How to avoid heat-related illnesses revealed

Washington: Bret Nicks, associate professor of emergency medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical, has revealed some simple steps to follow in order to avoid heat-related illnesses.

Nicks said exercising in high temperatures could limit people’s body ability to cool itself, especially if they weren’t accustom to it and that could result in serious health risks.

Heat

He further suggested that people should be proactive and should check with their doctors if any medical conditions they might have or medications that they were taking would not increase their sensitivity to the heat.

It was also revealed that people should know the symptoms like heavy sweating or inability to sweat, weakness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, confusion, fainting and seizures, which could damage their brain, vital organs and muscles.

The expert mentioned that Wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothes and using sun protection like sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat would be a good idea to avoid sunburn. Furthermore, people should drink water early and often and they should avoid workout at peak sun time.

Source: Zeenews

Pumpkin seeds cure many diseases

Pumpkin seeds cure many diseases

Pumpkin seeds contain anti-stress, reduce anxiety, antibacterial and even prevent cancer.

Before processing pumpkins for meals, desserts or decorating, remember to retain its seeds. Do not throw away pumpkin seeds just by how you throw a lot of nutrients and the inherent benefits of it there.

1. The nutrients and vitamins
Pumpkin seeds are a great source of nutrition, providing all the nutrients such as manganese, magnesium, iron, copper, tryptophan, zinc, phosphorus, and many other minerals and vitamins.

2. Tryptophan – an essential amino acid in protein
Composition tryptophan in pumpkin seeds helps fight depression. Once in the body, tryptophan is converted into serotonin and niacin are helpful hormone, helps combat negative feelings.

3. Glutamate
This is a necessary component to create GABA – an anti-neuron nervous tension, helps reduce anxiety and cases involving other stress.

4. Zinc
This mineral helps strengthen the immune system and prevent osteoporosis.

5. Phytosterol
This substance works to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad actors) and increase HDL (good body). Phytosterols are also effective in preventing certain cancers.

6. Rich in antioxidants
Pumpkin seeds contain a lot of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phenolic antioxidants. It also contains vitamin E in many forms. The researchers also found in nuts contain the antioxidant minerals such as manganese, zinc, such as ferulic, protocatechuic, caffeic, vanillic, sinapic and syringic acid, hydroxybenzoiccoumaric.

7. Antibacterial properties
According to experts, the pumpkin seed extract and seed oil have been known for a long time because of their antibacterial benefits. Many studies have pointed out the role of a single protein in pumpkin seeds have antibacterial properties. The Lingnan in pumpkin seeds include lariciresinol, medioresinol, and pinoresinol also proven antimicrobial properties and especially anti-virus. Thus in folk, people often eat pumpkin seeds have eliminated the effects of helminths.

8. Diabetics Support
Several studies have demonstrated that the pumpkin seed extracts can improve insulin adjustment process and protecting the kidneys. County is especially good for diabetics.

9. Prevent Cancer
Because pumpkin seeds rich in antioxidants should be able to slow down the deterioration of cells, reduce the risk of cancer. Many works have focused on scientific research in the Lingnan nuts have discovered it has the potential to reduce the risk of breast cancer and prostate.

10. Hyperplasia Treat benign prostatic
Oil and pumpkin seed extract is used in the treatment of prostate cancer. Many studies have shown that nutrients in pumpkin seeds and its extracts have the effect of treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia properties. These compounds include lignans, phytosterols, zinc and other nutrients.

11. Protein
Besides the beneficial antioxidants and other nutrients as above, pumpkin seeds are also an excellent source of protein. Approximately 30 grams of pumpkin seeds contains 9.4 grams of protein.

