Health tips And Fruits

Garlic 86

noreply@blogger.com (Abdul Khadeer) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:34:00 +0000

For centuries the use of Garlic is not just limited to cooking, garlic is also respected for a very different sort of magic, its possible protective power against many types of disease. The first benefits you get when you chew on a clove of garlic is nutrition. When using garlic for medicinal purposes, remember that its odiferous constituents are its most active parts. Eat it fresh or freeze dried for best results.

Nutritive Values of Garlic: Per 100 gm.

Vitamin A: trace
Vitamin B: Thiamine .25 mg.;
Niacin: .5 mg.
Vitamin C: 15 mg.
Calcium: 29 mg.
Iron: 1.5 mg.
Phosphorus: 202 mg.
Potassium: 29 mg.
Protein: 6.2 mg.
Fat: .2 gm.
Carbohydrates: 30.8 mg.
Calories: 137

Active Components of Garlic which is responsible for many of it medicinal benefits:

Alliin - is an odorless substance in whole garlic bulb which when ground or chewed turn into allicin. Allicin is a substance that carries the strong odor most of us associate with garlic, as well as the healing powers of the herb.
Allicin is a substance in garlic that inhibits or totally destroys many types of bacteria and fungi; in many cases this substance is stronger than penicillin and tetracycline.
Anti-hemolytic factor - It is claimed that this is responsible for the beneficial effect of garlic in the treatment of anemia.
Anti-oxidant factor - garlic has been shown capable of helping to prevent foods from getting rancid.
Anti-coagulant factor - garlic contains certain active substances, which appear to prevent blood from coagulating therefore benefiting certain heart conditions.
Saponin - a compound which helps lower blood pressure, thus preventing strokes.
Fructose - this carbohydrate helps stimulate the immune system.
Di-Sulphides - these are believed to have cholesterol lowering effect which helps to control cholesterol and other fats within the arteries and blood vessels.

Health Benefits of Garlic:

Garlic can help in the normalization of body functions. This means that it can lower the blood pressure in high blood pressure sufferers and can increase it in cases of low blood pressure. The same appears to be true of different body functions not just blood pressure.
Garlic can stimulate your immune system. In one study, people who ate two to three heads of garlic a day for three weeks show significantly more activity in special white blood cells that fight tumors.
Garlic acts as a great lung decongestant helping to loosen the harmful, infection secretion of bronchial tubes.
Garlic contains a lot of iodine which helps people who suffer from hyperthyroid.
Garlic can help cure tuberculosis, it has been claimed to be specific for tubercle bacillus and for tubercular process no matter what part of the body is infected.
Garlic aids weak digestion because it stimulates the secretion of gastric juices.
Garlic is powerful against tumor-formation (including cancer) due to its sulfur and selenium content.
Garlic prevents platelets clumping and stickiness thus prevents thrombosis.
Garlic acts as a heart relaxant; garlic regulates the cardiac rhythm, helping to avoid arrhythmia. This is beneficial for people that have accelerated heart rates and cardiac arrhythmia.
Studies found that garlic even offers protection against the influenza virus.
Garlic can help against vaginal infection, either bacterial or fungal.
Garlic is effective in relieving nicotine poisoning.
Garlic normalizes blood sugar as in diabetes mellitus.

Other Ailments where garlic is beneficial: Bronchial asthma, Whooping cough, Spasmodic cough, Hemorrhoids, Middle ear infection, Tonsillitis, Menstrual cramps, Rheumatism, Leg cramps, Diarrhea, Scarlet fever, Skin diseases and Allergy.

Recommended Dosage: One clove of garlic weighs more or less 1.5 gm.

Adults: one clove of fresh garlic, two to three times a day.
Children: ¼ to ½ clove, one to three times a day.
Therapeutic Dose: The therapeutic dose of garlic is four to ten grams per day, to be divided into three equal doses, taken once you are half-way in your meal to prevent stomach distress. Hypertensive may require higher dosage. Reduce the dose if it is exerting too much of its carminative effect.

You don't have to chew it. Cut one clove cross-wise into five or six pieces, then swallow with water once you are half-way in your meal to avoid gastric discomfort.

