Gist Coven

It is fasting time in churches again. Despite its numerous spiritual benefits, not many people are used to it. Most times, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. However, both – the spirit and the flesh – benefit from fasting. Over the years studies have continued to find many health benefits of fasting, making it a two-for-one exercise. The well-known spiritual benefits of fasting, which involve exchanging what we need to survive for what we need to live for God, include the following identified by religious experts: Soul cleansing: Fasting is a great time to remember the spiritual connection we have to our physical bodies. Without the toxins we put in our bodies, we not only give our bodies a break from the digestive process, but we also allow our spirits to be detoxed. Fasting is a faith-move, an expectation we have that God will fill us with His Holy Spirit, just as He promised. Fasting and meditation cleanse the soul and makes it new so we can receive the Holy Spir...

The study reveals that persistent ibuprofen use may lead to compensated hypogonadism, which can lead to infertility, erectile dysfunction, depression and loss of bone and muscle mass in males, among other symptoms.   New research shows that the use of common over-the-counter analgesics may contribute to male infertility, a problem that approximately 7 percent of men in the United States face. A study published earlier this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that persistent ibuprofen use may lead to compensated hypogonadism, which can lead to infertility, erectile dysfunction, depression and loss of bone and muscle mass in males, among other symptoms. Time reported that, of the 31 male volunteers in the study, 14 took two 600 milligram doses of ibuprofen daily for six weeks — an amount many athletes take to ease aches and pains — while others were given placebos. Read also: Reasons other than infertility that stop you getting pregnant ...

It was a joy-filled week at the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia, Abia State, as the first Kidney Transplant Surgery was carried out successfully. A staff at the hospital identified as Chikaodili Ibeneme, took to Facebook share the good news. She wrote:  ‘What a joy-filled week as Federal Medical Centre Umuahia records her first KIDNEY TRANSPLANT surgery. It was a huge success. To God be all the glory’. Very good news. See more photos below..

As today marks global Hand Washing Day, the exercise has been described as an easy, effective, and affordable protection against infections. It is said to save lives, especially when it is performed with soap. People can protect themselves, their families, and communities through this method. And it requires just two items: soap and a small amount of water. But the benefits are huge. When hands are washed with soap regularly, and at such crucial times as, after using the toilet or before contact with food, it can greatly reduce the risk of diarrhoea and pneumonia, which can cause serious illness and death. It can reduce the risk of diarrhoea by 30 to 50 per cent. Regular hand wash with soap also helps to prevent spread of such other infections as influenza and Ebola. The first global Hand Washing Day was held in 2008, when over 120 million children around the world washed their hands with soap in more than 70 countries. Since then, community and national leaders have used the oc...

Since the very beginning of the epidemic, the HIV response has been centred on human rights, equity and communities, the very foundations upon which universal health coverage has been built. As the HIV epidemic has evolved over the years, it has been the most vulnerable, marginalized communities and individuals that have been disproportionately affected. As early as the 1980s populations at greatest risk of, and people living with, HIV argued that communities must be at the centre of any response if the threat of HIV is to be overcome. Soon it became evident that the meaningful involvement of those communities was not only a moral imperative but also constituted good public health practice; public health measures could reach those populations and locations most affected, improve service uptake and efficiencies, achieve equitable coverage and result in greater and more sustained impact. The HIV response has played a critical role in transforming public health, and in turn h...

You put a lot of energy into being healthy. It’s a top priority for you. But are you giving your hair this same attention? Regardless of its length and density, your hair might not be as healthy as it can be. Healthy strands stay thicker, fall out less, and can grow longer (if that’s your aim) than weak ones. This is more than a shampoo-rinse-repeat strategy: Healthy hair comes from the decisions you make at the dinner table, what you wear while you sweat, the amount of natural oils on your scalp, and the products you put (or don’t put) in your hair. Every day, your habits and choices are affecting the health of your hair, all the way down to the follicle. To ensure that you grow the strongest, healthiest hair possible, we asked New York City-based dermatologist Janet Prystowsky, M.D., for her expertise on the topic. These tips will help strengthen your hair and, in theory, preserve their place longer. You’ll find that the hair is more controllable while styling, each strand lo...

12-year-old boy named Ulrich has struggled all his life with his 'backward facing legs'. Now he's received free surgery to correct his backward facing legs and according to him, 'before, people would just stare at me in the street and label me a handicap. Now, they will look again'. Source:lindaikejiblog

Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo says that diabetes only kills those who are careless about its treatment. Obasanjo made the statement on Friday in Abeokuta when he led hundreds of people on a road walk to sensitise the populace on the disease and how to manage it. The road walk was organised by the South West Zone of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) in collaboration with the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), to mark the 2017 World Diabetes Day. The two kilometre walk which began at the OOPL, passed through MKO Abiola Way with 15 minutes stop-over at the premises of Sunny Yinka Oil before terminating at the take-off point. The former president was joined on the walk by the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, Commissioner for Health in Ogun, Dr Babatunde Ipaye and Chief Executive Officer of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, Dr Olalekan Makinde According to Obasanjo, if a person with diabetes takes care of himself, he will discover that “...

