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Do people really need to take “fish  oil”  supplements?

Do people really need to take “fish oil” supplements?

Fish oil is the fat or oil that is extracted from the tissue of a fish, and it usually comes from oily fish, other than the commonly known salmon there is also the mackerel, tuna, and herring. For the popular cod livers oil, it actually comes from the livers of other fish as advertised. Parents are keen to give their children this supplement for improved immunity as it protects one from acquiring a number of diseases.

Today, there’s an obsession with health and general wellbeing that has crept up on the modern society today. It does not matter your location. People are much more conscious about what they eat and how they treat their bodies. They are also very sensitive to weight, and overall health and their appearance. In a larger part, I believe we owe social media as one of the biggest influences to these changes. The picture-perfect Instagram bodies and success stories on Facebook about new ‘blessings’ have put people in motion as they try and achieve perfection.

Unhealthy as it is to compare yourselves to others, some people have taken on the comparisons in a positive way. Instead of wanting to be like others and creating unrealistic expectations for themselves, they have used friends, influencers and celebrities as their motivators to finally achieving lifelong dreams. Some have made subtle changes while others have been big to look and feel better. Apart from exercise, clean eating is part of the health overhaul.

This includes maintaining a diet that works for your individual lifestyle and getting more vitamins and supplements to strengthen your immunity as well. Supplements act as an additional option to gain the vitamins and minerals that are deficient in your body. Sometimes, they are taken to enhance the body through the benefits they provide. For example, clearer skin, stronger bones, fuller hair, and the likes. Fish oil is a favorite supplement because of its numerous benefits.

The benefit of the omega 3 fatty acids is found in fish oil. This is why people love to take the fish supplements. The oils are found in oily fish like salmon, halibut, sardines, and anchovies. However, the main omega 3 fatty acids to focus on are the EPA and DHA. The two play a positive role in your overall health. When they are made available, they embed themselves into the cell membranes such as the heart cells and help by supporting the cell membranes to stay flexible.

As more scientific research continues on these omega fatty acids, their popularity continues to rise. The proposed intake for oily fish is restricted to twice per week for a healthy adult. This comes down to 500 milligrams of EPA and DHA. Most people consume the fish supplements daily citing that it will increase their brain function and add on even more nutritional value.

For adults who have cardiovascular problems or who are at risk of cardiovascular issues, they are advised to talk to their doctors before increasing the EPA and DHA does above 500mg. However, it is important to note that there is research that supports the consumption of EPA and DHA may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Having fish for dinner is one way of getting the recommended 500mg but if you do not have it on your menu every week, supplements come in handy.

When purchasing a bottle of supplements, make sure to check the supplement facts on the bottle. Doctors recommend 1000-1200mg of omega 3 fatty acids. However, keep in mind that the EPA and DHA are the most important, and it is better to know how much of their contents are available. Approximately 30pc of the fish oil is made up of omega 3 fatty acids, and the remaining 70pc contains other fats and some unprocessed fish oil, which also contains some vitamin A and D for the users' benefit.

For parents to monitor teenage children

For parents to monitor teenage children

Monitoring a teenager’s online internet use is not criminal, but it does infringe on their privacy. However, in times when the child might seem in danger or starts portraying unusual behavior, I would say it is a matter of good parenting. To make sure their child is safe. I believe that it is not always a matter of infringement of privacy rights, but it has to do more with concern.

Today with cyberbullying and extremist recruitment online, one can never be too careful. All people have a right to their own privacy, and as they get older the reins must also get loose. A teenager cannot be monitored the same way they were monitored at 5 or even 11. When they reach the high school age, the most important part of parenting should have already been at this age.

This means addressing issues of self-esteem and self-confidence. Having the talk on responsible sexual conduct and also on how they should be leading their lives. This is to say in a way that comes from the heart. To portray love and kindness to all, and become part of the solution, not the problem. It is important to emphasize responsible online usage and behavior. They should not be bullying others online, creating fake news or engaging in polluting online engagement like pornography.

Instead with a healthy upbringing comes a healthy mindset. Children instead focus on creating solutions for others by building themselves up through a career in their passion of choice. Whether its finance or dance. Children should be encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle from an early age and to be shown by example how to lead such a life. This means, demonstrating through your own relationships on how to treat others, and also with responsible behavior. Online and with others in person.

By the time a parent is monitoring a teenager’s online movements, there is a problem. It is not just a nosy parent. It is a parent who is scared for their child’s wellbeing and had been forced to essentially spy on them to ensure their safety. As a young adult, many teenagers are vulnerable and impressionable. When mixed with the wrong crowd a child can go from promising to being in a ‘bad’ place, due to toxic relationships. This usually flows over into familial relationships, coming between the bond of a parent and child or siblings.

