Month: July 2014

Home Remedies for Sore Throat

sore throat

A sore throat is the result of an inflammation of the pharynx, the tube that extends from the back of the mouth to the esophagus.

Some of the major causes of this condition are viral, bacterial, or fungal infections; irritants like pollution, smoking, acid reflux, or dry air; excessive shouting; or some kind of allergic reaction. A sore throat is often accompanied by a headache, stomach ache, the common cold and swollen glands in the neck.

Sore throats, while very common, can be painful and uncomfortable. Instead of making an appointment with a doctor, you can try some easy, natural remedies that will help alleviate the pain and, depending on the cause, possibly cure the problem.

1. Lemon
You can use fresh lemons to get relief from a sore throat as they help remove mucus.

  • Try hot lemonade with honey. Mix the juice from half a lemon and one teaspoon of honey in one cup of warm water. Sip it slowly.
  • Another option is to gargle with freshly pressed lemon juice diluted with an equal amount of warm water.
  • You can also take half a lemon and sprinkle salt and pepper over it. Slowly lick the lemon.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is helpful for treating a sore throat due to its antibacterial properties.

  • Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon each of lemon juice and honey to a cup of warm water and drink it slowly. Do this two or three times a day. Soon you will get relief from the pain and inflammation.
  • You can also make a gargle solution with apple cider vinegar. Mix one teaspoon of salt and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in one cup of warm water. Gargle with it several times a day.

3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon can be used to treat a sore throat caused by the common cold.

  • Add one teaspoon each of cinnamon powder and black pepper powder to a glass of warm water. You may also add cardamom. Strain the solution and gargle with it. Do this once daily for a week to get complete relief.
  • Another option is to mix a few drops of cinnamon oil and one teaspoon of pure honey. Eat this two times a day to get relief from the pain and inflammation associated with a sore throat.

4. Salt Water
One of the best ways to get relief from a sore throat is gargling with salt water. Salt works like an antiseptic and helps draw water out of mucous membranes in the throat. This cuts phlegm and reduces inflammation, giving you instant relief.

  • Mix one-half teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. If you do not like the salty taste, add a small amount of honey.
  • Gargle with the solution. Do not swallow it. Spit the water out after gargling.
  • Do this at least four times a day for best results.

5. Garlic
Garlic has antibacterial and antiseptic properties along with other medicinal properties that can help treat or prevent sore throats.

  • Cut a fresh garlic clove in half and then suck on the pieces. Occasionally crush a garlic piece with your teeth to release the chemical known as allicin that helps kill the bacteria may be causing the sore throat.
  • Alternatively, you can use garlic oil. Add a few drops of garlic oil to one-fourth cup of water and gargle with it once daily.
  • Also try to eat garlic in raw and cooked form. If you do not like the taste, you can take garlic pills.

6. Slippery Elm
Slippery elm contains mucilage, a gel-like substance that coats the throat, eases soreness and reduces irritation.

  • Add one teaspoon of the inner bark of slippery elm to two cups of boiling water.
  • Let it steep for a few minutes, and then strain the solution.
  • Drink it slowly while it is still warm.
  • In fact, you can use this solution for the treatment of any kind of respiratory illness or laryngitis. If the herb is not available, you can also buy slippery elm in capsule form from any drug store.

Source: top 10 home remedies

Healthy lifestyle cuts down negative effects of stress

Healthy lifestyle cuts down negative effects of stressA new study has revealed that following a healthy lifestyle, that comprises of a healthy diet, sleep and exercise, counters the negative effects of stress.

According to the study by UC San Francisco, the participants who exercised, slept well and ate well had less telomere shortening than the ones who didn’t maintain healthy lifestyles, even when they had similar levels of stress.

Eli Puterman said that it’s very important that we promote healthy living, especially under circumstances of typical experiences of life stressors like death, caregiving and job loss.

The researchers found that women who engaged in lower levels of healthy behaviors, there was a significantly greater decline in telomere length in their immune cells for every major life stressor that occurred during the year.

