Hug is a physical embrace of one another in a way of showing pleasantries, calming down a distressed person, showing affection, among others.
People hug in places such as churches, open places, corporate environments, to mention but a few.
According to research, the effect of a hug builds trust, a sense of safety and belonging.
This helps with open and honest communication.
Hugs instantly boosts oxytocin levels, which heals feelings of loneliness, rejection, isolation, and anger.
Medical findings show that holding a hug for an extended time lifts serotonin levels, and also elevates mood.
The psychology behind hugs tells us that, when we hug, our bodies release oxytocin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that increases bonding, social behavior and closeness between humans that have trust for one another.
Hug builds confidence, and also creates unexplainable happiness in human.
Is hugging an opposite sex unacceptable in the society?
A particular thing could have different meanings to different people, however, from this perspective, hugging an opposite sex is not an offense.
It varies, in western countries, to them, hug is a norm, while some countries frown at it, on religious grounds, instead, they shake hands and peg it there.
Therefore, some men love hugging beautiful women, which they feel makes them feel so good emotionally.
Some men just hug because, it is in their normal act of greeting either the opposite sex or the same gender.
Handsome man embracing woman calms in difficult moment. Husband hugging wife relieves stress from work or health. Friends and couple relationship concept.
According to the explanation above, hug is not a crime except it is done otherwise.
Are you a lover of sugarcane? Then you have got yourself a good juice for a friend!.
If sugarcane is not on your menu, guess what, you are missing a lot.
Now, let’s get to know about sugarcane:
Sugarcane or Sugar cane (Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation) of tall grasses (family Poaceae, tribe Andropogoneae), native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Old World.
The genus is widespread across tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions in Africa, Eurasia, Australia, the Americas, and assorted oceanic islands.
There are three classifications of carbohydrates: sugars (these include monosaccharides and disaccharides), oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Saccharide originates from the Greek word for sugar, “sákkharon.” Mono-, di-, oligo- and poly- refer to the number of sugar units present in a carbohydrate
According to HealthifyMe Note, there’s nothing better than a chilled glass of sugarcane juice on a hot summer day. Sugarcane, a grass plant that can be found in 36 varieties, has no fats and is a 100 percent natural drink.
An 8-ounce serving, approximately 240 ml of sugarcane juice (with no additives) contains 98kcal. It has zero cholesterol and small amounts of fat, fiber, and protein. It also contains sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Nutrition Value of Sugarcane Juice
One serving (28.35 grams) of sugarcane juice contains.
Nutrient
Amount
Calories
98
Protein
0.3 grams
Fat
0.5 grams
Carbohydrates
22.8 grams
Here are Ten Health Benefits of Sugarcane Juice :
1. Gives you a shot of instant energy:
There’s a reason sugarcane juice sells at most roadside kiosks in summer.
It’s the best way to energize yourself and ensure you don’t experience dehydration. The simple sugars in the juice are easily absorbed by the body and are used to replenish sugar levels.
2. Enhances liver function:
Sugarcane juice is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and helps support the health of vital organs such as the liver.
Studies find sugarcane juice is alkaline in nature, it helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance in the body.
3. Help the body fight cancer:
Studies have shown that the plant polyphenols in sugarcane juice have a high antioxidant and anti-cancer activity. It’s good to make sugarcane juice a regular part of your diet.
4. It eases the digestive system:
Sugarcane juice is exceptional for people suffering from digestive distress.
The potassium in sugarcane juice balances the pH levels in the stomach. Drinking sugarcane juice also keeps one hydrated and helps with regular bowel movements. It also helps prevent stomach infections.
5. Helpful for people with diabetes:
Though the high sugar content in sugarcane juice may make diabetics wary of consuming this juice, in moderation, sugarcane juice can benefit diabetics, the natural sugar has a low glycemic index that prevents frequent spikes in blood glucose levels.
Studies also reflect that sugarcane contains various polyphenols that help in better managing diabetic conditions and also offer antioxidants to the body.
6. Maintains kidney health:
Being a natural zero-cholesterol, low-sodium food, with no saturated fats, sugarcane juice helps to keep the kidneys healthy.
7. It alleviates pain associated with UTIs:
If consumed in a diluted form, with lime juice and coconut water, sugarcane juice can help reduce body inflammation by increasing your fluid intake and help manage symptoms better, like urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and prostatitis.
8. Aids in the development of bones and teeth:
Back in the day, chewing on a sugarcane stick used to be a regular pastime for young children and adolescents.
Apart from keeping them occupied, the calcium-rich benefits of sugarcane juice also ensure the proper development of the skeletal system, bones, and teeth.
9. Keeps bad breath & tooth decay at bay:
Experiencing bad breath linked to tooth decay? Sugarcane juice can be your saving grace.
