Saturday, 16 August 2014

Weekend Greetings

Why Red Onions are Important for Good Health


Red onions are a must in every Indian recipe. Besides adding crunch, pungent flavour and volume to the curry, red onions are beneficial for the body on various levels. Here's why you must not avoid red onions in your diet.
Nutritional value of red onions:
The main vitamins and minerals in red onions are vitamin B6 and C and chromium. This type of onion is low in calories and glycemic index too.
Benefits associated with red onions:
Cancer: Red onions contain the antioxidant quercetin which is effective at fighting free radicals. It is believed that red onions can cut the risk of stomach cancer by 50 per cent.
Immune system: Quercetin also fights bacteria, fungal infection and inflammation. Therefore, red onions help to boost the immune system and prevent simple health issues like common cold.
Diabetes: The mineral, chromium is effective at reducing the risk of insulin resistance. Control your blood sugar level with red onions.
Heart diseases: The same mineral also reduces the risk of developing heart diseases which is a complication to diabetes.
Unhealthy weight gain: If you are trying to lose weight consume red onions. Lack of chromium in the body makes it difficult to lose weight and increases weight.

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How to Whiten Teeth Naturally

Indipendence day Greetings

Thursday, 14 August 2014

Health Benefits of Dates



Their actual place of origin is unknown because it has been cultivated for a very long time from now, but it is assumed that it is native to Iraq. Currently it is being grown in northern Africa, southwest Asia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Egypt, Pakistan, Italy, Spain, California and Mexico. In the Gulf States it is consumed as a staple food.

The scientific name for date palm is Phoenix dactylifera, meaning Tree of Life. In Islam the date is known as the fruit of heaven.

Packed in it are multi-vitamins and other essential nutrients that are vital for a healthy body. You can find vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin E, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, copper, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium and manganese.
Boosts Energy
Dates are ideal for people who are doing extensive workouts. The high contents of vitamins and minerals work as energy boosters for your body. They are the best source of carbohydrates and dietary fibers.

Constipation Relief
Dates are known for curing constipation because of their laxative properties. All you need to do is take few dates and soak them in water over night. Consume these soaked dates in the morning empty stomach. The water soluble dietary fibers are the key contents that are beneficial for giving relief in constipation.

Good for Heart
Dates help to keep your heart healthy. They can fortify your heart if consumed twice a week. For best results soak them overnight and consume in the morning. Their high potassium contents can save you from strokes.

The dietary fibers found in dates are also very helpful in lowering bad cholesterol by decreasing its absorption by the body and eliminating it quickly from the body.

Helps in Weight Gain

If you are over slim and want to gain weight then dates are meant for you. It contains sugar, fats and proteins essential for increasing the mass of the body. You can get 3000 calories from 1kg of dates. Make a paste of half cucumber and 4 to 5 dates and consume it daily to solve the problem of over slimming.

Resolves Intestinal Disorders
Dates are beneficial for curing intestinal disorders because of the nicotinic contents found in them. It also inhibits the growth of infectious bacteria in the small and large intestine and helps to increase the growth of friendly bacteria.

Diarrhea

Dates are abundant in potassium which is beneficial for treating diarrhea. Dates also facilitate digestion.

Abdominal Cancer
You can find plenty of anti-cancer agents and antioxidants in dates that work as powerful fighters against various types of cancer, especially the abdominal cancer. These cancer fighting agents protects your body from harmful effects of free radicals. For patients with abdominal cancers it can prove to be a tonic without any side effect.

Effective for Pregnant Women

Pregnant women should add dates to their diet as they are very beneficial for the growth of the fetus. According to some researches there are some stimulants found in dates that are effective for strengthening the uterus muscles. They can be very helpful for preventing post delivery excessive bleeding and cervical dilation.

Breast feeding mothers should also consume dates as they can be very nutritious for their babies.

Anemia
The high iron contents found in dates can prove to be a cure for anemic patients. Regular consumption of dates can increase your hemoglobin levels.

Improves Vision

Dates are helpful in improving vision and also save you from night blindness.

Storage and consumption
Always choose fresh, lustrous and unwrinkled dates. Keep them in the refrigerator in an airtight jar or Ziploc bag. Avoid choosing dates with sticky surface as they may contain impurities. It is also recommended to thoroughly wash them before consuming; this will remove all the impurities from them.

You can use them in baking and other desserts. For breakfast you can make date milk shake, make it with other fruits like banana and strawberry and you can omit sugar. You can even mix some dates in yogurt to sweeten it.

Healthy Eating Tips for a Busy Lifestyle


With deadlines to meet, after work cocktails, frequent dining out, late nights and early mornings, it’s easy to forget how simple it is to take control of your health. The following tips outline some simple ways to enhance your everyday health, boost your metabolism, maintain a healthy weight, increase brain function and start feeling powerful from the inside out.

