Figs the Miracle Fruit

Figs the Miracle Fruit1

Figs are among the oldest of all the fruits, offering many healing attributes. The nutritional composition and medicinal properties of the Fig makes it one of the best fruits for an all natural approach to a healthier system.

This type of fiber helps control blood sugar levels and lowers cholesterol by binding it in the digestive tract. It is also an excellent source of fiber.

Most theories linking high dietary fat intake and low fiber intake with colorectal cancer, and large consumptions of alcohol is associated with lung cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer (digestive system) and liver cancer.

A number of studies show that eating fruits and vegetables may help slow down the cancer, and because of all the benefits of the Fig, it should be the fruit of choice.

Figs have a high content of potassium; which when combined with calcium assists in regulating blood pressure, and thus helps protect the breast cancer. Figs contain mineral magnesium, which are extremely important in three ways:

Figs the Miracle Fruit 2

Regulating the metabolism of muscle and nerve cells

  • Regulating the neuromuscular conductivity for normal heart function
  • Regulating the elasticity (tone) of the blood vessels, and thus better control of blood pressure.

Next comes the benefits of magnesium. It is the most important electrolyte of the cell area and is one of the three main elements of bones with calcium and phosphorus. Fig leaves are edible and medicinal. It has been shown to have anti-diabetic effects, lowering triglycerides, and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.

As a solution it has a strong antiseptic, fungicide and disinfectant action. It also helps with other intestinal diseases, such as worms and problems with fungus, such as warts.

It can also help soften corns and calluses. The procedure for the treatment of warts is simple – the solution should be put on the wart or corn, and after a few days of the above procedure they will fall off.

Energy and nutritive value

Energy value of 100 g of fresh figs is 74 kcal / 310 kJ. thereof containing 19.2% carbohydrate, 0.75% protein and 0.3% fat. From fresh fig contains minerals potassium (232 mg), calcium (32 mg), magnesium (17 mg), phosphorus (14 mg), manganese (0.1 mg), iron (0.4 mg), selenium (0.2 mg), copper (0.07 mg) and zinc (0.15 mg). Since fresh figs contain vitamin B complex vitamins, vitamin E, and K, and a bit of vitamin C. In 100 g of fresh fig fruit is 3 g fiber, 31 mg of phytosterols, beta-carotene, 85 mg

Check this Customized Fat Loss by Consuming Fig!!!

1. High levels of magnesium – Magnesium protects the body from stress, its important for strong bones, immune system and brain, promotes health and vitality, cure numerous diseases and slow aging. Dried figs contain three times more magnesium than fresh figs.

2. Has an abundance of potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, copper, vitamins B6, C and beta – carotene. Fig is low fat and contains more fiber than any other fruit or vegetable. Pectin is a fiber that lowers cholesterol, while tryptophan combats problems with insomnia and circulation .

3. High levels of natural sugars – High levels of fructose allows the brain to work faster and perceive better. Diabetics should be careful with consumption of dried figs.

4.Dried figs are a source of many nutrients. The nuts combined with a healthy meal are great snacks, and something recreational and professionals athletes are taking advantage of now. Figs cure diseases of the liver, throat, respiratory system, and bladder.

5.Containing plantsterols – proven to have beneficial effects on cholesterol in blood and plant sterols as Stigmasterol and Lanosterol bind to molecules of cholesterol and prevent its absorption .

6. anti-diabetic effects – Due to the presence of benzaldehyde and coumarin, the Fig is advantageous in preventing prostate cancer and skin.

7. Fresh figs contain 80 % water and 20 % natural sugar -Sweet taste of figs can be combined with savory meals.

Source: secretly healthy

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Watermelon

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Watermelon

No other produce screams summer quite like watermelon. It could be its refreshing sweetness or even the burst of color that adds a bit of brightness to your plate.

Thing is, there’s more to watermelon than just its flavor: It boasts some powerful health benefits, too. At 46 calories per cup, watermelon offers 20% of your daily intake of vitamin C and 17% vitamin A, according to the USDA. That’s not all.

“Watermelon contains dietary fiber for digestive health as well as potassium, a mineral that helps keep blood pressure capped,” says Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, Health‘s contributing nutrition editor.