Sugarcane is rich in minerals, including calcium and phosphorus, and also helps build tooth enamel and strengthen teeth, ensuring they are prone to decay. It also overcomes bad breath caused due to the deficiency of these nutrients.
10. Can help cure acne:
The topical use of sugarcane juice has the ability to help reduce and cure skin problems such as acne. Since sugarcane juice contains alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid, it increases cell turnover.
The high sugar content of sugarcane juice may cause lots of people to avoid consuming this natural summer drink. However, there are many studies that show a lot of health benefits of sugarcane juice making it a healthy beverage even for diabetics when consumed in moderation.
Unlike some other forms of exercise, walking is free and does not require any special equipment or training.
Physical activity does not have to be vigorous or done for long periods in order to improve health.
Walking is low impact, requires minimal equipment, can be done at any time of day, and can be performed at one’s own pace. You can get out and walk without worrying about the risks associated with some more vigorous forms of exercise.
Walking is also a great form of physical activity for people who are overweight, elderly, or who have not exercised in a long time.
Walking for fun and fitness is not limited to strolling alone around local neighborhood streets. There are various clubs, venues, and strategies that can be used to make walking an enjoyable and social part of the lifestyle.
Tips on Walking Exercise:
Walking for 30 minutes a day or more on most days of the week is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health.
If you can’t manage 30 minutes a day, remember even short walks more frequently can be beneficial.
Walking with others can turn exercise into an enjoyable social occasion.
See your doctor for a medical check-up before embarking on a higher-intensity new fitness program, particularly if you are aged over 40 years, overweight or have not exercised in a long time.
Health benefits of walking:
You carry your own body weight when you walk. This is known as weight-bearing exercise. Some of the benefits include:
Increase in cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness
If it’s too difficult to walk for 30 minutes at one time, do regular small bouts (10 minutes) 3 times per day and gradually build up to longer sessions.
If your goal is to lose weight, you will need to do physical activity for longer than 30 minutes each day. You can achieve this by starting with smaller bouts of activity throughout the day and increasing these as your fitness improves.
The physical activity built into a daily lifestyle plan is also one of the most effective ways to assist with weight loss and keep weight off once it is lost.
Some suggestions to build walking into your daily routine include:
Take the stairs instead of the lift (for at least part of the way).
Get off public transport one stop earlier and walk to work or home.
Try to make walking a routine – for example, try to walk at the same time each day.
Remember, you use the same amount of energy no matter what time of day you walk, so do what is most convenient for you.
You may find that asking someone to walk with you will help make it a regular activity. Some people find that keeping an activity diary or log also makes it easier.
Wear a pedometer while walking:
A pedometer measures the number of steps you take.
You can measure your movement throughout the day and compare it to other days or recommended amounts. This may motivate you to move more.
The recommended number of steps accumulated per day to achieve health benefits is 10,000 steps or more.
A comfortable intensity for walking:
For most people, there is little difference in the amount of energy used by walking a kilometer or running a kilometer – it’s just that walking takes longer.
Plan to cover a set distance each day and monitor how long it takes you to walk this distance. As your fitness improves, you will be able to walk a longer distance and use more energy.
Walking fast burns more kilojoules per hour than walking slowly, but this does not mean you have to push yourself until you’re breathless. Instead, pace yourself so that you can still talk. This simple rule of thumb means that you walk safely within your target heart rate, which brings about health gains.
Our bodies tend to get used to physical activity, so continue to increase your intensity as you improve your fitness levels. You can increase the intensity of your walks by:
walking up hills
walking with hand weights
increasing your walking speed gradually by including some quick walking
increasing the distance you walk quickly before returning to a moderate walking pace
walking for longer.
Warm-up and cool down after walking:
The best way to warm up is to walk slowly. Start each walk at a leisurely pace to give your muscles time to warm up, and then pick up the speed.
Afterward, gently stretch your leg muscles – particularly your calves and front and back thighs. Stretches should be held for about 20 seconds.
If you feel any pain, ease off the stretch. Do not bounce or jolt, or you could overstretch muscle tissue and cause microscopic tears, which lead to muscle stiffness and tenderness.
It is best to dress lightly when you do physical activity. Too many layers can increase sweating and build up body temperature making you uncomfortable during a walk or possibly causing skin irritations.
A gradual cool-down will also prevent muscular stiffness and injury.
Footwear for walking:
Walking is a low-cost and effective form of exercise. However, the wrong type of shoe or walking action can cause foot or shin pain, blisters, and injuries to soft tissue.
Make sure your shoes are comfortable, with appropriate heel and arch supports. Take light, easy steps, and make sure your heel touches down before your toes.
Whenever possible, walk on grass rather than concrete to help absorb the impact.
Make walking a pleasure:
Some suggestions to help make regular walking a pleasurable form of physical activity include:
varying where you walk
walking the dog
walking with friends
joining a walking club.