Source:http://hubpages.com/hub/Health-Benefits-of-Garlic

Health Benefits of Peanuts

noreply@blogger.com (Abdul Khadeer) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:19:00 +0000

Whole peanuts contains high amount of protein, which makes it a preferred diet of those people engaged in body-building and those people who are weak and underweight. The raw peanut butter with crushed skin contains much higher amounts of nutrient than refined "nut-only" butter.
Peanut is a good source of Coenzyme Q10 which protects the heart during the period of lack of oxygen example high altitudes and clogged arteries.
Peanuts contain high concentrations of antioxidant polyphenols, primarily a compound called p-coumaric acid. Roasting peanuts increases its p-coumaric acid levels, boosting it overall antioxidant content by as much as 22%. Roasted peanuts rival the antioxidant content of blackberries and strawberries, and are far richer in antioxidants than apples, carrots or beets.
Unsalted peanuts are good for your arteries. One quarter cup of peanuts contains as much monunsaturated fat as a tablespoon of olive oil. Monounsaturated fats have been shown to lower blood cholesterol.
Peanuts' high niacin content helps in the recovery of cell damage provides protection against Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive problem.
Peanut contain vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that is shown to significantly reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Peanut contain iron which is essential for the correct functioning of red blood cells.
Peanut is rich in calcium which helps promotes healthy bones.
Peanut has higher bioflavonoid resveratrol content than grapes. This bioflavonoid is believed to improve blood flow in the brain by as much as 30%, thus greatly reducing the risk of stroke. Study showed that by adding even small amounts of peanut products to the diet can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol by 14%.
Peanuts' fiber content helps lower the risk of colon cancer, an ounce of peanuts contains 2 grams of fiber.
Peanut helps to accelerate the growth of male and female hormones

Allergic Reactions to Peanuts

Though the allergy may last a lifetime, study indicates that 23.3% of children will outgrow a peanut allergy. It is important to note that peanut is a member of the legume family and it is not related to nuts, individuals with peanut allergies may not be allergic to nuts and vice versa.

Individuals with kidney or gallbladder problems should avoid eating peanuts, because peanuts contain measurable amounts of oxalates, a naturally occurring substance found in plants, animals and human beings. When oxalates become too concentrated in body fluids, they can crystallize and cause health problems.
Individuals with thyroid problems may need to avoid peanuts because peanuts contains goitrogens, a naturally occurring substance in certain foods that can interfere with the functioning of they thyroid gland. Although cooking may help to inactivate the goitrogenic compounds found in food, but it is not clear from the study how percentage of goitrogenic compounds get inactivated by cooking.

Source:http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Health-Benefits-of-Peanuts

Peanut

noreply@blogger.com (Abdul Khadeer) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:52:00 +0000

Peanut as most of us do not know came from a legume family (and not in the nut family) just like a bean or pea. The nuts originate from the stems, but are pushed into the ground by the plant at an early stage, and it is underground that they mature. The peanut plant can grow to about 30 to 50 cm (1 to 1½ ft) tall. Peanut originates from semi-arid areas of Brazil while India, tropical Africa, and China are the leading peanut producing countries. While there are many varieties of peanuts, the ones most commonly found in the marketplace are the Virginia, Spanish, Valencia and Runner. The round Spanish peanut has a full rich taste, and is usually used for roasting. The Virginia peanut is larger and oblong, and is commonly sold in-shell. It has a more nutty flavor. The Valencia peanut has a very bright red skin and small kernels. This variety is very sweet and is sold roasted in the shell. The most common commercial variety is the redskin "jumbo runner" over half of these peanuts are used for peanut butter. Because of their high protein content and chemical profile, peanuts are processed into a variety of different forms, including butter, oil, flour, and flakes.

Nutritive Values: Per 100 gm.

Vitamin B: Thiamine .30 mg.;
Riboflavin .13 mg.;
Niacin 16.2 mg.
Vitamin E: 8 mg.
Calcium: 74 mg.
Iron: 1.9 mg.
Phosphorus: 393 mg.
Potassium: 337 mg.
Fat: 44.2 gm.
Carbohydrates: 23.6 gm.
Protein: 26.9 gm.
Calories: 559

Source:http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Health-Benefits-of-Peanuts

Health Benefits of Apple

noreply@blogger.com (Abdul Khadeer) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 07:49:00 +0000

Reported Health Benefits of Apple :

Apple is a rich source of flavonoid and polyphenols both are powerful antioxidant.
Study shown that by eating 100g of apple can give an antioxidant effect that equal to taking about 1,500mg of vitamin C.
Apple contain a large amount of minerals and vitamins that can strengthen the blood.
Apple contain malic acid and tartaric acid, that can help prevent disturbances of the liver and digestion.
Apple cider vinegar when used as beverage can help to prevent the formation of kidney stone.
The skin of Apple contain pectin that can help remove toxic substances from the system by supplying galacturonic acid. Pectin helps prevent protein matter in the intestine from spoiling.
Eating an apple daily can lower cholesterol and reduce skin diseases.