 

Source: secretly healthy

Home remedies to remove blackheads

Home remedies to remove blackheadsBeing Healthy and fit is the significant challenges that most of us face today. The age old proverb that ” Health is Wealth” is the gateway to happiness holds good for varied reasons. You know how, your pants falls down when you are leaning a little bit and a millimeter of your crack shows? A millimeter and even the person in the space station can see that? Yes indeed we are taking about blackheads and they are annoying for sure. You can see them and you want them to be banished from the front of your eyes. Let us make it happen by implementing the following home remedies

1. Toothpaste – is an effective blackhead remover. Apply a thin paste to your affected areas and then sit on the paste for close to 25 minutes. One may feel a burning sensation when they apply the toothpaste, but hold on it will eventually pass of within a few seconds. Once the toothpaste is removed, the blackheads will be removed, but you still to wash your face to remove the buildup. Ideally for effective results this home remedy should be implemented on alternate days.

2. Rice- Soak rice in milk for 5 hours and grind it till it resembles the form of a paste like in consistency. Use the paste as a scrub to the affected areas of the body.

3. Tomatoes– have natural antiseptic healing properties that dry up blackheads. Peel and smash a tomato and apply the pulp to the blackheads before going to bed. Make it a point to leave the tomato pulp on your face and then wash your face in lukewarm water in the morning.

4. Almond– Mix almond with enough amount of rose water to make a suitable paste. Apply it to the affected areas with your fingertips and then apply it to the rest of the face. Let it set for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with cold water.

5. Baking soda- Prepare a mixture of equal parts of baking soda and water and rub it on to your face or other areas prone to blackheads. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with lukewarm water.

Have any of you tried any of the sure shot ways of getting rid of blackheads from the comfort of your home? If not try it now and the results are bound to be seen.

Source: world factualy

Home Remedies for Stomachache due to indigestion

Home Remedies for Stomachache due to indigestion

If your abdominal pain is due to an upset stomach or indigestion, you might feel such symptoms as belching, nausea, bloated stomach and a general discomfort in your upper abdominal area including pain. You might be having indigestion and resultant stomach ache and discomfort due to one or many reasons including overeating, having spicy oily food, GERD, peptic ulcer and even smoking or anxiety. Certain medicines like antibiotics too lead to indigestion. Here are some home remedies for stomach ache or discomfort due to indigestion.

1. Cumin Seeds

Cumin has been long used for its fine properties that aid in digesting food. If you use cumin seeds in your cooking, you might not even suffer from indigestion at all. However, if anyway you feel uncomfortable due to all the food there in your stomach not getting digested, you may then take help of cumin seeds. This Mediterranean spice has been traditionally used as a treatment for inflammation and gastritis. Some people may feel symptoms of indigestion, abdominal pain or heartburn with gastritis. Cumin may help relieve these symptoms and grant relief from abdominal pain. The aroma of cumin due to its compound ‘cuminaldehyde’ activates secretion of saliva thus helping in digestion. Another compound of cumin called ‘thymol’ too activates gastric secretion for improving digestion. The method of consuming cumin given here is an Ayurvedic way of getting relief from stomach ache.
Get this:

  • Cumin seeds- 2 tbsp
  • Water- 4- ½ cups
  • Do this:
  • Add cumin seeds o the water.
  • Now boil this water for five minutes.
  • Let the cumin water cool down.
  • Now strain it and have this water everyday.

2. Lemon Juice
Citric acid in lemon juice triggers the production of hydrochloric acid in your body which breaks down the food. Not being able to break down the food to digest it properly is one of the main causes of Indigestion. Along with this,when you take lemon juice, you are helping your body keep itself hydrated enough to function smoothly.

Ways to have lemon juice for stomach ache

  • Get 1 glass of warm water, 1 tsp of lemon juice and 1 tsp of honey. Mix them well and have this lime-honey warm drink after each of your meals.
  • Get half a cup of water, 2 tsp of lemon juice and ¼ tsp of rock salt. Mix them well and have this lemon drink thrice a day.
  • Get 1 tsp of lemon juice, 1 tsp of mint juice, 1 tsp of ginger juice and a pinch of black salt. Have this mixture for immediate relief from discomfort in stomach due to indigestion.

