Keeping heart healthy with tree nuts

Stanford University researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials to investigate the effects of tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts) on blood lipids, lipoproteins, blood pressure and inflammation in adults 18 years and older without prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD). Tree nut consumption was shown to lower total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and its primary apolipoprotein, ApoB.

431607-heart..w453

Accumulating evidence suggests that nut intake lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease. Our findings, showing that nut intake lowers LDL cholesterol, ApoB and triglycerides in clinical trials, provide mechanistic evidence to support this relationship, said lead author Liana Del Gobbo.

Nuts contain important nutrients such as unsaturated fats, high quality protein, vitamins (i.e., vitamin E, folate and niacin), minerals (i.e., magnesium, calcium and potassium) and phytochemicals–all of which may offer cardioprotective properties, prompting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to announce a qualified health claim for nuts and heart disease in 2003. The claim states, “Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

This new analysis provides further support that nuts can and should be part of a heart-healthy diet, states Maureen Ternus, Executive Director of the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research & Education Foundation (INC NREF), adding that just 1.5 ounces of nuts per day (about 1/3 cup) can provide many of the important vitamins, minerals and energy we need throughout the day.

Source: Zee news


Heart Attack Risk may rise if you continuously skip break fast

Skipping breakfast may increase chances of a heart attack. A study of older men found who continuously skipped breakfast had a 27 percent higher risk of a heart attack than those who have a morning meal. There’s no reason why the results wouldn’t apply to other people, too, the Harvard researchers said.

Other studies suggested a link between breakfast and obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and other health problems seen as symptoms to heart problems.

Why would skipping breakfast be a heart attack risk?

People who don’t take breakfast are hungrier later in the day and eat larger meals in the afternoon. This means the body gets a larger amount of calories in a shorter amount of time. By eating so the sugar levels in the blood will increase and perhaps clogged arteries.

But eating syrupy pancakes, eggs and bacon really better than eating nothing? “We don’t know whether it’s the timing or content of breakfast that’s important. It’s probably both,” said Andrew Odegaard, a University of Minnesota researcher who has studied a link between skipping breakfast and health problems like obesity and high blood pressure.

The new research was released Monday by the journal Circulation. It was an observational study, so it’s not designed to prove a cause and effect. But when done well, such studies can reveal important health risks.

The researchers surveyed nearly 27,000 men about their eating habits in 1992. About 13 percent of them said they regularly skipped breakfast. They all were educated health professionals — like dentists and veterinarians — and were at least 45.

Over the next 16 years, 1,527 suffered fatal or non-fatal heart attacks, including 171 who had said they regularly skipped breakfast.

In other words, over 7 percent of the men who skipped breakfast had heart attacks, compared to nearly 6 percent of those who ate breakfast.

The researchers calculated the increased risk at 27 percent, taking into account other factors like smoking, drinking, diet and health problems like high blood pressure and obesity.

18 percent of U.S. adults regularly skip breakfast, according to federal estimates. So the study could be important news for many, Rimm said.

“It’s a really simple message,” he said. “Breakfast is an important meal.”

Source: npr


Breastfeeding ‘cuts depression risk’, according to study

Breastfeeding can halve the risk of post-natal depression, according to a large study of 14,000 new mothers. However, there is a large increase in the risk of depression in women planning to breastfeed who are then unable to do so.

Breastfeeding can halve the risk of post-natal depression, according to a large study of 14,000 new mothers.

The study, published in the journal Maternal and Child Health, called for more support for women unable to breastfeed. A parenting charity said mental health was a “huge issue” for many mothers. The health benefits of breastfeeding to the baby are clear-cut and the World Health Organization recommends feeding a child nothing but breast milk for the first six months.

However, researchers at the University of Cambridge said the impact on the mother was not as clearly understood.

‘Highest risk’
One in 10 women will develop depression after the birth of their child. The researchers analysed data from 13,998 births in the south-west of England. It showed that, out of women who were planning to breastfeed, there was a 50% reduction in the risk of post-natal depression if they started breastfeeding.