Apples have been recommended for : Obesity, Headache, Arthritis, Bronchial asthma, Inflammation of the bladder, Gonorrhea, Anemia, Tuberculosis, Neuritis, Insomnia, Catarrh, Gallbladder stones, Worms, Halithosis, Pyorrhea

Nutritive Values : Per 100 grams

Vitamin A : 900 I.U.
Vitamin B : Thiamine .07 mg.;
Vitamin C : 5 mg.
Vitamin G : Amount uncertain
Calcium : 6 mg.
Iron : 3 mg.
Phosphorus : 10 mg.
Potassium : 130 mg.
Carbohydrates : 14.9 gm.
Calories : 58

Source:http://hubpages.com/hub/Health_Benefits_of_Apple

Fruits

noreply@blogger.com (Abdul Khadeer) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:19:00 +0000

Apple

The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family (Rosaceae) and is a perennial. It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans.

The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor is still found today. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples, resulting in a range of desired characteristics. Cultivars vary in their yield and the ultimate size of the tree, even when grown on the same rootstock.

At least 55 million tons of apples were grown worldwide in 2005, with a value of about $10 billion. China produced about 35% of this total. The United States is the second-leading producer, with more than 7.5% of world production. Iran is third, followed by Turkey, Russia, Italy and India

Botanical information

The apple forms a tree that is small and deciduous, reaching 3 to 12 metres (9.8 to 39 ft) tall, with a broad, often densely twiggy crown. The leaves are alternately arranged simple ovals 5 to 12 cm long and 3–6 centimetres (1.2–2.4 in) broad on a 2 to 5 centimetres (0.79 to 2.0 in) petiole with an acute tip, serrated margin and a slightly downy underside. Blossoms are produced in spring simultaneously with the budding of the leaves. The flowers are white with a pink tinge that gradually fades, five petaled, and 2.5 to 3.5 centimetres (0.98 to 1.4 in) in diameter. The fruit matures in autumn, and is typically 5 to 9 centimetres (2.0 to 3.5 in) diameter. The center of the fruit contains five carpels arranged in a five-point star, each carpel containing one to three seeds.

Wild ancestors

Main article: Malus sieversii

The wild ancestors of Malus domestica are Malus sieversii, which is found growing wild in the mountains of Central Asia in southern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Xinjiang, China, and possibly also Malus sylvestris.

History

Cultural aspects

Main article: Apple (symbolism)

Germanic paganism

In Norse mythology, the goddess Iðunn is portrayed in the Prose Edda (written in the 3th century by Snorri Sturluson) as providing apples to the gods that give them eternal youthfulness. English scholar H. R. Ellis Davidson links apples to religious practices in Germanic paganism, from which Norse paganism developed. She points out that buckets of apples were found in the Oseberg ship burial site in Norway, and that fruit and nuts (Iðunn having been described as being transformed into a nut in Skáldskaparmál) have been found in the early graves of the Germanic peoples in England and elsewhere on the continent of Europe, which may have had a symbolic meaning, and that nuts are still a recognized symbol of fertility in southwest England.

Davidson notes a connection between apples and the Vanir, a tribe of gods associated with fertility in Norse mythology, citing an instance of eleven "golden apples" being given to woo the beautiful Gerðr by Skírnir, who was acting as messenger for the major Vanir god Freyr in stanzas 19 and 20 of Skírnismál. Davidson also notes a further connection between fertility and apples in Norse mythology in chapter 2 of the Völsunga saga when the major goddess Frigg sends King Rerir an apple after he prays to Odin for a child, Frigg's messenger (in the guise of a crow) drops the apple in his lap as he sits atop a mound. Rerir's wife's consumption of the apple results in a six-year pregnancy and the Caesarean section birth of their son - the hero Völsung.

Further, Davidson points out the "strange" phrase "Apples of Hel" used in an 11th-century poem by the skald Thorbiorn Brúnarson. She states this may imply that the apple was thought of by the skald as the food of the dead. Further, Davidson notes that the potentially Germanic goddess Nehalennia is sometimes depicted with apples and that parallels exist in early Irish stories. Davidson asserts that while cultivation of the apple in Northern Europe extends back to at least the time of the Roman Empire and came to Europe from the Near East, the native varieties of apple trees growing in Northern Europe are small and bitter. Davidson concludes that in the figure of Iðunn "we must have a dim reflection of an old symbol: that of the guardian goddess of the life-giving fruit of the other world.

Greek mythology

Apples appear in many religious traditions, often as a mystical or forbidden fruit. One of the problems identifying apples in religion, mythology and folktales is that the word "apple" was used as a generic term for all (foreign) fruit, other than berries, but including nuts, as late as the 17th century. For instance, in Greek mythology, the Greek hero Heracles, as a part of his Twelve Labours, was required to travel to the Garden of the Hesperides and pick the golden apples off the Tree of Life growing at its center.

