Health: Scientists Discover A New Organ!

Just when you start to think that you know it all, science has a wonderful little way of popping up and surprising you with some new, unknown little fact. 

One such fact is the announcement of a recently discovered organ in the human body. What makes this discovery so amazing is the fact that it (the organ) has always been there, hiding within our digestive system. 

Named as the mesentery, this new organ was originally believed to be made up of various fragmented, separate structures, however recent findings have proved that is in fact one continuous organ.

Although we now have much more knowledge and understanding of the mesentery, its actual function is not yet quite fully understood. Scientists however believe that studying it might be able to aid in the understanding and treatment of various digestive and abdominal diseases as well as other disorders and health concerns such as diabetes and obesity, which makes it quite revolutionary in the field of science, as well as the future of human health. 

The mesentery also serves to link our gut to the rest of our body, whilst keeping our intestines in a particular arrangement so that when we move about, they stay intact. Without a mesentery our intestines would run the risk of collapsing into the pelvic area.

Since the discovery, that the mesentery is in fact one continuous organ as opposed to just being a set of separate structures, medical textbooks and journals (including the world renowned Gray’s Anatomy) have been updated to include the new definition. Even new med students have started learning that the mesentery is a whole distinct organ. 

Till next time

Debbie Nel

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Health: An Alternative Healthier Sweet Tea Recipe

The popularity of sweet tea is rising in both America and internationally. However the high sugar content in most sweet tea recipes makes them incredibly unhealthy.

But don’t despair! There are alternatives to the traditional recipes that won’t put you into a diabetic coma or make you pack on [too] many pounds. 

If you are a lover of “All Things Southern” then be sure to try this recipe: 

Debbie’s Honey Bee Sweet Tea
What makes this recipe healthier is the fact that it makes use of natural honey as opposed to refined sugar. The ingredients are:

3/4 Cup of raw honey
2 Iced tea bags (any variety will do so pick your favourite)
3.5 Litres of purified water 
4 Litre glass jug / pitcher
1/8 Teaspoon baking soda
Lemon (to taste) – Optional
Ice for serving

Method:

1. Boil 1.25 litres of the purified water (in a kettle or on the stove)
2. Remove water from heat and steep tea bags in it for 6 to 10 minutes
3. Remove the tea bags from the water and add the ¾ cup of honey and the baking soda to the mix and stir again. 
4. Add the rest of the water (1.25 litres)
5. Pour the mix into the glass jug / pitcher (once the mixture is cooled enough so the pitcher does not crack or explode from the heat) and place in the fridge
6. Once chilled / cooled, serve with ice and lemon (to taste)

Note: 

1.A trick to making the perfect sweet tea is to add the honey (or sugar if you opt for the unhealthier option) while the water is still boiling or just as it is removed from the heat (note: Do NOT add honey/sugar to an electric kettle; pour the water out first).
2.Another alternative to using honey is to use maple syrup. Although it is viewed as being a bit unhealthier than honey, maple syrup is still a better option than using refined cane sugar.
3.Be sure to stir the 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda into the mixture whilst adding the honey/sugar (when the mixture is still nice and hot) as this will help to remove the bitterness from the tea. 
4.If you like your tea flavour stronger, just add another teabag to the recipe. 

Enjoy!

Debbie Nel

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Healthy Lifestyles: Total Transformations - The #debnelv3monthchallenge conclusion

Hello all. Some of you might be wondering why I never posted a "week 10 and 11" update to my #debnelv3monthchallenge. Well there are two reasons for this. Firstly, I have been incredibly busy as of late with the impending launch of my Academics Can Kill Your Sanity website. Secondly, I have decided to end the above-mentioned challenge a little earlier than originally anticipated.

My previous D-Day was set to be the 13th of February 2017, however since I am more than happy with my progress I have decided that it is time to quit.  This challenge was originally started in order to prove a point to someone else but I can really say that I have actually amazed myself in all that I have gained from it personally.

The first thing I learnt is that by following the right eating habits and having a regular exercise routine, a person really can feel a million times better with recharged energy and a renewed zest for life! I have always been a bit of a fitness freak but I have never before taken it to the level I did now during this challenge.