No wonder there’s a month-long holiday dedicated to it—July is National Watermelon Month. Here are some other fun facts to celebrate watermelon’s big month:

It has more lycopene than raw tomatoes
In just one cup, watermelon has 1.5 times the stuff than a large fresh tomato, 6 milligrams compared to 4 milligrams, according to the USDA. That matters because lycopene is thought to act as a super antioxidant, stopping free radicals from damaging your cells and messing with your immune system. Some research even suggests that lycopene, typically found in red fruits and vegetables, may help fight heart disease and several types of cancer. Pro tip: “To retain the most antioxidants in this delicious superfood, store your watermelon at room temperature before slicing,” Sass says.

The juice can relieve muscle soreness
A Spanish study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that drinking watermelon juice can actually be quite soothing after a grueling workout. Athletes who consumed a little more than 16 ounces an hour before exercise had less muscle soreness and a lower heart rate within a day.

That may be because watermelon contains a natural substance called citrulline that’s been tied to improved artery function and lower blood pressure. In fact, its ability to relax the blood vessels led Texas A&M University researchers to say watermelon has Viagra-like effects. But you’ll need to look beyond the pink flesh if you really want to load up on citrulline—it’s concentrated most in the rind. If that’s not your thing, you can always save it for pickling or preserving later, Sass says.

It’s a fruit AND a vegetable
Talk about an overachiever. Like most fruits, watermelon is the product of a seed-producing plant and has a signature sweet taste. But it can be traced back to the squash, pumpkin, and cucumber family known as Cucurbitaceae. Remember how you can eat the rind? The dual nature of watermelon makes it all edible, so there’s no excuse to leave any part behind.

It’s packed with, well, water
Now this is a food with some serious hydration power. Watermelon is 91.5% water, according to the USDA. That’s a big deal seeing as how being dehydrated is bad for your health. A study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that women with even mild dehydration experienced headaches, poor concentration, fatigue, and worse moods. More reason to whip up some watermelon recipes, stat.

There’s a yellow variety
It’s hard to believe there’s a watermelon that’s NOT pink on the inside, but there’s another variety, known as Yellow Crimson, has a sunny interior and the flesh has a sweeter, honey-like taste. Thing is, the two are nearly identical on the outside, so unless you’re reading the signs at your grocery store or farmers’ market, it can be hard to tell which is which. If you want the regular pink watermelon, ask for a Crimson Sweet.

Just keep in mind that no one really knows what, if any, nutritional value the yellow variety offers. Most research has been done on the pink kind, Sass says, so best to stick with that or round up a good mix of both

Source: health

5 Habits that Waste Your Time and Drain Your Energy

5 Habits that Waste Your Time and Drain Your Energy

But let me warn you, time-wasters are usually persistent habits that take discipline to change. So once you have identified your key time-suckers, pick just one to focus on changing first. Once you have let go of that habit, choose another. You are much more likely to persist as a result, and free your time for better things.

5 Habits that Waste Time and Drain Energy

1. Email worship

Yes you heard me – worship! Most of the people I coach have previously been spending way too much time on email. Why? Because it’s easy: the pretty little yellow envelopes? grab your attention ?and responding to them makes you feel a warm fuzziness inside as you tick yet another “done” of your action list. However, as I’m sure you’re aware; a large percentage of email focus is wasted focus. Instead, prioritise your email as you would prioritise any daily activity:

  •  Limit work email and personal email to set time frames each day
  •  Plan your day and allocate your tasks before you start your email so you don’t get dragged off to distraction
  • Unsubscribe to newsletters you don’t read or that don’t add value to your day
  • Spend less time perfecting emails: think 80% is good enough and hit that send button sooner!

2. Over-thinking

There is no doubt that our brain is one special, useful machine. Unfortunately though, most of us waste a lot of time and energy using our brain for unnecessary rumination. Worry and overanalysis do not solve problems, rather, overinflate problems.? Learn to nip overanalysis in the bud.

How? Each time you notice yourself slip into overanalysis and worry get busy doing other things; focus on a new task, do something physical, meditate, talk through the problem with another person to get a fresh perspective, or write your thoughts in a journal. Practice getting out of your head and into your heart; engage in exercises to connect with your intuition and creativity or attend a course that helps you reconnect with your true self. The more energy you put into getting out of your head, the more time you will spend in your life!

3.Vacuum fillers

Time fills the gaps provided. Much of our time is spend on tasks that do not deserve the time we give them, but because the space is there, we fill it. If you allocate 45minutes for a meeting with Jo in the corner office, it will take 45minutes. Alternatively, if you allocate an hour—guess what—the meeting will likely take the whole hour. Develop a new habit of setting specific time frames that tasks really deserve and do the best job you can in that time frame.