The Greek goddess of discord, Eris, became disgruntled after she was excluded from the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. In retaliation, she tossed a golden apple inscribed Καλλίστη (Kalliste, sometimes transliterated Kallisti, 'For the most beautiful one'), into the wedding party. Three goddesses claimed the apple: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Paris of Troy was appointed to select the recipient. After being bribed by both Hera and Athena, Aphrodite tempted him with the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. He awarded the apple to Aphrodite, thus indirectly causing the Trojan War.

Atalanta, also of Greek mythology, raced all her suitors in an attempt to avoid marriage. She outran all but Hippomenes (a.k.a. Melanion, a name possibly derived from melon the Greek word for both "apple" and fruit in general), who defeated her by cunning, not speed. Hippomenes knew that he could not win in a fair race, so he used three golden apples (gifts of Aphrodite, the goddess of love) to distract Atalanta. It took all three apples and all of his speed, but Hippomenes was finally successful, winning the race and Atalanta's hand.

Bibliography

Though the forbidden fruit in the Book of Genesis is not identified, popular Christian tradition has held that it was an apple that Eve coaxed Adam to share with her. This may have been the result of Renaissance painters adding elements of Greek mythology into biblical scenes (alternative interpretations also based on Greek mythology occasionally replace the apple with a pomegranate). In this case the unnamed fruit of Eden became an apple under the influence of story of the golden apples in the Garden of Hesperides. As a result, in the story of Adam and Eve, the apple became a symbol for knowledge, immortality, temptation, the fall of man into sin, and sin itself. In Latin, the words for "apple" and for "evil" are similar in the singular (malus—apple, malum—evil) and identical in the plural (mala). This may also have influenced the apple becoming interpreted as the biblical "forbidden fruit". The larynx in the human throat has been called Adam's apple because of a notion that it was caused by the forbidden fruit sticking in the throat of Adam. The apple as symbol of sexual seduction has been used to imply sexuality between men, possibly in an ironic vein.

Apple cultivars

There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples. Different cultivars are available for temperate and subtropical climates. One large collection of over 2,100 apple cultivars is housed at the National Fruit Collection in England. Most of these cultivars are bred for eating fresh (dessert apples), though some are cultivated specifically for cooking (cooking apples) or producing cider. Cider apples are typically too tart and astringent to eat fresh, but they give the beverage a rich flavour that dessert apples cannot.

Commercially popular apple cultivars are soft but crisp. Other desired qualities in modern commercial apple breeding are a colourful skin, absence of russeting, ease of shipping, lengthy storage ability, high yields, disease resistance, typical 'Red Delicious' apple shape, and popular flavour. Modern apples are generally sweeter than older cultivars, as popular tastes in apples have varied over time. Most North Americans and Europeans favour sweet, subacid apples, but tart apples have a strong minority following.Extremely sweet apples with barely any acid flavour are popular in Asia and especially India.

Old cultivars are often oddly shaped, russeted, and have a variety of textures and colours. Some find them to have a better flavour than modern cultivators, but may have other problems which make them commercially unviable, such as low yield, liability to disease, or poor tolerance for storage or transport. A few old cultivars are still produced on a large scale, but many have been kept alive by home gardeners and farmers that sell directly to local markets. Many unusual and locally important cultivars with their own unique taste and appearance exist; apple conservation campaigns have sprung up around the world to preserve such local cultivars from extinction. In the United Kingdom, old cultivars such as 'Cox's Orange Pippin' and 'Egremont Russet' are still commercially important even though by modern standards they are low yielding and disease prone.

Apple production

In the wild, apples grow quite readily from seeds. However, like most perennial fruits, apples are ordinarily propagated asexually by grafting. This is because seedling apples are an example of "extreme heterozygotes", in that rather than inheriting DNA from their parents to create a new apple with those characteristics, they are instead different from their parents, sometimes radically. Triploids have an additional reproductive barrier in that the 3 sets of chromosomes cannot be divided evenly during meiosis, yielding unequal segregation of the chromosomes (aneuploids). Even in the very unusual case when a triploid plant can produce a seed (apples are an example), it happens infrequently, and seedlings rarely survive. Most new apple cultivars originate as seedlings, which either arise by chance or are bred by deliberately crossing cultivars with promising characteristics. The words 'seedling', 'pippin', and 'kernel' in the name of an apple cultivar suggest that it originated as a seedling. Apples can also form bud sports (mutations on a single branch). Some bud sports turn out to be improved strains of the parent cultivar. Some differ sufficiently from the parent tree to be considered new cultivars.

