Philippine Medicinal Plants

Understanding Diabetes: A Comprehensive Guide to Managing and Preventing the Silent Epidemic

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 15:45:00 +0000

Introduction:

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, which can lead to serious complications if not managed properly. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to understanding diabetes, including its types, causes, symptoms, and strategies for prevention and management.

Types of Diabetes:

There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes:
- Occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
- Typically diagnosed in childhood or adolescence.
- Requires lifelong insulin therapy for blood sugar regulation.
Type 2 Diabetes:
- Develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't produce enough insulin.
- Linked to lifestyle factors such as poor diet, sedentary behavior, and obesity.
- More common in adults, but increasingly diagnosed in children and adolescents.
Gestational Diabetes:
- Develops during pregnancy and increases the risk of both mother and child developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
- Managed through diet, exercise, and sometimes medication.

Causes and Risk Factors:

Genetics: A family history of diabetes can increase the risk of developing the condition.
Lifestyle: Unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and obesity contribute to the development of Type 2 diabetes.
Age: The risk of Type 2 diabetes increases with age, especially after the age of 45.
Ethnicity: Certain ethnic groups, including African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans, are at a higher risk.
Gestational Factors: Women who experience gestational diabetes or give birth to large babies may be at an increased risk.

Symptoms:

Common symptoms of diabetes include:

Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Slow wound healing
Tingling or numbness in extremities

Prevention and Management:

Healthy Lifestyle:
- Adopting a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
- Engaging in regular physical activity, aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels:
- Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels to ensure they stay within the target range.
Medications:
- For Type 1 diabetes, insulin therapy is essential.
- Type 2 diabetes may require oral medications, injectable medications, or insulin.
Regular Check-ups:
- Routine check-ups with healthcare providers for diabetes management and early detection of complications.

Conclusion:

Diabetes is a complex and pervasive health condition, but with proper understanding, prevention, and management, individuals can lead fulfilling lives while minimizing the risk of complications. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, monitoring blood sugar levels, and seeking regular medical care are crucial steps in effectively managing diabetes and reducing its impact on overall health and well-being. Awareness, education, and support are key elements in the global effort to combat the diabetes epidemic and promote a healthier future.

5 Mother Sauces

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 13:33:00 +0000

5 Mother Sauces

Béchamel sauce or White sauce, is usually made by whisking scalded milk
gradually into a white flour-butter roux (equal part clarified butter and flour).
The thickness of the final sauce depends on the proportions of milk and flour.
Béchamel sauce is a key ingredient in many lasagna recipes

Espagnole or Brown Sauce is a very dark brown roux, to which veal stock or
water is added, along with browned bones, pieces of beef, vegetables, and various seasonings. This blend is allowed to slowly reduce while being frequently skimmed.
Tomato paste or pureed tomatoes are added towards the end of the process,
and the sauce is further reduced. Espagnole has a strong taste and is rarely used
directly on food. As a mother sauce, however, it serves as the starting point for
many derivative sauces including Demi-glace

Velouté sauce is a light stock (one in which the bones used have not been
previously roasted), such as chicken, veal or fish stock, that is thickened with
a blond roux. Thus the ingredients of a velouté are equal parts by mass butter
and flour to form the roux, a light chicken, veal, or fish stock, and salt and
pepper for seasoning. Commonly the sauce produced will be referred to
by the type of stock used e.g. chicken velouté. Sauce velouté is often
served on poultry or seafood dishes.

Hollandaise sauce is an emulsion of butter and lemon juice or vinegar
using egg yolks as the emulsifying agent (to bind the sauce), usually seasoned
with salt and a little black pepper or cayenne pepper. Hollandaise sauce is
well known as a key ingredient in Eggs Benedict. A normal ratio of ingredients
is 1 egg yolk:1 teaspoon lemon juice:4-6 Tbs. butter. A common derivative of
Hollandaise Sauce is Sauce Béarnaise which is produced by replacing the
lemon reduction in hollandaise with a strained reduction of vinegar, shallots,
fresh chervil, fresh tarragon and crushed peppercorns.

Tomato sauce is any of a very large number of sauces made primarily out
of tomatoes, usually to be served as part of a dish (rather than as a condiment)
Tomatoes have a rich flavor, low liquid content, very soft flesh which breaks down
easily, and the right composition to thicken up into a sauce when they are cooked
(without the need of thickeners like roux). All of these qualities make them ideal
for simple and appealing sauces. Marinara Sauce is an American-Italian term
for a simple tomato sauce with herbs—mostly parsley and basil—but, contrary
to its name (which is Italian for coastal, seafaring) without anchovies, fish or
seafood. In other countries marinara refers to a seafood and tomato sauce.

COMMERCIAL COOKING NC II RECIPES

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 13:25:00 +0000

COMMERCIAL COOKING NC II RECIPES

(This is my Personal Notes Only)

(1.) Brown sauce (gravy)

Ingredients:

Butter (magnolia)

Flour

Beef or chicken stack

Liquid seasonings (McCormick)

Black Peeper

Salt

(2.) White Sauce for Mashed Potato

Ingredients:

Butter

All purpose cream

Beef or chicken stack

White Pepper

Salt

(3.) Grilled beef Tenderloin

Ingredients:

Beef Tenderloin

Oil (for marinade)

Rosemary (for marinade)

Black Pepper (for marinade)

Salt (for marinade)

(4.) Vegetables for grilled beef tenderloin

Ingredients:

Butter

Carrots

Potato

Snow Peas

Onions

Beef Stack

Black Pepper

Salt

(5.) French Onion Soup

Ingredients:

Butter

Onions

Beef or chicken Stack

White whine or rum

Black pepper

Salt

Toasted Slice bread (brush with butter)

(6.) Beef or chicken Stack

Ingredients:

Carrots

Celery

Onions

Peppercorn

Beef or chicken cubes (substitute for the real meat)

Parsley

Bay leaves

Garlic

(7.) Stir Fry Squid in Oyster Sauce

Ingredients:

Squid

Oil

Black Pepper

Salt

Rum

Oyster Sauce (Lee Kum Kee)

Calamansi

Onion

Spring Onion

Tomatoes

Bell pepper (red and green)

Garlic

(8.) Chicken Lollipop

Ingredients:

Chicken (Wings)

Oil

Garlic (for marinade)

Salt (mix with flour)

Calamansi (for marinade)

Black Pepper (mix with flour)

Flour

Egg

Bread crumbs

(9.) Chicken fillet

Ingredients:

Chicken (breast)

Chicken Wings

Oil

Garlic (for marinade)

Salt (mix with flour)

Calamansi (for marinade)

Black Pepper (mix with flour)

Flour

Egg

Bread crumbs

(10.) Chicken Cordon Bleu

Ingredients:

Oil

Garlic (for marinade)

Salt (mix with flour)

Calamansi (for marinade)

Black Pepper (mix with flour)

Flour

Egg

Bread crumbs

Ham

Cheese

(11.) Bechamel (White Sauce for Chicken Cordon Bleu)

Ingredients:

Butter

Flour

Cheese

Fresh milk

Black Pepper

Salt

Sugar

(12.) Grilled Sandwich

Ingredients:

Slice bread

Butter

Cheese

Lettuce

(13) Choco Mouse

Ingredients:

Semi Sweet Choco Brick
Egg (separate yellow & white)
Cream
Gelatine
Sugar
Butter
Whipping cream

WAYS OF COOKING

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 13:16:00 +0000

Ways of cooking

(Personal Notes

Commercial Cooking NC II)

Dry heat Cookery Methods In dry heat cooking methods, the food being cooked does not use water to cook the food. The food is left dry and heat is applied to cook the food. Such methods of cooking are: baking, steaming, grilling, and roasting. When heat is applied to the food, the food cooks in its own juice or the water added to the food during its preparation evaporates during the heating process and this cooks the food. Heat is applied directly to the food by way of convection thus making the food to get cooked. The action or movement of air around the food, cooks it. Let us now have a look at each of these cooking methods

Baking In baking method of cooking, the food is cooked using convection heating. The food is put into an enclosed area where heat is then applied and the movement of heat within the confined space, acts on the food that make it get cooked.

Baking Blind (sometimes called "pre-baking") is the process of baking a pie crust or other pastry without the filling. Blind baking a pie crust is necessary when it will be filled with an unbaked filling (such as with pudding or cream pies) or when the filling has a shorter bake time than the crust. Blind baking a pie crust also helps prevent the pie crust from becoming soggy from its filling.

Steaming To steam food, water is added to a pot and then a stand is placed inside the pot. The water level should be under the stand and not above it. There is no contact between the food and the water that is added to the pot. Food is then placed on the stand and heat is applied. The hot steam rising from the boiling water acts on the food and the food gets cooked. It is the hot steam that cooks the food, as there is no contact between the food and the water inside the pot. This method of cooking for vegetables is very good as the food does not lose its flavour and much of the nutrients are not lost during the cooking.

Grilling There are two methods of grilling that are used these days. One type of grilling is the one that is commonly used by the people in the village. This is when food is cooked over hot charcoal on an open fire. The food is placed on top of the burning charcoal. Sometimes people improvise by using wire mesh and place it over the open fire to grill fish or vegetables. The other method is using grills that are inbuilt in stoves. In this method, the griller, which has a tray, is heated up and the food is placed on the grill tray to cook. The heat can be gas-generated or electric-generated depending on the type of stove used. The food is again left to cook on the grill with the doors of the grill open. People who can afford to buy a stove would use the grilling part to grill their food. What happens in this type of cooking is the heat seals the outside part of the food and the juice inside the food cooks it. The flavour of the food is not lost and much of the nutrients are not lost either. Food is frequently turned over to prevent it from burning and to ensure that equal heating and cooking time is applied to both sides of the food. By doing this, the food is cooked evenly and thoroughly.