3. Homemade Probiotic Drink

Probiotics, as you may be knowing, are the good bacteria that help your stomach do its job smoothly by digesting foods that you eat. When you suffer from indigestion, there are enough chances that these probiotics have diminished in amount leading to your indigestion and the resultant stomach discomfort and pain. Yogurt, the plain one without any flavor or sugar, is one of the best natural probiotics. Why mot combine it with some really effective ingredients for digestion and have it to get relief from stomach problems!

Get this:

  • Yogurt- 1-2 tbsp
  • Coriander leaves- few of them (enough to get 3 tsp of juice)
  • Salt- a pinch of it
  • Cardamom powder- ½ tsp
  • Do this:
  • Add the yogurt in your cup of water.
  • Add salt and mix well to get a buttermilk type of drink.
  • Crush the coriander leaves and place them on sieve, then press to extract out their juice.
  • Add 3 tsp of this coriander leaves juice to your yogurt-water mix.
  • Add cardamom powder to this and mix well.
  • Have this excellent probiotic drink one hour after each of your meals.

Remember to use only plain yogurt having live culture bacteria in it

4. Fennel Seeds

In India, it is a tradition to chew fennel seeds or have betel leaf prepared with various ingredients along with fennel seeds. Fennel seeds excellently cure indigestion by triggering off the secretion of digestive juices. This happens due to the compound of fennel seeds called anethole, a volatile oil. Anethole can cure inflammation of the stomach lining and give you relief from pain occurring due to this.

Ways to have fennel seeds for stomach ache

  • Chew half to one teaspoon of fennel seeds after your meals. Do this at least when you eat heavy, spicy, oily food.
  • Make fennel tea to get relief from stomach ache as well as cramps. Put 1 tsp of fennel seeds in a cup and pour hot water over it. Cover and let steep for 8-10 minutes. Strain and have this digestive tea thrice a day.
  • You can even have raw fennel instead of fennel seeds. Take a fresh slice of raw fennel bulb and chew this after meals.

5. Rice Tea
If your stomach ache is due to indigestion and you also suffer from diarrhea at the same time, you may consider using rice in various forms for alleviating your stomach problems. What we call rice tea is actually the left out water we get after cooking the rice. This rice water acts as a demulcent by reducing inflammation as it creates a barrier over a membrane, the lining of your stomach.
Get this:

  • Rice- ½ cup
  • Water- 6 cups
  • Honey (optional)- 1-2 tsp
  • Do this:
  • Wash the rice and keep aside.
  • Boil water.
  • When it starts boiling, add rice to it.
  • Cover and let it boil for 15 minutes or till the rice becomes tender. Keep stirring in between.
  • Once the rice gets cooked, strain and save the rice for later use.
  • Let the water drained from cooked rice cool down a little. You have to make it warm.
  • Add honey if needed and sip this warm rice tea to relive stomach ache.

Home Remedies for Stomach Ache due to Gas Formation

When your stomach growls, groans, churns, turns, bloats, burns, or aches with intolerable cramps and pains, this may be due to formation of gas. You may feel uneasiness, bloating, nausea, headache, irritability and even chest pain as if you have got a heart attack! Gas formation is mainly caused due to indigestion of carbohydrates and cellulose along with other reasons like air swallowing when eating or talking. While you need to watch what you eat and drink, here are some remedies for such stomach ache due to gastric troubles.

6. Baking Soda for Stomach Ache due to Gastric Trouble
Any of the antacids that you buy from market to get relief from that bloating stomach, indigestion or accompanying nausea, it uses baking soda as its basic ingredient. So, why not use baking soda to make your own homemade antacid! Baking soda decreases excessive amounts of hydrochloric acid in your stomach. When the acid in your stomach acid combines with baking soda, it creates a chemical reaction which neutralizes the effect on the acid, thus giving you relief from stomach ache.