Breeders can produce more rigid apples through crossing. For example, the Excelsior Experiment Station of the University of Minnesota has, since the 1930s, introduced a steady progression of important hardy apples that are widely grown, both commercially and by backyard orchardists, throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. Its most important introductions have included 'Haralson' (which is the most widely cultivated apple in Minnesota), 'Wealthy', 'Honeygold', and 'Honeycrisp'.

Apples have been acclimatized in Ecuador at very high altitudes, where they provide crops twice per year because of constant temperate conditions in a whole year.

Apple rootstocks

Pollination

Apples are self-incompatible; they must cross-pollinate to develop fruit. During the flowering each season, apple growers usually provide pollinators to carry the pollen. Honeybees are most commonly used. Orchard mason bees are also used as supplemental pollinators in commercial orchards. Bumble bee queens are sometimes present in orchards, but not usually in enough quantity to be significant pollinators.

There are four to seven pollination groups in apples, depending on climate:

Group A – Early flowering, May 1 to 3 in England (Gravenstein, Red Astrachan)
Group B – May 4 to 7 (Idared, McIntosh)
Group C – Mid-season flowering, May 8 to 11 (Granny Smith, Cox's Orange Pippin)
Group D – Mid/late season flowering, May 12 to 15 (Golden Delicious, Calville blanc d'hiver)
Group E – Late flowering, May 16 to 18 (Braeburn, Reinette d'Orléans)
Group F – May 19 to 23 (Suntan)
Group H – May 24 to 28 (Court-Pendu Gris) (also called Court-Pendu plat)

One cultivar can be pollinated by a compatible cultivar from the same group or close (A with A, or A with B, but not A with C or D).

Varieties are sometimes classed as to the day of peak bloom in the average 30 day blossom period, with pollinizers selected from varieties within a 6 day overlap period.

Maturation and harvest

See also: Apple picking and Pruning fruit trees

Cultivars vary in their yield and the ultimate size of the tree, even when grown on the same rootstock. Some cultivars, if left unpruned, will grow very large, which allows them to bear much more fruit, but makes harvesting very difficult. Mature trees typically bear 40–200 kilograms (88–440 lb) of apples each year, though productivity can be close to zero in poor years. Apples are harvested using three-point ladders that are designed to fit amongst the branches. Dwarf trees will bear about 10–80 kilograms (22–180 lb) of fruit per year.

Storage

Commercially, apples can be stored for some months in controlled-atmosphere chambers to delay ethylene-induced onset of ripening. The apples are commonly stored in chambers with higher concentrations of carbon dioxide with high air filtration. This prevents ethylene concentrations from rising to higher amounts and preventing ripening from moving too quickly. Ripening continues when the fruit is removed.^[ For home storage, most varieties of apple can be held for approximately two weeks when kept at the coolest part of the refrigerator (i.e. below 5°C). Some types, including the Granny Smith and Fuji, have a longer shelf life.

Pests and diseases

Main article: List of apple diseases

See also: List of Lepidoptera that feed on apple trees

The trees are susceptible to a number of fungal and bacterial diseases and insect pests. Many commercial orchards pursue an aggressive program of chemical sprays to maintain high fruit quality, tree health, and high yields. A trend in orchard management is the use of organic methods. These use a less aggressive and direct methods of conventional farming. Instead of spraying potent chemicals, often shown to be potentially dangerous and maleficent to the tree in the long run, organic methods include encouraging or discouraging certain cycles and pests. To control a specific pest, organic growers might encourage the prosperity of its natural predator instead of outright killing it, and with it the natural biochemistry around the tree. Organic apples generally have the same or greater taste than conventionally grown apples, with reduced cosmetic appearances.

A wide range of pests and diseases can affect the plant; three of the more common diseases/pests are mildew, aphids and apple scab.

· Mildew: which is characterized by light grey powdery patches appearing on the leaves, shoots and flowers, normally in spring. The flowers will turn a creamy yellow colour and will not develop correctly. This can be treated in a manner not dissimilar from treating Botrytis; eliminating the conditions which caused the disease in the first place and burning the infected plants are among the recommended actions to take.

· Aphids: There are five species of aphids commonly found on apples: apple grain aphid, rosy apple aphid, apple aphid, spirea aphid and the woolly apple aphid. The aphid species can be identified by their colour, the time of year when they are present and by differences in the cornicles, which are small paired projections from the rear of aphids.^[Aphids feed on foliage using needle-like mouth parts to suck out plant juices. When present in high numbers, certain species reduce tree growth and vigor.