Make walking interesting:
Ways to keep your daily walk interesting include:
If you want to stick close to home and limit your walking to neighborhood streets, pick different routes so you don’t get tired of seeing the same sights.
If you feel unsafe walking alone, find one or more friends or family members to walk with.
Walk at various times of the day. The sights to see first thing in the morning are bound to differ from those of the afternoon or early evening.
Drive to other reserves, park the car, and enjoy the views while walking.
Explore what’s happening around you; notice the sky, the people, the sounds.
Dog walking:
A dog that needs regular exercise motivates you to walk every day. You might like the companionship too. If you do not have a dog and are not planning on getting one, consider offering to walk a neighbor’s dog occasionally.
Suggestions for the safety of your dog and other people on foot include:
Be considerate of other pedestrians and always keep your dog on its leash.
If you plan to walk in a park, check first to see if dogs are permitted. Many national and state parks and other conservation reserves do not permit dogs.
Other parks generally permit dogs to walk on a leash. Many parks allow dogs off the leash – check with your local council.
Always take equipment such as plastic bags and gloves to clean up after your dog.
Walk with others:
Walking with other people can turn a bout of exercise into an enjoyable social occasion. Suggestions include:
Schedule a regular family walk – this is a great way to pass on healthy habits to your children or grandchildren and to spend time together while getting fit at the same time.
If you are walking with children, ensure the route and length of time spent walking are appropriate to ensure the route and length of time spent walking are appropriate for their age.
Babies and toddlers enjoy long walks in the pram. Take the opportunity to point out items of interest to young ones, such as vehicles, flowers, and other pedestrians.
Look for the self-guided nature walks that have been set up in many parks. Younger children enjoy looking for the next numbered post; older ones can learn about the plants and animals of the park, and perhaps take photos or record their experience in other ways.
Final Suggestions Safe walking
Walking is generally a safe way to exercise, but look out for unexpected hazards. Suggestions include:
See your doctor for a medical check-up before starting a new fitness program, particularly if you are aged over 40 years, are overweight, or have not exercised in a long time.
Ensure you read through the pre-exercise self-screening tool.
Choose walks that suit your age and fitness level. Warm-up and cool down with a slow, gentle walk to ease in and out of your exercise session.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and appropriate footwear to avoid blisters and shin splints.
Wear sunglasses, sunscreen, long sleeves, and a hat to avoid sunburn.
Take waterproof clothing to avoid getting wet if it rains.
Before bushwalking, check the weather forecast and take appropriate safety measures (for example, pack the correct clothing).
Look for hazards in alpine or coastal areas, such as cliff edges or large waves.
Drink plenty of fluids before and after your walk: If you are taking a long walk, take water with you.
Zobo drink is made from dried red sepals of the Hibiscus Sabdariffa plant and is one of the most consumed beverages all over the world.
The Hibiscus Sabdariffa is also known as roselle is a species of flowering plant in the genus Hibiscus, native to Africa and most likely West Africa.
It is important to note that not all hibiscus plants are roselle but all roselle are hibiscus plants and the leaves, stem, and flowers of roselle plants are rich in essential minerals like calcium, magnesium and Iron.
The ruby red hibiscus flower drink is known as Karkade in Egypt and Zoborodo in Hausa
Other names for Hibiscus Sabdariffa are Florida cranberry, red sorrel, Jamaican sorrel, and Rosella.
Zobo is referred to as the powerhouse of vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B1(thiamin), VitaminB2(Riboflavin), VitaminB9 (folic acid) and Vitamin C
Speaking on the nutritive and health benefits of roselle, Nutrition and Public Health Expert, Mrs Yetunde Adeseluka- Oladejo said the drink is high in anti-oxidants needed in the growth and repair of all body tissues and abundant in calcium, iron, phosphorus, niacin, fibre, fat and a whole lot of other amazing nutrients.
“Aside from its high Vitamin content zobo drink can be very useful in the management of diabetes as it’s been found to trigger a low to moderate blood sugar and should be a preferred choice for diabetic patients. It is also helpful in the fight against anaemia as it increases the packed cell volume of the body while helping good functioning of the liver and the kidney”
Mrs Adeseluka-Oladejo however cautioned against excessive intake of Zobo as overuse may be detrimental to the body which could result in side effects such as stomach ache, nausea, painful urination, headache, and dizziness due to its effect on the blood pressure.
Nutrition and Public Health Expert, Mrs Yetunde Adeseluka- Oladejo
She also advised nursing mothers and pregnant women to keep away from this drink throughout the period of lactation and pregnancy to prevent harm to their children.
So, call it Zobo, Roselle or Rosella if you like. You can also tap into the goodies and richness embedded in this wonderful drink.