4. Indecision

Floundering in indecision is a frustrating space. Some people worry so much about choosing the “right” thing that they waste endless hours evaluating and considering. Become a confident decision maker. For the small decisions in your life, such as which toilet paper to buy or whether to start task ‘a’ or task ‘b’ first, commit to making a decision within 30 seconds. Refuse to analyse whether it is the right or wrong decision; just make it, reminding yourself that you are creating a new habit of effective decision making.

After a few weeks of practice with small decisions, start doing the same thing with slightly more important decisions. Give yourself a set time to consider your options and then decide to make a decision either way by that set date. Yes it will be uncomfortable, yes you might even make an occasional decision you later regret. However so what!! No amount of floundering and researching can guarantee you will make the “perfect” decision anyway. At least by making decisions more promptly, you can move on to discover whether or not it was a good decision, rather than rob yourself of great opportunities by not making any decision at all.

5. Disorganised living

“I’ll do it later” says the little voice in your head that keeps your life cluttered and disorganised. Rather than put something back in its place immediately after use, you leave it lying around, with the plan to get to it later. Rather than find a home for your wallet or keys, you throw them down without a second thought and jump on the couch to watch the television. Rather than spend time creating plans and systems you just dive in convincing yourself this will get the job done faster.

Come on, let’s be honest—this strategy does not work—instead it creates an endless search for lost items and big piles of mess. In turn, you feel too overwhelmed to tackle any of it because the list of “must organise” gets out of control. Create a new habit of doing things immediately. Start with a big spring clean once a month. Perhaps even hire an organisation expert to deal with old mountains of paperwork you’ve created. Once you have a clean slate, become someone who actions things immediately – as soon as the mail comes in, open it and action it. Just read that file, don’t put it aside on the desk planning to have another look later. Get more ruthless with what you keep and what you ditch. Adopt the reminder “later never comes”!

Source: Yahoo life style

3D-printed prosthetic arms rescue child victims of war

3D-printed prosthetic arms rescue child victims of warDaniel Omar was a 14-year-old tending his goats in war-torn Sudan when the dirty bomb landed, full of kerosene and nails. The explosion cost him more than just his arms. It took away his means of survival, his will to live.

But help would come from a most unlikely source. After reading a magazine article about Daniel’s plight, American Mick Ebeling helped pull together a “dream team” of innovators to create a low-cost prosthetic arm using 3D printing technology.

The prosthesis can be produced in a matter of hours using plastic, screws, cables and bolts — about $100 worth of parts in total. With his new arm, Daniel is able to feed himself again, essential in an area where daily survival is a struggle.

Virtually no one in the area had used a 3D printer before Ebeling’s team arrived in November 2013. Yet today, Daniel is printing arms for others, helping more of the region’s 50,000 amputees get new limbs.

‘Who is your Daniel’

Ebeling is the co-founder of the Not Impossible group. Its goal: to tell stories of health care innovation that will inspire people – maybe even you – to take action. “The question we ask is, ‘Who is your Daniel?'” Ebeling told CBC in an interview. “What is the story you read, who is the person you know in your life?”

For Ebeling, his “Daniel” was a legendary L.A. graffiti artist named Tempt One, who suffers from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). It was 2009, and without the use of his limbs and most motor functions, Tempt could no longer make his art.

Tempt’s brother pleaded for help. Ebeling decided he had to deliver, somehow, some way. He didn’t have the technical expertise, but he did know some brilliant minds he could bring together to focus on the problem. Two weeks of caffeine-powered hacking later, a solution was born: the Eyewriter.

Hooked up to a pair of glasses, this inexpensive device tracks a user’s eye movements using a webcam and translates them into objects on a screen. Tempt could draw again. And Ebeling had his a-ha moment. “After that, we’re like, ‘There’s something here,'” he explained. “There’s a nucleus of energy and we have to figure out how to channel this to do other things.”

Not Impossible co-founder Elliot Kotek elaborated on the philosophy at a recent North by Northeast presentation in Toronto. “We’re about technology for the sake of humanity,” Kotek said. “We love tech … but we like to look at it through a different lens: How is this innovation going to help people?”

Something just clicked

Then in July 2013, Ebeling learned about the work of Dr. Tom Catena. Catena runs the Mother of Mercy hospital in the Nuba Mountains. He is the only physician in the disputed area in Sudan and South Sudan, and Daniel is his patient. Something just clicked. Ebeling had an inkling of how he might help Daniel.