Ways to use baking soda for stomach ache

  • Mix ½ to 1 tsp of baking soda with 1 cup or 1 glass of water (whichever you can finish), and have this to get instant relief from gas-causing stomach pain.
  • You may also use warm water with baking soda. Mix ½ to 1 tsp of this soda with a cup of warm water and have it.
  • Make your own homemade antacid with baking soda. Squeeze lemon juice of half or 1 lemon in half glass of water. Now add 2 tsp of baking soda and a pinch of salt to this lemon water. Mix and have it. You’ll burp after a while pushing out all the gas from your stomach which was causing pain. This will even cure headache which you get due to gas.

However, you need to exercise a caution while using baking soda. Baking soda is nothing else but sodium bicarbonate, a sodium compound, a salt. If you suffer from high blood pressure or have been told by your physician to restrict sodium in your diet, you better use some other remedies for stomach ache.

7. Ginger for Stomach Ache due to Gas, Indigestion
Ginger, like some other home remedies, has been used since a long time to treat stomach ache. While our grandma or mama didn’t know and used it as a tradition, we know that ginger has in it the compounds called gingerols and shogaols. These compounds aids your muscles of intestinal track relax. This in turn, gives you relief from stomach ache occurring due to indigestion as well as gas.

Ginger also gets you rid of nauseating feeling accompanying your stomach ache. While you can have ginger in any form, raw ginger is far more beneficial than the dry one. Also, ginger ale is better avoided because it has more artificial flavors and sugars than having real ginger. Ginger candies too have a lots of sugar that may aggravate your problem. Instead, have ginger tea or use one of these ways to have ginger for stomach ache

Ways to use ginger for stomach ache
Make ginger tea by chopping a 1-2 inches piece of fresh ginger root after washing and peeling it. Boil 1-2 cups of water and add the ginger pieces to it. Let it boil for 2-3 minutes. Put off the flame and let it steep for another couple of minutes. Strain and add 1-2 tsp of honey which is entirely optional. You can have ginger tea without mixing honey too.

  • If you can’t get the raw ginger or you can’t stand the strong flavor of raw ginger, use 1-2 tsp of ginger powder to make your tea and have it.
  • Adding ginger powder to a glass of plain water and having it will also relieve you of stomach ache.
  • You can simple chew on a fresh piece of ginger though it will be a lot spicy so do it if you can stand it. If you want, sprinkle a little black salt before chewing the ginger pieces.
  • You may also crush a little piece of fresh ginger and extract its juice. Mix 1 tsp of such ginger juice with ½ tsp of ghee (clarified butter) and get relief from abdominal pain the Ayurveda way.
  • Fresh ginger juice can also be rubbed on the bottom belly to cure stomach ache, especially in children as they may not be able to ingest ginger.

8. Ajwain, Caraway and Other Seeds for Stomach Ache
There are certain herbs that are known as carminatives. They are great for digestion. For example, caraway seeds loaded with vitamins and minerals stop the growth of bad bacteria causing indigestion,gas and bloating. Some of such other seeds include cumin seeds, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, anise seeds, dill seed, and ajwain (sometimes called carom seeds).

Ways to use herbal seeds for stomach ache

  • Chew on some caraway seeds after every meal. A generous pinch or two can do. You can also chew them when you feel gas in your stomach.
  • Make a herbal tea by boiling 1-2 tsp of any of the seeds like cumin, fennel, coriander, anise, dill, ajwain or caraway seeds in 1-2 cups of water. You can even use a mixture of two or more of these seeds. Let the drink cool down and sip it to get relief from indigestion or gas induced stomach ache.
  • Take ½ tablespoon of water and add ajwain (sometimes also called bishopweed) and black salt in it. Take ajwain in four parts and black salt in one part. Mix them well with half tablespoon of water and have this to get instant relief from stomach pain and bloating.
  • Take ½ cup of warm water. Add 1 tsp ajwain, 8-10 drops of lemon juice and a pinch of black salt to it. Mix well and have it to relieve of stomach pain.
  • Make caraway seeds tea. Add a cup of hot water to 1 tsp of caraway seeds. Cover and steep for 8-10 minutes. Strain and drink this herbal tea thrice a day.