I have also learned that I was too thin to begin with before starting this challenge. My original weight was 55kg before I packed on the pounds needed to embark on this journey with all of you. Although my doctor has been telling me for years that I was actually underweight according to my height and other factors, I chose to ignore him. However I have come to see for myself that he was indeed correct!

I originally gained just under 11 kg for this challenge (10.9kg to be exact) and for a while I had a bit of lag in shedding the pounds (with factors such as Christmas not helping much). This lag did a lot of good though, in that it helped me to really "see" what I looked like at pretty much every kg loss.

I henceforth came to the conclusion that the weight that suits me best is 59kg in that it is the weight class at which my eyes don't look sunken and my jawline does not appear so thin. As far as my other goals are concerned, I am very happy to report that these have all been reached with no problems. My skin is back to the way it was originally and my hair has never looked better.

I shall be keeping my photo reveal date as 13 February 2017, unless something else hampers my schedule.

That's it for now. On a last note though I want to add a message to all the ladies out there: - It does not help you look like a stick figure as it really does not suit anyone and it's not worth the price of your health.

Till next time, take care

Debbie Nel

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Healthy Lifestyle: Week 8 and 9 of my weight loss / body transformation

It's a brand new year with brand new obstacles and challenges to face. The actual holiday period seemed to blow past us like a feather in the wind, and I cannot believe that we are already in 2017!

I wish I could say that I am fully on track again with my #debnelv3monthchallenge, but alas, I am not quite back on the horse yet. Don't lose faith in me though, since I have already resumed my healthy/weight loss eating plan and it is only my exercise routine that still has me at a bit of a lag. Next week, this is all going to change though.

As from Monday, the 15th of January 2017, I plan on increasing my daily exercise routine to 60 minutes a day. Thirty minutes in the morning and thirty minutes in the evening. I also plan on trying out a few different hydrating face masks and using my homemade hair remedy (the recipe for which, will be made available in my soon to be released e-book), on a daily basis. 

As for my weight, I am happy to report that I am almost back on course, with my weight currently standing at 61kg, only 6kg shy of my ultimate goal. The few weeks remaining should be more than enough to shed the excess load. 

I have been craving a lot of sweets of late, which is very odd for me. I have credited this to the fact that my body is trying to "rebel" in a sense, in protest against my "return to healthy living". To cope with this little inconvenience, I have been eating a few more fruit salads. Not only has this curbed all yearnings for sinful sugars, but it has also given me renewed bursts of energy (which couldn't come at a better time with it being a brand new year and all). 

Well that's if from me for now. I hope I have more exciting news for you in the (final) weeks to come. Only 31 days left until D-day!

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Healthy Lifestyle: Week 6 and 7 of my weight loss/ body transformation

A lot has changed since my last posting two weeks ago. As you all know, it has been the Christmas/festive season and I am afraid that temptation has gotten the better of me.

I initially only planned to "cheat" on my diet a tiny bit, however the treats of the season have proved to be way too much enticement for my less than perfect willpower. Not only have I gained weight as a result of my excessive binging (over which I swear I had no control due to being enslaved by the mocking seduction of the delicacies spread out before me), but I have also been too lazy to exercise (obviously as a result of my temporary state of "gluttony-insanity").
  

However I truly feel that all is not lost and I plan to resume my challenge in full force as from next week. I still have a month and a half to reach my goals and because of the success I had achieved rather early on in my challenge, I honestly do believe that I will still obtain my desired results in the end. 

Fortunately my hair and skin have not suffered due to my weaknesses and my spirit of endurance is still fully intact. All I need to get on track with again, is my weight loss and fitness regime. The four kilograms of weight I have gained back, are truly not the end of the world, therefore I am confident that all I really need to do to get back on "the wheel" is to increase the amount of time I exercise per day (when I actually resume my routines in full force again that is). 

Here's to my last official day/night of binging! Enjoy your Old Year's Eve celebrations and be safe. Only 43 days left until D-Day!

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Healthy Lifestyle: Week 4 and 5 of my weight loss/body transformation

This coming Sunday I will officially be five weeks into my #debnelv3monthchallenge! The time has truly flown by and before you know it, it will be 13 February and the end to this epic journey.