Yet women who maintained active lifestyles, healthy diets, and good quality sleep appeared protected when exposed to stress – accumulated life stressors did not appear to lead to greater shortening.

The study was published in Molecular Psychiatry.

Source: dna india

Health Benefits of Asparagus

Asparagus has a pretty healthy image but what are the real health benefits of asparagus? how many calories in asparagus? is there any evidence that asparagus is a cancer fighter, is it a myth or a hoax? What nutrients are there in asparagus? We will try to answer all of these questions here.

sparagus is one of those healthy foods that can contribute to healthy meals leaving you feeling as though you are eating well and enjoying your food. If you are trying to get your 5 a day fruit and veg the advice is to eat 80g of each item. 5 spears is about the right quantity for your 1 portion.

How healthy your asparagus is going to be will be influenced by how you cook it and what you eat with it. Whilst asparagus smothered in melted butter tastes absolutley delicious the butter is going to provide most of the calories and a lot of fat. However there are plenty of ways to enjoy asparagus without layering on the butter. Take a look at some of the recipes for ideas and also take a look at different ways to cook asparagus for more ideas.

Asparagus

The good news is that asparagus can help with hangovers!

Whilst Asparagus isn’t going to deliver you many calories it is going to deliver you plenty of asparagus nutrition which is one of the benefits of healthy eating.

The essential facts are as follows:

In a portion of 5 spears of asparagus you will find:

  • 80kJ / 20kcalories
  • 2.3g protein
  • 1.7g fibre
  • 1.5g carbohydrate(of which 1.5g sugars)
  • 0.5g fat (of which trace saturates), trace of salt, trace sodium high in folic acid and potassium

Nutrition Facts

In putting together a healthy diet the health benefits of asparagus are such that it can be fitted nicely into a low glycemic index diet. Its always good to be able to put something this tasty into a diet isn’t it!

And if you like your vegetable juices you may like to take a look at our page on asparagus juice and its properties. or find out about Asparagus Extract which is sold in tablet form as a diuretic.

Finally there are the claims surrounding asparagus and cancer. Are they true? I think its best to assume its not a wonder cure but no doubt as a fresh vegetable it is a perfect way to get one of your 5 a day fruit and veg to reduce the cancer risk.

The California Asparagus Commission quote studies as showing that green asparagus is higher in a number of nutrients than white asparagus. They say for example that green asparagus contains nearly 3% by weight of protein compared to less than 2% in White Asparagus. They also state that White Asparagus contains half the ascorbic acid and calcium that Green Asparagus contains and that Green asparagus contains more than twice the thiamin and niacin.

Source: asparagus lover

Alcohol ‘kills 15 Australians each day’, new report finds

Every day, 15 Australians die and 430 are hospitalised as a result of alcohol misuse, according to the Alcohol’s Burden of Disease in Australia report funded by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and VicHealth.

The study by Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre found 5,554 deaths and 157,132 hospitalisations were caused by alcohol in 2010, amounting to a 62 per cent rise in the number of deaths since the last study was conducted in 2000.

Men were significantly more likely to die or be hospitalised as a result of alcohol misuse than women, accounting for 62.4 per cent of alcohol-related deaths a year, and 64.5 per cent of alcohol-related hospitalisations.

Alcohol ‘kills 15 Australians each day’, new report finds

Injuries also accounted for a much greater proportion of alcohol-related deaths in men, at 36 per cent, while cancer and digestive diseases caused 25 and 16 per cent respectively.

Among women, 34 per cent of alcohol-related deaths were due to heart disease, followed by cancers (31 per cent) and injuries (12 per cent).

The results for the Northern Territory — where residents are three times more likely to die from alcohol use than other Australians — were particularly concerning.

Lead researcher Belinda Lloyd said the study made it clear that alcohol posed both short- and long-term risks to health.

