Dr Pete's Health Secrets

  The  banana is an edible fruit, botanically a Berry, produced by large flowering plants in the genus Musa. It originally is native to Indonesia, Malaysia and Australasia but now grown in over 107 countries.  Bananas are naturally easily portable , easy to transport and store hygenically. They require no preparation, making them a convenient snack choice for busy individuals.  In some tropical countries of the Caribbeans, Asia and Africa, a variety of bananas used for cooking are called plantains. Delicious! In this article I will examine the numerous health benefits of this popular fruit. This curvy yellow fruit is high in potassium and pectin, a form of soluble fiber. Bananas are also an excellent way to get magnesium, vitamins C and B6. Monkeys maybe cleverer than we think! More health benefits of Bananas 5. Rich in pectin, bananas aid digestion and gently chelate toxins and heavy metals from the body. 6. Bananas act as a prebiotic, stimulating the gro...

       The incidence of depression is growing everyday with increasing urbanisation and social isolation. It has become a pandemic.  Depression is a major cause of illicit drug abuse which is a major scrooge on urban cities around the world. Lets examine ways to combat depresdion naturally withiut drugs. 1. RELAXING IN NATURE Relaxing in nature, by the lake, going for hikes in the woods, swimming in your local pool or taking a walk in the park. Being in nature calms you and lifts your mood naturally.  Gives you the opportunity to switch off modern transgressors like Televisions and internet devices.  I personnaly love cycling and camping in the countryside. 2. SLEEP AT NIGHT A regular sleep pattern of 8hrs at night in a dark room has been proven by many studies to result in an increased production of the hormone melatonin and therefore of all round benefit to your health and mood.  The best hours to sleep for optimal melatonin production...

Do you find yourself depressed often? It might be due to food and environmental toxins accumulating in your body. Environmental, topical and food toxins attack the central nervous system and settle there.  These toxins cause our brain tissues to become overly sensitive. Artificial sweetener - Aspartame The very common artificial additive called aspartame found in low calorie drinks and shakes maybe making you depressed. Aspartame releases toxins in the body that are linked to extreme depression. A 2013 scientific study published in Neurology, studied the effect of sweetened drinks in American adults. It concluded that drinks containing aspartame caused a higher risk of depression. Pesticides A 2002 scientific study, published in the Annals of Epidemiology reported high clinical depression in Colorado farmers and their spouses exposed to environmental toxins via pesticides. Unfortunately some of these food contaminants would not appear on the label. Another good r...

          We all know sugar is bad for you. It has been associated with several diseases , prominent amongst which is type 11 diabetes and it's life threatening complications.  Sugar is sadly everywhere. A 500ml bottle of soda contains approximately the equivalent of 14 cubes of sugar! Milk chocholate, biscuits, candies, even beer contain lots of sugar, the list is endless. If you are a fan of chocholate much like myself, then avoid milk chocholate and choose the dark or bittersweet variety, with 50 to 90% cocoa, a powerful antioxidant. In this article I will simply list the many varied and scientifically proven reasons we should all either avoid sugar or have it in moderation ! 1. Sugar also called sucrose suppresses the immune system. 2. Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance. 3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children. 4. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children. 5...

      When a loved one is struggling with anxiety and stress it can really leave you feeling powerless. In this article I will discuss the twelve tips that you should have at the back of your mind when counselling. 1. Let Them Know They Can Confide in You Without Judgement It’s very important for people struggling with anxiety to know that you are going to listen to them openly and not judge them for what they say.  Many times conversations will feel like a broken record because the anxious person has the same fears repeating over and over and over again.  It is normal for someone with anxiety to struggle with the same worry each and every time.  Help your loved one by making them feel comfortable to share their anxieties with you. 2. Be Patient With Your Loved One Although people struggling with anxiety will often know that their fears are not worth being worried over, this knowledge isn’t always enough to stop their fears from taking over their l...

  Warning !!! This food could seriously damage your health               WHEAT  is a major source of carbohydrate globally and the main ingredient in breads, cakes, pastries, biscuits and many other confectioneries. It is now the preferred 'swallow' meal for many urban dwelling African families in popular brands like semovita.  Sadly too, many rural dwellers have hooked onto the fad that wheat is a “healthy” food. The prevalent consumption of wheat across the continent is of concern to health watchers. In 2022 there was a global shortage of wheat supply. This has renewed the debate on the Health effects of wheat consumption.  On the African continent wheat has overshadowed staple  traditional and healthier alternatives like yam, potato, oats and cassava flour and other carbohydrates food sources. Though wheat, like other grains, is rich in fibre and some other nutrients, it is one food anybody that desires wellness and...

      How does regular sex and on the contrary absentism affect the health of an average adult ? In this article I will examine the 11 main things that happen when you STOP. We  all go through periods of abstention from sex for varied reasons from time to time.  Whether it happens because of a recent breakup or other aspects of your life have gotten in the way, a few sexless weeks can turn into months and, before you know it, you almost don't even miss sex anymore.  The same, however, can't be said for your body. According to recent research,  your body can have very real reactions when you stop having sex. Catching the flu more often than before, to stranger dreams, to really awful period cramps, not having sex for a while can seriously impact your wellbeing.  Here are 10 unexpected ways that your body actually changes when you suddenly stop having sex. 1.  You are ill more often Your immune system actually gets weaker when you're not having...

               Turmeric , the yellow spice with a slight peppery taste. It is touted as the healthiest spice on Earth and has been used 4000 years in the Vedic region of India , to treat a wide range of ailments.  Tumeric contains over 200 ingredients but the active medicinal  component is the polyphenol curcumin .  From  detoxing the body and improving digestion, to fighting chronic inflammation and cancer. One teaspoon a day is all you need. Turmeric, whose scientific name is Curcuma longa , is one of the most thoroughly researched plants in existence today .  Its medicinal properties and components, primarily curcumin have been the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies. The intestinal absorption of Tumeric is greatly enhance when combined with small amounts of black pepper - Piperine, in a ratio of about 95 : 5. Tumeric has over 600 potential preventive and therapeutic app...