Roasting With roasting, direct heat is applied to the food. The heat seals the outside part of the food and the juice inside the food cooks the food. Roasting is mainly used when cooking fleshy food like fish, meat or chicken. When heat is applied to the outer covering of the food, it seals it up thereby trapping all the juices inside the food. The action of direct heating, heats up the juices inside the food, which then cooks the food. Again there is very little nutrient lost and the flavour is not spoilt. Food is frequently rotated over the spit so that there is even heating applied to all parts of the food. This is so that heat is applied evenly to the food to make it get cooked properly.

Moist Heat Cookery Methods In moist heat cookery methods, liquid is used as a medium to cook the food. Such medium could be water, coconut cream or oil. These liquids are added to the food before heat is applied to it or sometimes heat is applied to the liquid before the food is added into the cooking utensils to be cooked. The moist heat cookery methods include: boiling, stewing, shallow frying, deep frying, barbequing and basting. All these moist heat cooking methods use liquid to cook the food in.

Boiling This is the most common method of cooking and is also the simplest. With this method of cooking, enough water is added to food and it is then cooked over the fire. The action of the heated water makes the food to get cooked. The liquid is usually thrown away after the food is cooked. In the case of cooking rice, all the water is absorbed by the rice grains to make it get cooked. During the heating process, the nutrients can get lost or destroyed and the flavour can be reduced with this method of cooking. If you over cooked cabbage, all the nutrients can get lost.

Broiling is cooking over or in front of a clear fire. The food to be cooked is usually placed in a greased broiler or on a gridiron held near the coals, turned often at first to sear the outside, - thus preventing escape of inner juices, - afterwards turned occasionally. Tender meats and fish may be cooked in this way. The flavor obtained by broiling is particularly fine; there is, however, a greater loss of weight in this than in any other way of cooking, as the food thus cooked is exposed to free circulation of air. When coal is not used, or a fire is not in condition for broiling, a plan for pan broiling has been adopted. This is done by placing food to be cooked in a hissing hot frying-pan, turning often as in broiling.

Stewing In the process of cooking using the stewing method, food is cooked using a lot of liquid. Different kinds of vegetables are chopped, diced or cubed and added to the pot. Sometimes pieces of selected meat, fish or chicken is also chopped and added to the stew. The liquid is slightly thickened and stewed food is served in that manner. This method is also used when preparing fruits that are going to be served as desserts. With this cooking method, every food is cooked together at the same time in one pot. The flavour, colours, shapes and textures of the different vegetables that are used, makes stewing a handy method of cooking. The only disadvantage is that some of the vegetables might be overcooked and thus the nutrient content becomes much less. It is therefore important that the vegetables that take the longest to cook to be put into the pot first and the ones that need least cooking to be put in last. In this way much of the nutrient contents of the food does not get lost.

Frying When food is fried using oil or solid fat it is important that you observe some rules in handling oil or fat. Simple rules to follow when frying: 1.Make sure there is enough oil or fat put in the frying pan or a deep frying pan. 2.The food to be cooked must not have water dripping from it. This is because when water comes into contact with hot oil or fat, you will have the oil sizzling and spitting out of the pan, which could burn your skin if you are not careful. 3.Put the food into the hot oil carefully. Try not to make a big splash as the oil could burn your skin. 4.The oil of fat should be heated to the right temperature before putting food into the pan to be fried. If the food is put in when the oil or fat is not heated to the right temperature, the food will soak up the oil and you will have food that is all oily or greasy. If the oil or fat is over heated, you will end up with food that is burnt. Sometimes the food especially dough nuts will turn brown on the inside but the dough inside is uncooked. To cook food using the frying method, there are two ways of doing it. There is the shallow frying and the deep frying methods.

Deep frying is a cooking method in which food is submerged in hot oil or fat. This is normally performed with a deep fryer or chip pan; industrially, a pressure fryer or vacuum fryer may be used.

Hot salt frying is a cooking technique used by street-side food vendors in China/India. Coarse sea salt is placed in a large wok and heated to a high temperature.

Shallow Frying In shallow frying, food is cooked in a frying pan with a little amount of oil or fat. The oil or fat is heated to the correct amount and the food is put into the heated oil. The food is turned over a few minutes or is stirred around a couple of times before it is cooked and dished out. If patties, potato chips or coated foods are fried, it is best to put a piece of brown paper or paper napkin inside the tray to soak up any oil from the food before serving it.

Deep Frying This is when a lot of oil or fat is used in cooking the food. The oil or fat is usually put into a deep pan and is heated to boiling point. Food is then put into the hot boiling oil and is cooked in that way. Such food as fish fingers, potato chips, meat balls, and dough nuts to name a few, are cooked using the deep frying method.

Hot sand frying is a common cooking technique^[1] for street-side food vendors in China and India to cook chestnuts and peanuts. A large wok is filled with black sand and heated to high temperature. Nuts are buried in the hot sand and occasionally turned with a spatula, then the sand and nuts are separated through a wire-mesh screen.

Pan frying is a form of frying characterized by the use of minimal cooking oil or fat (compared to shallow frying or deep frying); typically using just enough oil to lubricate the pan (although, in the case of a greasy food such as bacon, no oil or fats may be needed). As a form of frying, pan frying relies on oil as the heat transfer medium and on correct temperature to retain the moisture in the food. The exposed topside allows, unlike deep frying, some moisture loss and contact with the pan bottom creates greater browning on the contact surface. Because of the partial coverage, the food must be flipped at least once to cook both sides.

Pressure frying is a variation on pressure cooking where meat and cooking oil are brought to high temperatures while pressure is held high enough to cook the food more quickly. This leaves the meat very hot and juicy. A receptacle used in pressure frying is known as a pressure fryer

Sautéing Is frying in a small quantity of fat. Food so cooked is much more difficult of digestion than when fried in deep fat; it is impossible to cook in this way without the food absorbing fat. A frying-pan or griddle is used; the food is cooked on one side, then turned, and cooked on the other.

Stir frying Stir frying is a technique that cooks foods quickly, using only a small amount of fat

Barbequing The method of cooking food by barbequing is usually associated with fund raising activities, parties or picnics. It is most suitable to cooking meat cutlets, fish or chicken pieces. The food is usually marinated with spices and tenderizers (for meat cuts) for sometime before it is cooked. With this method of cooking, a sheet of metal with stands is heated up and oil is used to cook the food. A sufficient amount of oil is heated up and food is added. The food is then turned over a couple of times before it is dished out.

Basting This method of cooking is usually associated with roasting. The juice or liquid that comes out of the meat being cooked is spooned over the roast frequently while it is being roasted. The outer part of the meat is moistened frequently during the cooking process with the juice that is being spooned over. Usually, the extra juice from the cooked meat is added to a mixture to make the meat sauce.

BraisingIs stewing and baking (meat). Meat to be braised is frequently first sautéd to prevent escape of much juice in the gravy. The meat is placed in a pan with a small quantity of stock or water, vegetables (carrot, turnip, celery, and union) cut in pieces, salt, pepper, and sweet herbs. The pan should have a tight-fitting cover. Meat so prepared should be cooked in an oven at low uniform temperature for a long time. This is an economical way of cooking, and the only way besides stewing or boiling of making a large piece of tough meat palatable and digestible.

Fricasseeing Is sautéing and serving with a sauce. Tender meat is fricasseed without previous cooking; less tender meat requires cooking in hot water before fricasseeing. Although veal is obtained from a young creature, it requires long cooking; it is usually sautéd, and then cooked in a sauce at low temperature for a long time.

Rotisserie Is a style of roasting where meat is skewered on a spit - a long solid rod used to hold food while it is being cooked over a fire in a fireplace or over a campfire, or roasted in an oven.

Searing (or pan searing) Is a technique used in grilling, baking, braising, roasting, sautéing, etc., in which the surface of the food (usually meat, poultry or fish) is cooked at high temperature so a caramelized crust forms.

Blanching Is a cooking process wherein the food substance, usually a vegetable or fruit, is plunged into boiling water, removed after a brief, timed interval, and finally plunged into iced water or placed under cold running water (shocked) to halt the cooking process. The meaning of blanching is "to whiten", but this is not always the purpose of blanching in cooking. Food is blanched to soften it, or to partly or fully cook it, or to remove a strong taste (for example of bacon, cabbage, or onions).

Poaching Poaching is particularly suitable for delicate food, such as eggs, poultry, fish and fruit, which might easily fall apart or dry out. For this reason, it is important to keep the heat low and to keep the poaching time to a bare minimum, which will also preserve the flavor of the food

Pressure cooking Is a method of cooking in a sealed vessel that does not permit air or liquids to escape below a preset pressure. Is the process of gently simmering food in liquid, generally milk, stock or wine.

Simmering is a food preparation technique in which foods are cooked in hot liquids kept at or just below the boiling point of water^[1] (which is 100 °C or 212 °F at average sea level air pressure), but higher than poaching temperature.

Steeping Steeping or weltering may mean: Saturation in a liquid solvent to extract a soluble ingredient, where the solvent is the desired product. Tea is prepared for drinking by steeping the leaves in heated water to release the flavor and nutrients. Herbal teas may be prepared by decoction, infusion, or maceration; or Soaking to remove an ingredient; Example: salt from smoked ham or salted cod, where the solvent is not the desired product.

Smoking is the process of flavoring, cooking, or preserving food by exposing it to the smoke from burning or smoldering plant materials, most often wood.

Vacuum Flask Cooking It's a slow-cooking technique involving a thermal cooker, or vacuum flask, The pot/flask and contents are heated to cooking temperature, and then sealed in the flask. The flask more or less eliminates heat loss, so the food remains at cooking temperature for a long time, and slow-cooks without continued heating.

Alagaw

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 03:28:00 +0000

Abgaw

Scientific Name: Premna Odorata Blanco

Visaya: Adgaw, Abgaw, Argau, Abgan

Alagaw is a plant that grows in wild, all over the Philippines you can see its abundance. Filipinos use this plant as an alternative medicine, since from ancient times. Folks believe that this plant has miraculous property that has the ability to cure certain illness.

I listed here some its use:

• Rots masticated and saliva swallowed for heart trouble.