“Increasingly people are aware of the risks of things like drink driving and violence,” Dr Lloyd said. “People tend to be less aware of the long-term risks of chronic alcohol consumption, which is any more than two standard drinks a day.

“These can include cancers, digestive diseases and cardiovascular diseases.”

source: the australian

Why Your Bottled Water Contains Four Different Ingredients

Water you buy in the store is not just hydrogen and oxygen. Here’s why food producers add all those extra ingredients.

Next time you reach for a bottle of water on store shelves, take a look at the ingredient list. You’re likely to find that it includes more than just water.

Popular bottled water brand Dasani, for example, lists magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and salt alongside purified water on its Nutrition Facts label. SmartWater contains calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and potassium bicarbonate. Nestle Pure Life’s list includes calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and magnesium sulfate. And these are just a few brands. Bottled water companies are purifying water, but then they’re adding extra ingredients back.

Why Your Bottled Water Contains Four Different Ingredients

None of this should be cause for health concerns, says Marion Nestle, professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health and professor of Sociology at New York University. The additives being put into water are those naturally found in water and the quantities of these additives are likely too small to be of much significance. “If you had pure water by itself, it doesn’t taste have any taste,” says Bob Mahler, Soil Science and Water Quality professor at the University of Idaho. “So companies that sell bottled water will put in calcium, magnesium or maybe a little bit of salt.”

Taste tests have revealed that many people find distilled water to taste flat as opposed to spring waters, which can taste a bit sweet. Minerals offer a “slightly salty or bitter flavors,” which is likely why low mineral soft waters have a more appealing taste

Many of the ingredients that are added to bottled water occur naturally in tap water and in our daily diets. Potassium chloride, for example, is a chemical compound that is often used as a supplement for potassium, which benefits heart health and aids normal muscular and digestive functions. Magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate, and calcium chloride are all inorganic salts.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that Americans reduce current levels of sodium intake by 2,300 mg per day, so you would have to drink a lot of water to make much of a difference, Nestle says. The typical amount of sodium in water averages at around 17 mg per liter.

But just because additives are generally naturally occurring ingredients doesn’t mean that consumers shouldn’t look at labels. If labels show calories, that means sugars have been added. Some bottled waters can be high in sodium, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends only drinking water that contains 20 mg of sodium per liter or less.

The best choice that many water consumers can make may be to just stick to drinking tap water. “To the extent that tap water is clean and free of harmful contaminants,” says Nestle, “it beats everything in taste and cost.

Source: TIME

Top five health benefits of eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus oil has many properties that make it an attractive solution for many health ills. However, it was not always so popular. Until recently, many people did not know much about its use as an aromatherapy. Today, though, the use of eucalyptus oil continues to grow as more about it becomes known. There are too many uses for this oil to name them all, so the following are the top five ways to use this oil to obtain the maximum health benefits.

Top five health benefits of eucalyptus oil

Repel insects

Many people will instantly recognize the strong, but pleasant, scent of eucalyptus oil, as it continues to gain in popularity as a natural method to keep an area free of irritating and biting pests. Depending on the user, the oil can either be mixed with some type of cream and applied to the skin to keep insects, such as flies and mosquitoes, from biting or it can be used as a mist in a vaporizer to keep pests at bay.

Stop skin infections

Due to its powerful antibacterial properties, eucalyptus oil can be used as a successful means of halting skin infections. The University of Maryland Medical Center published a paper that cited the benefits of cineole, the strongest compound contained in eucalyptus oil, to treat wounds.

Antiseptic qualities

The cineole contained within eucalyptus also has powerful antiseptic qualities that make it an ideal addition to toothpastes, mouthwashes and other dental hygiene products. Cineole kills those bacteria that cause bad breath. In addition to that useful attribute, the Journal of Periodontology published a study which detailed how effective cineole is at keeping the mouth healthy. Cineole helps reduce the amount of plaque that builds up on the teeth and gums, reduces the bleeding of the gums and helps maintain the overall health of the mouth.

