This article has been contributed by Diana Smith.

We all do our best to keep our bathrooms clean. Still, due to the fact that some of their parts are hard to reach or constantly exposed to contamination, we can hardly say that any of them is 100% clean at any given moment. Because of these circumstances, bathroom is a room which is the most exposed to various bacteria, and unlike their cleanser ad counterparts, they can, actually, be very harmful, and intimidating. Let us see then, what those harmful germs are and how we can fight them.

​The Most Common Bathroom Threats

Enteric pathogens

​Although they are usually associated with food, organisms like salmonella, E. coli, shigella, and campylobacter can be found in our bathrooms, too. One of the most common ways of getting a poisoning is by not closing the toilet lid while you are flushing, and not washing your hands after using the toilet. Their symptoms include vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and headaches, while most cases of poisoning tend to recede within a week.

Streptococcus

​A very common bacterium causing the streptococcus disease, which, in some cases, can escalate to some more serious health issues like rheumatic fever, or even a kidney disease. The most common condition occurring from this kind of infection is, however, the “strep throat.” And like in the previous example, the majority of them are caused by poor hygiene and bad bathroom habits (e.g. the same soap being used by several persons).

Gastrointestinal viruses
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This particular group of viruses (with norovirus being one of the most common examples), can cause stomach ailments. They are transmitted by touching the soilid surfaces, where they can remain up to one week.

Various fungi
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Usually associated with spaces featuring high levels of humidity, mold and mildew are present in almost every bathroom. Although they do not cause any kind of infection, they can, in some cases, exacerbate asthma and allergies. Also, bathrooms sometimes host dermatophitic fungi, like athlete’s foot, which can be spread by walking barefoot.

Macrobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis
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This obligate pathogenic bacterium is the causative agent of Johne’s disease (cattle disease), but it is also one of the probable causes of one of the human diseases – Chron’s diseases. Namely, scientists believe that this bacterium lurks in one out of ten showers.

Disease Prevention

With all the things mentioned, it should be obvious that the treat is not only real, but also persistent and widespread. Therefore, the prevention measures should be the same. But, what exactly can we do to keep those harmful germs at bay?

Regular cleaning
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Bathroom floor, other solid surfaces, and  blocked drains should be cleansed at least once per week, while deep cleaning should be conducted once per month. Also, it should not be a bad idea to quickly clean the bathroom after you have been visited by friends and relatives. They could have been exposed to dangerous bacteria somewhere else.

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Pay special attention to toilet
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In the end, that is the place where all the excretions go. Clean it at least once per week, and let the cleanser sit on the toilet bowl for at least 10 minutes before washing it with soapy water.
There are many natural toilet and shower cleaners available.  Tea tree, pine oil or eucalyptus oil are also powerful antiseptics.

Let the water flow a bit before you start using the shower

It may sound horribly wasteful, but this small measure will minimize the risk of being infected with bacteria causing the Chron’s disease.

Do not walk barefoot

All of your house members should have their own pair of bathroom slippers, and you should prepare few pairs for guests, too.



Do not use the soap

​It would be much wiser to use the liquid soap instead.
As we can see, bathrooms can be much more dangerous than it looks on the first glance. Those dangers oblige us to take all the necessary measures to make our lives safer. It is much better to be safe than sorry.

Cheeky office snacks, work Christmas parties, and a little too much food – the silly season is looming. If your favourite pair of jeans fit just that little bit tighter or you find yourself loosening your belt buckle over lunch – you’re not alone. In fact, on average Australians will gain between 0.8kg – 1.5kg during the Christmas holiday period. While a few extra kilos may sound pretty harmless, studies suggests that most people never lose the weight they gain throughout the festive season!
 
According to Sheila Zhou, expert Scientist at USANA, leading producer of high quality supplements, “The holidays isn’t the perfect time to try and shed a few kilos, but it’s still achievable to maintain a healthy lifestyle by finding the perfect balance between those naughty indulgences and what’s nice for our bodies.”
 