He had recently learned of the work of Richard Van As, a South African who had created a prosthetic hand using 3D printing technology. A tougher question, though, was how to get the necessary supplies and technology into the middle of a war zone. Ebeling didn’t have a clue. As with the Eyewriter, he set about pulling together a team that did.

“Like everything we tackle,” Ebeling said, “we jump[ed] in, with the belief that we’re going to make it not impossible.”

Literally, there were bugs

“Not impossible” does not equal easy. For starters, the team wasn’t sure where Daniel was or even if he was still alive. Luckily, Dr. Catena had relocated him among the 70,000 people at the Yida refugee camp.

Like baking a cake

The prosthetic the team designed was a remarkably low-tech device produced using 3D printing technology that, while not exactly new, has only become mainstream in the past few years.

Ebeling and Kotek say the process of printing the arms is as “easy as baking a cake.” First, the parts are printed and assembled. (See below for more on how a 3D printer works.)

Then a piece of special plastic is moulded to fit the person’s limb and the moving parts are attached to that. Cables are spooled through each digit. A motion of the elbow draws on the cables, which close and open the hand.

The design’s simplicity means that if a part breaks, a new one can be printed. It also means the arms are now printed locally, long after the Americans have gone home. And that, says Ebeling, is one of the project’s biggest successes.

Connecting inspired minds

Not Impossible wants to repeat the success of Project Daniel in other parts of the world – potentially launching 3D prosthetic labs in places like Sierra Leone, Nicaragua and Vietnam. They also want to inspire others to take up their own causes. One of the group’s mottos is “Help one, help many,” a virtuous cycle of innovation and inspiration.

To that end, they’ve created Not Impossible Now, a website that serves as a hub for people with a need and the sharp minds required to tackle the problem.

One project seeks to get an exoskeleton for a girl in Mexico to help her walk again. Another aims to help the deaf hear music. Not Impossible wants their legacy to be hundreds or thousands of innovations, all created by people who were connected by passion and inspired by stories like Daniel’s.

“That,” Ebeling said, “would be the true measure of success.”

Source: cbc news

Trichomoniasis – STD from hotel towels: kenya

Trichomoniasis - STD from hotel towel

Trichomoniasis, also called “trich,” is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that affects both men and women. Caused by a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis, this relatively common STI is the cause of vaginal infections in women and urethral infections in men. Don’t worry, it’s easily curable.

Though STIs such as Trichomoniasis is mostly contracted through sexual contact, did you know the parasites can also survive on infected objects like bed sheets, towels and toilet seats from hotels?

Capital Lifestyle Magazine began looking into this when a male friend was diagnosed by his doctor that he had a yeast infection. As a faithful husband, you can imagine the confusion as to where he could have possibly contracted the STI. As a frequent traveler for work, it soon became apparent that the onset of his genital itching, painful unrination, unusual penile discharge and redness was a result of poorly cleaned hotel towels… .GROSS.

While not all viruses and bacteria are hardy enough to live for extended periods of time on contaminated surfaces such as glass, many of them – including those that can cause STIs – are. Chlamydia as well as all bacteria are pretty resilient when it comes to survival outside the human body, sharing a towel can transfer the bacteria.

Some housekeeping staff maybe cutting corners in their jobs resulting in a blatant disregard for hygienic practices. We all know that some of the principal routes for spread of infections include contact with infected persons or contact with articles of bedding or clothing that have been contaminated by an infected source. If the bedding and towels in your hotel room were contaminated and reused, you could be at risk of contracting a virus or infection.

Symptoms of Trichnomaniasis usually takes from 3 to 28 days to develop. Technically, you could travel to many places before even realizing that there was a problem in one of your hotel rooms.

Trichomoniasis can be treated with oral antibiotics, usually a single dose. It is especially important that both partners be treated – well, in this case only yourself since your partner was an unclean towel that probably looked invitingly white and pristine.

Understandably, hotel management sources condemn these practices and state that these behaviors violate standards and policy for their establishments. However, to minimize your risk of contracting viruses and infections during your travels, it’s advisable to bring your own towel and to avoid sleeping naked in an unfamiliar bed with suspicious bedding.

Source: all africa

Lack of exercise to blame for rising obesity, study says

Lack of exercise to blame for rising obesity, study says

A lack of exercise rather than diet is to blame for the obesity crisis, experts have warned.

