17 Myths And Facts About STIs That You Need To Know

On February 1, 2022 By nouveaubigmjoeIn health and wellnessLeave a comment

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections transmitted by having unprotected sex with an infected partner. STIs are some most common communicable diseases particularly among young people aged 15-24 years.

Over the past few fears, people have been fervently coming up with different theories that try to shed some light on matters relating to STIs. But there were some weaknesses as some theories were later discovered to be myths. It has now become onerous for individuals to differentiate between STI facts and myths. This draws the sense that the truth has been contradicted.

Here are compilations of 17 myths discovered and the true facts behind them.

It’s easy to tell if someone has an STI

Fact: Not every STI causes clear signs and symptoms. You cannot tell, by looking at someone, whether they have an STI or not. Take HPV, for example, a virus that can cause genital warts and even cervical cancer. Almost all sexually active people will get it at some point in their lives, but not have any symptoms.

Using two condoms is safer and lowers the risk of getting an STI

Fact: Using two condoms at once actually increases the risk of them slipping or breaking, which means less protection. Stick to just one condom. For anal sex, use extra lube.

STIs happen to other people, not me. Besides, you can’t get an STI the first time you have sex.

Fact: Anyone engaging in certain sexual activities with someone who has an STI can contract an STI automatically, whether it’s the first time or the hundredth.

You can’t get an STI from oral sex

Fact: Yes, you can. Any form of intimacy, whether it’s vaginal, anal, oral or just genital skin-to-skin contact, can give you an STI. So always be safe when you get intimate with someone: use condoms or dental dams.

All STIs are easy to treat

Fact: Unfortunately, that’s not the case. While some, like chlamydia, are indeed easily treatable, there is no cure for others, like HIV. But even for the curable STIs, when one delays in seeking treatment and complications set in, the treatment isn’t as simple, and one may have to live with life-long complications such as infertility.

You can’t get the same STI more than once

Fact: Yes you can. Unfortunately having a certain STI doesn’t make you immune to it in the future. After the infection has been cured, you are vulnerable to it once again. That is why you should stop having sex with your partner(s) while you are getting treated for an STI. If you infect your partner, then he or she can pass the infection back to you as soon as you are cured.

Some STIs like Genital Herpes infect you once, then can keep reoccurring for a lifetime.

Condoms protect against all STIs

Fact: This might come as a shock, but condoms can’t prevent the transmission of all STIs. Some of them, like HPV and herpes, can be found anywhere around your genitals. And a condom won’t cover these areas, leaving you at risk of infection.

That’s not an excuse to drop the condom though!

I’ve only ever had one partner, so I can’t have an STI

Fact: Unfortunately, even if you’ve only had one partner, you can get an STI. If both of you have never had any kind of sexual contact before, the risk is low.

But, some infections (like HPV) are very common that many people get the infection on the first sexual encounter, and can be transmitted through skin contact alone. So there is a risk of infection, even if you’ve only ever had one partner.

You can’t have two STIs at once

Fact: Yes, you can. In fact, having an STI might make it even easier to get another one. If you have genital warts or genital herpes, for example, HIV can enter the body more easily. And chlamydia and gonorrhea appear together so often, that if you have one of them, the doctor is bound to test you for the other.

If he pulls out before he comes, I can’t get infected

Fact: Pre-cum—drops of fluid that the penis discharges during arousal—can contain HIV, other STIs, or even sperm. Several STIs that cause genital ulcers, such as syphilis or Herpes are not contained in semen, but get transmitted on genital-to-genital contact. It’s best to use a condom as soon as the penis is erect.

Lesbians don’t get STIs

Fact: All women who engage in certain sexual activities are at risk for STIs, Some STIs can be transmitted between women by genital-to-genital or oral-to-genital contact that involves the exchange of vaginal fluids or by sharing sex toys, and some can be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact.

After sex, you can prevent STIs by douching, washing your genitals, or urinating

Fact: Douching can actually push germs farther into your reproductive tract rather than wash them out, and can also alter your vaginal pH, which is normally protectively low. Even washing your genitals or urinating after sex is ineffective in protecting against developing an STI after exposure.

You can’t get an STI from anal sex

Fact: The viruses and bacteria that cause STIs don’t just go for the genitals. They can be spread through imperceptible cuts in the anus, as well. Some STIs, like genital warts and herpes, can be contracted from skin-to-skin contact alone, if you are exposed to an infected area; and gonorrhea also infects the lining in the mouth and eyes as well!

Condoms are only for heterosexual sex

Fact: Condoms can be used for any form of sexual encounter, be it with sex toys, anal or vaginal penetration

Someone who has condoms is having sex

Fact: Just because someone has condoms, it doesn’t mean they are having sex. It means they are taking control of their health and the health of others.

