Great Benefits of Onions

Never mind the tears they bring on—onions are an ace ally in your fight against disease. A prized member of the lily family, they lavish you with health benefits while adding oodles of taste to your food.

A quick glimpse at their incredible health benefits:

The phytochemicals in onions improve the working of Vitamin C in the body, thus gifting you with improved immunity.
Onions contain chromium, which assists in regulating blood sugar.
For centuries, onions have been used to reduce inflammation and heal infections.
Do you enjoy sliced onions with your food? If yes, rejoice! Raw onion encourages the production of good cholesterol (HDL), thus keeping your heart healthy.
A powerful compound called quercetin in onions is known to play a significant role in preventing cancer.
Got bitten by a honeybee? Apply onion juice on the area for immediate relief from the pain and burning sensation.
Onions scavenge free radicals, thereby reducing your risk of developing gastric ulcers.
Those bright green tops of green onions are rich in Vitamin A, so do use them often.

My favorite way to enjoy onions is to slice them really thin, squeeze some lemon juice on top and add a little salt. Sprinkling a few freshly washed cilantro leaves adds fragrance and flavor to this simple, quick salad, without which no dinner of mine is complete.
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Green tea daily reduces pancreatic cancer risk

The cup of your favourite green tea is full of health benefits and now researchers have found that an active compound in green tea also reduces the risk of pancreatic cancer.
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Simple steps to glowing skin

Drink lots of water: Every system and function in our body depends on water. Skin is no different. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling, so ensure you take in enough water to reach your skin and keep it hydrated. Two to three litres a day is usually about right.

Multi-task: Looking after your skin doesn’t have to stop at home, so carry a multi-tasking quick-fix with you in your handbag for dewy skin on the go. A water spray can be used to cool and calm even the most sensitive complexions. Not only does it tone the skin, but it can also be used to set make-up and refresh skin on a hot day, as well as soothing and softening skin on the go.

Always remove make-up: It sounds obvious, but one in five women still admit to sleeping with make-up on when away from home. During summer nights, one is naturally warmer and sweatier and if make-up is left on overnight, and bacteria is more likely to develop, leaving pores blocked and resulting in an increased chance of waking up with bad skin outbreaks - whether spots or dry patches.

Stick to products meant for your skin: The internet can give out weird and wonderful information, but not all of it is accurate. Be aware that not everything you read will work. A common mistake is using toothpaste on spots - toothpaste is meant for your teeth which are one of the hardest surfaces in your body. Using a product on your skin which is actually intended for the teeth will damage your skin and cause it to completely dry out.
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Everyday habits that could be ruining your skin

There are some habits we indulge in unknowingly, and frequently, that can become extremely harmful for our skin health. Trying to treat your skin with information researched online, or taking cues from your friends could be detrimental and land you with some major skin problems.
Buying over-the-counter medicines: Using over-the-counter medicines, without having complete knowledge of them, can cause damage to your skin.
Going by the brand value of cosmetics: Another common mistake most women make is using wrong cosmetics, solely relying upon their brand value. Just because you watch an advertisement that promises to do away with wrinkles in a few weeks, you should not dab it all over face and wait for the miracle to happen.
Using hot water to wash your face: Using extremely hot water for bath and washing your face with it can be damaging.
Waxing your face: Excessive facial hair can be a big problem for some women and sometimes, local salons suggest waxing to get rid of it. Experts warn that this can be harmful. Waxing tugs at the delicate facial skin and could lead to early wrinkles.
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Healthy lifestyle can undo heart damage

The heart, it seems, is more forgiving than you may think -- especially to young adults who try to take charge of their health. Researcher have found that picking up healthy habits in the 30s and 40s can slash heart disease risk.

When people in their 30s and 40s decide to drop habits that are harmful to their heart and embrace healthy lifestyle changes, they can control and potentially even reverse the natural progression of coronary artery disease, the findings showed.

"It is not too late," said Bonnie Spring, professor of preventive medicine at Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University in the US.

"You are not doomed if you have hit young adulthood and acquired some bad habits. You can still make a change and it will have a benefit for your heart," Spring added.

The healthy lifestyle factors assessed were: not being overweight/obese, being a non-smoker and physically active and having low alcohol intake and a healthy diet.

Each increase in healthy lifestyle factors was associated with reduced odds of detectable coronary artery calcification and lower intima-media thickness -- two major markers of cardiovascular disease that can predict future cardiovascular events.