· Apple scab: Symptoms of scab are olive-green or brown blotches on the leaves. The blotches turn more brown as time progresses, then brown scabs form on the fruit. The diseased leaves will fall early and the fruit will become increasingly covered in scabs - eventually the fruit skin will crack. Although there are chemicals to treat scab, their use might not be encouraged as they are quite often systematic, which means they are absorbed by the tree, and spread throughout the fruit

Among the most serious disease problems are fireblight, a bacterial disease; and Gymnosporangium rust, and black spot, two fungal diseases.

Young apple trees are also prone to mammal pests like mice and deer, which feed on the soft bark of the trees, especially in winter.

Records

Guinness World Records reports that the heaviest apple known weighed 1.849 kg (4 lb 1 oz) and was grown in Hirosaki city, Japan in 2005.

Commerce

At least 55 million tonnes of apples were grown worldwide in 2005, with a value of about $10 billion. China produced about two-fifths of this total. United States is the second leading producer, with more than 7.5% of the world production.^[

In the United States, more than 60% of all the apples sold commercially are grown in Washington state.^[ Imported apples from New Zealand and other more temperate areas are competing with US production and increasing each year.

Most of Australia's apple production is for domestic consumption. Imports from New Zealand have been disallowed under quarantine regulations for fireblight since 1921.

The largest exporters of apples in 2006 were China, Chile, Italy, France and the U.S., while the biggest importers in the same year were Russia, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands.

Human consumption

Apple allergy

Oral allergy syndrome is an allergic reaction some people will experience due to the birch pollen left on the apples. Because the pollen is the main irritant, only the raw apples, especially their skin, cause the allergic reaction. Cooked apples do not cause these symptoms as the heat denatures the proteins in the pollen, rendering them harmless to those sensitive. If one is allergic to apples, he or she may also experience an allergic reaction with other fruits in the Rosaceae family which include peaches and hazelnuts.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person but are generally mild. This typically includes the sensation of itching and swelling around the mouth and lips. Other symptoms include watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing. Hives may develop in those who have a high sensitivity to the pollen. Abdominal pain and diarrhea may also occur.

Health benefits

The proverb "An apple a day keeps the doctor away.", addressing the health effects of the fruit, dates from 19th century Wales. Research suggests that apples may reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer. Compared to many other fruits and vegetables, apples contain relatively low amounts of vitamin C, but are a rich source of other antioxidant compounds. The fiber content, while less than in most other fruits, helps regulate bowel movements and may thus reduce the risk of colon cancer. They may also help with heart disease, weight loss, and controlling cholesterol, as they do not have any cholesterol, have fiber, which reduces cholesterol by preventing reabsorption, and are bulky for their caloric content, like most fruits and vegetables.

There is evidence that in vitro apples possess phenolic compounds which may be cancer-protective and demonstrate antioxidant activity. The predominant phenolic phytochemicals in apples are quercetin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2.

Apple juice concentrate has been found to increase the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in mice, providing a potential mechanism for the "prevent[ion of] the decline in cognitive performance that accompanies dietary and genetic deficiencies and aging." Other studies have shown an "alleviat[ion of] oxidative damage and cognitive decline" in mice after the administration of apple juice.

The seeds are mildly poisonous, containing a small amount of amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside; it usually is not enough to be dangerous to humans, but it can deter birds.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple

2010 Health Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Abdul Khadeer) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:33:00 +0000

Add Avocados to your diet

A study has found that a diet including avocados can help get cholesterol levels into the healthy range. In the study after 7 days LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglyceride levels dropped by 22 percent and HDL ("good") cholesterol shot up 11 percent. Avocados are a good source of vitamin K, dietary fiber, potassium, and folate. Avocados are very low in sodium and cholesterol-free but they do contain fat so eat in moderation.

Cocoa Benefits

Studies show the flavonols in cocoa can stimulate the body's production of nitric oxide, which boosts blood flow to the heart, brain, and other organs. One study found that cocoa can thin the blood just as well as low-dose aspirin. The caution to take with cocoa is to keep the level of sugar in the cocoa you drink to a minimum for best results.

Acid and Alkaline in Your Diet

The minerals in fruits and vegetables in more than 100 studies showed improved bone mineral density in 85 percent of cases studied compared to 52 percent improvement of cases studied for persons taking calcium supplements, according to the article, "The Calcium Myth - Natural Solutions Vibrant Health Balanced Living," by Michael Castleman, published in the August 2009 issue of Natural Solutions magazine.

A largely animal-protein based diet is acidic. A largely vegetable and fruit diet is alkaline. A low acid diet helps prevent bone loss. Meat and dairy contain five to 10 times more protein per serving than fruits and vegetables.