If I am using contraception, I don’t need to use a condom

Fact: No birth control method offers protection against STIs, except the condom. Other methods of birth control like pills, rings, IUDs (the coil), and the implant do not protect against STIs, they only protect against pregnancy. So it is safe and smart to use condoms every time you have sex.

The real thing is that having protected sex is better and it will set you free at some point. STIs don’t discriminate, anyone can get infected and slowly by slowly, your life will be gobbled.

The bluestar insider

BY MAXWELL KAMAU

What’s your motivation? What keeps you moving forward?

On February 1, 2022 By nouveaubigmjoeIn Motivation1 Comment

Ever asked yourself such questions and you tend to be buried in thoughts?

Motivation is what gets you started. we all want to have successful life one day in our lifespan, we aspire to achieve our goals everyday and night, but the big question in mind is where do I start from?

We all start from scratch until we become mirrors in the society. Despite the urge of wanting to make it badly in life fear is dragging us behind, people will always be afraid of how the society views them and thus they hesitate to make a further step. Of course it’s hard and if it were easy everybody would do it, Hard is what makes it great.

Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being excited about what could go right also don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind, be led by the dreams in your heart. The strongest factor for success is self-esteem. Believing you can do it, believing you desire it and believing you will get it.

The blue star insider.

BY VIRGINIA MUTHEU

5 Educational Ways Of Maintaining Menstrual Hygiene During Your Periods

On January 31, 2022 By nouveaubigmjoeIn health and wellnessLeave a comment

Periods are a natural bodily function, and are a sign that a girl or woman can get pregnant and have babies. Your period is the part of your menstrual cycle when blood from the uterus (womb) passes through the vagina and out of the body. Periods are totally normal and healthy!

Periods can make a mess, especially if they start when you were not expecting it! But remember that they are a completely natural process. During their menstrual periods, girls are always advised to consider hygiene all the time—Which is for their own inarguably benefits. Due to fear of speaking out which is triggered by period teasing from male friends, stigma and lack of knowledge, most girls don’t know what to do next at the time of their periods; they end up doing the unexpected.

Despite the challenges girls and women face everyday, menstrual hygiene management and practices matters alot. One can manage to stay clean by doing the following:

You should bathe every day as you usually do. If you can, clean your vulva (the outside part of your genitals) twice a day with water. Dry yourself and put a fresh cloth or pad on your underwear. Bathing regularly helps in cleaning your private parts as well as relieving your bad mood.

Change your pad, cloth or tampon as soon as it is getting full. If you are using a pad, it is advisable to change it every six hours while if you are using a tampon, every two hours is recommended. The reason for this is that when menstrual blood is released from the body, various organisms are attracted to the body which multiplies in the warmth of the blood and causes irritation, rashes or urinary tract infections.

Find a good sanitary brand that works for you and stick to it. Those with sensitive skin should avoid sanitary pads with plastic lining, as they can cause rashes, itchiness, and boils when rubbing against the skin.

Do not try to clean the inside of your vagina because it can make infections more likely. The vagina has its own cleaning mechanism that works in a very fine balance of good and bad bacteria. Washing it with soap can kill the good bacteria making way for infections. So, while it is important to wash regularly during this time, all you need to use is some warm water. You can use soap on the external parts but do not use it inside your vagina or vulva.

It’s also advised that you put on comfortable and loose clothes. Avoid tight-fitting ones like jeans. This will ensure free air circulation around the sensitive areas as well as minimize the rate of sweating.

With these five educational tips, any girl can stay clean as long as they are followed. Above all, we need to end stigmatization against our girls. Periods are a natural and healthy way of cleaning their wombs. Let’s not freak them out again.

The Blue

star Insider

By MAXWELL KAMAU

Rigorous Sexuality Education For The Youth Is Necessary

On January 30, 2022February 2, 2022 By nouveaubigmjoeIn Education1 Comment

Comprehensive sexuality education enables young people to make informed decisions about their sexuality and health. It is taught over several years, introducing age-appropriate, scientifically accurate information consistent with the evolving capacities of young people. And it goes beyond information, to encourage confidence and improved communication skills. These programmes build life skills and increase responsible behaviours, and because they are based on human-rights principles, they help advance human rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of young people.

We should support efforts by countries to deliver comprehensive sexuality education with a particular focus on ensuring that curricula meet international standards and on training educators who promote respect for gender equality and the rights of adolescents and youth to have control over matters related to their sexuality, including their sexual and reproductive health.

Outside of schools, we should work with the established Youth Peer Education Network (Y-PEER) and utilizes innovative tactics – including websites and social media, theatre performances and celebrity spokespeople – to reach the young people most in need of information with quality facts and messages about sexual and reproductive health.