But the risk of depression more than doubled among women who wanted to, but were not able to, breastfeed. Dr Maria Iacovou, one of the researchers, told the BBC: “Breastfeeding does appear to have a protective effect, but there’s the other side of the coin as well.

“Those who wanted to and didn’t end up breastfeeding had the highest risk of all the groups.” The benefit increased for each week of breastfeeding up to one month.

However, any longer term impact on post-natal depression could not be determined due to the small number of women in the study who were still breast feeding several months after the birth.

Action needed
Dr Iacovou said the health profession needed to pay attention. She added: “It is right to tell mothers it’s right to breastfeed, there’s so many benefits, but the thing we need to rethink is giving more support to those who did want to breastfeed and to recognise those who are unable to, are at substantially elevated risk and to make sure health visitors keep an eye on these women.”

Possible explanations for the beneficial effect include the release of feel-good hormones when milk is produced.Dr Iacovou added that social or psychological factors such as feelings of “failing as a mother” were also contributing.

She says the improving the health of the mother will also help the baby.

Rosemary Dodds, a senior policy adviser at parenting charity NCT, said: “Mothers often experience pressures after the birth such as pain, shortage of sleep and anxiety.

“Breastfeeding can help to relax mothers and reduce stress, so it might play a part in preventing mental health issues developing. “We welcome further research into this subject as perinatal mental health is a huge issue for many mothers. At least one in ten suffer with postnatal depression.”

Source: bbc news

 


‘Gluten-Free’ Food Labels May Deceive Consumers As Healthy: Is The Fad Dangerous?

Food labels can shape our perception of how we view products. Buzzwords like “gluten-free,” “natural,” “wholegrain,” and “antioxidant” have misguided customers into thinking they are buying a healthier food with some implied health benefit. While consumers have become aware of the need to choose healthier options, a recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior has found dieters who consume gluten-free foods (without a wheat sensitivity), actually miss out on vital nutrients in exchange for unsupported claims of weight loss and healthier skin.

gluten free Food Labels

The belief that consuming gluten-free foods will lead to certain health benefits is not entirely based on research. The Internet has played a pivotal role in influencing consumers’ food choices by providing a variety of claims and convictions. “If I’m a college student, and I want to lose weight, and I read on the Internet that a gluten-free diet is the way to go, I may start avoiding products that contain essential nutrients such as those found in cereal grains fortified with folic acid,” said Karla Shelnutt, a University of Florida assistant professor in family, youth, and community sciences, in the news release.

In the U.S., celiac disease patients, or only one percent of the population, must adhere to a gluten-free diet because they have a wheat sensitivity, and it’s the only treatment for their condition. Gluten causes inflammation in the small intestines of these patients, says the Mayo Clinic, a gluten-free diet helps them control their signs, and symptoms, and prevent complications. However, gluten-free diets can lack essential nutrients if a person does not eat a balance diet and/or take a multivitamin supplement.

To determine if gluten-free food labels impact consumers’ perceptions of overall likeability, flavor and texture of two types of food products, and the beliefs about the healthfulness of gluten-free diets, Shelnutt and her colleagues recruited a small cohort from the University of Florida over a one-day period. A total of 97 participants were presented with two sets of paired items — cookies and chips — equaling four total products. All of the paired items were identical gluten-free products, with one item from each pair being labeled “gluten free” and one “conventional.”

Participants then rated each food on a nine-point scale for overall liking, flavor, and texture. This was followed by questionnaire to determine the participants’ health beliefs relating to gluten-free diets. Responses were recorded using Compusense software, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the impact of labeling.

The findings revealed a third of participants said they believed gluten-free foods to be healthier than those labeled “conventional,” a figure Shelnutt thought would be much lower. In regard to its health benefits, approximately 60 percent of the participants said they believed a gluten-free diet can treat adverse medical conditions, and 35 percent believed gluten-free could improve digestive health. When it came to overall health, 31 percent of participants believed gluten-free was “healthier” and 32 percent believed doctors prescribed gluten-free eating for weight loss.