So much has happened since my last posting (of 7 December 2016). For starters, I am happy to report that the "stagnant weight" issue is no more. Once my body got used to the daily water intake increase, I started dropping kg's again. My weight now stands at 60kg (5kg shy of my goal). My skin and hair also looks amazing and I feel great! 

I cannot believe all the energy I have now! So much so, that I am battling to switch off and sleep at night (since my body and mind just keeps wanting to go on). It seems that the diet, meditation, skin and hair care routine, I have developed, is truly working wonders for me. So much so, that a friend of mine suggested I write an e-book highlighting all my hair, skin, diet, meditation and exercise tips and tricks. I liked the idea so much that I have decided to do just that!

In fact I have already started writing my book and I anticipate its release early in next year. My readers will be able to look forward to a bevy of healthy recipes, easy exercises and cheap yet amazing hair and skincare tips, amongst other useful information.

However, don't despair as I will still be sharing many free tips, tricks and recipes during this challenge as well, since I would never dream of disappointing all the loyal followers who have been tracking my progress with me since the very beginning of this journey. My real reason for wanting to write a book is simply that I have discovered way too much information to cover in a few blog postings and it would be a total shame, not to share all this knowledge gained with the world. 

Okay, back to my challenge. My diet has pretty much stayed the same in the last two weeks with the simple addition of some chicken and lean meat dishes for protein, as well as the addition of a few different fruits, to those I have been eating thus far for lunch (to prevent my taste buds from getting bored).

I am also still drinking six glasses of water a day which has increased my bathroom visits quite a bit, however my skin looks and feels amazing due to this and I have also noticed a reduction in cellulite on my legs (which I definitely attribute in part to my increased water intake). Therefore I definitely recommend an increase in purified water intake for everyone. Why I added the word "purified" is due to the fact that I do not recommend anyone to drink water directly out of a tap, in any country in this world, since there is no guarantee of its cleanliness and safety. 

I have also since increased my daily exercise time to forty minutes of which thirty minutes still consists of my basic aerobic, hop around/dance workouts. However, the final ten minutes now consist of five minutes of weight exercises and five minutes of abdominal exercises. 

Another note I shall add in closing is that since Christmas is around the corner, I definitely plan on cheating on my diet which is okay as long as I don't make a habit out of this (as stated before). Only 58 days left until D-Day!

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Healthy Lifestyle: Week 2 and 3 of my weight loss/total body transformation

It has been two weeks and one day since my last posting concerning my total body transformation challenge (aka #debnelv3monthchallenge). I am aware of the fact that I initially stated that I would be posting weekly updates regarding this challenge, however there has not really been that much to write about since my last update. 

My weight for some reason is still at 63.9kg and my diet has stayed basically the same, as in the first week of my challenge, with the simple addition of an alternative dish of cut up avocado pear, tomatoes, boiled eggs, cheese and asparagus spears for lunch some afternoons, when I am not in the mood for the normal lunch menu/ meal plan. 

I have started drinking 6 tall glasses of water a day, which could explain my currently stagnant weight, due to my body adjusting to the sudden water intake increase. I have also upped my skincare routine somewhat by adding a daily gentle scrub made out of simple brown sugar and olive oil, in addition to the castor oil moisturiser which I am still using religiously. I must say that my skin is already looking more radiant and years younger, which I attribute to a combination of my increased water intake as well as the daily use of the two oils. My hair care regime now also includes a weekly castor oil treatment, in which I simply saturate all my hair in castor oil, which I then leave in place for three hours before rinsing off. 

As for my self-discipline since starting my exercise routine and diet, well let's just say I have cheated somewhat. One or two nights I simply did not have the energy to hop around like a disembodied lizard tail, so I skipped my workouts. Also, I have indulged in the odd sweet thing or two, even giving into my urges and baking a chocolate and caramel cake last night (image here below). I try not to cheat but I am only human and therefore I do not beat myself up unnecessarily for giving in once in a while, I have just made a vow not to make a habit out of it, since sugar is a major no no when it comes to weight loss. 

Well that's about it for this week. Once again thank you all for reading and for following me in this journey. Only 67 days left until D-day! 

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Healthy Lifestyle: Week 1 of my weightloss/total body transformation

It has been a little more than one week since embarking on my total body transformation aka #debnelv3monthchallenge journey, therefore it is time for a report back. I shall be giving you all short updates regarding my diet and progress, such as this one, on a weekly basis, for the duration of this, my three month challenge.