Numerous studies show that curricula providing accurate information about condoms and contraception can lead to reductions in the risky behaviors reported by young people, particularly when gender equality is integrated into the learning material. Young people who adopt egalitarian attitudes about gender roles have been found to be more likely to delay sexual initiation, use condoms, and practice contraception. They also have lower rates of STIs, including HIV, and unintended pregnancy, and they are less likely to be in violent relationships.

By emphasizing rights and gender issues, comprehensive sexuality education programmes help reduce gender-based violence and bullying, promote safe schools, empower young people to advocate for their own rights, and advance gender equality.

Adolescents and youth have a right to education and skills-building as they experience physical and emotional maturation; begin relationships; and face decisions that will affect their lifelong physical and mental health and well-being. Yet research shows that the majority of adolescents lack the skills and knowledge required to make those decisions responsibly, leaving them vulnerable to coercion, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancy.

The bluestar insider.

By JOE MWANGI.

Khalid, A Non-traditional R&B Singer Who Is “The Shooting Star Of The Playlist Era”

On January 29, 2022January 29, 2022 By nouveaubigmjoeIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

Everytime you take a nature walk with a melophile, you’ll always hear him or her saying, ” Music gives me the energy to carry on in life”, ” Music is the soundtrack of my life “, or ” Music is the shorthand of emotion.” Their hearts get thrilled through listening to music and no doubt, they’ll ever live to be happy. One interesting fact about melophiles is that they are addicted to their favourite artist. One will say, ” Chris Brown is my favourite R&B singer”, or ” Khalid has the energy. My day kicks off by listening to his songs.”

Haha! Well, I don’t have to conceal my status anymore, I’m a melophile too! And we all have different tastes. We have several R&B artists who have been striving and for a purpose, to release their best singles and albums. They grok what’s to come next after days and nights of hard work. Singer Khalid, obviously, deserves to be called “The Big Fish”. His remarkable achievements in the music industry are encouraging.

Khalid Donnel Robinson is an American singer and songwriter signed to Right Hand Music Group and RCA Records. Born on February 11, 1998 in Fort Stewart, Georgia, he rose to fame after the release of his debut single “Location” which peaked at number 16 on the ‘US Billboard Hot 100’ chart. His debut studio album “American Teen”, which was consciously named such to combat stereotypical views on ‘Proper American’, was equally successful and reached number four on ‘US Billboard 200’ albums chart.

Khalid was raised by his mother, whose military career necessitated itinérant upbringing. He lived in military réservations in Kentucky and New York, as well as in Heidelberg, Germany, before his mother was transferred to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Throughout, music had been a constant—Khalid started singing as early as hé could speak and his mother performed with thé US army chorus—but a supportive environment at El Paso’s Americas High School nourished his creativity and boosted his confidence. While at Americas, Khalid uploaded his first recordings. They quickly reached A&R exécutive Tunji Balogan, who signed thé artist to major-label RCA.

Career

Some of the early songs that Khalid uploaded on the internet include ”Saved” and ”Stuck On You”. Eager to bring out another song before prom, he managed to contact producer Syk Sense and secured an invitation to work with him in an Atlanta studio.
He first worked on the song in Atlanta and then back in El Paso, and released ”Location”, which eventually became a breakthrough single and earned him multiple platinum certification from RIAA. The song finished at No. 20 on the Billboard’s ‘Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay’ chart in 2016 and reached the Top 10 on the ‘Billboard Hot R&B Songs’ chart on January 21, 2017.
He featured on the single ”Electric” by Alina Baraz, released in January 2016. In December that year, he collaborated with Brooklyn-based duo Brasstracks on the track ”Whirlwind” from Yours Truly and Adidas Originals Songs from Scratch series, which was played over 700,000 times on SoundCloud.
In January and February 2017, he went on his debut headlining tour, the ‘Location Tour’, covering 21 cities around the US, as well as Canada and Europe. He sold out all the venues of the 25 tour dates, including El Paso’s 1,500 capacity Tricky Falls.
After the tour concluded, Khalid released his debut studio album ”American Teen” on March 3, 2017. Supported by singles like ”Location” and ”Young Dumb & Broke”, the album debuted at number nine on the ‘Billboard 200’ and reached number four in August, and also topped the R&B Albums chart.
Kendrick Lamar’s promotional song ”The Heart Part 4”, which was released on March 24, 2017, featured uncredited vocals by him. The following month, he featured alongside Alessia Cara on the single ‘1-800-273-8255’ by Logic, which became his highest charting single, peaking at number three on the ‘Billboard Hot 100’.
He made his first television appearance on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ on March 15, 2017 and performed the song ”Location”, backed by ”The Roots”. One of his songs, ”Angels”, was featured on the episode ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ of the ABC drama series ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ on April 27, 2017.
He began his second headlining tour, the 25-city ‘American Teen Tour’, on July 12, 2017. In September that year, he joined Lorde, who heavily influenced him, to serve as the opening act on her tour around the UK.
The following year, Khalid released the number-one pop songs “Love Lies” with Normani and “Eastside” with Benny Blanco and Halsey, both of which tied the record for longest charting songs on the Mainstream Top 40 chart and reached the top-10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In September 2018, he released the number-one Rhythmic song “Better” as the lead single from his top-10 EP Suncity.
In April 2019, he released his second studio album, “Free Spirit”, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart. The lead single “Talk” peaked at No. 3 in the US and earned him a Grammy Award for Record of the Year nomination.
In July 2021, the silence was broken again with another ballad “New normal”.
On Friday December 3, 2021 Khalid released his first mixtape the “Scenic Drive” (The Tape) album which featured contributions from artists like Alicia Keys, QUIN and JID.