• Pultice applied for headache and chest pain

• Infusion mixed with sugar and kalamansi juice taken for cough and colds

• Pultice applied for open cuts and cleaning wounds and for ticks and fleas.

• Fusion taken to expel gas in the intestine

• Infusion taken for difficult urination

• Decoction used as wash for vaginal irritation

• Decoction used as aromatic bath and for bathing infants.

• Poultice applied for head ache

• Infusion taken for cough and sore throat ecoction taken for dysentery

Akapulko

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 02:59:00 +0000

Akapulko

Scientific Name: Cassia Allata

English: Ringworm bush

Visaya: Palochina, Sunting

Akapulko is a shrub that grows wild in the Philippines. This plant is widely used in the Philippines as herbal medicine, as its leaves contain chrysophanic acid, a fungicide that is used to treat fungal infections.

Below are the lists of skin diseases that Akapulko can be used as herbal medicine:

Tinea infections
Insect bites
Ringworms
Eczema
Scabies
Itchiness

Akapulko’s anti-fungal properties, it is a common ingredient in soaps, shampoos, and lotions in the Philippines.

It is widely known that Akapulko leaves are also known to be sudorific, diuretic and purgative, used to treat intestinal problems including intestinal parasites.

Abukado

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 03:48:00 +0000

Avocado

Scientific Name: Persea Americana Mill

English: Alligator Per

Tagalog: Abukado

Bisaya: Abukado

Here are 15 health benefits of avocados:

1. Maintain a healthy heart
Avocado contains vitamin B6 and folic acid, which help regulate homocysteine levels. High level of homocysteine is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Besides that, avocado also contains vitamin E, Glutathione and monounsaturated fat which help in maintaining a healthy heart.

2. Lower cholesterol levels
Avocados are rich in a compound called beta-sitosterol which has been shown to be effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels. According to a study, patients with mild hypercholesterolemia who included avocados in their diet for 7 days had 17 percent decrease in total blood cholesterol levels, a 22 percent decrease in both LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels, and a 11 percent increase in HDL (good cholesterol) levels.

3. Control blood pressure
Avocados are also a great source of potassium, which helps in controlling blood pressure levels.

4. Anti-Inflammatory properties
Phytonutrient compound found in avocados, such as polyphenols and flavonoids have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties, thereby reducing the risk of inflammatory and degenerative disorders.

5. Promote eye health
Avocado is an excellent source of carotenoid lutein, which known to help protect against age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

6. Regulate the blood sugar levels
The monounsaturated (good) fats in avocados can reverse insulin resistance, which helping to regulate the blood sugar levels. Avocados also contain more soluble fiber, which keep a steady blood sugar levels.

7. Prevent birth defects
Avocados are rich in folate, a B vitamin commonly known as folic acid. One cup of avocado provides you about 23% of the Daily Value for folate. The high amount of folate in avocado is essential in the prevention of birth defects, such as neural tube defect and spina bifida.

8. Reduce strokes risk
The high levels of folate in avocados also protect against stroke. A study has shown individuals who ate a diet rich in folate had a lower risk of stroke than those who do not

9. Protect against cancer
Many studies have shown that avocado can inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. The oleic acid in avocado is also effective in preventing breast cancer.

10. Fight free radicals
Avocados contain glutathione, a powerful antioxidants to helps fight free radicals in the body.

11. Anti-aging properties
Being rich in antioxidants, avocado is beneficial in preventing aging symptoms. The glutathione in avocado may boosts immune systems, slows the aging process, and encourages a healthy nervous system.

12. Cure bad breath
Avocados are one of the best natural mouth wash and bad breath remedies. It is cleanses intestine which is the real cause of coated tongue and this unpleasant condition.

13. Increase nutrient absorption
Avocado intake is linked with increased nutrient absorption. A study suggests that, when participants ate salad included avocados, they absorbed five times the amount of carotenoids (a group of nutrients that includes beta carotene and lycopene) than those who do not include avocados.

14. Skin Care
The avocado oil is added in many cosmetics because of its ability to nourish the skin and make your skin glow. It also aids in treating psoriasis, a skin disease that causes skin redness and irritation.

15. Weight gain
The avocado has 200 calories for 100 grams. Typically, fruits has approximately 60-80 calories for 100 grams. Due to the high amounts of calories, avocado is a best diet for people who want to gain weight. Avocado is a healthy source of calories, unlike many other calorie-dense foods that may contain excess saturated fats and sugar.

Amazing Facts of Parsley

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:58:00 +0000

Parsley

As we have mentioned before Parsley is a good remedy in kidney problems. Today another article about parsley will give us knowledge about parsley. I hope all of us enjoy reading.

Parsley is the most popular herb. Usually it is used as a garnish for some recipes because of its decorative appearance.

This highly nutritious plant can be found all year round in all local supermarkets. Parsley is very easy to grow, it can easily plant it in garden, in a container, or in hanging baskets.

Parsley is famous for having delicious vibrant taste, but also unknown to many, having contains good healing properties.

Parsley provides two unique health benefits its “essential oil” and “flavonoids”.

An organic compound called “myristicin” also found in Parsley. Studies show that this compound can:

· myristicin inhibit tumor formation particularly in the lungs.

· myristicin help the molecule glutathione to fight against free radicals that would otherwise damage the body.

· myristicin neutralize carcinogens like benzopyrene, which is present in tobacco or cigarette smoke and charcoal grill smoke.

Another compound flavonoid is also found in Parsley it is called “luteolin”. In various studies it shows that this compound can:

· luteolin function as an antioxidant, thereby eliminating free radicals from the body that can damage cells.

· luteolin help increase antioxidant levels in the blood

· luteolin help prevent several types of cancer such as breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and leukemia.

Parsley is a good source of vitamin C and vitamin A. Vitamin C is the body's primary water-soluble antioxidant, which can remove free radicals in all water-soluble areas of the body. Therefore, it can help prevent various diseases such as asthma, atherosclerosis, colon cancer, and diabetes.

As a matter of fact, people consuming foods with good amounts of vitamin C have a lower risk of acquiring these diseases.

Meanwhile, beta-Carotene (a precursor of vitamin A) is the body's primary fat-soluble antioxidant, which can get remove of free radicals in all fat-soluble areas of the body. Like vitamin C, it can also help lower the risk of atherosclerosis, colon cancer, and diabetes.

Studies show that people who consumed the lowest amounts of vitamin C-rich foods were at risk of developing arthritis by as much as three times more than those who consumed the highest amounts of vitamin C.

Vitamin C combined with beta-Carotene found in parsley can prove beneficial in inflammatory diseases like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Since vitamin C is vital for strengthening the immune system, it can help prevent many common infections like colds and flu. Beta-Carotene is converted by the body to vitamin A. Vitamin A is an immune system regulator, which can make the white blood cells destroy bacteria and viruses.

One of the most essential B vitamins is “folic acid”, naturally produce by Parsley.

Studies show that folic acid can:

· folic acid keep the heart healthy and maintain its function.

· folic acid ower the risk of stroke and heart disease.

· folic acid remove homocysteine in the body.

Note: Homocysteine is an amino acid used by the body to manufacture proteins and in cellular metabolism. However, a high concentration of homocysteine in the blood can damage the lining of the blood vessels and enhance blood clotting, which can significantly increase the risk of stroke or heart attack.

Finally Parsley is rich in chlorophyll, which can act as a natural deodorizer. Eating parsley makes us sure that we will be able to maintain a fresh breath everyday.

Green Tea Helps Burn Fat Because It Is Rich In Catechin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 23:58:00 +0000

Green Tea

Green tea helps burn fat because it is rich in catechin. By increasing the amount of energy that your body uses, Green tea helps promotes weight reduction, making it easier to use the excess body fat. These Catechins found in foods other than green tea do not seem to have this positive effect.

As we believe green tea isn't just a solution for weight reduction. Without wondering Green tea is also good in reducing both high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It also prevents premature aging and fight free radicals. Green Tea is natural remedy for constipation, too! It has really lots of advantages in our body.

Green Tea Leaves

When we look at people who are able to maintain their ideal weight, most of them are chewing their food properly. The problem with most people is that they chew their food too fast.

If we chew your food 30 to 50 times per mouthful, we should be able to consume less food and aid you in losing weight. Chewing slower also increases histamine in your brain, which will result to decreased food intake. Histamine works by suppressing your appetite! It will help satisfy your stomach with only small amount of food.

Some medical studies reveal that, catechin from green tea helps prevent or inhibit certain types of cancer. We must know that green tea drinkers usually live longer. As evidence, in some places that green teas are abundant people live as long as 100 years or more.

Great Sex Health Benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:03:00 +0000

Great Sex Health Benefits

Researchers have shed light on the myriad health benefits that an individual can reap from great sex.

"Having sex regularly can do more than make you feel closer to your partner-it can actually make you physically healthier," ABC News quoted Dr. Hilda Hutcherson, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University as saying.

Research from the University of the West of Scotland divulged that people who had intercourse at least once over two weeks were better able to manage stressful situations such as public speaking, said study author and psychology professor Stuart Brody, Ph.D.

That is because endorphins and oxytocin are released during sex, and these feel-good hormones trigger pleasure centres in the brain that create feelings of intimacy and relaxation and help stave off anxiety and depression, said WH advisor Laura Berman, Ph.D., an assistant clinical professor of ob-gyn and psychiatry at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and author of "It's Not Him, It's You!"

You don't have to climax to net the effects, but you'll get the biggest surge of soothing hormones if you have an orgasm. Just one more reason to shoot for a stellar finish!

Sex also ensures sounder sleep because the same endorphins that help you de-stress can also relax your mind and body, priming you for slumber, said Cindy M. Meston, Ph.D., director of the Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, during orgasm, the hormone prolactin is released.

"Prolactin levels are naturally higher when we sleep, which suggests a strong relationship between the two," she said.

However, extremely active sex can make you feel more energized than sleepy. Sex should never be a snooze, but if you want to use knocking boots as a sleep aid, skip the acrobatics and opt for a subdued session.