To help you maintain a healthy lifestyle over the Christmas holiday season, Ms. Zhou shares her expert tips:
 
1.    Bask in the great outdoors
 
Lucky for us, Christmas in Australia falls during the perfect time of year for a sunny stroll in the park or a refreshing swim at the beach, so there’s no excuse to remain cooped up inside. Plus, with children aged between 5 – 12 years needing at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day, it’s even more important to get the kids moving, too. So why not grab the whole family for an outdoor activity that everyone can enjoy, like a game of backyard cricket or a beach volley ball tournament to help burn off those unwanted calories from Christmas lunch.
 
In order to help maintain your children’s energy production for an active lifestyle this festive season, USANA’s UsanimalsTM provides the perfect balanced formula to support your children’s healthy growth and development.
 
2.    Keep an eye on your portions
 
When it comes to finding the balance between naughty and nice this holiday season, portion control is the key. Christmas is the one time of year where you can enjoy a little bit of everything indulgent, but to help keep your level of guilt to a minimum it’s important to eat less. Abstaining from certain foods never really holds out during the Christmas period, so instead of depriving yourself of the foods you crave, go ahead and enjoy every bite. Just don’t have too much of it and avoid piling your plate with mountains of food as you will most definitely regret it later.
 
Also remember that the food we consume during the holiday period (trifle we’re looking at you) are usually filled with large amounts of sugar, bad fats and highly-refined carbohydrates which don’t provide our bodies with the nutrients that we need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. USANA’s EssentialsTM line of nutritional supplements designed for daily nutritional support are a great way to provide our bodies with the vital vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that our bodies may be lacking throughout the silly season.
 
3.    Be realistic
 
Let’s face it - Christmas is a time of celebration, and bad meals are inevitable. You and your children (particularly teenagers) aren’t always going to make the healthiest decisions this holiday season. Rather than focusing on losing weight, encourage your whole family to focus on more achievable goals like maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Develop a realistic outlook for yourself and your children and forgive the occasional slip up. If you focus on fitting in some exercise, watching the size of your meals, and maintaining the balance between naughty foods and nice foods, you and your family will have a much better chance at reeling in the New Year with a positive and healthy lifestyle.
 
However, to give your busy teenagers a helping hand in maintaining their overall health and development, USANA’s Body RoxTM are a unique complete supplement that will help bridge the nutritional gap in young adolescent’s diets. USANA’s Body Rox will tackle those unhealthy diet choices made this Christmas holiday season by maintaining normal healthy immune function, supporting energy production and helping to build a healthy growing body.

​Vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet. Use only as directed. Always read the label.
To view the full range of USANA Health Sciences nutritional, weight management and personal care products visit www.usana.com.

This article has been contributed by Diana Smith


​Every now and then life happens to surprise us. This does not necessarily mean that it will be a good kind of surprise. What life has planned for us, we can never know. But so it happens that every once in a while everyone will have to go though some hard and difficult times. The battles we fight are solely our own and sometimes it can be devastating, tiresome and you might feel like you do not have the strength to fight no more. But giving up is the easiest thing to do. What is challenging is confronting your fears and difficulties and overcoming them. It will not be easy and it will not be pleasant, but these few things just might help you get through your difficult times:

Channel Your Energy
Sometimes when you are so much absorbed by the negative energy it tends to eat you up and leave you paralyzed. When this happens you might feel like you have no energy left to fight and resist the urge to completely give up. As difficult as it may sound, you must find a way to channel all this negative energy into something more constructive and something that will allow you to feel alive again. Overcoming yourself and managing to focus on getting better is perhaps the most difficult step, but it is a step in the right direction.

Exercise
If you are feeling down and exhausted, the last thing you want to do is exercise. You might feel like getting out of the bed is a success on its own, but getting physically active can greatly help with the feelings of misery and despair. Contrary to what you may believe, indulging in regular fitness exercise will help you regain energy, clear your mind and make you feel better both physically and mentally.