A new study in the U.S. found activity levels have fallen dramatically in the last 20 years as average body mass index (BMI) increased and calorie intake remained the same.

Scientists said a drop in exercise and leisure time, especially among young women, may be responsible for rising obesity rates. It is recommended adults do 150 minutes of moderate exercise – brisk walking, cycling or gardening , for example – each week.

But studies have shown around two in three adults in the UK fail to achieve the guidelines. Fewer manual jobs, more cars and home entertainment technology mean most people get much less exercise now than their parents or grandparents did.

Two thirds of men and almost six in 10 women in the UK are overweight or obese. In Western Europe just Iceland and Malta have higher numbers of obese or overweight people.

By analysing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) researchers found the number of U.S. women who reported no physical activity jumped from 19.1 per cent in 1994 to 51.7 per cent in 2010.

For men, the number rose from 11.4 per cent to 43.5 per cent. During the period, average BMI has increased across the board, with the most dramatic rise found among young women between 18 and 39.

Professor Uri Ladabaum, of Stanford University, California, said: ‘These changes have occurred in the context of substantial increases in the proportion of adults reporting no leisure time physical activity, but in the absence of any significant population level changes in average daily caloric intake.

‘At the population level, we found a significant association between the level of leisure time physical activity, but not daily caloric intake, and the increases in both BMI and waist circumference.’

The study, published in the American Journal of Medicine, looked at the escalation of obesity in terms of both exercise and caloric intake. While the researchers did not examine what types of foods were consumed, they did observe total daily calorie, fat, carbohydrate, and protein consumption have not changed significantly over the period, yet the obesity rate among participants continued to rise.

Researchers also tracked the rise in abdominal obesity, which is an independent indicator of mortality even among people with normal BMIs. This is defined by a waist circumference of at least 34.65sin (88cm) for women and 40.16ins (102cm) for men.

The average increased by 0.37 per cent and 0.27 per cent respectively, per year. Just like the rise in average BMIs, the group most affected by increased rates of abdominal obesity was women.

Prof Ladabaum said: ‘The prevalence of abdominal obesity has increased among normal weight women and overweight women and men.

‘It remains controversial whether overweight alone increases mortality risk, but the trends in abdominal obesity among the overweight are concerning in light of the risks associated with increased waist circumference independent of BMI.’

While increased calorie intake is often blamed for rising rates of obesity, no association between the two factors was identified in the study.
In contrast, an association was found between the trends over time for lack of physical activity and high BMI numbers.

Prof Ladabaum said: ‘Our findings do not support the popular notion the increase of obesity in the United States can be attributed primarily to sustained increase over time in the average daily caloric intake of Americans.’

Identifying the link between the drop in physical activity and increased BMIs, as well as the groups particularly affected, can assist public health officials to develop targeted, effective interventions against the obesity epidemic.

Journal editor Pamela Powers Hannley said: ‘If we as a country truly want to take control of our health and our health care costs, the Ladabaum et al paper should be our clarion call.

‘From encouraging communities to provide safe places for physical activity to ensuring ample supply of healthy food to empowering Americans to take control of their health, we must launch a concerted comprehensive effort to control obesity.’

Source: daily mail

Know more health benefits of Sesame Seeds :

sesame seeds1

Sesame (Sesamum indicum), has long been “domesticated” in our region and is used in many ways. In many traditional dishes, cakes, sweets, spreads, bread and rolls, sesame is one of the most important ingredients. And for its curative effect against baldness, dandruff, toothache, tinnitus, sciatica, disorders in breastfeeding …
Today, most sesame seeds is grown in China , India and Sudan , because its seeds contain between 45 and 60 percent of high-quality oil is used for cooking , salad and production of margarine .

Sesame is high , hardy plant with leguminous fruits , and seeds are extremely nutritionally rich and are picked ripe and then dried .
Sesame seeds contain the highest concentration of phytosterols , ingredient by chemical structure similar to cholesterol .

Phytosterols have the power , if they are sufficiently present in the diet , reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood , improve immunity and reduce the risk of certain cancers .

sesame seeds2

Otherwise, the seeds are one of the most useful supplements to the diet , while sesame seed oil is considered extremely high quality , and is often used as a substitute for olive .

Sesame oil is a good prevention against thrombus formation , or blood clot , but also against the long-term imprisonment and irregular bowel movements.