Major Works

Khalid’s debut album ”American Teen” received critical acclaim and was certified platinum by RIAA on October 24, 2017 for selling over 1,000,000 in combined pure sales and album-equivalent units. The song ‘Location’ from the album also received platinum certification and sold over 4 million copies.

Awards & Achievements

In July 2016, Khalid reached No. 2 on the ‘Billboard Twitter Emerging Artists’ chart and was named among top 10 new artists to watch in 2017 by several publications including ‘Billboard’, Yahoo and ‘Rolling Stone’.
In 2017, he was named the ‘Best New Artist’ at the ‘MTV Video Music Awards’ and also won the ‘Woodie To Watch’ honor at the ‘Woodie Awards’. That year, he was nominated for several other awards such as the ‘BET Awards’, ‘Teen Choice Awards’, ‘American Music Awards’ and ‘Soul Train Music Awards’.
He was nominated for a number of awards at the 2018 ‘Grammy Award’ ceremony. He was nominated for ‘Best New Artist’, his debut album was nominated for ‘Best Urban Contemporary Album’, and the single ‘Location’ was nominated for ‘Best R&B Song’.
In 2019, Khalid was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People.
During the BET Awards 2020 he was awarded best male R&B/ pop singer.
His song “Talk” was nominated as Record Of The Year at the 2020 ‘Grammy Award’ ceremony.

From the records, we can inarguably conclude that Khalid will still be offering good music to his beloved fans year by year.

Blue Star Insider

Crédits: http://www.thefamouspeople.com

By Maxwell Kamau

Young Love Can Be A Confusing Emotion

On January 28, 2022January 28, 2022 By nouveaubigmjoeIn lifestyleLeave a comment

Young love tends to be based on nothing but feelings

The couple has not yet faced and overcome a challenge or difficulty together. They are passionate about each other. They think about each other constantly and want to spend all their time together. Young love carries a lot of emotion with it. It can be an incredibly wonderful and intense emotion. It can also be extremely confusing. Love is difficult for many mature adults to manage, making it that much harder for teenagers. However, just because it’s confusing doesn’t mean that young love isn’t real. Sometimes it is, and sometimes it’s not. Here are some things to remember about young love.

Young Love Rarely Lasts
Teenage couples often have people tell them that young love rarely lasts. These people aren’t trying to be mean; they are trying to save teenagers from heartache. Chances are these people had their hearts broken by young love in the past and are trying to spare the feelings of the teenager they are talking to. But every teenager has the same response to this—”it’s going to be different for us.”
There are some young couples and school sweethearts that make it. They stand the test of time. Their exciting young relationship grows and develops into true love. However, for every school couple that remains together, there are many more that don’t. And, of the couples that do get married after school, over 50% of them get divorced before they have been married for ten years.

This makes it confusing for young people. They want their relationship to last, yet they see the statistics that seem to say there’s only a slight chance of that happening. This fear alone is enough to cause some to break up with each other as they prepare to transition to adulthood.

Infatuation Is Confused With Love
Relationships are confusing for young people because they are experiencing feelings of romantic love and attraction for the first time. They are just starting to figure it all out. Since these are feelings that many mature adults struggle with, you can only imagine how much more of a struggle it can be for teenagers. The first feelings that preteens and teens usually experience are feelings of infatuation or a crush. The feelings are more intense than the young person is used to, and are easily mistaken for love.

Young love tends to be based on nothing but feelings. The couple has not yet faced and overcome a challenge or difficulty together. They are passionate about each other. They think about each other constantly and want to spend all their time together. Chances are they blush at the mention of the other, get sweaty palms, experience a racing heart, and desire for the other. Many times, they don’t even know each other well. These feelings are a natural reaction and not something the teen is choosing.
When the relationship faces the first challenge, like a disagreement between the couple, it can be blown out of proportion. Those that are experiencing young love mistakenly believe that love comes without trials. However, the exact opposite is true. True love develops when a couple decides to overcome the challenges that face them and stay together despite them.