9. Mint Tea for Stomach Ache due to Indigestion and Gas
This is a folk remedy for stomach ache and it works. Fresh mint tea or peppermint tea, if you prefer to call it like this, can relax your stomach muscles and help smooth flow of bile (the digestive juice) so that you can digest your food properly and do not have stomach ache. This is equally true in case of gas and bloating and that’s why you find so many mint flavored antacids in market. Chewing some fresh mint leaves can do the wonders. You can even mix juice extracted from mint leaves in some water and have. However, mint tea not only cures your stomach ache but also refreshes you up so make mint tea for yourself.

Get this:

  • Fresh mint leaves- handful of them OR dried mint- 1-2 tsp
  • water- 1 cup
  • Do this:
  • Boil the water.
  • Add mint leaves to this.
  • Cover and steep for 5-10 minutes.
  • No need to strain if you have used fresh leaves.
  • Sip the tea slowly feeling that your pain is going away.
  • Chew the leaves too, if you can.

Home Remedies for Stomach Ache due to Stomach Ulcers
Most of the time stomach ache is due to gas formation in your stomach and some other times it is due to heartburn. The home remedies cited above will be enough to give you relief from stomach ache that you get from either cases. However, if the pain doesn’t go away, it could be due to stomach ulcers. It can be misunderstood as heartburn as you get a burning sensation along with acute pain usually in the upper abdomen and this can last for upto three hours. You get stomach ulcers when the mucous lining of your stomach is damaged either by hydrochloric acid present in digestive juices or Helicobacter pylori, an infection causing bacteria. Here are some home remedies for your stomach ache that you get from stomach ulcers.

10. Dandelion Root Tea for Stomach ulcer related Abdominal pain
Any part of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) plant can be used as a remedy for stomach ulcers. You can add dandelion in your salads or vegetables stir fries. However, the juice extracted from the root of dandelion is the most effective thing to have. You can make dandelion tea for this effect.
Get this:

  • Dandelion root herb- 1-2 tsp
  • Water- 1-2 cups
  • Do this:
  • Boil the water.
  • Add dandelion herb
  • Cover and let steep for 5-10 minutes.
  • Strain and have the tea
  • Have this tea for 2-4 weeks to cure stomach ulcers and then stop taking it. You will get rid of stomach ache due to ulcers. However, avoid having dandelion root tea if you have an allergy to such plants as ragweed, marigolds, daises or chrysanthemums.

11. Potato Juice for Stomach Ache due to Ulcers
Against the popular belief that potatoes are not good for health, this vegetable actually can relieve you of various stomach related ailments. Potatoes have in them, a unique antibacterial molecule which can treat stomach ulcers. What is interesting that the bacteria present in stomach cannot resist potato juice. Although all potatoes are good, the types of potatoes recognized as Maris Piper and King Edward are best suited to cure stomach ulcers. Potato juice can, in fact, apart from peptic ulcers, can cure heartburn, constipation and even gout and Rheumatism!

  • Get this:
  • Potatoes- enough to get ¼ cup of juice
  • Water- ¾ cup
  • Lemon juice (optional)- 1-2 tsp
  • Honey (optional)- 1-2 tsp
  • Do this:
  • In the morning, crush or grind the potatoes and extract their juice to get ¼ cup of potato juice.
  • Add ¾ cup of water to the potato juice. Now you have 1 cup of diluted potato juice.
  • Have this on an empty stomach every morning.
  • If you cannot stand the taste of raw potato juice, mix lemon juice and honey to this and have it.