Sex can also help minimize pain. The surge of hormones released after an orgasm can help ease any annoying ache, whether it's a strained back or a head pounder, asserted Meston.

A study conducted at the Headache Clinic at Southern Illinois University revealed that half of female migraine sufferers reported relief after climaxing.

"The endorphins that are released during an orgasm closely resemble morphine, and they effectively relieve pain," said Meston.

Sex also results in fewer colds. People who have sex were found to have higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA), according to researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. These antibodies help fight diseases and keep the body safe from colds and flu.

Amazing Health Benefits of Green Tea That Everyone Should Know

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:39:00 +0000

Green Tea Leaf

I found this very interesting health benefits of green tea that everybody should know.

Lowers your risk of cancer. Although the studies of how green tea affects cancerous cells are still in their infancy, there have been human trials which indicate that it does inhibit cells from developing cancer. EGCG in green tea regulates and inhibits cancer growth by killing cells that are growing inappropriately. In Japan, a study of 500 women with Stage I and Stage II breast cancer found that increasing their green tea consumption before and after surgery significantly lowered the risk of recurrence. Another analysis of 22 studies of the correlation between green tea and lung cancer concluded that by increasing your intake of green tea by two cups a day may reduce the risk of developing lung cancer by 18%.

Eases the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. Study results reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that polyphenol antioxidants in green tea benefits suffers of arthritis by reducing the incidence and severity of the disease. EGCG protects cartilage destruction and reduces joint swelling and pain. This leads many scientists and health professionals to recommend green tea as a legitimate remedy for treating arthritis.

Stabilizes your cholesterol levels. Researchers believe that green tea lowers your cholesterol levels by reducing its absorption in your digestive tract and increasing the rate of which it is excreted. However, your body does need cholesterol to build cell membranes, insulate nerve fibres and create hormones. For this, green tea benefits you by preventing the conversion of LDL cholesterol into it’s more dangerous, oxidized form. Oxidized LDL is one of the main factors in the development of atherosclerosis (the build of plaque that blocks your arteries as LDL gets sticky and clings to your artery walls) and increases your risk of heart attack or stroke. The amazing antioxidant effects of green tea protect this, helping to keep your arteries clean.

Prevents cardiovascular disease. A Japanese study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed significant reductions in deaths from cardiovascular disease among green tea drinkers. The study found that over an 11 year test period, individuals who drank more than 5 cups per day had a 16% less chance of mortality and mortality related to cardiovascular disease when compared to individuals who drank less than one cup per day. They also found that green tea was especially beneficially in preventing strokes, due in large part to the antioxidants and how they prevent clogged arteries.

Boosts your immune system. Catechins, the antioxidant polyphenol compounds, have been shown to have a major impact in your immune system. Research conducted by the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 2003 revealed that theanine, found in green tea, boosted the activity of the gamma delta T cells that form part of our adaptive and innate immunity. The study followed a group of coffee drinkers and a group of tea drinkers who each drank 600ml of their drink daily. Blood samples taken four weeks later quite clearly showed that production of these anti-bacterial proteins were five times higher in those drinking tea.

Promotes weight loss. Both green tea and green tea extract have been shown to fight obesity and lower LDL cholesterol – both of which ultimately lead to a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes. The polyphenols in green tea are extremely useful for dissolving triglycerides, a substance in the liver and small intestine made up of mostly sugar and fat, and this is thought to be the reasongreen tea benefits fat loss. EGCG is also known to stimulate your metabolism and accelerate weight loss. When combined with the caffeine in green tea, this causes your central nervous system to release fat into the bloodstream to be used as fuel which burns your body fat off.

Reduces tooth decay. Antibacterial properties found in green tea are also used by your body to kill the bacteria that causes plaque on your teeth. Research by the Journal of Periodontology has also shown that for every cup of green tea you drink, there is a decrease in indicators for gum disease. Fluoride is also found ingreen tea which helps to protect against cavities.

Effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In 2007, Dr. Orhan Aktas from the Institute of Neuroimmunology conducted a study of how green tea benefits sufferers of multiple sclerosis. While current patients do not have many options to prevent tissue damage and disability, he found that the flavonoid EGCG found ingreen tea could have a huge impact on multiple sclerosis. He concluded that EGCG is capable of directly protecting against neuronal injury in living brain tissue and that EGCG constituents may open up a new therapeutic avenue for treating MS by combining anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective capacities.

Slows the onset of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. A recent report published in the journal Phytomedicine has found substantial evidence that the enzymes found in green tea protect your brain cells from damage. Another study conducted by the University of South Florida looked at the effects of antioxidant EGCG. It was shown to be a protein blocker which prevented the chemical reactions that can lead to nerve damage that can lead to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Fights the cause of allergies in your body. Methylated epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been shown to block a cells receptor involved in producing an allergic response. By blocking the production of histamine and immunoglobulin E (IgE), two compounds in the body that are chiefly involved in triggering and sustaining allergic reactions, EGCG could very well be the compound which prevents you from having watery eyes, sneezing and coughing.

Helps to fend off infections. Again, as one of the main benefits of green tea, EGCG has been highlighted by a study published in the Journal of Allergy andClinical Immunology as being able to prevent infections, including the HIV virus. EGCG binds with CD4 immune system T-cell receptors and stops HIV from doing the same to reduce the risk of infection. While it is still way too early to peggreen tea as a cure for HIV, an Egyptian study has shown that combining antibiotics with green tea significantly boosts the effectiveness of the antibiotic. In fact, when tested against 28 disease-causing microorganisms, green tea enhanced the bacteria killing power in every single case.

Reduces and prevents acne. Green tea benefits acne in a number of different ways. It’s antibacterial properties attack and kill the acne bacteria while the anti-inflammatory benefits of green tea reduce the swelling and redness. Antioxidants fight against free radicals which damage the skin and make it more susceptible to acne also help to balance hormone levels to help prevent future breakouts from happening.

Slows the aging process to prevent wrinkles. One of the latest benefits ofgreen tea is the effect it has on your skin and the aging process. It is again down to the antioxidants that prevent cell oxidation and damage that can make you look older than you really are. Studies are mixed on this particular green tea benefit as new research has come to light which suggests the full benefits can only be had by applying green tea topically to your skin. However, many people have found that potent green tea extracts do have a positive effect on their skin, leaving it softer, more supply and younger looking.

Enjoy your green Tea and be healthy always!

A banana a day keeps the doctor away!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:06:00 +0000

Sweet Banana

For many illness banana is a natural remedy after eating breakfast lunch or dinner I always eat banana. If we compare banana to an apple, banana has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. Banana also is rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods we have.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Sweet Banana

Depression:

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:

Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:

200 students at a Twickenham school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:

High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites:

Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work?

Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control:

Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):

Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking:

Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:

Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:

According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Onions and Mayonnaise

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:17:00 +0000

Red Onion

I receive an email which is very useful and interesting I want

this to all of you here we go...

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu.

Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone in his family was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and placed it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria or viruses, therefore, keeping the family very healthy.

Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser in Arizona (AZ). She said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.

Now there is a P.S. to this for I sent this to a friend in Oregon who regularly contributes material to me on health issues. She replied with this most interesting experience about onions:

"Thanks for the reminder. I don't know about the farmer's story.. But, I do know that I contacted pneumonia and needless to say I was very ill.. I came across an article that said to cut both ends off an onion put it into an empty jar...placing the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs.. Sure enough it happened just like that...The onion was a mess and I began to feel better.

"Another thing I read in the article was that onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties."

This is the other note:

"Lots of times when we have stomach problems we don't know what to blame. It's probably the onions that are to blame. Onions absorb bacteria and the very reason they are so good at preventing us from getting colds and flu---and therefore also the very reason we shouldn't eat an onion that has been sitting for a time after it has been cut open.

"LEFT OVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS

"I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, Makers of Mayonnaise. Questions about food poisoning came up, and I wanted to share what I learned from a chemist.

"The guy who gave us our tour is named Ed. Ed is a chemistry expert and is involved in developing most of the sauce formula. He's even developed sauce formula for McDonald's.

"Keep in mind that Ed is a food chemistry whiz. During the tour, someone asked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise. People are always worried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed's answer will surprise you. Ed said that all commercially- made Mayo is completely safe.

"It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it's not really necessary. He explained that the pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment. He then talked about the quint-essential picnic, with the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table and how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick.

"Ed says when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those onions came from (in the potato salad?).

"Ed says it's not the mayonnaise (as long as it's not homemade Mayo) that spoils in the outdoors. It's probably the onions, and if not the onions, it's the POTATOES.

"He explained, onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion...He says it's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your refrigerator.

"It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put in your hotdogs at the baseball park)!

"Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you'll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put it on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down.

"Also, dogs should never eat onions. Their stomachs cannot metabolize onions.

"Please remember it is dangerous to cut an onion and try to use it to cook the next day, it becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates toxic bacteria which may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile secretions and even food poisoning."

Please share this on to all you love and care.

Do you eat cucumbers?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:56:00 +0000

Cucumber

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a
cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping verything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels
water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for a massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

How to Treat your Arthritis Naturally at Home

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:56:00 +0000

This is article is worth sharing to everybody.

Information provided by Lionel Sweetman - Published: 2010-06-19

Arthritis

Arthritis is pain in the fingers, knees, elbows, hips jaw-any place In the body where there Is a joint between bones.

Arthritis can be very painful due to joints being surrounded by many nerves which are needed to make the complicated joints work properly.

There are many forms of arthritis like Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid Arthritis; to name just two, but we are not going into that now. What we are looking at here is natural remedies.

A lot of arthritis sufferers very often turn to natural herbal remedies and botanical methods to gain release from their symptoms. But do these natural alternatives do what they promise? Can you find relief from herbal supplements?

There are many herbs and such like that has shown some promise in helping treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and we will just look at a few of them:

Boswellia - For thousands of years Boswellia has been used as a natural anti-inflamatory. Extracts of the gum of this tree, which is mainly found in India, have long been used to relieve joint pain and inflammation. Modern scientific research has confirmed that boswellic acids contained within the herb are able to stop the formation of leukotrienes, the immune cells responsible for inflammation. With regular use blood supply to the joints is also maintained allowing for soft tissue to be nourished and viable.