On the flip side, scientists also found that if people drop healthy habits or pick up more bad habits as they age, there is measurable, detrimental impact on their coronary arteries.
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Is Juicing Really Good For Digestive Health As Your Think?

The Juicing for Health Movement:
Juice from raw fruits and vegetables may be a good addition to a healthy diet. Get some advice on juicing from a nutrition expert.
Fitness pioneer Jack LaLanne was a big advocate of eating raw fruits and vegetables and juicing as part of a healthy life. For many Americans, Jack LaLanne’s Power Juicer was their first exposure to the idea of putting raw produce in a blender and extracting the juice. But does juicing really provide a nutritional advantage?
The philosophy behind the juicing movement is that the juice from raw fruits and vegetables contains special enzymes that are good for digestive health. People who support juicing claim that raw juice can build up your immune system and help you fight off diseases like cancer. Other claims for juicing have included slowing the aging process and removing dangerous toxins from the body.
Digestive Health Claims of juicing:
- Nutrients from raw juices have the ability to correct imbalances in the body’s cells that come from eating foods considered less natural.
- Enzymes that are important for your digestion are contained in raw fruit and vegetable juices, and these enzymes are destroyed by cooking.
- Since fruit and vegetable juice is easy to digest, it leaves more energy for the body to fight off diseases and heal itself.
What the Experts Say About Juicing:
Juicing devalues the fruits and vegetables because it may eliminate some of the food’s fiber.
Debra J. Johnston, RD, director of nutrition services at Remuda Ranch, a program for eating disorders in Wickenburg, Ariz., says there is value in juicing. “Juicing may be a good way for individuals who do not consume enough fruits and vegetables to get important vitamins and minerals by creating tasty concoctions of fruit and vegetable juice,” she says.
But the very process also devalues the fruits and vegetables, she says, because it may eliminate some of the food’s fiber. “Fiber not only plays an important role in digestive health but it also helps us feel fuller for longer,” she says.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), a diet high in fruits and vegetables is good for digestive health and may even reduce cancer risk. But there is no evidence that drinking fruit or vegetable juice is better for you then eating whole fruits or vegetables. There is no evidence to support the idea that the enzymes found in raw fruits and vegetables have any special powers. These enzymes are broken down by your stomach juices during digestion.
Risks of Juicing
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Ways To Bring Fitness Into Your Life.

Since my youth fitness has been a part of my life. There were the times when I belonged to several gyms and fitness centers. Those days are pretty much gone . Today, most of my training is via my bodyweight and outdoors. To me, getting fit can be done just about anywhere. I don’t look at fitness as needing some special equipment.

Ways to bring Fitness into your Life:

Once you have the mindset of what fitness really is, then it becomes simple as to finding ways to bring fitness into your life. I’m going to introduce to you some ways to do just that.

1. Go for a walk in your neighborhood.

This is probably the beginning of most fitness programs. Walking is fundamental for just about everybody except babies. You can join a walking group. I remember when the local indoor malls would have such groups.

2. Go for a hike.

Like walking, moving your body in nature via a hike is another fundamental movement activity. And the most important aspect of doing this is that you get to enter into nature.

3. Play with your kids, indoors or outdoors.

Have you ever tried to do that consistently? Children can wear you out if you were to keep up with them. The key here is that when you engage in play with them, you’re also showing that movement is important for you. They learn from what you do, not what you say.

4. Take 5 minutes every hour

Do a combination of non-stop squats and push-ups. I usually do 150 squats and 150 push-ups in this amount of time. Each of us has our level of fitness in the amount we can do. Important here is to do them.

5. Take the stairs and not the elevator or escalator.

Shun the people mover at airports too. We’re designed to move, not letting this type of technology move us.

6. Walk to your grocery store

If you live within a mile of the grocery store, walk there to shop. You can use a wheeled shopping cart/bag if you need to.

7. Park at the furthest parking space from the entrance.

This extra length will give you extra fitness time. I tend to park in the parking lot of one shopping center and walk to the stores in other nearby centers.

8. Play a pickup game of basketball at your local park.

If you’re sports-minded, then this may be just up your alley and it’s fun.

9. Go for a swim in a local city pool or if you’re close to the beach, go there.

Wherever you can find a pool, use it. Take lessons if you don’t know how to swim. I used to be a competitive swimmer and it’s natural for me to do. I also used to be a lifeguard and lifesaving/swim instructor.

10. Speaking of beaches, take a run in the sand.

The softness of the sand may be a challenge to your legs. It’s a great workout to run, jump and play in it.

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