The alkaline from vegetables and fruits neutralizes some of the acids from eating animal protein. When your body has too much acid from eating animal proteins, your body draws calcium from your bone and dumps it into your bloodstream. That's how bone loss occurs from eating too much animal protein.

Healthy Snacking

If you get hungry between meals, you can chose foods that will satisfy your appetite, taste good, and are healthy too. Some of the best are walnuts, almonds, dark chocolate with at least 70% pure cocoa, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries).

Local Honey Does the Body Good

You can overcome many of the problems of spring and summer allergies by eating local honey. Basically, you are building up your system's defenses against allergens in your environment, since you're taking it in after the bees have processed it--kind of like a hive-made vaccine. If you can't find local honey, raw honey would be a good alternative.

Feed your Brain

People with a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids have a lower incidence of depression. The membranes that surround brain cells contain significant amounts of fatty acids and when more of those fats consist of omega-3s, the membranes become more flexible and porous. That is important for absorbing nutrients and receiving/transmitting chemical signals, important in boosting mood. To keep your brain healthy, it is recommended that you eat two or three fish meals a week. The best food sources of omega-3s are cold-water fish, such as sardines, mackerel and herring (kippers).

Eat Your Fruit and Vegetables

Buying fresh fruits and vegetables are your best source of nutrients but sometimes can get expensive because they can go bad quickly and you end you throwing some away. But fruits and vegetables are also available canned or frozen. Since they are canned or frozen soon after they are harvested, many of their nutrients are maintained and some ways of processing (i.e., heat processing used for sweet corn) boost antioxidant activity. Look for brands made from organically grown produce. Choose canned fruit that is packed in its own natural juices or water, rather than in syrups that add sugar and increase empty calories.

The Atlas Vertebra and Blood Pressure

Many mechanical health problems (moving parts) can be helped by chiropractic adjustments to the spine. The first vertebra in the spine (top of the spine), the Atlas Vertebra, affects many other parts of the body when it is not in its proper place.

A recent study conducted by the Hypertension Center at the University of Chicago identified a small spot (the "Atlas area") on the body that appears to control blood pressure. In minutes, a single touch lowers blood pressure back to healthy levels. Top number drops 14 points, bottom number drops 8 points. No drug on Earth can match this instant miracle. Who knew it was this simple? It’s almost like a switch that allows doctors to dial down your blood pressure in minutes.

For further reading on the Atlas:

Research on the Atlas

The Atlas Vertebra: The "Neck Secret"

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful, fat-soluble antioxidant that is vital to good health.

Vitamin E helps support cell membranes and repair damage by free radicals, is necessary for structural and functional maintenance of skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle, assists in the formation of new red blood cells, and helps to maintain the body's supply of vitamins A and K, iron, and selenium

Why not save yourself some money and get your vitamin E by eating healthy foods. You can add vitamin E to your diet with foods such as nuts, spinach, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, and whole grains.

People taking blood thinners or aspirin should consult with their doctor about taking a vitamin E supplement to avoid potential drug interactions. If you do supplement with vitamin E, take it with a meal that contains some fat to aid in its absorption.

Black Tea

Drink black tea hot or cold for a number of health benefits.

Black tea contains a number of antioxidants (compounds that help the body fight free radicals--chemical by-products known to damage DNA). One of those antioxidants is quercetin (also found in apples and onions), a substance said to combat inflammation and support healthy immune function.

A 2009 population study of 1,040 elderly adults found that long-term intake of black and/or green tea was associated with lower prevalence of diabetes. In a laboratory study published that same year, scientists discovered that compounds extracted from black tea were more effective at slowing the absorption of blood sugar than those extracted from green tea and oolong tea.

Depending on how strong it's brewed, black tea contains about 50 mg of caffeine per cup. Green tea contains 8 to 30 mg per cup. Coffee contains 100 to 350 mg.

Foods to Avoid for a Healthy Heart

Trans-fats--Trans-fats are found in most margarines, snack foods, heavily processed foods and some cooking oils. Read the label of your food carefully. Trans-fats are listed on food labels as "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oil). Trans-fats can reduce HDL ("good") cholesterol levels and raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels.

Animal protein--Excessive protein from an animal source (meat, eggs, cheese, etc.) has been shown to raise levels of homocysteine, a toxic amino acid. You can eat meat, cheese and eggs but don't make that the largest percent of your diet. Add plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables to satisfy your appetite.

Refined carbohydrates--A diet full of cookies, cakes, crackers, fluffy breads, chips and sodas can increase triglyceride levels and lower HDL. Avoid all products with "high fructose corn syrup." High fructose corn syrup is added to most carbonated beverages.