Focus On the Good
Probably one of the most aggravating advice you hear from people is to try and stay positive through your tough periods. This usually comes from people who wish you well but simply have not found themselves in the same situation as you. Focusing your mind on the positive things is not easy, but it is certainly not impossible. Do not let your negative thoughts devour you whole. Try to maintain at least that one spark of positive and happy thought that will help you through your hardships.

Seek Counsel
Most people who are going through a troublesome time in their lives do not feel the need to share their feelings and emotions with anybody else. You might have a tendency of closing up and not letting anyone near you. But bottling up your emotions can only do you more harm. You might feel that if you open up you will feel exposed and vulnerable, but it will actually benefit you in the long run. Perhaps you feel more comfortable talking to a close friend or family member or perhaps with a professional like Sydney Counseling. It just might be the thing you need.

Learn From It
The best you can do is actually learn from your difficulties. Let your pain and trouble be your guides. Make every bad emotion a life lesson. Only this way will you be able to move on with your life and enable yourself to feel joy again.

The most important thing you must do is not allow anybody to influence your feelings. Only you know what you are going through, but also only you can help yourself. Forgive yourself and aid yourself. Be your own savior from the despair you have fallen into.

This article has been contributed by Diana Smith
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For every new mommy it seems that giving birth is the hardest thing they have ever done, but on the other hand getting into shape after the baby seems so out of reach. However, it is not impossible, because all it will take you is a bit of hard work, patience and a good diet. Moreover, staying healthy as a mom will benefit your child as well.

Reshape Your Diet to Eat Healthily

​Even though you have already changed your diet to accommodate your baby’s needs while being pregnant, it is going to happen once more. But, adding or taking away some food types is not going to be enough, and you will need to get stocked up on some super foods which will help you stay healthy and strong. After a while though, you will notice that you are more energetic and filled with energy.

Let Your Baby Eat As Well

​Not everyone looks fondly upon mommies who breastfeed their children. But, it is one of the most crucial thing a new mom and baby need to experience. Not only does breast milk build up immunity for the baby, and give plenty of nutrients, but it is also good exercise for the mommy as well. Believe it or not, breastfeeding can burn up a lot of calories, and it will be a great bonding activity too.

Ease Back Into Exercising

​Nothing beats regular exercise if you want to stay healthy and strong. Many find it impossible to go to the gym after the baby was born, and with so little time to spend on themselves, it becomes ever so hard to get back into shape. However, finding a fitness routine does not necessarily mean that you have to go and visit the gym every day. Instead, you can be even playing around with your kid, but you have to be engaged and you have to make sure that your mover around a lot. Otherwise, that extra baby-fat you might have gotten, will never go away.

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Be Careful With Some Pregnancy Issues 

​Although pregnancies nowadays go smoothly without any issues or without any major worries, it is still possible that you can suffer some minor injuries. One of the worst things that could happen to you is that your back becomes damaged, and that you will have to visit your local physician in order to get checked up. Over at Incline Health you can get some of the most modern treatment methods, and you will not have to worry about the ache coming back again.

Try To Get Some Sleep

​As much as you need exercise to stay fit and healthy, you will also need plenty of sleep, otherwise your body will not be able to process nutrients and work on reducing fats. However, it is easier said than done, and you should use every chance you get to rest up and to get a good night sleep. Otherwise, you will have problems showing up one after the other. 
Steering your life into a healthy lifestyle is a great way to ensure that your body stays strong and healthy, even after having a baby. Many are afraid to plan out their diet, because they are afraid that they will hurt their newborn, and if you are unsure, always check with a doctor to help you out, and to tell you which foods are bad for now. On the other hand, finding an exercise routine you can do and follow easily is a good way to secure that you burn away any unnecessary fat.  

Iodine deficiency can cause many problems including breast cysts, menstrual problems, prostate and thyroid issues.   I had a simple test at a holistic GP which showed I was deficient and now I supplement daily.  
Iodine supplementation can also help prevent infections, cold and flus and many other diseases.