When you suffer from stomach ache, this is a sign that your stomach needs some rest. Be kind to your digestive system and eat light and simple foods. Avoid having spicy and hot foods and also those made in too much of oil. Follow the rule of having simple diet like rice, toast, bananas, herbal tea, yogurt, buttermilk, lemon juice etc. Use spices like cumin seeds, ajwain, caraway seeds etc. in your dishes. Chew mint or fennel seeds after your meals. If you suffer from gas, try doing exercise regularly even if simple walking for 30 minutes a day. Taking these measures will keep your stomach ache at bay. However, if your abdominal pain persists and you do not get relief from any number of home remedies for stomach ache, you should consult your doctor because then your stomach ache can be a symptom of certain serious ailment which may need medical intervention

Guava leaves cure for Diabetes

Guava leaves cure for Diabetes

Health Tips of Guava leaves

  •  Choose a bright healthy Guava leaf.
  •  Wash it well
  •  Pat dry
  •  Soak it overnight in a glass of clean drinkable water
  •  a copper glass is preferable
  •  Close it with a loose lid
  •  The person suffering from high blood sugar levels must drink this water early in the morning on an empty stomach.
  •  The water is taken very slowly without gulping
  •  The person should avoid eating or drinking anything for an hour.
  •  This should be done for a month for good results.

Doing this regularly for 1 month will definitely decrease high sugar levels.

Source: ayurvedic health tips

Fluoride, bleach and pesticide – common chemicals in conventional food

Fluoride bleach and pesticide - common chemicals in conventional food

Food chemicals are powerful. They can stave off mold and mildew and they can kill certain bacteria, including Salmonella and E. coli. Food chemicals kill insects, worms, beetles and some of the weeds that choke out crops. Plus, there’s fluoride, very toxic fluoride, in most municipal tap water. The bottom line is that chemicals kill good bacteria, and this is the number one detriment to all immunity. No wonder vaccines are so dangerous! People who eat nutrient-dead food regularly are getting shots full of chemicals. Eventually, after 10 to 20 years of consuming powerful food chemicals, putting toxins on your skin and having them injected into muscle tissue regularly (vaccines and flu shots), the human body breaks down, suffering from lack of flora and minerals, and that’s when the walking-talking machine you once knew falls apart.

What do you think you are eating if you don’t choose organic? Are you drinking insecticide (tap water) regularly because your “city” or “town” thinks that it’s safe? Based on what? Here’s some research from an earlier Natural News report by Mike Adams:

“What cities call ‘fluoride’ is actually a toxic cocktail of over 100 deadly industrial chemicals and heavy metals, many of which are purchased in bulk from China, where industrial processing plants are trying to get rid of their excess toxic waste by labeling it ‘sodium fluoride.'”

Do you eat white food regularly? It’s bleached! We’re talking about white flour, white pasta, white bread, white rice, white sugar, and you get the point. Every major junk food chain that sells rolls, buns, pizza dough, sub sandwiches, and so on, is selling you bleach that’s processed with so many food additives that you can’t taste it. Would you drink bleach at home if you couldn’t taste it or add it to your favorite meals? What if some corporation added vitamin C to your bleach, would you drink it then?

And then there’s pesticide. Oh, how the pesticide wrecks our health, and so quickly! Would you eat a cucumber or perhaps some lettuce from your own garden that you accidentally sprayed with a boatload of RoundUp herbicide? Yes, weeds are also pests, not just those pesky insects, but you won’t eat that food, because you’re not stupid. If you eat roach killer or weed killer, you get sick and die. Yet GMO food contains these chemicals that do just that — kill living things, including animals. Scientists fuse the genes of pesticidal bacteria into seeds that grow into pest-killer food, and millions of Americans eat it, as if it were food. Currently, 93% of soy, canola and cottonseed oil is GMO, so is 86% of corn and 95% of sugar beets. GMO rice is on the cutting board too.

Nerve Gas and Agent Orange Food

If you combine fluoride, bleach and pesticide with ammonia, you would create a toxic gas, like nerve gas. But ammonia is used in all kinds of food, all across America, to stave off infections, bacteria and the viruses so prominent in mass animal feeding operations that supply “Fast Food America.” Be sure not to cook those meats and fries at high heat! Health insurance companies invest in Fast Food, knowing that you will get sick and buy their policies and spend thousands in hospitals getting “sick care.”