1. Start Your Day Off Right, Eat Breakfast

Eating breakfast is important for sustaining energy levels and aiding in blood sugar management.

Choose a healthy breakfast that is:

high in complex carbohydrates (oatmeal, cereals, fruits, vegetables)
high in fiber (whole grain cereals and breads and ground flax)
rich in protein (nuts, seeds, soy milk, organic milk and yogurt, eggs, protein powders)

and provides good fats (nuts, seeds, healthy oils like extra virgin olive, flax and coconut)

2. Don’t Rely On Coffee!

Excess coffee overloads your liver, dehydrates you (coffee is a diuretic) and increases the risk of blood sugar irregularities (afternoon energy dips sound familiar?). Your liver is the body’s detoxifying organ and if overloaded, your chances for disease, sluggishness and weight gain will increase. Try to decrease coffee or eliminate it altogether. There are some great coffee alternatives on the market. You can also enjoy herbal teas: dandelion root (liver detox), ginseng (energy), oolong (weight loss), green tea (concentration), and peppermint (stomach ease).

3. Stay Hydrated

This step is as easy as carrying a stainless steel or glass water bottle with you. Count how many times you fill it up. At least eight glasses of water a day will keep your energy levels high, your hunger down, your digestion smooth and your concentration sharp. When we are dehydrated, our bodies often mistake this feeling for hunger. Make sure to not drink water before meals as this can hinder digestion. Drink 20 minutes before and 30 minutes after. Also, try and drink room temperature water because cold water increases gastrointestinal contraction and slows digestion down.

4. Decrease Packaged/Refined Goods

Most packaged goods are loaded with sugar, excess sodium, stabilizers, preservatives and Scary Seven ingredients like artificial colors and flavors. If you cannot pronounce even one ingredient, skip it! Another good rule of thumb is the fewer the ingredients the better.

5. Eat Local, Whole Foods

How did our ancestors eat 100 years ago? Fresh meats, fish, beans, grains, nuts, seeds and fruit and veggies is what our ancestors relied on. Whole foods are the key to good health. When you’re wondering what you can bring to snack on during the day, try bringing a nut bar, some fruit or sliced veggies.

6. Dine out the Smart Way

When ordering meat at a restaurant, look for words like steamed, baked, poached, roasted, broiled or grilled. Do your best to avoid foods with the words fried, au gratin, crispy, escalloped, pan-fried, sautéed or stuffed which are good indications that the foods are high in fat and calories. If an item calls for the one of these options, ask the food item to be grilled, steamed, or baked instead.

7. Limit Alcohol Intake

For every alcoholic drink you have, drink a glass of water. Alcohol dehydrates you, lowers inhibitions and increases your appetite. As a rule of thumb, men should have no more than two drinks daily and females no more than one. Healthier alternatives are light beer, virgin Caesar, white wine spritzer, sparkling water or just straight up water with lots of lemon and lime. No one needs to know your drink is non-alcoholic, just ask for it in a rocks glass.

8. Avoid Anything White

White rice, white bread, white pasta, and white sauces. White flour foods are all processed and the good fiber and nutrients are significantly reduced. Enjoy whole grain breads, pastas, brown rice and whole grains like quinoa, couscous or buckwheat instead. Go for a tomato or pesto sauce instead of white sauces which tend to be laden with saturated fat and sodium.

9. Carry Snacks With You

No matter how long you will be out for, always have a piece of fruit or a healthy protein or nut bar with you. Eating every three hours will help to keep your blood sugar steady and decrease overeating at meal times.

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Healthy Tips to Boost Your Immune System



A weak immune system leaves us susceptible to colds, flu viruses, and other more serious illnesses. Luckily, several natural substances exist to help strengthen and support immunity.

One caveat—balance is required. You may read or hear about a food or habit that boosts the immune system, but go overboard with your response.

Overdosing on anything, even if it is natural, throws the body-mind out of balance. Here are a couple of my favorite natural immune boosters, and how to get the right amount of them.
Exercise to Boost Your Immune System

Exercise has been shown to protect us from the cold and flu by boosting the immune system. Recent studies suggest that there are actual physiological changes in the immune system in response to exercise.

During moderate exercise, immune cells circulate through the body more quickly enabling them to better kill viruses and bacteria.

After exercise ends, the immune system response seems to return to normal after a few hours. However, consistent moderate exercise keeps the immune response working longer.

There is a caveat. Evidence suggests that too much intense exercise can have the opposite effect and reduce the immune response.

Research shows that more than 90 minutes of high intensity endurance exercise a day can leave individuals susceptible to illness for up to 72 hours. Because too much intense exercise can decrease in immune response, balance is required.

Zinc to Support Your Immune System


A student recently told me that when she feels a cold or flu coming on, she loads up on zinc. She's got the right idea.

Zinc is a mineral that strengthens and supports immunity, helps heal wounds, and supports normal growth.

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