Teenagers Are Still In The Process Of Discovering Who They Are
Young love is even more challenging because you are still in the process of finding out who you are. When you fall in love and are in a serious relationship before you know yourself, it can cause many problems down the road. To please the other person, you do things they enjoy doing. You may even believe that you like these things for awhile. But in the future, there could come a day when you realize you have been wasting your time doing things that you don’t enjoy to please someone else.

This makes young love confusing because the more you learn about yourself, the more you may find that you don’t enjoy spending time with the other person like you once thought you did. And it works the other way as well. You may think you found the perfect person that you are compatible with, but then they start realizing they like different things. It’s easy to feel betrayed when this happens. However, it’s most likely not that the other person was trying to trick you but that they didn’t know themselves well enough.
It’s also important to know who you are before getting into a relationship, so you can learn to love yourself for who you are. If you skip this step, you can quickly end up in the place where you become a people pleaser. You will feel that you need love and approval from another person to know that you are OK. But if you know who you are, and learn to love that person, all of those problems can be avoided.

Teenagers Often Don’t Know What They Are Looking For.
Experience and maturity are important in life. When you look for someone to be in a relationship with, you need to know what you are looking for. Young love often blinds teenagers to the real situation. This can make love seem even more confusing. You may think that you found the perfect person, but as you continue to mature and learn what’s important to you, you may realize that your boyfriend or girlfriend isn’t the type of person you want to be with.

As teens grow, many hop from one relationship to the next to find what they are looking for. This makes life, not just love, confusing. This is one reason it can be helpful to start as friends while you learn who you are and what you are looking for in a partner. Then, eventually, you can see if the relationship should develop into something more.

A Lot Is Going On In Life
Teenagers are busier than ever these days. They are expected to stay on top of their schoolwork, which often includes hours of homework and studying outside of school. On top of that, many play sports or have a part-time job. When you add these things in with family and friends, it’s difficult to add a romantic relationship on top of that. If the two individuals don’t agree on what the right amount of time is to spend with each other, then one or both will end up frustrated and confused.

Teens that find themselves in the throes of young love need to be open with each other about expectations. This can help to eliminate confusion in the relationship.

It Might Be One-Sided
There is nothing quite as upsetting as being a teenager in love with someone who doesn’t feel the same way. Young love is an intense emotion that can be overwhelming. If the feelings aren’t returned, many kids struggle with how to move forward. Some remain obsessed with the other for years until school ends and they are no longer bumping into each other on a regular basis. If you are a teen who is experiencing this situation you need to understand that it is a normal thing that happens, even for adults. It doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with you. It simply means that you two are not right for each other.

Peer Pressure Plays A Role In It
Peer pressure is something that teenagers deal with at a much higher level than any other age group. It can make young love and relationships very complicated. Teens can feel pressured to be in a relationship even if they aren’t interested because all of their friends are in relationships. They can also be pressured to take the relationship to the next level even if they are not ready to. There is an intense desire to fit in with their peers, and it makes it easy to cross boundaries that they wouldn’t have crossed otherwise.

Tips On Young Love
Just because it’s considered “young love,” does not mean it isn’t real. If you are a teenager, there are a few things you can do to eliminate some of the confusion in dating.

Don’t date your friend’s ex.

You may have strong feelings for that person, but you need to determine how important your friend is to you. Many high school friendships end because of young love that doesn’t last. Your friend might even say it’s OK, but you better know for sure before you date their ex.

Spend some time getting to know yourself.

You want to be in a relationship with someone that likes you for you. That means you have to know who you are, what you like, and what you don’t like. Once you know who you are, don’t compromise that for any other person, no matter how much you love them. Someone who loves you for the right reasons won’t ask you to make compromises.

Don’t isolate yourself.

Don’t sacrifice your relationships with family and friends for the person you are dating. You may want to spend a lot of time with them but make sure that save time for others as well.

Get on the same page.

Talk to the other person to make sure you are both on the same page and feel the same way. Then communicate your expectations. If you are playing a sport and need time to practice and spend time with your team, be upfront about this.

Don’t lose focus.

School is going to go by quickly, and you need to have a plan for what comes next. Don’t lose focus because you are so consumed with your relationship. Whether you plan on going to school or starting a career, make sure you’re prioritizing your future.

Courtesy: Navigating Love With BetterHelp.
THE BLUESTAR INSIDER.
BY JOE MWANGI.

Healthy Breakfast Ideas

On January 28, 2022 By nouveaubigmjoeIn health and wellness1 Comment

Eggs

Eggs make a simple, nutritious breakfast choice. They’re an excellent source of protein, which helps support muscle synthesis. Since protein takes a while to digest, it also helps keep you feeling full.