The first week was very enjoyable and I feel so much better (health and fitness wise) already. I have dropped down to 63.9kg (from 65.9kg), which is a full two kg loss, with very little effort. All that I have been doing different is, I have changed my eating habits and I have added an intense half an hour long, daily aerobic style workout to my routine. 

The workouts are quite fun as all I basically do is hop around and dance to the rhythm of fast paced 80's and 90's music. Add squats, some weights and standing crunches to the equation and you have my whole workout. It's amazing as it raises my heart rate sufficiently and burns calories like nobody's business. 

As for my diet this week, I have been eating two small meals a day that have consisted of the following:

Sunday the 13th: Supper - two steamed potatoes (skin on) with steamed spinach and some feta cheese sprinkled over the top.

Monday: Lunch - small green salad, Dinner - coleslaw and fish (hake)

Tuesday: Lunch - cut up fruit (apple, pear, blueberries and cherries), Dinner - tuna filled avocados 

Wednesday: Lunch - small Greek salad, Dinner - steamed broccoli and steamed carrots

Thursday: Lunch - cut up fruit, Dinner - steamed corn on the cob

Friday: Lunch - small green salad, Dinner- tuna filled avocados

Saturday: Lunch - cut up fruit, Dinner - steamed potatoes with a little low calorie, natural mayonnaise 

Sunday: Lunch - steamed gem squash filled with peas and sweetcorn, Supper - fish (hake/trout) and coleslaw

I am not a big breakfast eater, however, if you choose to add breakfast to this meal plan, you can by adding foods such as boiled eggs, yogurt and cut up banana's. 

My skin and hair treatments for this past week have been very basic to start out with. I have begun using castor oil on my skin at night after cleansing and I have done two intense damage repair hair masks (which can be purchased at any drug store) so far. From this week onwards, I shall be going more intensively into my hair and skin repair regime, and of course, I shall be writing about this in my next article in order to keep you all in the loop!

Thanks for reading and thank you all for following me in this journey. Only 82 days left until D-day!

D.

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Healthy Lifestyle: Total Transformations - The #debnelv3monthchallenge

A few months ago, whilst talking to a fellow writer, the whole debate about genetics and weight/beauty arose. My colleagues' beliefs are that the way we are built/shaped and the way we look (our overall appearance/beauty), is solely predetermined by our genetic make-up. 

Although there is some truth in the above-mentioned, I believe that anyone can be beautiful (have great youthful skin and radiant hair). I also know for a fact that anyone can have the body they desire by following the right eating patterns, and by putting in a little effort exercise wise. 

I conveyed my perspectives through to my colleague, who in turn still held firmly onto hers - that having a nice body/skin/hair and such, are traits we are either born with, or like most celebrities, traits we otherwise need to go under the plastic surgery scalpel to obtain. 

Knowing full well the assumptions of my colleague are total and utter bull, I decided on the spot to create a three month body transformation challenge in order to prove mine. However I first needed to make a few changes to my existing appearance. For a full two months I have been eating all the wrong foods, drinking excessive alcohol, purposely creating hair damage (by using constant heat styling methods) and exposing myself to extreme amounts of normal as well as unusual stress elements (sometimes doing utterly crazy things in order to achieve this). 

As a result, I have gained a full 11 kg, my hair is in an awful state, I am extremely out of shape, my skin looks severely dehydrated and aged, and I feel very run down in general. The pictures here below are all of me (how I look as of today). 

 Since the condition/state of my body is now perfect for the test/task, I have decided that today is the day I shall be starting my three month total transformation challenge. You can follow this challenge by subscribing to this blog (Mortal Life Modes) within the NewsDog App, and by following me on Instagram (instagram.com/debnelv_blogs_photos/).

My challenge shall officially end on the 13th of February 2017 (the day before Valentine's day) and I am extremely confident that I will succeed in transforming my body, skin, hair and overall health. 

Anyone can do this and succeed, as all that is needed is the right diet, the correct light exercises, a reduction in your stress levels and a few cheap beauty tricks and tips. 

I look forward to your support and remember, anyone can be gorgeous and have a rocking body! All we have to do is put in the effort and believe in ourselves. 

Debbie
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