Thursday 23 January 2014

Benefits of Strawberries for Health

Strawberries The health benefits of strawberries include improved eye care, proper brain function, relief from high blood pressure, arthritis, gout as well as other cardiovascular diseases. Strawberries are chockfull of antioxidants and other essential nutrients that may flavorfully help you reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, inflammatory diseases, and birth defects as well as mouthwateringly manage your weight.

 Even though the strawberry is usually referred to as a fruit, it is actually an accessory or false fruit, since its red fleshy part doesn’t develop in the flower’s ovary, but is derived from the non-reproductive parts of the flower. The actual fruits are achenes, the minute hard seeds of varying color, baked into the strawberry surface. Here are the bountiful health benefits of strawberries.

Eye Care

The main reasons for almost all problems related to the eyes have the freedom radicals or a deficiency of certain nutrients. With an increase of age and a lack of these protective nutrients, the damaging oxidants or free radicals can cause heavy damage on the eyes, such as excessively dry eyes, degeneration of the optical nerves, macular degeneration, vision defects and increased inclination towards infections as well.

Helps burn stored fat

The red coloring contains anthocyanins, which stimulate the burning of stored fat. Whenever a group of animals was fed a high-fat diet together with anthocyanins, they gained 24 percent less weight compared to animals eating the high-fat diet without added anthocyanins.

Antioxidants

Strawberries contain anthrocyanin, that is a powerful antioxidant that protects us in the damaging effects of our environment, especially the sun. The antioxidant power of the anthrocyanins present in strawberries lasts up to 24 hours after consumption; this will make them a great defence against free radical damage!

Prevents heart disease

Shaped like a heart, strawberries have nutrients like flavonoids and antioxidants which prevent the buildup of bad cholesterol which could clog your arteries. Additionally, these nutrients have anti-inflammation properties that is good for the heart.

Immune System

The immune system is our body’s first type of defense against infections, microbial action, along with a wide variety of other potentially damaging and dangerous conditions that may affect our body. Vitamin C is a huge booster for that immune system and has long been known as a helpful cure for common colds and coughs, along with its effect on any other infections as well. Vitamin C also stimulates the activity of white blood cells, the body’s first type of defense against toxins and foreign bodies.

Bone Health

Manganese can also be great for the bones, helping in bone building and maintaining proper bone structure. The potassium, vitamin K, and magnesium in strawberries will also be important for bone health.

Brain Function

Unfortunately, it's very common for old people to begin losing their memory and control over certain activities, muscles, and limbs. It's because either the natural or premature aging of the brain and nervous system. Actually, free radicals are the agents responsible for signs of aging simply because they have an adverse effect on these two systems. Due to the activity of free radicals, the brain tissues start degenerating and also the nerves become weaker. Luckily, strawberries benefits will help you avoid these untimely conditions in life.

Good for your skin

Health Benefits of StrawberriesWhenever you age, your skin and other body parts are afflicted by damage due to free radicals. This method is similar to the process of a metal rusting because of exposure to air. Vitamin C and antioxidants present in strawberries might help slow down this process and keep your skin wrinkle-free for extended.

Cancer

Vitamin-C, folate, anthocyanins, quercetin and kaempferol are just a few of the many flavonoids in strawberries which possess excellent antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. Together, they form a great line of defense to fight cancer and tumor growth. The daily consumption of strawberries is connected to a drastic decrease in the presence and metastasis of hazardous cancer cells.

Arthritis and Gout

The degeneration of muscles and tissues, the drying up of the fluid which helps increase mobility of the joints, and also the accumulation of toxic substances and acids (such as uric acid) in the body are some of the ill effects of free radicals. These are the primary causes of arthritis and gout, two extremely irritating and debilitating conditions.

Thursday 9 January 2014

Eye Care: Tips for Healthy Vision

Eye care is an essential part of any healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, watching your weight and ensuring you have your eyes checked regularly doesn't only keep your vision in tip-top condition, but these measures will also help in the detection of long-term health issues such as diabetes, be responsible for permanent eye damage.

To help reinforce the importance of eye health this month and all sorts of year long, we are celebrating Healthy Vision Month all through the month of May. And also to kick off this month of healthy vision, we're sharing four of our top vision tips which will keep your eyes feeling fresh and strong long after Healthy Vision month has ended.

Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables

Broccoli, spinach, sweetcorn, orange and yellow peppers, kiwi fruits, oranges and mangoes are great sources of the substances lutein and zeaxanthin, which might help protect against some eye conditions. If your busy lifestyle means your diet is not always as healthy as you'd like so that it is.