Scientific research has shown that boswellia has the ability to inhibit the inflammatory mediators in the body, reducing pain and inflammation without irritating or ulcerating the lining of the stomach. Boswellia has also seen to be highly effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Thunder god vine - A supplement that is derived from a perennial vine that is native to Asia, also In areas of China, Korea, and Japan. The root is peeled away to make this herbal supplement and Is by tradition, been used to treat autoimmune illnesses and inflammatory conditions. It has been find by research that thunder god vine does indeed contain anti-inflammatory activity, and some immune-boosting activity has also been discovered.

One clinical trial carried out at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that roughly 80 per cent of those patients who were given a high dose of the plant supplement found that their rheumatoid arthritis symptoms got better considerably. However, researchers have found that this and other studies are too small to prove the true efficacy of this plant-derived supplement.

Cherries - To take away the pain of gout, eat 6-8 cherries per day. They can be tinned, frozen or fresh. This is a Japanese treatment, which they have used for centuries. They also boil the cherries down into a syrup which makes a strong sweet drink. The cherry is a very good source of magnesium (which is a natural painkiller) and potassium. The potassium acts as a diuretic, reducing inflammation by ridding tissue of fluid.

Dandelion leaves - One of the best remedies for treating arthritic conditions probably grows right in your backyard: fresh young dandelion leaves. Because of the high vitamin A and C content, when eaten raw in salads, these greens help the body to repair damaged tissues and help the liver clear toxins out of the blood.

European herbalists have used these anti-pain dandelion recipes for many years. Older leaves should be steam or sauté - like spinach, this is because they are too tough to eat raw. You can also improve the taste by cooking with garlic or add olive oil for a tasty dish. Dandelion can also be made into a tea steep, just 1 teaspoon of dried leaves or 3 teaspoons of fresh leaves in 1 cup of boiling water. Or make a coffee-like, but bitter-tasting, beverage by boiling, and then straining, 4 ounces of fresh root in 2 pints of water. Taken daily, this is a good guard against winter colds.

Desert devil - Devil's-claw - an ominous-sounding cure - comes from the Kalahari Desert of South Africa. For at least 250 years, the Hottentots, Bantus, and Bushmen (all native tribes of this region) have treated arthritis pain with this large claw-like fruit that can trap and injure livestock. The tribesmen's favourite method is to draw an extract from the root and brew it into a tea. Alternatively, devil's-claw can be dried, powdered, and taken in tablet form.

Recent French and German studies found that the pain-relief of devil's-claw is similar to that of cortisone. The root acts mainly as an anti-inflammatory, an effect of harpagoside, its active ingredient. Preparations using the whole plant work even better because it contains additional compounds, such as flavonoids, that enhance the anti-inflammatory effect. Devil's-claw is available in many forms through most mailorder herb companies and health food stores.

Water therapy treatment - A more pleasant and relatively effective home remedy for arthritis pain is water therapy treatments. This entails immersion of affected regions into warm water for about an hour. Best results can be achieved by utilizing a specially designed water tank which is sometimes called sensory deprivation tank. The water temperature is maintained at 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit which is the normal body temperature of a healthy human.

A spoonful of sugar - The British, known for their fondness for sweets, swear by crude blackstrap molasses dissolved in water. When taken every morning, they say this preparation eases and even eliminates pain in the joints. This is some feat in England! (Cold, damp climates usually aggravate a case of arthritis.) The molasses is an excellent source of minerals, including iron, potassium, and magnesium. It is also a concentrated sweet. So it is important to rinse your mouth out or brush your teeth after using this treatment. Otherwise, you may be trading one pain (arthritis) for another - a toothache!

Copper bracelets for arthritis - Until recently, Western doctors dismissed as folklore the idea of wearing copper bracelets as a way of treating arthritis. Indeed, there are many doctors who are still sceptical. Researchers in Australia, however, have found that copper, when coupled with aspirin, is more effective than aspirin alone in treating the pain of arthritis. Since many substances are absorbed through the skin, there may be some truth in this old wives' tale. Copper bracelets are available all over the net.

Ginger - Ginger is very effective in the treatment of arthritis and a host of other ailments. Recent medical research in Holland has indicated that this, too, is much more than just myth. Eating ginger does, according to the Dutch doctors, help alleviate arthritis pain. Use the ginger with anything…soups, sauces, salads etc.

Eucalyptus oil for arthritis pain - An old traditional home remedy for arthritis pain requires the use eucalyptus oil. A small quantity of eucalyptus oil is warmed before applying it in a very thin layer over the painful joint. You would then cover the joint with a plastic wrap. Follow up by applying continuous heat to the joint with the help of steaming towels. This can be a relaxing pain relief routine that can prove beneficial at bedtime for maximum reduction of the arthritis pain.

Bee Stings - An arthritis therapy that may sound more like a punishment was used 2,000 years ago by Hippocrates - bee stings. Once considered to be the leading cure for rheumatism, arthritis, and gout, bee stings were used for centuries by ancient Europeans.Based on this traditional therapy, scientists in Switzerland, France, Germany, and Great Britain devised a treatment that employed a series of injections of the venom- using either a hypodermic needle or a live bee! The bee venom, like many noxious substances, stimulates the immune system to release inflammatory substances. This is known as the counter irritation theory.

Saint Hildegard’s Ointment - Hildegard was a mystic from 12th century Germany whose wisdom still holds true to day. She said “ Detoxify, purify, and regenerate the whole organism.” Hildegard’s recipe for an arthritis ointment was to take 4 parts vermouth, 2 parts deer fat, and 2 parts deer marrow, and mix it into a salve. This ointment was massaged on the painful joints while the sufferer sat in front of an elmwood fire. The warmth of the fire and the stimulation of blood flow from the massage were really the important parts of the treatment. So if you cannot get your hands on any deer fat. goose fat is a much better option and is available all over the net. To get rid of the rheumatic toxins that caused pain, Hildegard prescribed eating fragrant, raw quince. The fruit can be cooked in water or wine, baked in a cake or pie, or made into jellies and candy ( this is popular today during holiday seasons). Hildegard's advice to gout sufferers was to slowly chew (before breakfast) 1 to 3 teaspoons of celery seed powder mixed with spices such as rue, cloves, and saxifrage. For a better taste, the celery powder can be sprinkled on bread with quince jelly. Celery is a diuretic, and the loss of excess fluid can reduce the inflammation associated with the arthritis. Rue contains ruin, which can strengthen blood vessels (preventing them from leaking fluid into tissue and thus preventing inflammation).Warning: Don't use rue during pregnancy. It can bring on bleeding.

Glucosamine - Produced naturally in the body and is found in relatively high concentrations in the joints and connective tissues where its main function is to repair cartilage and maintain joint mobility. It has been shown that between 90 and 98 percent of Glucosamine Sulphate is absorbed into the body.

Because of it's healing properties and the fact there a few reports of side effects Glucosamine has been approved for the treatment of arthritis pain and other joint and muscular pain in more than eighty countries throughout the world. Research has shown glucosamine's ability to both decrease pain and reduce inflammation whilst also allowing an increase in the range of motion in the joints, helping to repair aging and damaged joints throughout the body.

Recent studies have indicated that glucosamine may be at least as if not more effective than the non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin and ibuprofen but without the harmful side-effects connected with these medicines. While NSAIDS provide effective pain relief for arthritis and other joint pain they can also reduce the production of cartilage in the body. In doing so this obviously worsens the condition in the long run and so increases the dependence on the drugs. Not only does glucosamine relieve pain but it also reduces inflammation, repairing the cartilage damage rather than just masking pain.

Aloe Vera for arthritis - Aloe, by its self does not cure or heal anything; it is the beneficial effects of over 200 different nutritional constituents and the way they react to help reduce inflammation and pain which promote healing. Aloe Vera gives a great boost to the immune system and energy levels. So, In other words…..Aloe Vera provides the body with the right agents to take care of itself and to restore and repair body functions and the body's own healing process.

Alfalfa - Commonly used for arthritic treatment, because the tea remedy is effective when taken for two to three weeks with a seven to ten day break between consumption.

Angelica - Another arthritis treatment because it contains anti-inflammatory constituents and muscle relaxants as well as natural pain-relievers. This herb is used in a tea concoction as well, with the same frequency and breaks as the alfalfa remedy.

Black cohosh - An American Indian herb used in the treatment of arthritis symptoms, has qualities similar to aspirin as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-spasm constituents.

Celery - A plant that can be used to treat arthritis. The celery seeds and other portions of the plant contain over 25 anti-inflammatory compounds, as well as providing massive amounts of potassium, which is important because a deficiency in potassium is often a culprit of arthritic pain.

Other herbal medicines used to treat arthritis pain include; feverfew, American ginseng, hop tea, licorice, mustard plaster, oregano, pineapple, red pepper, rosemary, sesame seeds, stinging nettle, turmeric, wild cucumber bark, wild yam, willow, wintergreen, and yucca. Some of these herbs are used topically, as the minerals are absorbed into the skin, while others are ingested internally for maximum benefits.

Many people think that because they are taking an herbal supplement or botanical-based drug therapy, there will be no side effects. The truth is that herbal supplements can be quite powerful and can have strong side effects. Many if not most of all conventional drug therapies are derived from plants and herbs.

The bad news is that there is not enough sufficient research to conclusively prove the efficacy of many of these herbal supplements and botanical-based drugs. Before you try any herbal supplement, it is important that you discuss its use with your doctor.

Two of the most common forms of arthritis

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:41:00 +0000

arthritis

Two of the most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have different causes, risk factors, and effects on the body:

· Osteoarthritis pain, stiffness, or inflammation most frequently appears in the hips, knees, and hands.

· Rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects the hands and wrists but can also affect areas of the body other than the joints.

Even though they have these differences, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis often share common symptoms:

· Joint pain

· Stiffness

· Inflammation or swelling

What causes osteoarthritis?

