Health, Wellness and Aesthetics

18/11/2025

A study by the University of Michigan found that eating blueberries every single day may actually inhibit the creation of new fat cells in the body.

Blueberries help inhibit fat cell creation (adipogenesis) and reduce fat storage by inhibiting fat gain at the molecular level, primarily through their rich content of polyphenols like anthocyanins. These compounds can decrease lipid (fat) content in tissue and induce lipolysis, which is the breakdown of fats.

These effects have been shown in mouse and cell studies and research is ongoing in humans, however, blueberries are one thing that EVERYONE (unless allergic or intolerant) should eat every single day. Blueberries are one of the healthiest foods due to their high content of vitamins, minerals, fiber and powerful antioxidants particularly anthocyanins, which offer protection against heart disease, cancer, inflammation and age-related cognitive decline.

PMID: 36676944

18/11/2025

Scientists have officially recognized a new form of diabetes: Type 3c Diabetes Mellitus (T3cDM). Unlike Type 1 (autoimmune) or Type 2 (insulin resistance), this form develops from direct damage to the pancreas, often due to chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, surgery, or genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis. Because it disrupts both blood sugar regulation and digestion, T3c patients often need dual treatment: insulin therapy and enzyme replacement therapy. Misdiagnosis has been common, with many patients incorrectly treated as Type 2 diabetics, highlighting the urgent need for awareness among healthcare providers.

The recognition of T3c ensures more accurate diagnosis, personalized care, and better outcomes. At the same time, researchers are also exploring the controversial concept of “Type 3 diabetes” in the brain—possibly linked to Alzheimer’s—though it has yet to be classified as an official medical condition.

18/11/2025

11/11/2025

A diet high in carbs and sugar can lead to insulin resistance…

This happens when blood sugar spikes lead to chronically high insulin levels. Your body then compensates with insulin resistance.

Initial symptoms can ultimately lead to serious conditions like diabetes, dementia, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Adopting a low-carb diet and practicing intermittent fasting can help support insulin sensitivity and promote better metabolic health.

If you want to enhance your results, you can:

-Add exercise
-Lower your stress
-Get more sleep
-Get plenty of nutrients through your diet

👆
Let’s make the above practical and realistic.

✅ If someone can’t exercise much
Even small movements help.

Simple options for low mobility:
-Chair exercises (5–10 minutes
daily)
-Light arm movements or hand
weights (even water bottles)
-Gentle stretches in bed or sitting
-Slow walking inside the house
-Leg lifts while sitting

For older adults, movement is medicine — not workouts.

Even standing up more often helps insulin sensitivity.

✅ If finances limit healthy food
You don't need expensive food. You need lower sugar and simple carbs.

Affordable insulin-friendly options in South Africa:
-Eggs
-Cabbage, carrots, onions, spinach
-Tinned fish (pilchards, tuna)
-Chicken pieces (especially thighs
vs breast — cheaper and better
fats)
-Beans and lentils (with portion
control)
-Full-cream yogurt (plain)
-Oats (not instant, add cinnamon)
-Peanut butter (no added sugar if
possible)
-Rooibos tea (no sugar)

Cheap swaps that help:

Instead of Try:
❌️White bread, pap
✅️brown bread or oats (small portion)

❌️Sugary cereal
✅️eggs or oats

❌️Sugary tea/coffee
✅️rooibos or coffee with cinnamon
Juice/soda water, lime, ginger, rooibos

✅️Snacks: boiled eggs, peanuts, carrot sticks

Most powerful trick:
Eat protein first, carbs last — even if the meal is small. This lowers blood sugar spikes.

✅ If sleep is difficult
You don’t need 8 perfect hours. You need better rest, even if sleep is broken.

Try:
-Warm water, magnesium at night
-Rooibos tea before bed (calming)
-No phone screen 30 min before sleep
-Deep breathing for 2 minutes in bed
-Prayer or gentle worship music to calm the nervous system
-Even lying still quietly for 20 minutes restores the body.

✅ If stress is constant and unavoidable:
Life stress can’t always be removed — especially in South Africa and your situation.

So the strategy becomes:
-Calm the body even if stress stays in life
-Control what you can, not what you can't

Simple tools:
-Deep slow breathing (4 seconds in, 6 out)
-Short prayer/faith declarations
-A quiet cup of tea moment
-Journaling 2 minutes per day
-Nature sounds or worship music

Stress management ≠ no stress.
It means giving your nervous system rest moments.

✅ If fasting is difficult:
Even 12 hours overnight helps (e.g., 7pm–7am).

Two simple rules that change everything:

Stop eating 2–3 hours before bed

First meal of the day includes protein (egg, yogurt, peanut butter)

~ Health and Wellness
Theresa Higgo

10/11/2025

Pharma meds were never designed to “fix” you.

When you visit the doctor, they will typically address your symptoms, largely ignoring lifestyle changes that could help.

Consider addressing your diet and lifestyle habits and seeking out natural remedies designed to treat the root cause.

10/11/2025

They once prescribed sunlight as medicine.
What changed?

09/11/2025

The information presented in the image, claiming that the creators of Ozempic (semaglutide) are facing lawsuits over severe side effects with potential damages exceeding $2 billion, aligns with numerous recent news reports.

​Here's a breakdown of the claims and what current legal and medical reporting indicates:
​⚖️ Ozempic Lawsuits and $2 Billion Liability

​Legal Action: The drug's manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, is facing a large number of lawsuits, consolidated into multidistrict litigation in the U.S., alleging that the drug caused severe injuries.

​Monetary Claim: Legal analysts and reports suggest that the total potential liability from settlements or judgments in these lawsuits could exceed $2 billion. This figure represents the estimated scale of potential damages, not an already-paid fine or settlement amount.

​Allegation: Plaintiffs primarily argue that the company failed to adequately warn users, particularly those taking the drug off-label for weight loss, about the full range and severity of potential side effects.

​🏥 Reported Side Effects in Lawsuits
​The side effects listed in the image are consistent with those cited in the lawsuits and discussed in recent medical literature:

​Stomach Paralysis (Gastroparesis): This is one of the most prominent claims. Gastroparesis is a condition where stomach emptying is slowed significantly. Observational studies have linked the use of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic to an increased risk of this condition.

​Intestinal Blockages (Ileus):
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated the Ozempic label to include a warning for intestinal obstruction (ileus), which is when the intestines become blocked, often requiring immediate medical attention.
​Gallbladder Disease (Cholecystitis/Gallstones): Lawsuits and studies have cited reports of gallbladder issues like inflammation and gallstones.

​Pancreatitis:
This is an established risk for Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs. It involves inflammation of the pancreas and can be severe.

​Kidney Damage:
Cases of kidney injury have also been cited in the lawsuits and reported to the FDA's adverse events database.

​Blindness/Vision Loss:
Lawsuits mention sudden vision loss linked to a condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Ophthalmologists have reported a correlation with recent Ozempic use, and the EMA (European Medicines Agency) has flagged a rare vision risk with semaglutide.
​While the core facts presented in the image—lawsuits over these specific, severe side effects with a potential liability estimated in the billions—are accurate based on current reporting, it's important to understand that the litigation is ongoing, and the $2 billion figure is an estimate of potential total costs, not a final judgment or settlement.

The manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, maintains that the drug is safe when used as prescribed and that all medications carry risks.

​You can learn more about the legal challenges facing the manufacturer of Ozempic in this video:
Ozempic Faces $2 Billion Lawsuits | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G