It is recommended for the removal of intestinal parasites , intestinal cleansing , as well as for the treatment of hemorrhoids accompanied by pain and bleeding .

In folk medicine is used for the rehabilitation of injuries , acne , sores, warts , burns …

Sesame is extremely rich in iron , so it is enough to eat 50 grams of seeds to meet the daily needs of man for this mineral. In addition to iron , calcium , manganese , copper , magnesium and selenium are present in large quantities .

It contains vitamin E , a powerful antioxidant, which protects cells from aging, the incidence of tumors and heart disease .

At the same time ,is an excellent source of thiamin B1 , B6 pyridoxine , niacin , folic acid and riboflavin . Sesamin is another ingredient , important in protecting the liver from oxidative damage . Proteins and omega-6 fatty acids are also important ingredients for maintaining health.

Studies have shown that sesame is effective against inflammation and pain in rheumatoid arthritis , and asthma attacks .

Although difficult for sensitive stomachs , sesame still occasionally can be consumed as it is the perfect cleaner of the digestive organs . In countries where it is grown , sesame has a strong reputation as an aphrodisiac.

sesame seeds3

HEALING TINCTURES
* For those who do not have enough calcium in the body.
Just one soak 1 tablespoon of seeds in 2 cups of yogurt and leave it to whole night the in the refrigerator. In the morning eat it on an empty stomach. This process should be repeated continuously.

* For the treatment of hemorrhoids.
Grind 1 tablespoon sesame seeds and then add two tablespoons of water. Blend it and add a teaspoon of butter. Whisk them good and then spread on a piece of toast and eat.

* Against burns.
Boil for couple of minutes two tablespoons of sesame seed .Then strain the contents of and leave the tea to cool down.Than gently apply tea with some cotton swabs on the burns several times a day.

Source: secretly healthy

 

Five healthy foods that won’t blow your budget

Five healthy foods that won’t blow your budget

Many people will agree that finding food that is nutritious, great-tasting and affordable can be difficult. In fact, most of us think that it can be possible to obtain at least the first two of those goals, yet difficult to combine all three. Nevertheless, you should not think this goal hopeless; it is possible to find healthy, delicious recipes suitable to your budget. All you have to do is to be mindful when choosing what you eat. If your budget will allow, choosing organic meat and dairy will help to improve the nutritional profile of your meals. Below are some healthy foods that won’t break the bank.

1. White chili – This is a healthy and delicious meal that will suit any tight budget. Made with white beans and spices, a small amount of lean ground meat goes a long way. Make a delicious creamy base with yogurt and chicken broth.

2. Omelet – To get the most nutrition from this eggs choose those from free-range chickens. Made with loads of fresh, in-season vegetables, this can be a great way to get a delicious meal for not a lot of money.

3. Pork tenderloin – Cooking tenderloin is very cost-effective, yet can be very healthy. You should not be intimidated about the price of tenderloin because it will surely fits in your budget and at the same time ensures to be a healthy food.

4. Yogurt – Packed with healthy probiotics to support gut health, yogurt is also high in protein. Choose plain, whole mik organic yogurt to avoid added hormones, antibiotics, and other chemicals. A quick and delicious way to serve it is as a parfait with fresh fruit, nuts or granola.

5. Broccoli – Rich in phytonutrients and fiber this is a versatile vegetable to include in your diet. It can be eaten raw, cooked, steamed, in soups, casseroles, side dishes and more. While it does have a distinctive flavor, you can also use broccoli when juicing.

Eating healthy foods need not be expensive because you can find foods that are affordable and healthy. On the other hand, while looking for affordable foods you should make sure not to compromise on the quality of your foods. Indeed, eating healthy foods on budget means selecting the foods that are full of nutrients but are affordable. Low budget meals include grains, beans, vegetables and fruits. They are not only easy to prepare and affordable but also highly nutritious. Smart planning, creativity, and resourcefulness in shopping for foods and preparing foods can help you create delicious, healthy meals.
Source: grains and more

 

 

New MIT finger device reads to blind in real time

New MIT finger device reads to blind in real time

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are developing an audio reading device to be worn on the index finger of people whose vision is impaired, giving them affordable and immediate access to printed words.

The so-called FingerReader, a prototype produced by a 3-D printer, fits like a ring on the user’s finger, equipped with a small camera that scans text. A synthesized voice reads words aloud, quickly translating books, restaurant menus and other needed materials for daily living, especially away from home or office.