At this point, there is cause for alarm and a scared parent usually waivers the ‘privacy rights’extended to their child. With feelings that something could be wrong or about to go wrong, a parent has the right to check on the well being of their child. Even if it means snooping. Some may argue and say ‘let the child come to you’ but when faced with a unique situation, teenagers don’t often go to their parents; even when they have a good relationship. They seek out their more experienced friends and ask the equally naïve person for advice. This is why it is also important to ‘check on your children’, by taking an interest in their daily lives.

Get to know their friends, their performance in school and where they go to have fun and most definitely who with. When you are actively involved in your child's life having an open and honest relationship, then it is easier to see the signs that some parents say they have ‘missed’. Not to say that they were not active or attentive, but having an honest relationship means sharing your mistakes as well, and being open about how you dealt with them and how you hope they can avoid similar mistakes, or deal with what they are presently going through. It is easier to brush off alarming signs, and uncomfortable discussions.

It is easier to focus on work, but it is extremely hard to repair the damage when you know you could have done something to avoid it altogether. Prevention is better than cure.

Do the benefits of medical marijuana justify its legality?

Do the benefits of medical marijuana justify its legality?

Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers from the cannabis sativa plant. Also known as cannabis indica. It contains the mind-altering and influencing drug THC among other similar compounds. Extracts can be made from marijuana, known as marijuana extracts.

Marijuana has been used as a recreational substance and for religious purposes for years now. Many people, both young and old indulge in the substance so as to get an out of body experience or to relax. Many people view marijuana use as an equivalent to substance abuse like drugs. It is also a highly addictive substance with varied side effects. For some people, they get hallucinations, while others say they ‘see’ things clearly. Smoking marijuana actually hampers the brains functionality in one way or the other. However, it is still a drug of choice for many.

The sales of marijuana continue to rise each year, with an increase of 50pc last year alone among people over 50 years old. Among middle-aged and older people, marijuana use has increased (and expectedly so) because it is often cited as one of the substances that diminishes nausea and pain when used for medical reasons. The food and drug administration also approved the first ever cannabis-based drug called Epidiolex. Taking away the stigma in a large way from marijuana users and dampening the dangers associated with repeated marijuana use for the public.

Among young people, the use of marijuana is widely accepted and celebrated. The leaves are crushed and dried into a powdery form to be baked in cookies, cakes and other pastries for consumption. There are also several different strains with different levels of intensity for the drug. Some being more potent than others. Many young people have found themselves addicted to marijuana and when the drug can no longer satisfy them, they opt for heavier drugs. This ultimately leads to drug addiction.

Older smokers are also at risk of using more drugs, just like the millennials. A study showed that there was a high prevalence for the older smokers to start having within the same year of marijuana use; nicotine dependency and alcoholic disorders. Cocaine use was also not off the record with some smokers even going so far as to misuse prescription drugs such as opioids and sedatives. In the United States, opioids abuse was recently declared a pandemic with several Americans addicted and at risk of losing their lives.

It has also been proven that marijuana is also being experimented on by younger people before alcohol or tobacco cigarettes. From as early as the age of 12-21 years old, the number of younger people experimenting has doubled since 2004 to 2011 and has only gone up since.

It is the most commonly used illicit drug in America. In 2015 more than 11 million young adults aged 18 to 25 used marijuana in the past year. As the use of marijuana becomes more permissive over time, more and more people have cited trying the drugs more often. Although is it a small (but growing) study shows that marijuana could be helpful in treating pain, nausea, and spasticity the benefits do not outweigh the cost. At least, not for everyone.

However, some doctors and patients have argued even a little relief can be helpful to some patients, and so the use will continue for some. It is also a fact that older patients are more likely to experience the side effects of drugs than young adults, or the middle-aged group. Combining marijuana use with other drugs like opioids and alcohol needs to be cautious of severe repercussions. It is a cause for concern. The ability of older people to metabolize the drug is lower than that of young adults, and so they should be cautious of the potency of the drug.

As the legal cannabis industry expands at a rapid pace, we can expect that more and more users will come into effect.

How  do  tension  and  stress  affect  the  body?

How do tension and stress affect the body?

Tension and stress develop from a number of sources from home to the office and today’s specialty; social media. The tension between colleagues over a shared project and stress easily build with a micromanaging boss on your neck. A parent with a sick child cannot concentrate at the office. They are worried and stressed. The hospital bills are an additional stress provider on top of school loans, utility bills and you have not even thought about your daily needs. Even without a sick relative, the cost of living has become so high you can afford to only take care of yourself and buy groceries for the week. Adding dependents to your list is asking for trouble.

However, what do you do when you have no choice. As a lone breadwinner or the family’s success, it's inevitable to want and need to help out around the home. Although the financial crisis is a major contribution to tension and stress, relationships can be the worst source of stress. Unstable relationships, fake friendships, and poor working relationships also make migraines a constant problem. Stress has always been bad for the body and it shows in different ways.