Soon, most Agriculture in America will be dosed with 2,4-D, half of the ingredients of Agent Orange, used to defoliate the forests of Vietnam. Yes, children will be WALKING on this like the soldiers did in Vietnam. We will look back on this period as the time when dumb humans poisoned themselves with known carcinogens. So, what’s the solution? Don’t Eat Cancer!

Source: natural news

5 ways gain weight, Fast and Easy

MD002335Being skinny is not healthy, not when it starts to affect your personal and professional life. I was always on the healthier side of the weight and BMI index recommended for the people my age and height by doctors and medical studies across the globe. Suddenly, I pushed myself to lose weight and then was facing many health problems as I became scrawny, underweight and coupled with my tendency to not gain weight easily, it only added to my health troubles and woes. I then tried the following ways to gain weight in a healthy controlled and easy manner:

Firstly, eating wrong foods is not to gain weight, they add to bulk, cholesterol and only add to couple of health problems you already are troubled with. So, fast food, street food or too much eating is not the answer. Eat fruits like bananas, and healthy fat foods every 4 hours though out the day and don’t skip meals.

Eat more foods that are packed with all nutrients, and add more kinds of food. Pick up full cream milk instead of a skimmed one, eat more salads, dairy products, fish, eggs, eat the soy, curd, pulses, lentils, and vegetables. Eat healthier and get all kinds of nutrients.

Eat foods that have more nutrients but come in small packaging like’s peanuts, all kinds of nuts, use desi ghee (clarified butter) instead of low fat oil for cooking food. Dress your salads with virgin olive oil to pack a punch and at the same time add extra nutrient to your diet to gain weight

Eat a heavy meal before you go to bed or get some sleep. Dinner is supposed to be light but heavy dinners right before sleep are a simple way to gain weight and add that extra spoon of butter. Heavy dinner followed by no or little activity will ensure that all nutrients and fats are simple stored in the body and not wasted or used in any physical activity.

Above all, stay hydrated and consume as much water as possible and other liquids. Above all, do some exercises in consultation with a trained and experienced trainer to focus on the right weight gain areas and ensure healthy weight gain.

Source: woeld factualy

Organic foods are healthier than conventionally grown foods

organic foods are healthier than conventionally grown foods

Organic food is controversial, mostly because food is political. People like me who choose to eat organic produce and other foods grown and raised without poisons, carcinogens, heavy metals, other harmful toxic chemicals, and genetically engineered food are constantly forced to defend ourselves.

Happily, doing so just got easier. A recent review of 343 studies published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that organic foods are more healthful than conventional foods, mainly because the former contain higher concentrations of antioxidants, while the latter contain higher levels of the toxic metal cadmium.

What’s so special about antioxidants? According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), antioxidants are man-made or natural substances that can prevent or delay cell damage, which lowers the risk of certain diseases. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of antioxidants, but organic fruits and vegetables are especially filled with these helpful molecules.

Primarily, antioxidants combat free radicals, which can cause “oxidative stress” – a process that may play a role in the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other conditions, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Some of the best food sources for antioxidants include fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C (strawberries, broccoli, kale), vitamin E (nuts, spinach, canola oil), beta carotene (carrots, sweet potatoes, peas), and lycopene (watermelon, pink grapefruit, tomatoes).

On the flip side, what’s so bad about cadmium? First of all, it’s present in cigarette smoke. If that’s not enough, chronic inhalation or oral exposure to cadmium can cause kidney disease, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). On its website, the EPA notes that for non-smokers, food is the largest source of cadmium exposure and that cadmium levels in foods can be increased by the use of fertilizers or sewage sludge on farm fields. The EPA considers cadmium a probable human carcinogen, and yet it pervades our food supply.

Dr. Charles Benbrook, co-author of the recent study, said that buying organic is “the surest way of limiting exposure” to toxins, but people should increase their intake of fruits and vegetables regardless of how they are grown. Yet should they do so with a guilty conscience? That conventionally grown strawberry might not taste so good with the knowledge that it is nutritionally inferior.

