients.

The hospital environment is subject to risk-based cleaning

This is perhaps one of the biggest changes in the way in which hospitals deal with hygiene.

Now, each and every level of the hospital is ordered in terms of risk. Suffice to say, those environments which come into frequent contact with patients are treated regularly, while those that aren’t have slightly more relaxed rules.

Not only this, the method of cleaning the hospital environment has intensified. Now, hospitals are more than happy to invest in the appropriate equipment and chemicals, with CaviWipes and other medical-specific disinfectant products often being turned to.

It means that the surroundings in which patients are within are not only cleaned more frequently, but disinfected more efficiently as well.

Employees are monitored for their own hygiene

It would be grossly unfair to suggest that hospital employees have never been concerned with their own hygiene.

However, nowadays they are put under much more scrutiny. Hospital policies dictate that they have to wash thoroughly before caring for a patient, or touching anything that can be contaminated.

Similarly to the previous issue we spoke about, there is also more pressure to wash using the correct chemicals. Now, antiseptic solution should be used at all times, while disposable gloves must also be used whenever employees are coming into contact with open wounds.

Changes made to patients who are affected

Of course, even with the most stringent policies in the world, it’s difficult to stop something as powerful as MRSA once and for all. In other words, there will always be the odd case – it would not be possible to stop it in its tracks indefinitely.

It means that there has also been a change in policies in relation to those patients who are suffering with the infection. Anyone who does fall into this group must be immediately isolated, in a bid to prevent anyone else becoming susceptible to it.

As well as this, the movement of patients between wards is strongly discouraged. Again, it’s all with the aim to isolate and kill MRSA and prevent it from spreading around the building and onto other patients.

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Psychological tips to reduce your portion sizes

Health & Fitness

By following tips to reduce your portion sizes, you can enjoy your favorite foods while staying healthy
Photo by CC user elsiehui on Flickr

There’s all sorts of varying advice being branded about in relation to weight loss, but one thing that all of the experts will agree on is that smaller portions sizes will result in you heading in the right direction.

It’s one of the simplest ways to lower the amount of calories that are entering your body yet for whatever reason, it’s a suggestion that’s often ignored.

If you are struggling to train your brain into accepting smaller portion sizes, it might be time to consider some shrewd psychological approaches that can fool your mind somewhat.

We’ve put together some of the best tips to reduce your portion sizes. Let’s take a look.

The 6 month approach in retraining your brain

Let’s start with one of the biggest steps you can take. There’s no doubt that weight loss surgery has come on a lot over the last few decades and one of the most risk-free ones comes in the form of the Orbera gastric balloon.

In relation to training your brain to approach food differently, this balloon will do exactly that. It shrinks your stomach until it is removed after six months, meaning that your food intake is immediately restricted.

The concept is that by the time the device is removed, you will have got used to your new portion sizes and will stick to your new diet.

Buy smaller plates

A solution which is perhaps a little simpler comes in the way of just buying smaller plates.

For most of us, a portion is the size of a plate. Therefore, if you can use plates that are smaller, your portion size theoretically reduces.

We’re far less likely to reach for a second plateful of food – psychologically it feels greedy.

Ditch politeness – you don’t have to clear your plate

On a similar note to above, from a young age we are taught to finish our meals. Again, usually a meal will come in the form of a plateful (when have you ever seen half of the plate empty upon serving?).

However, when obesity strikes, now is the time to ditch politeness. Don’t finish your serving just to be polite; if you are not hungry make sure you don’t overeat.

For years we have been taught the importance of leaving a clean plate after eating – when really it does nothing but harm for the obese section of the population.

Avoid the leftover temptation

It’s hard to cook correct proportions – everyone accepts this. It’s for this reason, as well as plain efficiency, that some people will make much more than they really need for an evening.

Initially, the idea is to eat the remains another day. In reality, second servings prove too tempting and the rest as they say, is history.

Before your cravings can get the better of you, try and put the remains in the fridge or freezer. That way, it should just be too much work to re-heat the food when you are willing for more.

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