No fewer than one million premature babies die annually due to complications, the founder of Abiye Maternal and Child Health International Foundation (AMCH), Dr Elizabeth Disu, has said. Disu, according to a statement on Wednesday, stated this at the AMCH World Prematurity Day celebration in Ikeja, Lagos, adding that prematurity was one of the leading causes of newborn deaths in the world. “Prematurity is the most single cause of newborns deaths. About 15 million preterm babies are delivered worldwide, out of which one million die and three quarters of the deaths are preventable. Most of these deaths are in the developing countries. “Nigeria has the highest number of preterm babies and the highest number of newborn deaths in the world.  If preterm babies survived, we will be able to reduce the rate of neonatal deaths in this country,” she said. Disu explained that the World Prematurity Day was celebrated worldwide to bring awareness about babies that were born prematurel...

When you hit the gym, chances are you're thinking more about how your body will benefit rather than how your brain will. But as it turns out, all that time spent on the treadmill is doing your noggin a serious favor. New research from Australia's National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) at Western Sydney University and the Division of Psychology and Mental Health at the University of Manchester in the U.K. shows that aerobic activity can improve your memory and overall brain health as you age. The study, published in NeuroImage, looked at brain scans of 737 people who were either totally healthy, had mild brain deterioration (like Alzheimer's), or had a diagnosed mental illness like depression or schizophrenia. Their ages ranged from 24 to 76 years old (the average being 66). Participants in the study did all types of cardio—the stationary bike, walking, and running—two to five times a week for anywhere between three months and two years. By the end of ...

As if you didn’t have enough bodily fluids to handle, here’s one more: belly button discharge. Whether you have an innie or an outie, you’ve likely experienced the common phenomenon of belly button crust, says dermatologist Aditi Jha, M.D., head physician at online medical consultation company JustDoc.com. That’s because your skin cells regenerate regularly, she says, and the old stuff is washed away when you bathe. But because some may get trapped in the folds of your belly button, it can accumulate as dried skin—with a feel and look that’s similar to crusty eye stuff you get overnight. But if you’re dealing with something that’s more ooze than crunch, it could be a sign that something’s not right, says Dr. Jha. And if that’s the case, it’s not something you should pick at to try to determine what the heck is going on down there. “It is strongly advised by all doctors to avoid meddling with the belly button, because it has the highest blood drainage in the body,” Dr. Jha say...

Do you have trouble inhaling through one or both nostrils? Are you subject to frequent nose bleeds? Do your partners accuse you of being a noisy sleep-breather? A deviated septum might be to blame, but fear not: it's treatable. A deviated septum results when the cartilage-and-bone barrier wall between the nostrils strays to one side such that one nasal passage is bigger than the other, potentially making it harder for air to flow in and out of the nose. In most cases, you're born with a deviated septum or you acquire on through nasal injury: Because facial anatomy isn't perfectly symmetrical in the vast majority of humans, many noses show some degree of septum deviation, according to Abtin Tabaee, M.D. associate professor in the department of otolaryngology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. Treatment is typically only considered in cases of significant nasal obstruction, and while deviated septum surgery can correct the condition, whether or not it's worth the ...

As upsetting as it may sound, cockroach milk might just be the flavour of the future as soon as it can be transformed into an edible food supplement. According to a report by the BBC, research by scientists has revealed that a certain species, the Pacific Beetle Cockroach, feeds its bug babies a formula which is remarkably rich in protein, fat and sugar. The species, also known as Diploptera punctata, nourishes its growing embryos with a nutrient-rich liquid secreted in its uterus-like brood sac. Unlike most cockroaches that lay eggs, the Pacific beetle gives birth to live offspring by the dozen and produces food for them with the liquid formula. According to the research published in July in the journal, International Union of Crystallography, as soon as the embryo ingests the liquid, protein crystals develop within its midgut. Leonard Chavas, one of the scientists behind the research, explained that the crystals have a whopping three times the energy of an equivalent mass o...

No fewer than 262 expectant mothers out of 100,000 pregnant women in Oyo State die as a result of complications and other pregnant related issues, a report obtained by DAILY POST has shown. In the report, released by Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) and Development Communications (DEVCOMS) Network, only six local government areas: Atiba, Ibadan North East, Ibadan South East, Iseyin, Ogbomoso North and Saki East are currently enjoining the State Health Insurance Scheme under-5/ MDG fund initiative. The report showed that one of the major factors responsible for the deaths of about 262 mothers out of 100,000 expectant mothers in the state is the “weak implementation of the family planning/child spacing programmes at the state and local government levels is largely due to inadequate funds as there is no specific budget line for the programmes”. It puts the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate in the state at 37.4%, Unmet needs for Family Planning (FP) at 13.2%, Infa...