We know that organic foods are healthier, and we know why. Yet toxic pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, fungicides and other dangerous farming practices persist – unnecessarily, in my opinion. One of the reasons scientists think organic fruits and vegetables are higher in antioxidants is precisely because they produce more of these substances to ward off insects and other environmental threats. They adapt to their surroundings naturally rather than artificially, kind of like humans. Left to their own devices, it turns out fruits and vegetables are pretty darn smart.

Defenders of conventionally grown crops have argued that any pesticide residues found on their products are too small to pose a health risk. This is probably true if you eat just one carrot or just one pepper. But what about all the many carrots and peppers eaten over a lifetime? We know little to nothing about the long-term effects of sustained exposure to small amounts of pesticide residue, or the health consequences of eating genetically modified and engineered foods. I’m not interested in being a test dummy, and you shouldn’t be either.

Here’s what we do know: Pesticide residues have an accumulative affect. Beginning in the womb, our many chemical exposures stay with us throughout our lives, according to the Pesticide Action Network North America. This is our chemical body burden. We are exposed to such substances not just in dirty food, but also in dirty air, water and soil, largely because of the toxins sprayed and applied on our farms.

Plus, the people routinely applying these toxins – farmworkers – suffer more chemical-related injuries and illnesses than any other workers in the nation, as the nonprofit organization Farmworker Justice notes on its website. These conditions include dizziness, nausea, headaches, breathing difficulty, cancer and reproductive problems, to name just a few. Anyone claiming low-level exposure to pesticides is perfectly safe should tell this to a sick farmworker.

Source: fox news

Soon ‘therapeutic bacteria’ to help win ‘battle of bulge’

Researchers have discovered a probiotic that could help prevent obesity.Researchers have discovered a probiotic that could help prevent obesity.

Vanderbilt University investigators have found bacteria that produce a therapeutic compound in the gut inhibit weight gain, insulin resistance and other adverse effects of a high-fat diet in mice.

Sean Davies, Ph.D., said that although it’s hard to speculate from mouse to human but essentially, they have prevented most of the negative consequences of obesity in mice, even though they’re eating a high-fat diet.

He further explained that regulatory issues must be addressed before moving to human studies but the findings suggested that it might be possible to manipulate the bacterial residents of the gut, the gut microbiota, to treat obesity and other chronic diseases.

Other studies have demonstrated that the natural gut microbiota plays a role in obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The researchers also observed effects of the compounds in the liver, suggesting that it might be possible to use modified bacteria to deliver therapeutics beyond the gut.

The investigators are currently working on strategies to address regulatory issues related to containing the bacteria, for example by knocking out genes required for the bacteria to live outside the treated host.

The findings will be published in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation

Source: business standard

Indian scientists create diagnostic kit for sickle cell anemia

Indian scientists create diagnostic kit for sickle cell anemia

 

This portable diagnostic kit, a lab-on-a-chip, could be used even by untrained health workers.

The team from the Indian Institute of Technology-Powai, (IIT-P) – Debjani Paul, Ninad Mehendale and Ammar Jagirdar said they will make full use of the rising penetration of mobile phones in India to extend their data processing, sharing and imaging prowess to craft inexpensive diagnostic kits for sickle cell anemia.

Paul and her team is planning to develop a microfluidic chip which can be combined with a mobile phone-based diagnosis platform and used by relatively untrained health workers in rural areas to diagnose sickle cell anemia.

This disorder is widely seen in tribals in the remote regions of states like Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.

Paul said that around five percent of the children affected by sickle cell disease (SCD) die before they reach the age of two. At present, the doctors detect this disease in clinical settings by techniques such as hemoglobin electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography, etc. These techniques are pretty costly.

Paul added that they are planning to develop the kit over the next 18 months. The project proposed by Paul and her students of the Institute’s Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering received a Grand Challenges Explorations grant in June.

Source: delhi daily news