Respiratory illnesses

For a number of years, eucalyptus oil has been used as a remedy for colds and other respiratory illnesses. Popular as an additive to steam machines and vaporizers, this essential oil has also been directly used as a method to clear a stuffy nose. Because eucalyptus oil is antibacterial, it has been shown to be effective at wiping out the bacteria that causes respiratory illnesses. Additionally, when used with a vaporizer, the misting oil has been shown to be excellent as a decongestant and at clearing blocked-up noses.

Make the immune system stronger

BMC Immunology published a study which found that using eucalyptus oil strengthens the macrophages, the cells whose job it is to kill infections. In addition, the study showed that the oil helped the body produce its own protective mechanism. There are also some promising data emerging that point to eucalyptus oil as being effective at inhibiting the progression of diabetes. More research is needed in this area, though.

Source: Natural news

Turn off TV when kids aren’t watching, advise researchers

Researchers at the University of Iowa say children’s social and emotional development is enhanced in the absence of a television playing in the background while they’re doing something else, like playing a game or interacting with friends and family.

After looking into the impact of television on young children’s cognitive development, they also suggest that non-educational programming should be avoided.

Turn off TV when kids aren't watching, advise researchers

“Kids are going to learn from whatever you put in front of them,” says Deborah Linebarger, associate professor in education at the UI and the lead author on the study, published online in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.

“So what kinds of messages, what kinds of things do you want them to learn? That would be the kinds of media you’d purposefully expose them to.”

In the study, researchers employed data from a US survey of 1,150 families with children between two and eight years old.

Taking into account demographics and parenting styles when assessing what affects children’s success, the team found an association between media content and executive function, a term used to describe general cognitive regulation. Specifically, they found that educational television increased executive function.

As for background TV, they found that it can divert a child’s attention from play and learning.

“Children whose parents create a home environment that is loving and nurturing and where rules and expectations are the same from one time to another are better able to control their behavior, display more empathy, and do better academically,” says Linebarger.

Source: ctv

The Best Home Remedies For Sinus Infection

Runny nose, facial pain, difficulties breathing, headaches and fatigue were marking days as of late. The reasons stretch from air pollution, stress (the omnipresent cause of uncountable health problems) and weather changes, to a lowered immune system contracting a viral or bacterial infection.

Sometimes a lifestyle change is required to eliminate the substances and factors that cause the infection, such as not using chemical cleaning products or starting to meditate. how to get rid of the nuisance. The antibiotics work (with side effects) only if the cause is bacterial, but not if it’s viral.

home remedy for sinus

Garlic, honey and apple cider vinegar – the three natural remedies are found to be the cure to almost everything.

how these wonderful products can help you cure uncomfortable, repetitive, tiring, suffocating, embarrassing (I’m sure I left out some unpleasant descriptive adjectives, but you get the idea) sinus infections.

Inhalation with garlic

If the infection is not fully blown yet, inhalations should be your first course of action to alleviate discomfort. Boil a pot of water and then add minced fresh garlic to it (3 to 4 cloves should do). Get yourself comfy, cover your head and pot with a towel and start inhaling. It might be uncomfortable at first, but it will help. The steam alone is an amazing decongestant and helps to clear the breathing pathways. When you add other healing ingredients, the positive effects multiply. Garlic is an extremely potent natural antibiotic, and is antiviral and antifungal. see also my article how to make garlic syrup for chest infections.

Inhalation with apple cider vinegar

Instead of fresh garlic, you can also use apple cider vinegar. A 1:1 proportion with steaming water will create a powerful mix. Apple cider vinegar thins the annoying mucus.