Reading is as easy as pointing the finger at text. Special software tracks the finger movement, identifies words and processes the information. The device has vibration motors that alert readers when they stray from the script, said Roy Shilkrot, who is developing the device at the MIT Media Lab.

For Jerry Berrier, 62, who was born blind, the promise of the FingerReader is its portability and offer of real-time functionality at school, a doctor’s office and restaurants.

“When I go to the doctor’s office, there may be forms that I wanna read before I sign them,” Berrier said.

He said there are other optical character recognition devices on the market for those with vision impairments, but none that he knows of that will read in real time.

Berrier manages training and evaluation for a federal program that distributes technology to low-income people in Massachusetts and Rhode Island who have lost their sight and hearing. He works from the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts.

“Everywhere we go, for folks who are sighted, there are things that inform us about the products that we are about to interact with. I wanna be able to interact with those same products, regardless of how I have to do it,” Berrier said.

Pattie Maes, an MIT professor who founded and leads the Fluid Interfaces research group developing the prototype, says the FingerReader is like “reading with the tip of your finger and it’s a lot more flexible, a lot more immediate than any solution that they have right now.”

Developing the gizmo has taken three years of software coding, experimenting with various designs and working on feedback from a test group of visually impaired people. Much work remains before it is ready for the market, Shilkrot said, including making it work on cellphones.

Shilkrot said developers believe they will be able to affordably market the FingerReader but he could not yet estimate a price. The potential market includes some of the 11.2 million people in the United States with vision impairment, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

Current technology used in homes and offices offers cumbersome scanners that must process the desired script before it can be read aloud by character-recognition software installed on a computer or smartphone, Shilkrot said. The FingerReader would not replace Braille – the system of raised dots that form words, interpreted by touch. Instead, Shilkrot said, the new device would enable users to access a vast number of books and other materials that are not currently available in Braille.

Developers had to overcome unusual challenges to help people with visual impairments move their reading fingers along a straight line of printed text that they could not see. Users also had to be alerted at the beginning and end of the reading material.

Their solutions? Audio cues in the software that processes information from the FingerReader and vibration motors in the ring.

The FingerReader can read papers, books, magazines, newspapers, computer screens and other devices, but it has problems with text on a touch screen, said Shilkrot.

That’s because touching the screen with the tip of the finger would move text around, producing unintended results. Disabling the touch-screen function eliminates the problem, he said.

Berrier said affordable pricing could make the FingerReader a key tool to help people with vision impairment integrate into the modern information economy.

“Any tool that we can get that gives us better access to printed material helps us to live fuller, richer, more productive lives, Berrier said.

Source: fox news

Suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)? Don’t lose hope

Suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Don't lose hope

Are you experiencing irregular periods, weight gain, hair growth on the body and face, thinning of the hair on the head? Don’t ignore the symptoms as chances are you may be suffering from a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

What is PCOS?

PCOS is an endocrine disorder which is associated with an excess of androgens or male hormones in the body. It leads to the formation of small cysts in the ovaries. According to experts, nearly 40% percent of teenagers today suffer from PCOS due to sedentary life or consumption of high calorie, high carb diet.

It is more commonly found in women living in urban areas than women residing in rural places as it is majorly a lifestyle disease. The exact cause of the disease is not known.

Symptoms of PCOS

Symptoms of PCOS include irregular, missed or scanty menstruation cycle, weight gain, excessive hair growth on chin, lower abdomen, thighs, facial hair and thinning of hair on your head.

Why worry if you have PCOS?

One of the major effect that PCOS have on a female body is that it leads to imbalance of hormones which may again interfere with the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries, thereby preventing ovulation and may lead to infertility in some cases.

Also, since the body becomes resistant to insulin, a women is at risk of obesity, hypertension, cholesterol and uterine cancer.

Is it possible to have a baby with PCOS?

The good news is that one need not be depressed as PCOS can be managed with medicines to some extent. A women can easily conceive by adopting a healthy lifestyle, eating right and maintaining healthy weight.

Treatment of PCOS

Treatment of PCOS depends partially on the woman’s stage of life. For younger women, treatments can include inducing exercises in daily routine, diet modifications and medication. Experts also prescribe the usage of birth control pills to control the menstrual cycle thereby decreasing androgen levels in the female body.

Some other treatments like Progesterone therapy is also adviced by doctors.

Source: zee news