EXPLORE THE BENEFITS OF FRUITS

Everyone wishes to live a healthy and happy life, but very few really take efforts. Only when one is ill, does he know the value of good health. Nature has provided us with a variety of food, which we can include in our diet in its natural form. A diet containing fruits juices and vegetables is not only good for the health but also gives a glow to your skin and rejuvenates the body. They help flush out unwanted toxins.

Here we begin : -

Oranges are rich source of Vitamin C. It prevents constipation. They work as cleansers and improve the skin and supports the immune system.

Carrots has vitamin A and is very good for the eyes. They are one of the richest source of beta carotene.Carrot juice if taken in the morning on an empty stomach is very beneficial. It develops immunity. Prevents premature aging. It has anti-cancer properties.

Beetroot is very good for anemic persons .It does wonders to your skin. It purifies the blood and is rejuvenating.

Pineapple juice is very rich in vitamin C. It also contains Vitamins A&B. Taken with honey it is very good for the throat.

Grapes are effective for constipation and gives relief in piles. It prevents dryness of skin and it purifies the blood.

Tomatoes contain iron and is rich in vitamin A. Recommended for those who want to reduce their weight. It combats cancer.

Watermelon cools our body and are excellent cleansers.

Cucumber cools our body and is very good for those who want to lose weight. They work as astringents, cooling and brightening agents of the skin. It can be used in natural face packs also.

Lemons protect your heart, control your blood pressure and is excellent for the skin and hair. Works as a bleach for the skin. Lemon juice mixed with warm water and honey can be taken daily the first thing in the morning to have a clear complexion. It can be taken for weight reduction also.

And last but not the least do remember Fruit and vegetable juices should not be taken together at the same time.

POMEGRANATES & IT'S BENEFITS...

With each passing day pomegranates have very become popular among the health concious crowd coz of its many long term benefits which are getting disclosed slowly.

Pomegranates grow wild from Iran to northern India, but they are cultivated throughout India, the Middle East, southern Europe and California. Scientists in Israel have been conducting research on the health benefits of pomegranates and pomegranate juice for years, and now others have joined in.

Pomegranate juice, be it fresh or extracted, contains vitamin C, folic acid, and numerous polyphenols (antioxidants). These antioxidants are one of the biggest reasons pomegranates are hyped as super healthy fruits.These antitoxidants are effective on various diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, heart problems, aging, arthritis and it also helps in protecting unborn babies from brain injuries.

-Fights Breast Cancer

Studies in Israel show that pomegranate juice destroys breast cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. It may also prevent breast cancer cells from forming.

-Lung Cancer Prevention

Studies in mice show that pomegranate juice may inhibit the development of lung cancer.

-Slows Prostate Cancer

It slowed the growth of prostate cancer in mice.

-Keeps PSA Levels Stable

In a study of 50 men who had undergone treatment for prostate cancer, 8 ounces of pomegranate juice per day kept PSA levels stable, reducing the need for further treatment such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy.

-Protects the Neonatal Brain

Studies show that maternal consumption of pomegranate juice may protect the neonatal brain from damage after injury.

-Prevention of Osteoarthritis

Several studies indicate that pomegranate juice may prevent cartilage deterioration.

-Protects the Arteries

It prevents plaque from building up in the arteries and may reverse previous plaque buildup.

-Lowers Cholesterol

It lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) and raises HDL (good cholesterol).

-Lowers Blood Pressure

One study showed that drinking 1.7 ounces of pomegranate juice per day lowered systolic blood pressure by as much as 5 percent.

-Dental Protection

Research suggests that drinking pomegranate juice may be a natural way to prevent dental plaque

CUTE LITTLE EGGS

This cute little white (sometimes brown) friends of ours are a power house of nutrients.

Health benefits of Eggs :-
The health benefits of eggs are numerous but I have tried to compile as many as possible here.So here we go.....

1. Eggs are great for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent macular degeneraton due to the carotenoid content, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin. Both nutrients are more readily available to our bodies from eggs than from other sources.
2. In another study, researchers found that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of developing cataracts, also because of the lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs.
3. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.
4. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and heart disease. In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.
5. They are a good source of choline. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.
6. They contain the right kind of fat. One egg contains just 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat.
7. New research shows that, contrary to previous belief, moderate consumption of eggs does not have a negative impact on cholesterol. In fact, recent studies have shown that regular consumption of two eggs per day does not affect a person's lipid profile and may, in fact, improve it. Research suggests that it is saturated fat that raises cholesterol rather than dietary cholesterol.
8. Eggs are one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D.
9. Eggs may prevent breast cancer. In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44%.
   10. Eggs promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulphur content and wide array of vitamins and minerals. Many people find their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previously deficient in foods containing sulphur or B12.

MIX UP YOUR OILS

Dietary fats and oils are combinations of glycerol with fatty acids.
The type of fatty acid predominant in oils plays a major role in determining its health effects. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) is a bad fatty acid, Mono saturated fatty acids (MUFA) is good fatty acid, poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) are n-6 and n-3 fatty acids, which are combination of bad and good and trans fatty acids (TFA) are very bad fatty acids.