Salt (sodium)--Excessive salt in the diet has been linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. Avoid processed and canned foods, taste foods before you salt them and do not add salt while cooking, avoid foods that are visibly salted and read the label (1,500 mg sodium per day is the suggested goal). Many food products have a "no salt added" version on the same self.

Source:http://www.leviticus11.com/htip.htm

Road Trip! Eat Healthy—Anywhere

noreply@blogger.com (Abdul Khadeer) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:13:00 +0000

From Health magazine

Whether you’re heading to a spa for a girls-only weekend or chugging down the highway in a car full of Disney-crazed kids, a road trip is the ultimate rite of summer. But along with the classic rock blasting on the radio, road trips often involve the kinds of food you’d never think of eating at home—neon-orange cheese curls, mega-ounce slushies, unidentifiable dried meat in a plastic pack. “There’s something about being in a car that makes you want to eat lots of snacks,” says Leslie Bonci, RD, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You’re also miles away from your kitchen, and you can drive for hours without seeing anything more nutritionally promising than a gas station.

But with a little smart packing and a good plan, you can eat almost as healthy on the road as you do at home. Here’s how to do just that—plus save your vacation splurges for when you get where you’re going (and not arrive feeling like you’ve already put on five pounds without enjoying it!).

If your only option is: A gas station or convenience store
A good rule of thumb: Filling up your stomach where you can also fill up your car and get an oil change should be your last resort. But if the nearest legitimate restaurant is miles away, it is possible to put together a halfway decent meal at a quickie mart.

Best Bet: Food stamped with an expiration date (one that hasn’t passed!) is usually healthier than anything that can sit around for a decade or two, because shelf-stable foods are often loaded with preservatives and artery-clogging trans fats. Hustle past the pastries and chips and go straight to the refrigerator case for calcium-packed foods like string cheese and yogurt (pick up some nuts and dried fruit to mix into the yogurt for added protein and flavor), plus water, orange juice, skim milk, or unsweetened iced tea.

Next Best: If the fridge section disappoints, head back to the shelves and grab some individual-size bags of snacks, but look for ones that your greatgrandmother would recognize as actual food, such as dried fruit, nuts, and whole-wheat crackers, advises Steven G. Aldana, PhD, author of The Stop & Go Fast Food Nutrition Guide. If you’re craving pretzels, nuggets are better than skinny ones because they take longer to eat, says Bonci, who adds that animal crackers and Teddy Grahams are good bets to satisfy a sweet tooth since they’re lower in calories than other cookies.

Source:http://diet.health.com/2010/06/22/road-trip-eat-healthy-anywhere/

Understanding The Definitions of Rosacea

noreply@blogger.com (Abdul Khadeer) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:43:00 +0000

Rosacea is really a persistent skin situation that's seen as a redness or patchy flushing in the space around cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin, although it can also affect the chest, scalp, ears, and neck. It's regarded as a harmless condition unless it impacts a person's eye, which may result in irritation and burning up sensation. It may be different in seriousness but the situation doesn't always worsen as time passes.

It usually impacts Whites or people with fair complexion and it's frequently referred to as the “curse of the Celts”, even though it may also impact people of other ethnicities or race kind. It impacts both sexes but it's much more typical on females than adult men. It usually appears among the ages between 30 and 50, and is often taken wrongly as sun-burn or adult acne.

The crucial symptoms of Rosacea are burning and stinging in the face, inappropriate facial flushing or blushing that is not related to sweating which ultimately leads to prolonged redness, inflammatory papules and pustules without whiteheads and blackheads, cheeks that are not warm, dilated blood vessel lines within the face (telangiectasia), and in advanced cases that is more common in men, the thickening of the skin within the nose causing large, bulbous, ruddy appearance (rhinophyma). Eye involvement might cause pinkeye (conjunctivitis), inflammation of eyelids marked by inflammation, swelling and dry crusts (blepharitis), dry gritty eyes, and recurrent sties.

There are a number of theories as to what may trigger this situation. It may be caused by a blood disorder that leads to them to be inflamed, causing the reddening. It may also be a genetic predisposition that's triggered by specific environmental factors that aggravates the skin, as researchers have observed that a number of individuals within a family have the situation. Furthermore, it may also be triggered by skin mites (Dedomex folliculorum) living in facial hair follicles that clog the sebaceous gland openings.

The treatment for rosacea may vary depending on severity of the condition. Individuals with this skin condition can use self-help methods for example avoiding the aggravating elements, daily healthy skin care, and use of cosmetics to address short term effects. They may also choose medical services if the condition worsens. This includes topical therapy, oral therapy, and laser skin treatment.

Source:http://self-health-tips.blogspot.com/