Stop smoking

Smoking can promote eye diseases since it reduces blood flow to the eyes and may increase the amount of toxic substances (like tar and nicotine) your eyes absorb. If you’re at risk for diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration, contact with toxic substances in cigarettes can elevate that risk.

Eye fitness

Eye exercises can sometimes be advised in cases of muscle imbalances within the eye; but they can also be fun and provide you with a welcome break from your busy lifestyle. Eye workouts are quick, easy to do and can be a part of your morning routine, just like cleaning your teeth or washing your hands. Our section on eye exercises provides you with three fun and simple exercises that can help to keep your eye muscles fit.

Don't rub your eyes

For those who have something in your eye, don't rub it. A good thing to do is lift top of the eyelid outward and gently pull it right down to cover the lower lashes causing tears to clean the object out of your eye. Lens wearers must take them out and clean them thoroughly.

Wear sunglasses

Everyone knows that wearing sunscreen is good for the skin, but a lot of men forget their eyes need protection as well. You don't have to look directly in the sun to suffer from eye damage. The sun's ultraviolet or UV rays can be reflected off snow, sand, pavement, and water.

Shed some light

When you won’t permanently hurt your eyes by reading or employed in a dimly lit area, you can cause temporary eyestrain, be responsible for headaches and fatigue. Protect your eyes by looking into making sure your workspace is brightly lit.

Take a break

Another way to prevent eyestrain would be to take frequent breaks in the computer screen or reading materials. About every 10 minutes, look up or away for 10 seconds, so your eyes get a rest. If you’re watching television, give your eyes a break and look away every half hour or so.

Get your eyes tested regularly

It's important to possess a regular, comprehensive eye test because optometrists can diagnose not only problems with sight, but major health issues too, such as high cholesterol, liver damage and many more.

Thursday 2 January 2014

Get Rid of Mouth Ulcers at Home

Mouth ulcers can be quite painful and based on their specific location within the oral cavity, often interfere with your ability to eat and speak. Often, these ulcers place in an appearance at times of extreme stress and also the discomfort they cause only contributes to your misery. Sometimes, such an ulcer indicates the lack of certain vital nutrients and therefore, taking multivitamin supplements can be useful; however, it will take a few days for the effects to start showing.

Mouth ulcers also referred to as canker sores, are common problems affecting people of every age group, including children. These sores are often found on the tongue, gums as well because the inside of the lip and the cheek. Mouth Ulcers can be caused due to a variety of reasons.

  • In such situations, you'll be able to find relief faster by using a handful of these home remedies.
  • Consuming raw tomatoes helps you to get rid of mouth ulcers. You can even try gargling with tomato juice three to four times every day.
  • You can apply the combination of camphor and sugar candy on the blister. This mix is made with 7 parts of mishri (sugar candy) and one a part of camphor. This is one of the the simplest home remedy for curing mouth ulcers.
  • Coriander leaves boiled in water are one simple remedy for mouth ulcers. Let the water cool down and gargle lukewarm water not less than 3-4 times a day and notice better results.
  • Gargle with one glass of cold /chilled water and one glass of lukewarm water alternatively. This process will cure the mouth ulcers effectively.
  • Take one cup of fenugreek leaves and boil them in 2 cups of water. Strain the water and keep it aside for sometime by covering it having a lid. Gargle this water twice or thrice daily.
  • Boil one cup of water and add one teaspoon of coriander seeds inside it. After it becomes warn take it off and gargle when the water is slightly warm. Continue doing this process 3 to 4 times every day.
  • Aloevera is definitely an effective natural remedy for mouth ulcers. Take at least two tablespoons of aloe vera gel thrice daily for convenient results.
  • Coconut milk is a good medicine for ulcers. Extract milk by grating fresh coconut. Now gargle with this particular coconut milk for about 3 to 4 times a day.
  • Eat a banana with curd because the first thing in the morning for better results.
  • One of the proven remedy for stopping mouth ulcer is to massage the gums within the mouth with a mixture of honey and coconut oil.
  • Chewing Five to six basil leaves (tulsi leaves) with some water every day will help you to get rid of mouth ulcers. Repeat this procedure 5 to 6 times daily for better results.
  • Chew 5 to 6 pieces of holy basil leaves and drink some water. Do that for at least 5-6 times whenever you get mouth ulcers.
  • Use the mixture of turmeric powder and glycerine. To help make the mixture, take one pinch of turmeric and one teaspoon of glycerine.
  • Take one teaspoon of honey and blend 1/4 teaspoon turmeric to make a paste. Now rub it on the canker sore.