Inhalation with essential oils

Some swear by adding tea tree oil (a few drops will suffice), as the oil is another strong natural antibiotic and antifungal. By inhaling it, you deliver the antibiotic directly to your suffering nasal membranes. Also eucalyptus essential oil helps clear nasal and chest congestion caused by colds and sinus infections, so you can use it instead or with tea tree essential oil

Add honey

Make sure to only use raw honey. If filtered (often done for appearances’ sake), the honey loses most of its healing properties. We really have our priorities wrong these days! Raw honey is a magnificent antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal bee creation, and boosts the immune system. Followers of Ayurvedic medicine suggest starting the day with honey water. You simply mix a teaspoon of honey into a glass of warm (not hot!) water. Your body is then geared to start the day. Now, for maximum therapeutic kick to get over a tenacious sinus infection, you can try out this combination:

  • – a glass of warm water
  • – 1 teaspoon of honey
  • – 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
  • – 3 cloves of minced raw garlic

Mix well and drink to your sinuses’ health!

Or, if the abundance of tastes (or garlic breath), slightly scare you, just try mixing apple cider vinegar and raw honey, and consuming that 3 times a day. Two tablespoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey will send your sinusitis packing.

Neti Pot

One of the most popular treatments using a salt and water solution to flush out the nasal passages is the neti pot. This is a small ceramic pot that you fill with a mixture of 1 pint of lukewarm water with 1 teaspoon of salt. You need to use previously boiled water to prepare the solution. Don’t use tap water.

Once you’ve filled the neti pot, tilt your head over the sink at about a 45 degree angle. Place the spout into your top nostril, and gently pour the saline water into that nostril. The saline water will flow through your nasal cavity and out the other nostril. Blow your nose to get rid of any remaining water, then refill the neti pot and repeat the process on the other side.

The basic explanation of how the Neti pot works is that it thins mucus and helps flush it out of the nasal passages. People suffering from daily sinus symptoms found relief from using the neti pot on a daily basis. Once the symptoms subsided, you can reduce it to three times a week.

Elderberry Infusion

The elderberry is a bush that can reach to a great height with small white flowers and dark purple sweet-sour fruit. You can also make an infusion from the flowers of the elderberry plant, which has been shown to prevent inflammation and infection in the respiratory system and is effective against winter ailments including sinusitis. Use 1 heaped teaspoon of dried flowers per 1 cup of boiling water. Simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Allow tea to cool, strain the tea and drink.

If you consume these beautiful gifts of nature regularly, your immune system bolstered, there is a fighting chance the sinus infection will stay clear of you for the foreseeable future

Source: healthy and natural world

Slow walking speed may be early dementia sign

There may be a new way to diagnose early signs of dementia: a walking speed and memory test. In a study published in Neurology, researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Montefiore Medical Center in New York developed a test to screen the speed of someone’s walking, combined with their cognitive complaints. They believe this test could help diagnose motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), thought to be an early sign of dementia.

Slow walking speed may be early dementia sign

In 22 studies from 17 countries involving 26,802 healthy adults ages 60 and older, researchers found that one in 10 exhibited MCR signs— meaning a slow gait of less than 1 meter per second in addition to cognitive complaints. The scientists followed up with 4,812 of the participants over a 12-year period. People who had MCR indicators were found to be twice as likely to develop dementia compared to those who did not exhibit MCR signs.

The test may help people prevent the development of dementia by motivating them to adopt healthier lifestyles and get more exercise if they know they’re at a higher risk. Also, the test could help doctors uncover other possible medical reasons for someone’s MCR, such as hypertension or high cholesterol.

The researchers noted that further research is needed to analyze a connection between MCR and dementia risk.

Source: health central

Running 5 Minutes a Day Could Add Years to Your Life

Running 5 Minutes a Day Could Add Years to Your Life

According to a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, running 5 minutes per day can reduce an individual’s risk of premature death by about 3 years. Researchers found that people who ran less than an hour per week also saw an increase in lifespan, not just a decrease in risk of premature death. The study took place over the course of 15 years, testing participants ranging in age from 18-100.

Separate research found that running more than 20 miles per week could take years off an individual’s life, providing further evidence that less can be more with regard to exercise. According to that research, individuals who exhibit consistent but moderate workout patterns are likely to live the longest

Source; Time