While the exact cause of OA is unknown, joint damage can be due to repetitive movement (also known as "wear and tear"). It can also begin as the result of an injury. Either way, with OA there's erosion of the cartilage, the part of the joint that covers the ends of the bones.

· Cartilage acts as a shock absorber, allowing the joint to move smoothly.

· As cartilage breaks down, the ends of the bones thicken and the joint may lose its normal shape.

· With further cartilage breakdown, the ends of the bones may begin to rub together, causing pain.

· In addition, damaged joint tissue can cause the release of certain substances called prostaglandins, which can also contribute to the pain and swelling characteristic of the disease.

Here are some factors that may increase your risk of developing OA:

Age

Age is the strongest risk factor for OA. Although OA can start in young adulthood, in these cases, it is often due to joint injury.

Gender

OA affects both men and women. However, before age 45, OA occurs more frequently in men; after age 45, OA is more common in women.

Joint injury or overuse caused by physical labor or sports

Traumatic injury to a joint increases your risk of developing OA in that joint. Joints that are used repeatedly in certain jobs may be more likely to develop OA because of injury or overuse.

Obesity

The chances of getting OA generally increase with the amount of weight the body’s joints have to bear. The knee is particularly affected because it is a major weight-bearing joint.

Joint Alignment

People with joints that don’t move or fit together correctly, like bowlegs, dislocated hips, or double-jointedness, are more likely to develop OA in those joints.

Heredity

An inherited defect in one of the genes responsible for manufacturing cartilage may be a contributing factor in developing OA.

What is Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks normal joint tissues, causing inflammation of the joint lining.

This inflammation of the joint lining (called the synovium) can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, warmth, and redness. The affected joint may also lose its shape, resulting in loss of normal movement. RA is an ongoing disease, with active periods of pain and inflammation, known as flares, alternating with periods of remission, when pain and inflammation disappear.

RA can affect many different joints. In some people, it can even affect parts of the body other than the joints, including the eyes, blood, the lungs, and the heart.

What causes rheumatoid arthritis?

The exact causes of RA are unknown. But research has shown that several factors may contribute to the development of RA:

· Genetic. Certain genes play a role in the immune system — for some people, genetic factors may be involved in determining whether they will develop RA.

· Environmental. In people who have inherited a genetic tendency for the disease, RA can be triggered by an infection. However, RA is not contagious — you can't "catch it" from anyone.

Causes of High Blood Pressure

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

High Blood Pressure

In most cases of high blood pressure causes of the condition remain unknown. Irrespective of the high blood pressure causes treatment can be provided to minimize the ill effects of high blood pressure and relieve high blood pressure symptoms like anxiety and headaches. Although there may not always be specific causes of high blood pressure it is undeniable that there are certain conditions that could contribute to or significantly increase the risk of developing high blood pressure. While not all of these factors are controllable, awareness about them does make us conscious of the existence of the risk of high blood pressure, and consequently keeps us alert to the warning signs. The practice of breathing exercises, switching to specific diet foods, and herbs or supplements can help lower blood pressure naturally.

Age: This is one of the biggest risk factors for elevated blood pressure levels and as you age the risk of developing high blood pressure keeps increasing. In the past the age group affected may have been higher, but with the changes to our lifestyle and increased stress levels, pollution and unhealthy diets high blood pressure has also begin to affect younger adults, which is why it is best to start going for annual checkups after the age of eighteen.

Diet: Diets with a high fat content are one of the major causes of high blood pressure. A high blood pressure diet plan or chart will always exclude foods like red meats, junk foods, and other fried or refined foods. There are plenty of healthy alternatives and you can prepare your own high blood pressure diet menu, with recipes for high blood pressure from internet resources. Most of the foods that cause high blood pressure are the ones that are high in sugar content, hydrogenated oils and trans fatty acids. Salty foods, fatty dairy products, greasy and deep fried foods and fatty meat products should all be avoided or eaten sparingly to avoid high blood pressure problems.

Stress: The relationship between stress and high blood pressure cannot be understated and its contribution to increased incidence of the condition in modern society is undeniable. Stress related disorders are on the rise because increasing levels of competitiveness and tremendous technological growth that has changed the urban and social landscape. This stress could either be emotional stress or even physical stress in the individual.

Racial Factors: African Americans are believed to be at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure as compared to Caucasians and this is also likely to occur earlier in life and cause complications of greater severity.

Socio-Economic Status: Although high blood pressure may be uniformly prevalent across all sections of society, the less educated and lower socio-economic groups may be more affected because of a lack of awareness and also a lack of access to quality diets.

Heredity: This is another factor that cannot be controlled and people with a family history of high blood pressure are predisposed to developing the condition.

Gender: Men are generally thought to be a lot more likely to develop high blood pressure as compared to women, but this could vary in different populations. While all of these factors may be uncontrollable there are some things that we can control.

Body Weight: Obesity is known to be one of the biggest risk factors for developing high blood pressure because blood pressure rises with increasing weight. It is highly advisable for anyone who is overweight to attempt to reduce some weight through healthy methods like dieting and working out. Patterns of weight gain are also believed to indicate the risk of obesity to some extent as those who gain weight mainly around the abdominal area are at higher risk, while those who gain weight on the hips and thighs, although at risk would not be as susceptible.

Salt: Some individuals have greater sensitivity to sodium and the consumption of salt will therefore cause a rise in blood pressure. In such a scenario, simply cutting down on salt intake would lower blood pressure naturally. High blood pressure diets are typically low in salt.

Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption is also known to raise blood pressure levels, particularly in those sensitive to alcohol.

Medications and Contraceptives: Women who have been on contraceptive pills may be at increased risk of developing high blood pressure and the use of certain medications like diet pills or amphetamines could also contribute to the problem.

Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:53:00 +0000

Garlic and Parsely

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Garlic

The relationship between garlic and high blood pressure has been investigated scientifically, and found to be quite sound. Garlic is regarded as an effective means of lowering blood pressure. It is said to reduce spasms of the small arteries. It also slows down the pulse rate and modifies the heart rhythm, besides relieving the symptoms of dizziness, numbness, shortness of breath, and the formation of gas within the digestive tract. It may be taken in the form of raw cloves or two to three capsules a day.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Indian Gooseberry

Indian gooseberry is another effective remedy for high blood pressure. A tablespoon each of fresh indian gooseberry juice and honey mixed together should be taken every morning in this condition.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Lemon

Lemon is also regarded as a valuable food to control high blood pressure. It is a rich source of vitamin P which is found both in the juice and peel of the fruit. This vitamin is essential for preventing capillary fragility.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Grapefruit

Grapefruit is useful in preventing high blood pressure. The vitamin P content in the fruit is helpful in toning up the arteries.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Watermelon

Watermelon is another valuable safeguard against high blood pressure. A substance extracted from watermelon seeds is said to have a definite action in dilating the blood vessels, which results in lowering the blood pressure. The seeds, dried and roasted, should be taken in liberal quantities.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Rice

Rice has a low-fat, low-cholesterol, and low-salt content. It makes a perfect diet for those hypertensive persons who have been advised salt-restricted diets. Calcium in brown rice, in particular, soothes and relaxes the nervous system and helps relieve the symptoms of high blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Potato

Potatoes, especially in boiled form, are a valuable food for lowering blood pressure. When boiled with their skin, they absorb very little salt. Thus they can form a useful addition to a salt-free diet recommended for patients with high blood pressure. Potatoes are rich in potassium but not in sodium salts. The magnesium present in the vegetable exercises beneficial effects in lowering blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Parsley

Parsley is very useful in high blood pressure. It contains elements, which help maintain the blood vessels, particularly, the capillaries. It keeps the arterial system in a healthy condition. It may be taken as a beverage by simmering 20 gm of fresh parsley leaves gently in 250 ml of water for a few minutes. This may be drunk several times daily.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Rauwolfia

Among the herbs, rauwolfia is the best remedy for high blood pressure. Alkaloids of this drug, which have a direct effect on hypertension, have been isolated and are being widely used by practitioners of modem medicine, but they have certain unpleasant side-effects which the drug, taken in raw form, does not have. Practitioners of the Indian system of medicine have, therefore, preferred to use the root of the drug in a powdered from. Half a teaspoon of this drug, taken thrice a day, is very effective in hypertension.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Vegetable Juice

Raw vegetable juices, especially carrot and spinach juices, taken separately or in combination, are also beneficial in the treatment of high blood pressure. If taken in combination, 300 ml of carrot juice and 200 ml of spinach juice should be mixed to make 500 ml or half a liter of the juice, and taken daily. If taken separately, one glass should be taken twice daily, morning and evening.

High Blood Pressure treatment using Dietary Calcium and Potassium

Recent studies have revealed an important link between dietary calcium and potassium and hypertension. Researchers have found that people who are on potassium-rich diets have a low incidence of hypertension even if they do not control their salt intake. They have also found that people with hypertension do not seem to get much calcium in the form of dairy products. These two essential nutrients seem to help the body secrete excess sodium and are involved in important functions which control the working of the vascular system. Potassium is found in abundance in fruits and vegetables, and calcium in dairy products.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Hawthorn

Many herbal practitioners use Hawthorn for reducing high blood pressure risks naturally. Hawthorn supplements or extracts can be taken consumed under medical supervision to control high blood pressure. This particular herb does not have any known negative interactions with other drugs used for high blood pressure. The Chinese Hawthorn fruit is also beneficial in improving heart function, repairing heart muscle damage and dilating the heart blood vessels to enhance blood flow. Diabetics who suffer from high blood pressure can take a daily dose of Hawthorn extract to reduce high blood pressure naturally.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Fish Oils

Fish oils supplements contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docohexaenoic acid (DHA) both of which can reduce high blood pressure naturally.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Daikon Seed Extract

Daikon seed extracts have been widely used in herbal medicine for a variety of purposes. Daikon seed extracts not only help in lowering high blood pressure risks but also help in maintaining overall cardiovascular health.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Holly Leaf

Holly leaf also known as Ilex aquifolium helps in enhancing blood circulation by expanding the blood vessels and also simultaneously reduces cholesterol in the body. Therefore this herbal remedy is great for controlling high blood pressure and also keeping the mind calm.