The dish may support weight management, additionally, egg yolks contain lutein and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants help prevent eye disorders like cataracts and macular degeneration.

Eggs are also one of the best sources of choline, a vital nutrient for brain and liver health. Contrary to popular belief, eggs don’t raise cholesterol levels in most people despite their high cholesterol content. In fact, one review of 23 studies found that eggs have a mild protective effect against heart disease (7 Trusted Source).

That said, try to limit your intake of highly processed breakfast items that are commonly paired with eggs, such as breakfast sausages and bacon. Instead, eat your eggs with other nutritious foods, such as whole grain toast, whole fruit, or sautéed vegetables.

SUMMARY

Eggs are high in protein and several important nutrients. They may promote fullness and help lower your calorie intake later in the day.

Greek yogurt

Greek yogurt is a great option if you’re looking for a quick breakfast. It’s made by straining whey and other liquid from milk curds, which produces a creamy product that’s more concentrated in protein than regular yogurt.

In addition, it’s lower in calories than other protein sources. A 1-cup (245-gram) serving boasts 25 grams of protein and only 149 calories. Greek yogurt is full of beneficial nutrients like calcium, vitamin B12, zinc, potassium, and phosphorus.

SUMMARY

Greek yogurt is not only high in protein and low in calories, but certain types are also high in probiotics, which support gut health.

Coffee

Aside from water, coffee is the world’s most popular beverage. It’s high in caffeine, a molecule that promotes alertness, improves mood, and increases physical and mental performance. Notably, many athletes drink coffee as a natural pre-workout beverage to support sports performance. Regular coffee intake is associated with many health benefits, such as a lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, liver disease, Parkinson’s, certain types of cancer, and even death from all causes.

Most studies suggest that 1–3 cups (240–710 mL) per day — containing about 300–400 mg of caffeine — provide these benefits. Although this amount is safe for adults, you should limit yourself to 300 mg or less of caffeine per day if you’re pregnant.

Finally, it’s best to drink your coffee black or with dairy or plant-based milk. Try to use sugar sparingly or avoid it altogether, as too much sugar is linked to health risks.

SUMMARY

The caffeine in coffee promotes alertness and enhances physical and mental performance. Drinking coffee regularly is associated with a lower risk of illnesses.

Berries

Berries, including blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries are delicious and packed with antioxidants.

Most are high in fiber, which promotes fullness. In fact, raspberries and blackberries each provide an impressive 8 grams of fiber per cup (123–144 grams)

Plus, 1 cup (123–144 grams) of berries contains only 50–85 calories depending on the type.

Berries also offer antioxidants called anthocyanins, which provide their characteristic blue, purple, and red colors. A diet high in anthocyanins is linked to reduced inflammation and a lower risk of illnesses like heart disease and certain types of cancer.

Additionally, anthocyanins are associated with better brain health and may protect against age-related mental decline. You can purchase berries year-round either fresh or frozen. Add them to Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal, or a fruit smoothie for a tasty breakfast.

SUMMARY

Nuts

Berries are high in fiber and low in calories. They’re also rich in antioxidants that may decrease your risk of disease.

Nuts of all types are high in magnesium, potassium, and heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. They’re also a great source of antioxidant.

Brazil nuts are one of the best sources of selenium. Just 2 Brazil nuts provide more than 100% of the Daily Value (DV).

Although nuts are high in calories, studies suggest you don’t absorb all of their fat.

For example, some studies show that your body only absorbs about 129 calories from a 1-ounce (28-gram) serving of whole almonds, though you absorb more fat from processed versions, such as almond butter.

Another study notes that your body only absorbs 80% of the calories from almonds and walnuts.

Furthermore, nuts’ high protein, fat, and fiber contents promote fullness, which may aid weight management.

Nut intake is also linked to better heart and brain health. In fact, one study associated eating peanuts and tree nuts 2 or more times per week and walnuts 1 or more times per week with a 13–19% reduced risk of heart disease.

Topping Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or oatmeal with a spoonful or two of chopped nuts is a great way to increase your breakfast’s nutritional value.

SUMMARY

Nuts are a filling, nutrient-dense food that may help reduce heart disease risk and promote brain health.

Wholesome Breakfast Pancakes and Waffles

Pancakes and waffles are not easy to whip up on a busy morning, but good news is that they are one of the best foods to freeze. Cook the recipe or double it up, let cool completely, place in a Ziploc bag, release as much air as possible and freeze laying flat for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, pop straight from the freezer into the toaster or microwave.

Courtesy healthline.