With all the advantages inherent in being blessed with an oily skin, it can be somewhat difficult knowing how to successfully manage it to your benefit. For a number of good reasons, it is essential to avoid having an excessively ‘shiny’ face and following a proper grooming routine to look fresh and excellent. If you’re one of those people that struggle with keeping your oily face normal, here are a number of grooming tips that can be of help. Look For The Right Cleanser Do your best to avoid facial cleansers that contain oil, dry cleansing agents, fragrance and residue. All these are what you should be looking out for in a cleanser for your oily skincare regimen. Using your cleansers twice-daily shouldn’t aggravate or dry out your skin. As such, if you’ve found the right cleanser, do your best to be as gentle as possible. Use a soft washcloth to gently go over your face and body. This is much better for your face than a rough scrub. Get The Right Exfoliant When excess oil...

Leaving your kids with their grandparents could be bad for their health and may even increase their risk of cancer, scientists have warned. Grandmothers and grandfathers spoil their grandchildren with sweet ‘treats’ and massive helpings of fattening food, a new review claims. They also allow them to laze about inside, playing video games or watching TV, instead of running around outside, it is alleged. And they reportedly tend to smoke in front of the kids, exposing their young lungs to second-hand tobacco smoke and setting a bad example. Scientists found that the risks were “unintentional”. The extraordinary claims are based on a review of research into the influence grandparents have on lifestyle factors that can sow the seeds of cancer in later life. Lead author Dr Stephanie Chambers, of the University of Glasgow’s Public Health Sciences Unit in Scotland, said: “While the results of this review are clear that behaviour such as exposure to smoking and regularly tre...

Restaurant in Toronto where everyone has HIV and they only employ... Organizers say the impetus was a recent poll that found that the thought of dining with somebody who’s HIV-positive still paralyzes them with fear. The survey by Casey House, Canada’s only hospital dedicated to people living with HIV/AIDS, found that nearly half of Canadians wouldn’t eat a meal prepared by someone with the disease, even though health experts say the infection can’t be transmitted that way. To combat the stigma around food prep, Casey House decided it was time to pull a bold stunt. The pop-up, called June’s Eatery after Casey House’s co-founder June Callwood, launched this week. It advertised two four-course dinners made by 14 HIV-positive chefs for $125 — one yesterday, the other today. Both of them sold out. Organizers told The Guardian that they even welcome “negative coverage,” though, as the “entire point of the pop-up” is “exposing the ignorance and blame around HIV and AIDS.” The...

A Physiotherapist in Bayelsa State Nigeria has explained that massaging of pregnant women is quite dangerous to their unborn babies. A Physiotherapist with Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, Mr Popoola Olugbenga, has expressed concern over the habit of giving native massage to pregnant women in the state. Olugbenga, who is also the Head of Physiotherapy Department in the hospital told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Yenagoa after a two-day physiotherapy outreach that local massaging was not an alternative to ante-natal care. He explained that the physiotherapy outreach organised and sponsored by the department was part of social responsibility activities to communities in Bayelsa State. The physiotherapist said that the programme, held in about three communities in the state, was aimed at educating the people on the need for healthy living. He urged pregnant women seeking native massage to desist from it, noting that such act could endanger the baby’s condition in th...

Dr Abdullahi Ganduje Kano State Government says it has released N294 million, as its counterpart fund, to UNICEF for the purchase of Ready-to-Use-TheR@peutic-Food (RUTF) for the management and treatment of severely malnourished children in the state. The Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, disclosed this in Kano on Sunday during the launching of anti-malarial commodities and other health interventions at the Government House, Kano. “Our government is committed to the plight of malnourished children, it will continue to provide its support toward addressing malnutrition in the state,” he said. He said that the state government was working together with local and international partners to ensure that drugs, medical supplies and consumables were available in every health facility and community, malnutrition. “Our administration is also responsive to the worrisome challenge of malnutrition in Northern Nigeria including Kano, especially among children under five years,’’ he said. ...

1. Hair is made up mostly of  keratin , the same protein animals’ horns, hooves, claws, feathers, and beaks are made of. 2. When wet, a healthy strand of hair can stretch an additional 30% of its original length. 3. Hair grows slightly faster in warm weather, because heat stimulates circulation and encourages hair growth. 4. All hair is dead, with the exception of the hair that’s still inside the epidermis of your scalp. 5. Hair contains information about everything that has ever been in your bloodstream, including drugs, and is one of the most commonly used types of forensic evidence. 6. The only thing about you that can’t be identified by your hair is your gender—men’s hair and women’s hair are identical in structure. 7. Black is the most common hair color.  Red  is the rarest and only exists in about 1 percent of the world’s population, with blonde hair found in 2 percent. 8. As ...