High Blood Pressure Treatment using Flaxseed

Flaxseed is very rich in fiber and therefore very effective in lowering LDL cholesterol and preserving HDL cholesterol. Flaxseeds should be consumed regularly along with soups, cereals and yogurt in order to reduce high blood pressure.

Sardines – Little Fish, Super Food

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

by: Junji Takano

As everybody knows, sardines are popular fish since our ancestors. However, it is also a fact that there are many who do not like to eat sardines because of its offensive smell and rapid spoilage.

Knowing the character of it, I tried to study how to cook cutting down the smell and increase its fine taste from my mother. Furthermore, sardines are very rich in calcium, lecithin and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). EPA does an important role on preventing blood clot. The fish oil fatty acids reduce blood clotting by decreasing the stickiness of blood platelets.

Then, you should know the secret of sardines and its cooking techniques?

It's true that sardines are one of the weakest fishes. Sardines can easily crumple and rot which is the main reason most people dislike sardines. But if you know how to keep the shape of the sardine without crumpling, for sure you will like its great taste. It is because sardine itself removes or peels off scales for a certain reason which makes the shape of sardine collapses with its own weight and gravity. Of course, it is natural that collapsed fish meat does not taste good, just like rotten or deteriorated with empty taste.

To retain the freshness of the sardines, prepare a cooler box with water and ice cubes and place the sardines in it. This will keep the fish fresh.

Here's the reason sardines peel off its own scales. Sardines produce about ten thousand eggs, and because of that, it became the feed resource of other marine creatures. Sardines are exposed to the crisis of their lives. To escape or maneuver the attackers, sardines drop their own scales to make the eyes of the enemy black out.

Of course, sardines that lost their own scales are hurt and weak, so they easily die or spoil. You may notice that most sardines you buy in the markets have less or no scales. This is because of the unique habit of sardines to remove their scales when they were caught in the net.

How to Retain the Sardines at Best Condition

As for calcium in fish, sardines are top class. 100g of sardines contains 70mg of calcium. This amount is 3 times than that of horse mackerel and 8 times that of mackerel. Also, sardines have the highest amount of EPA. There are 1,200mg of EPA for every 100g of sardines.

Observe the mouth where the sardines eat their feed. If you will measure the size of the mouth, you will notice that sardines mouths are much bigger than any other fishes, in order to take more plankton and other small feeds. Why sardines eat more small plankton more? It is to keep more EPA nutrient from phytoplankton and small plankton.

How about calcium? Sardines have more bones compare to other fishes. It is a soft, known bone, between the meats (small bones which we do not notice much when we eat). The number of such fine bones is 270, and it is 5 times more than horse mackerel. It has one of the richest calcium you can take

Now, you understand that sardines are very healthy food to take. If you have any pressure cooker, then, it is easy to make sardines, like the can you are buying in the supermarket.

Eating sardines, including tuna and salmon even once or twice a week confers many healthy benefits. Obviously an all-around healthy diet will provide even more protection from other illnesses, too.As everybody knows, sardines are popular fish since our ancestors. However, it is also a fact that there are many who do not like to eat sardines because of its offensive smell and rapid spoilage.

Knowing the character of it, I tried to study how to cook cutting down the smell and increase its fine taste from my mother. Furthermore, sardines are very rich in calcium, lecithin and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). EPA does an important role on preventing blood clot. The fish oil fatty acids reduce blood clotting by decreasing the stickiness of blood platelets.

Then, you should know the secret of sardines and its cooking techniques?
It's true that sardines are one of the weakest fishes. Sardines can easily crumple and rot which is the main reason most people dislike sardines. But if you know how to keep the shape of the sardine without crumpling, for sure you will like its great taste. It is because sardine itself removes or peels off scales for a certain reason which makes the shape of sardine collapses with its own weight and gravity. Of course, it is natural that collapsed fish meat does not taste good, just like rotten or deteriorated with empty taste.

To retain the freshness of the sardines, prepare a cooler box with water and ice cubes and place the sardines in it. This will keep the fish fresh.

Here's the reason sardines peel off its own scales. Sardines produce about ten thousand eggs, and because of that, it became the feed resource of other marine creatures. Sardines are exposed to the crisis of their lives. To escape or maneuver the attackers, sardines drop their own scales to make the eyes of the enemy black out.

Of course, sardines that lost their own scales are hurt and weak, so they easily die or spoil. You may notice that most sardines you buy in the markets have less or no scales. This is because of the unique habit of sardines to remove their scales when they were caught in the net.

How to Retain the Sardines at Best Condition

Sardine's salinity density is 1%; therefore, make an ice water of 1% salinity to balance and preserve the osmotic pressure. In this way, the excessive extract does not come out of the sardine's body. Also, it can hold down the offensive odor as well as its good taste. Sardines are one of the healthiest foodstuffs with rich calcium, EPA and lecithin contents.

As for calcium in fish, sardines are top class. 100g of sardines contains 70mg of calcium. This amount is 3 times than that of horse mackerel and 8 times that of mackerel. Also, sardines have the highest amount of EPA. There are 1,200mg of EPA for every 100g of sardines.

Trivia: Eating Fish Prevents Macular Degeneration

Salmon fish is well known to keep our heart and brain healthy. There are a lot of reasons to eat a nutrient-rich fishes to prevent age-related macular degeneration, especially eyesight. Cheap and abandoned fish is sardine. Eat sardines everyday. Sardine makes you healthy mentally and physically. Make it habitual to eat more fishes that contain fish oil and lutein, and cook with vegetables.

Get healthy with fish.

About the Author:

Junji Takano is a Japanese health researcher involved in investigating the cause of many dreadful diseases. In 1968, he invented PYRO-ENERGEN, the first electrostatic therapy device for electromedicine that effectively eradicates viral diseases, cancer, and diseases of unknown cause.
Click here to find out more: http://www.pyroenergen.com/about.htm
Free health newsletter: http://www.pyroenergen.com/newsletter.htm

Why You Should Eat More Sardines

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:50:00 +0000

by: Junji Takano

According to our old folks, eating sardines can help improve your blood circulation.

Also, its ability to prevent hypertension is widely known among sardine eaters since 400 years ago.

Sardines Help Lower Your High Blood Pressure

Sardines contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential unsaturated fatty acids that promote good cholesterol. These nutrients are vital in protecting your heart from various diseases including high blood pressure.

Sardines Can Help You Lose Weight

The sardine's omega-3 fatty acid and protein contents are responsible for accelerating the process of burning calories. It also increases metabolism and decreases lipids, therefore helping you in losing excess fat

In fact, in an animal experiment using genetically obese rats, rats consuming sardine oil show considerable amount of weight loss.

Sardines by themselves are very low in calories, so you can eat plenty of it without gaining weight...perfect for carbohydrate-conscious dieters!

If you are a diabetic patient, you will definitely benefit from a sardine diet for you to have safe blood sugar levels.

Here are 6 Other Amazing Health Benefits of Sardines

Sardines help prevent the formation of blood clots in your body, reducing your risk of having a heart attack.
Sardines are good for the brain and will improve your memory and brain performance, all because of its omega-3 fatty acids.
You may not know this, but sardines contain high level of calcium that will help promote stronger bones. One small sardine has a calcium amount comparable to 4-6 glasses of cow's milk!
Sardines contain several vitamins that improve your digestive tract.
Eating sardines can help improve your blood circulation and prevent stiff neck.
The omega-3 fatty acids help improve your skin texture and even prevent the formation of wrinkles. Say goodbye to pimples and blemishes!

What's the Best Way to Store Sardines?

Keeping the sardines fresh is not without difficulty. The flesh of the sardine is very weak and soft. I recommend that you let it dry under the sun. This method could boost its nutrients as much as four times and it will also taste a lot better.

Dried sardines can be toasted, fried, or cooked as you like. In our morning table, sardine is one of our main dishes. Probably, it is the reason that we can maintain our excellent health.

Sardines are one of the cheapest fishes in the market. When there's a good catch of sardines, I usually buy several baskets of it and I'll let it dry under the sun. We really enjoy it. Sardine is good for young schoolchildren to help enhance their memory and maintain their normal weight and height growth.

You can grind dried sardines into powder form and sprinkle it over your foods. You can make sardine bread, sardine cake, sardine ice cream, sardine candy, sardine biscuit, and sardine cookies. You name it! You can make just about anything with sardines.

About the Author:

How Liver May Help You

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:24:00 +0000

Liver is the largest organ in our body as well as one of the most important organ we have.

Useful Tip to Help You Stop Overeating and Lose Weight

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:54:00 +0000

Cripsy Lechon Baboy

One of the most common problems we have is bad eating habits many of us struggling to overcome it. It is one of the hardest things to achieve. There are many scientific methods to solve it.

In this article we discuss a simple way to help solve bad eating habits. Most of us did not now that chewing overcome bad eating habits. Before meal chewing even chewing gum may help reduce meal intake.

In the first place we must know what things triggers as increase appetite.

It’s either the catching advertisement, smell of foods or food magazines there are many ways to catch our attention that makes us craving for more food.

We have difficulties to refrain from over eating foods like this one if it is in our table.

Lechon baboy

Sweet foods can increase our appetite. Our body condition like stress, lack of sleep, alcohol intake food leaflets, tasty and colorful photos of food advertisements, will lead to increase that results us to eat more and more.

Scientist finally found out that neurotransmitter called histamine that is found in the brain controls the volume of appetite. The histamine that is created within the brain is a special product produced by means of chewing with our teeth and gums.

Few of us still remember that we are told by our grandparents to chew our food properly and slowly for more times. We did not know that this was practiced since our ancestors. As we are kids we did not follow their instruction and we take it for granted without realizing its value.

Make this a habit chew your food slowly and properly for more times. This will not only aid in proper digestion but also lose weight and help prevent eating too much, thus make us healthy all the way.