Using a combination of Oil rich in MUFA and n-3 PUFA is preferable than using a single Oil. N-3 PUFA particularly for the large chunk of vegetarians among us.
Hence olive oil, which has the maximum concentration of MUFA, is not enough because it does not have n-3 PUFA, the latter decreases triglyceride content, irritability of the heart and inflammation of the heart and inflammation of the arteries. Fatty acid compositions differ significantly.
How to mix your oils:-
Groundnut/sesame/rice bran oil (3 meals) vs. mustard (1 meal)
Groundnut/sesame/rice bran oil (2 meals) vs. Canola (1 meal)
Groundnut/sesame/rice bran oil (2 meals) vs. Soyabean (1 meal)
Palm Oil (1 meal) vs. Soyabean (1 meal)
Safflower (1 meal) vs. palm oil (1 meal) vs. mustard (1 meal)

Oils with a high SFA content (bad fatty acid) are:-
- Coconut Oil (91%)
- Palm oil (45 %)
- Ghee (Clarified butter) (65 %)

MUFA rich oils (good fatty acids) are:-
- Olive Oil (75 %)
- Canola Oil (61%)
- Groundnut Oil (50 %)
- Rice bran Oil (42.5 %)
- Palm oil (40 %)

Oils rich in n-6 PUFA are:-
- Soyabean Oil (50 %)
- Olive oil (10 %)
- Mustard oil (18 %)

Oils rich in n-3 PUFA are:-
- Linseed oil (55 %)
- Mustard oil (10 %)
- Soyabean Oil (7 %)
- Rice bran Oil (1 %)
Mustard and Canola oil have shown to exhibit similar properties, but mustard oil has high concentration of Erucic acid which may be harmful.

MUSTARD.....

MUSTARD....
Mustard is one of the ancient spices used by almost every country in the world. Other than adding flavor to your food it is also known for its curative power.The unique healing properties of mustard seeds can partly be attributed to their home among the Brassica foods found in the cruciferous plant family.

Mustard has the following nutrients in it..the nutrients are arranged in ascending order of their % in the seed -
-Selenium,Tryptophan,Omega-3 fatty acids,phoporous,manganese,magnesium,dietry fibre,iron,calcium,protein,niacin,zinc and lastly calories.

-Selenium is a nutrient that has been shown to help reduce asthma, arthritis and certain cancers.

-Magnesium also reduces asthma and lowers blood pressure.

Some of the health benefits of mustard's are :-

-Increased rate of metabolism

-Speeds up digestion process by increasing saliva as much as eight times more than normal

-Inhibits cancer cell growth and possibly prevents other types of cancer as well.

-Treatment of skin diseases through the application of sulfur found in mustard.

The four powerful qualities in mustard is antibacterial, anti fungal, antiseptic and has anti-inflammatory properties.

So don't go by the size,just see the amount of benefits given to us by the tiny tot.

ASAFOETIDA...THE FOOD OF GODS

FERULA ASAFOETIDA

A native of Iran and Afganisthan is also known as the devil's dung. It has been used in India in abundance for cooking food.Asafoetida is known for its medicinal properties from ages and has being in use as a medicine in India,China and Far East since a long time.

-Asafoetida is a good anti-inflammatory and an anti-oxidant agent which helps in relieving various stomach related disorders along with aiding in the whole process of digestion
-It can also help in preventing cancer and sexually transmitted diseases.
-Respiratory disorders :-
It is used in treatment of respiratory disorders like whooping cough,asthama,bronchitis.

-Hysteria :-
The herb is an excellent medicine of hysteria. Inhalation of this herb prevents hysterical attacks.
-Asafetida is primarily known for its effective effect in relieving stomach problems caused by gas and acidity. A pinch of asafetida in a glass of water helps in the effective relieving of the problem of bloating.

-It can also be used as an effective remedy for the treatment of internal worms, flatulence and digestive weakness.

-The herbal oil of asafetida plant can be used to treat the problem of high cholesterol in people
The various benefits and medicinal value of Asafoetida makes it an invaluable herb which can help in maintaining the overall health of the person.

TANGY TOMATOES

TOMATOES......
The tomato not only thrills the taste buds and brightens the dinner table, it also helps fight disease.They are the fourth most loved vegetables in the world.This ia mainly coz of the health awareness of the vegetable.

To begin with the health benefits services rendered by tomatoes they have rich content of vitamin C. They also contain vitamin A and potassium along with substancial amount of iron.

-The red pigment contained in tomatoes is called lycopene. This compound appears to act as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals that can damage cells in the body. Only recently, studies have revealed that lycopene may have twice the punch of another well-known antioxidant betacarotene.
-Eating tomatoes in case of congestion of liver gives you fruitful results. Tomatoes also aids in dissolving of gallstones

-Nicotine acid present in tomatoes reduces the cholesterol level of body. This way tomato keeps the body away from heart ailments like hear attack, heart blockage etc.

-Tomatoes are very effective in purifying the blood.

-Regular intake of tomatoes also improves the texture of your skin and color. It provides natural redness to your cheeks. You can prepare various face-packs in your home using tomatoes as per your skin type that can rejuvenate and refresh your skin.

-Since ages, tomato is known to be a natural antiseptic. Intake as well as application of tomatoes works wonders for your body both internally as well as externally
As tomatoes are rich in all these above nutrients doctor recommends regular intake of tomatoes to people, suffering from high homocysteine level.