Blue Star Insider

By JOE MWANGI

DREAMS

On January 27, 2022January 27, 2022 By nouveaubigmjoeIn poetryLeave a comment

Sometimes even the best-laid plans don’t work out…
You have a dream, you go after it, and you achieve it. You do everything in your power to accomplish your goal, and you feel on top of the world when you finally get there, and then something happens, and you can’t continue on the same path.You get downsized from your dream job. Or you become ill. Or a family member becomes ill and you need to be home with them.
It’s tempting to think that was your only shot and now it’s over. To think that you’re stuck with your new reality.
But what if you could take that dream and adapt it to your new circumstances?
What if you could use your skills in a different way and still have the flexibility to look after your other commitments?
I’m here to tell you it’s 100% possible. The only constant in life is change, and we have to know how to roll with the punches.
So the next time life throws a wrench in your plans, take a deep breath and know you’ve got this.
To never giving up,

LINSKI JOE # POETRY LOUNGE # MAXWELL

The bluestar insider

By JOE MWANGI

Jackson Ngari: I Believe In The Transformative Power Of Story Telling

On January 25, 2022January 25, 2022 By nouveaubigmjoeIn Teenbiz Dialogue2 Comments

Could you introduce yourself to the Netizens?

My name is Jackson Ngari, a student pursuing an undergraduate degree in Communication and Media Studies at Rongo University. For the past two years, I have dedicated my time seeking and sharing untold stories of Kenya with a hope to improve the plight of my fellow youth men.

I believe in the transformative power of storytelling. A proud demisexual, deputy parent and a Podcaster.

What sense are you trying to bring out by calling yourself a deputy parent?

Being a deputy parent, I mean, every firstborn kid knows this, you become a second parent to your siblings. You become a caretaker when the parents aren’t around. Sometimes, you cancel your plans just to babysit–Which is the worst thing ever. You have to sacrifice getting some of the things to make sure that your siblings have them first like getting clothes, they should have them first and you have to be the understanding one. Every little thing should be done for them before us. Sometimes, it means going through the whole day hungry, just to make sure your siblings are well fed. You have to defend them everyday even when they’re getting out the right path, be their emotional supporter. Be that sister or brother that they can rely on and love more than anything in this world.

You ameliorate the the plight of your fellow youth men through seeking and sharing their untold stories. In which constructive ways do you share your tales, through podcasting?

If podcasting has taught me a thing, it’s that everyone has a story and I love to share them. But honestly, storytelling has always been a big part of the society. So when it comes to telling tales or rather banters, I’d usually go with podcasting. In podcasting, I use stories to talk about real issues and real lives. There’s lots of positives to sharing your story and, depending on what you’re cool with, there are many different ways to do it. Every story shared is a chance to make someone feel less alone.

Most of your up-building and transformative articles have been making an appearance on different magazines like Radiant Magazine, Campus Vines and Students Magazine. What pushed you to venture into writting and start fighting for the welfare of youths?

Haha! Writing is a passion, it can’t be chosen. It just pushes you to the edge and when you try to resist it, it becomes even mightier and throws you into precipitate. Some people, like me didn’t have a choice. Overall, writing is a way for me personally to convey stories, news because I’m taking Journalism, experiences, thoughts and actions are better than anything else.

And why only the youths?

Indeed, youth represent vibes, energy and take around
75% of our population, are very creative and innovative and should be beacons of hope that should always fight for the community at all times.

As one of the prolific writter and an outonomous podcaster we have so far in Kenya, which other main roles do you play in society apart from addressing matters affecting youths? And how do you balance the roles?

Well, for the prosperity and betterment of our society and as a student, I usually get involved with discussions and community works like communal cleanings, etcetera. Therefore, young men and women of all ages and proffesions should do their best to serve the society. Balancing the roles is even much easier– I usually plot or set some working hours and stick to them.

You’re also a champion of mental health. You recently wrote and managed to publish an educative article that appeared on the Daily Nation newspaper concerning it. Share with us some light about mental health and how society has been affected.

You see, what I do is that; I create personal and meaningful ways to help raise awareness of support evidence-informed education on teen depression and suicide prevention. I’m very determined in making sure that no young person ever feels alone in their depression or in their darkest days.

As a torchbearer, you’ve been illuminating all the dark areas of concern in society for the past two years through storytelling and from it, some of the societal problems are believed to have been solved. Which other specific areas do you also like talking most about may it either be in written form or the podcast that you do?

I pay attention to people’s personalities, their cries for help, their opinions, their beliefs, what they want and put solutions to their problems out there both in writing and podcasting. I enjoy putting up a smile on someone’s face.

Do you live believing that what you deliver to readers and those listening to you have got massive impact on their lives?

Yes, of course, the grand responses I get from friends is what that keeps me sailing.

What are some of the greatest achievements you have made so far as far as communication and media studies is concerned?

I’m the founder of podcast dubbed ‘4_reigners’. I got to sign in three of my best-talented friends and we’re currently doing well. I have been recognized by the @Number One podcast in the Country (No Name Podcast Ke). Also, some weeks ago I was verified by Twitter. It really doubled my glee.