Weight Loss

For some people, stress becomes evident when they start tightening the belt, literally. They lose weight from the fact that they have lost their appetite. Some people avoid eating when they are stressed. They have no appetite for food or any social activities. They remain stuck in their heads thinking about their problems day and night. This means that they don’t get a break from whatever is plaguing them.

Hair Loss

Hair loss is another side effect of severe stress. It does not happen to everyone but it may be a result of stress being experienced. As individuals are different, one may not lose weight and instead loose hair, or lose both.

Anger

Being stressed and being in a constant high-tension environment makes someone feel frustrated and over time they have pent up feelings of anger. Bottled feelings occur when the individual tries to avoid a situation, instead of addressing the issue causing them anxiety. This results in a short-tempered person. They are easily put in a bad mood because of the stress they are experiencing and when they experience some difficulty they get defensive. They also appear to be moody all the time.

Depression

Too much stress and without a proper outlet like therapy or an activity to channel it like exercise can lead to depression. Also, when we continue to indulge in the source of our stress like a bad job or engaging in a stressful relationship, it does not help us to deal with the stress we are experiencing. It instead helps to talk to someone to help assess your situation, or simply share how you are feeling. It helps to unload a burden and share it with a trusted friend or family member. It makes it easier to bare and the feeling of being alone in a hard situation diminishes.

Heart risk

For people diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is already unhealthy to harbor stress because it spikes their blood pressure. However, a consistent and ongoing stressful activity puts the individual at risk of elevated stress hormones which can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. For sickly individuals, it is especially important to avoid stress because a stroke or heart attack can cause irreparable damage to recover from.

Headaches and Migraines

This is another symptom of high stress and tension. The feeling of a migraine coming on is frequent for people who are often involved in high-stress activities. It becomes obvious even when they are experiencing headaches from stress instead of illness. For others who are particularly sensitive, vomiting and diarrhea are another symptoms of stress. The feeling of nausea or dizziness is not uncommon when you feel particularly stressed.

Should  the  United  States  put  more  restrictions  on  gun  ownership  and  use?

Should the United States put more restrictions on gun ownership and use?

The gun laws in America is something that has been condemned globally. In America, mass shootings have become a terror attack in itself. Young children in schools, malls, and even cafes have been losing their lives senselessly due to the mass shootings. The shootings that have taken place in an Orlando nightclub, in Las Vegas and even in the church shows that some of these shootings are motivated by marginalized hatred while others prey on innocent individuals that have no role to play in the shooter’s life.

More often than not, the shooters claim to be mentally unstable to escape the full force of the law. Leaving the victims families with a feeling of injustice due to some of the lenient judgments from the courts and definitely a leniency when it comes to changing the law to favor those who have been wronged by imposing gun control.

The march for our lives movement that took place earlier this year has done nothing to soften the hearts of Congress and other authorities who have the power to control gun ownership. Despite extensive media coverage on international and local news channels about how the American society feels concerning gun ownership, there have not been any changes thus far on ownership.

The implementation of background checks of individuals who want to purchase a gun has proven to be defective. Some of the people behind the mass shootings are those who previously underwent background checks and still received the go-ahead to buy a gun. In many instances, the mass shooters are often loners who have a limited social life and have gone ahead to ‘punish’others through demented attacks.

Gun control should definitely be implemented to curb the loss of lives from frequent mass shootings in public places. These shootings have instilled fear in both children and parents when making the decision to enroll their children in school. This is why the number of parents opting to homeschool is increasing, as parents opt for safer options to ensure their children’s safety and education. Additionally, the regulations on when guns can be used should be outlined for the public.

People brandish their weapons languish and at the slightest inconvenience. For example, an angry driver can pull out a gun on another driver from road rage. An argument or brawl can also ensue into a fatal altercation when one or both the persons involved opt for a more violent way of settling their disagreements. It is dangerous when people do not know or follow the law. This gives them the chance to act rogue by taking matters into their own hands to enforce ‘justice’ on another citizen unwarranted.

Gun laws in the US are established in a number of stated and also by federal statutes. They incorporate how they are regulated. From the way they are manufactured to the trade, possession of a weapon, transferring it to another individual and record keeping. The transportation and destruction of firearms are also forming part of the laws, as well as ammunition for the weapons and the firearm accessories. Some states only require a license to carry for concealed firearms while others demonstrate the need for a license for both the firearms and concealed weapons.

Some states also have preemption on their gun laws, which means only those states alone can legally regulate firearms. This makes it more difficult to put restrictions on gun ownership as it comes down to the state laws. Automatic firearms such as machine guns, short barreled shotguns, and short barreled rifles are among the guns under this preemptive law. However, some states and localities place additional restrictions on such weapons.

Laws vary from state to state, making it difficult to determine a national law on all the guns especially with bodies for pro-gun ownership irrespective of the sometimes fatal shootouts and accidents that take place by irresponsible individuals.

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