How a Fruit Diet Can Help Us Lose Weight

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:42:00 +0000

Fruit for diet

Many of us thinking of getting slimmer, there are questions of what part of our body we want to trim down. The problem with these is many are trying but most of us fail. But with fruit diet it can be.

In this article we will tell you the successful way to trim down weight with a simple fruit diet.

Loosing 1.5 pounds of weight in one month is reasonable. Aside from that, lowering hypertension and cholesterol levels in the blood are controlled and reduced, certainly sign of excellent results.

In the first place we must know that that obesity and blood cholesterol levels are related with each other, thus we should find way to eradicate these.

If we feel hungry, it means that our stomach is empty or our blood glucose level is low. This making a strong relationship that diet and blood sugar are strongly related.

When we feel hungry, instead of eating anything else, let’s try drinking a few drips of sweet drinks. Amazingly, our hunger will disappear. So therefore we can control our hunger by regulating the glucose amount in our blood.

Most women want to lose weight and lose body fat in only certain part of their body, specifically their belly fat, and fats under the arms and inner thighs. Is there any secret to achieve these?

However, it is proven to be difficult to do that. It's because our body just don’t work that way.

Here are some few tips on how to get rid of our body fat in an orderly manner.

1. The first thing you should do is to reduce the amount of fat in your liver. The liver controls glucose levels in the blood, so a fatty liver can in fact interfere with your weight loss program because of reduced fat burning and metabolism, so you may want to target that first.

2. Second is the visceral fat (abdominal fat).

3. And lastly, the subcutaneous fat (fat underneath the skin).

It is widely known that exercise can help decrease body fats, start building a healthy, fit, slim body and gives a huge benefit to our entire body.

Losing fat under the arms and legs is time-consuming. If our belly fat is reduced through exercise, it means that the visceral fat is also decreased so 1st is reducing our liver fat and visceral fat.

Exercise is more beneficial if done before meal. It increases blood glucose level, and a higher glucose level in the blood makes us feel full and will reduce our eating habits. Let us always put in our mind that the regulation of our blood sugar level is a key to managing our weight.

Exercise gives us lot of benefits like reduce our unneeded fats, blood glucose and of course, lowers us having diabetes, too.

Many wonder why some people never seem to get fat even though they eat a lot. The answer to this is that most of these people are burning more energy compared to average people. We have different mechanism and construction of the body including our minds. Likewise our mind can control the consumption of energy.

Due to the reduction of blood glucose level normal and healthy people may feel hungry easily. Eating will solve the hungry feeling, and large amounts of insulin will be secreted. This cycle must be adjusted little by little, day by day, and week by week.

We can also try to reduce the amount of meal we take gradually. It is simple to do. But if we cannot control this, we can drink water or tea anytime we feel hungry, or let us eat low-calorie foods or vegetable gelatin or very small amount of chocolate.

Lastly, it is not necessary to choose the kind of fruits we should eat. Let us all remember, we can eat any kinds of fruits. All fruits contain valuable nutrients, and fruits have less harmful calories, which we don’t need to worry.

Losing Weight Is Not Difficult!

But as you’ve probably discovered, most weight loss is temporary at best. That’s because most diets are designed for you to fail.

The people behind them have never worked alongside real people to see what it really takes to make a change.

They don’t know the struggle regular people endure to overcome a lifetime of bad habits and faulty information.

Diet companies and internet marketers only see you as a blip on a sales chart - not a human being.

I found this very good program that will help us in our diet, burn fat in a simple way;

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How Can We Prevent Heat Stroke

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Heat Stroke

We all know that global warming is affecting us today we can now feel extreme heat, as we have notice the heat is every where even during night we cannot avoid too much heat in our environment.

During summer season Heat Stroke is the most common problem we can encounter anytime. Dramatically the number of heat stroke cases is increasing in many countries such as Japan, Italy, France, Brazil and USA. Maybe we can ask if it is the result of the so called Global warming or because of our lifestyle that push us down to become weaker everyday.

Over the internet information about heatstroke is widely spread, some doctors advise to drink a lot of water and take some salt to prevent dehydration and heat stroke.

Maybe correct or wrong but most of the doctors will say it is correct. But to the people who strictly followed this advice may not survive due to some misconception.

The question rises about the misconception. The salt intake is the misconception. It comes from belief that when we sweat heavily and get dehydrated, salt will refinish the lost salt due to the fact that the sweat is salty, which is false.

Dehydration occurs when the “cells” in the body have lack of water, but intake of salt would increase it “in the blood” instead. In reaction to this, the cells will also lose water, making us more dehydrated and it is a common knowledge that drinking seawater will make us more dehydrated.

Due to excessive salt intake many people died of hypertension. Usually, there is enough sodium in our every day meal, thus taking more additional salt will be threat to our health than to have heat stroke.

Many of us know that drinking sports drink will help prevent heat stroke, but there is another way which is better. Drinking milk is better prevention to heat stroke, cows or goat’s milk and yogurt are best in prevention of heat stroke and most of all not salt.

Drink Milk

The Milk can revitalize our body during hot summer and provide good protein. Milk contain albumin which will help maintain water level in our blood and avoid intake of fatty foods during hot summer.

It is advisable to drink bottle of milk before going out and drink another bottle when we are at home. Milk is great and more effective sports recovery drink than water or commercially available expensive sports drink.

So why not drink milk?

The Secret to Successfully Quit Smoking

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:47:00 +0000

cigarette

The secret to successfully Quit Smoking is to know its content and danger brought to us by smoking.

Thousands of people die each year from cigarette smoking dying 12 years before time. If you want a healthier, longer lasting life, one step to be there is giving up your deadly nicotine habit.

It is not easy to quit smoking quitters take long time to fully quite smoking. A newly discovered, ingenious way to stop smoking is revealed in this article. Read on to learn what the big tobacco companies, pharmaceutical companies and therapists around the world don't want you to know.

First you must think about quitting.

Millions of parents still continue to smoke around their children knowing that cigarettes are filled with harmful poisons. Besides the fact that this would be a bad example to children, they still smoke. If the parents smoke most likely their children smoke too when they get older. Chemicals from cigarette smoking linger in the air for hours after a cigarette has been consumed. Even if it can't smell or seen the chemicals stay in the air and poison everyone who inhale it. Children and animals are not exempted from smoke sticks to their fur that they lick clean.

A few of the chemicals added to cigarettes are:

Tar – The same tar used to pave highways. This is the main cause for yellow teeth and fingertips.

Hydrogen Cyanide – This is a chemical used to kill rats. It's also been used in World War 2 as a weapon of mass destruction.

Acetone – This is an ingredient in nail polish remover.

Formaldehyde – This is the stuff used to preserve dead bodies like embalming.

Carbon Monoxide – Car exhaust. Do you really want this in your lungs?

Nicotine –. Chemical addiction. Nicotine has powerful pharmacologic effects (including increased heart rate, heart stroke volume, and oxygen consumption by the heart muscle) as well as powerful psychodynamic effects (such as euphoria, increased alertness, and a sense of relaxation). As is now well known, nicotine is also powerfully addictive.
In reality there are thousands of chemicals found in cigarette smoke, people are inhaling these poisonous chemicals and creating second-hand smoke that is also dangerous for others.
Some facts about smoking:

• Around 5.4 million deaths a year are caused by tobacco.

* Smoking is set to kill 6.5 million people in 2015 and 8.3 million humans in 2030, with the biggest rise in low-and middle-income countries.

* Every 6.5 seconds a current or former smoker dies, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

* An estimated 1.3 billion people are smokers worldwide (WHO).
• Over 443,000 Americans (over 18 percent of all deaths) die because of smoking each year. Secondhand smoke kills about 50,000 of them.

• 1.2 million people in China die because of smoking each year. That's 2,000 people a day.

• Tobacco use will kill 1 billion people in the 21st century if current smoking trends continue.

• 33 percent to 50 percent of all smokers are killed by their habit.

* Smokers die on average 15 years sooner than nonsmokers.

• Between 33 percent and 50 percent of all smokers will die an average of 15 years sooner than nonsmokers, the Tobacco Atlas from the World Lung Foundation and the American Cancer Society believes.

• Around 100 million people died because of tobacco use in the 20th century.

• 10 years of life are robbed from smokers because they die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers. Smoking also steals 10 years of physical functioning in old age (making smokers act really old), according to Live Fast, Die Young, Leave a Good-Looking Corpse by David M. Burns, MD (Archives of Internal Medicine).

• Smoking causes more death and disability than any single disease (World Health Organization).

• A "death clock" now follows the tobacco use death toll since October 1999, just under 40 million and counting. It was set up by the World Health Organization in October 2008.

• 650,000 Europeans die each year from tobacco-related diseases, EU figures reveal.

Now take note on these:

The steps in quitting smoke:

1. Make a list of reasons why you want to become a non smoker.

2. Hang the list on your bathroom mirror as a daily reminder. (The next thing you must do is see yourself never smoking again. Not one cigarette, ever. You must be absolutely serious as you are making a life changing decision on this.)

3. Once you pick the day you choose to start, you must continue to visualize your new life as an ex smoker. (It will be difficult at first).

4. Remove all reminders of cigarettes, ash tray, lighters friends who smoke around you. (Your new action will be researching the effects of cigarettes on the human body.)
5. Use the internet, read some books, look at lots of pictures of lungs and heavy smokers who are using holes in their throats.

It's not easy to break that habit, but not impossible. Lots of people do it every day. You must think, you're going to be changing the chemical in your body and there are some withdrawal effects. In short it is uncomfortable process, to do. Instead of smoking, try to drink lots of bottled water and cranberry juice. Understand why you smoke and what causes you to think about a cigarette. Realize when you’re going through a withdrawal, your body is cleansing itself of nicotine and you are becoming healthier.

What you have read above are tips on how to quit smoking effectively, to have a smoke free life, that you must enjoy for having a healthy life and stay longer.

It is the serious commitment to yourself to stop smoking, that nobody can hold you back is the real solution to stop smoking.