Being a baptized christian, I know Bible means a lot to you. Which nourishing verse do you find it best and keeps you doing the most?

Isaiah:60.22 which says, ” The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly.”

What are your aspirations this year?

Just a favourable 2022. We shoot those shots and make new entries into places we never dreamt of.

Blue Star Insider

By MAXWELL KAMAU

In Every Positive Step There Is Greatness – Benjamin Barasa.

On January 15, 2022January 15, 2022 By nouveaubigmjoeIn Teenbiz DialogueLeave a comment

Could you introduce yourself to Netizens?

My real name is Benjamin Barasa. I am 20 year old, a Kenyan by birth and my artistic name is Generic 1990, a real poet with zeal. I am also a second year student at Rongo University taking a degree course in Human Resource management.

Why tagging yourself as Generic 1990? Share with us the chemistry behind such a unique stage name.

Generic basically means a typical name that does not give a specific description of something but rather describes and looks at that thing as a whole. Therefore, in relation to that, I chose to call myself Generic because poetry is meant to impact positively all the diverse groups of people worldwide and rather not a specific group. Then I chose this digits 1990 which actually according to me is a year, the 90s in general. Main reason for choosing the year was because poetry is ancient, it didn’t start yesterday. Therefore, it is old enough to give us the best motivation and solution to deal with any emerging situation. So the picture I wanted to bring out in ‘1990’ is that poery is old and old is gold .

What was growing up like?

Growing up was cool especially being brought up in a family that embraced christianity and really held a great value in societal norms and virtues. As we all know that God is the giver of talent, I think he built it further because I always lived to pray and praise him. But as they say, there’s no good that has no bad. Our family was not that well off but atleast we afforded good nutrition. I am happy to be alive today and kicking writing about myself.

When did you start doing poetry?

I buckled down on poetry seriously when I was in highschool, that is from 2015 onwards. Actually before that, I already counted myself a poet but never really had a go for it. I guess maybe I was still growing up so as to know more. On top of that, Ralph Waldo Emerson says, every artist was fist an amateur.

What does Arts and Culture mean to you?

According to me, Art is the most powerful non-living thing. This is because of its ability to influence and inspire. Art enables us find ourselves and loose ourselves at the same time, isn’t that powerful? Yes it is! Culture is the mother of art, through culture we can be able to express ourselves in an artistic dimension.

As a poet, you’ve done a number of pieces. Which is your most favorite poem, so far and why?

There is this piece I have termed ” Medussa “. It’s a romantic piece actually and the reason as to why I am in love with it, is that the girl—Medussa was in my dream, so I decided to paint it down. Though the piece is short, but it really has the words required. I even went to an extend of doing a performance on the piece.

Some claim that writing a poem got to be hard. What’s your thought on that?

First of all, we all know that there is no mountain that got no climb, but the climb can be easier if the necessary effort is applied. This is the same with poetry, if you accept that you are a poet and you are ready to talk poetry and apply what is needed of you with passion then probably words will just flow. Writing a poem is not hard but giving the poem its self interpretation is what is hard. I think that is my self invented sensible Saying.

Which specific areas do you like writting most?

Sometimes I term myself as poet of dark and light because I write all round but I majorly write on current affairs in relation to the modern society, romance and mystery.

Poetry is said to have the power to impact people in society positively. What can you say about that?

That is true. Poetry gives the society an inner eye to perceive a situation as any other calamity that can be dealt with in the easiest way possible. A well delivered poem has the power to transform a serial killer to a serial killer dealer, wiping clean all vice in the society.

Many poets are said to have drawn their inspirations from different valuable sources. Where do you draw yours from?

Mostly I draw my inspiration from my real life experiences. They drive me to better myself, to give myself the best image the mirror will ever reflect. Ancient poets like William Shakespeare and Pablo Neruda have also inspired me a lot.

How is God blowing up your mind lately?

Honestly, God has been the producer throughout, giving me the ability to create those wise rhyming lines and plant them down on paper. All credit goes to HIM.

Tell us what happened on a day you’ll never forget in your life.

I am still growing so I think I am still young and open enough to encounter more experiences that will act as my eternal remembrance. But for now I think the day I will receive the most noble and precious award for poetry honestly, will be the day I will live never to forget.

What best advice have you ever received from your parents/guardians in regards to the poetry you’re doing?

The most powerful breathing words I have ever received are from my little sister. She said, ” You are the best poet I know, with that ability inside you I am sure the world will look at you with a smiling face.” Those are the words that inspire me to do more and to add up to the little that am doing.

What next big thing should we anticipate from Generic 1990?

I always say, in every positive step there is greatness, so expect greatness from this Penner—Generic 1990.

The blue star insider.

Generic 1990.

By MAXWELL KAMAU