These beliefs come as no surprise, as the $10.5 billion gluten-free industry has seen a rise in profits. Gluten-free food and beverage industry grew 44 percent between 2011 and 2013, according to market research company Mintel, the NY Daily News reported. The company estimates sales will reach $15 billion by 2016. Food companies are manipulating consumers’ desires to be healthy by marketing products as nutritious, when they are actually not.

The reason why eating gluten-free may lead to weight loss is because the diet reduces carbohydrate intake. Dieters who focus on eating more lean protein, fruits, and vegetables can achieve some initial weight loss. However, this can be done without having to go gluten-free, as weight loss is achieved by reducing your caloric intake, not eliminating gluten from your diet.

Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye, and triticale — a cross between wheat and rye. While the protein gluten is not found in gluten-free products, they do contain extra sugar and fat to make them tastier, including extra salt. Nutritional food labels also show these foods contain fewer vitamins, less fiber, and more sugar. This has made some food makers to not make any health claims about this hot commodity.

Health experts have yet to find proven benefits of going gluten-free, with the exception of those whose small intestine cannot process the protein. The gluten-free craze may be unfounded, and just a fad diet for those without celiac disease.

Source: medical daily


One more dies of Encephalitis in WB, toll mounts to 117

Encephalitis-ou39646One more dies of Encephalitis in WB, toll mounts to 117

One person died today from Encephalitis while five new cases were reported from north Bengal, a senior health department official said.

“The toll in West Bengal rose to 117 since January this year after a patient, who was admitted few days back, died today at the North Bengal Medical College (NBMC),” state Health Services director Biswaranjan Satpathy said.

Five new cases were reported from different hospitals in north Bengal, he said. Another person, hailing from Assam, was today admitted at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine here with signs of suspected Japanese Encephalitis, he said.

“We are suspecting it as a case of Japanese Encephalitis. Tests have been conducted and we are waiting for the results,” Satpathy added.

Source: business standard


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 Body and a Sound Mind?

healthy body and sound mind

The Roman poet Juvenile (in his Satires 10.356-64), writing around the 1st Century AD, famously popularized the view that there was a close relationship between physical health and mental power, with the maxim,

“a sound mind in a healthy body”

In fact, Juvenile was probably paraphrasing an earlier saying attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Thales, writing around 600 BC, and who is variously identified as the first philosopher and the first scientist. Thales offered a simple prescription for the good life that still seems plausible today:

“Who is happy? ‘The person who has a healthy body, a resourceful mind and a docile nature.’

It is Juvenile who is usually credited with starting the long tradition of linking the development and functioning of the mind and of the body that continues to the present day. In fact, for most of this time this tradition competed rather unsuccessfully with another, present in the writing of an earlier Greek thinker, Plato, and certain strands of the Christian religion, but most commonly associated with the French philosopher René Descartes. This ‘Cartesian’ view portrayed the body not as an inseparable partner of the mind, but as its rather low-rent vessel. It is not difficult to see the influences of this view on most models of schooling and their distinctively disembodied conceptions of human beings, in which the mind is both the subject and object of education, and the body is relegated to a service role that is separate and inferior.

It is only quite recently that science has really caught up with the insights of the ancient Greek to the extent that it can now speak with confidence about the relationships between the body and the mind, and from the perspective of our interests, between physical activity and mental functioning. The evidence is beginning to suggest that Juvenile and Thales may have been on to something.

As was discussed in my last post, serious interest in this issue among researchers can be traced back to the 1960s and 1970s, when scientists began to undertake simple experiments assessing the relationships between levels of physical activity, intellectual performance and educational achievement. At the time, ambition and interest were not matched by access to robust scientific measures, so findings remained frustratingly cautious. More rigorous scientific investigations of the relationship of the brain and physical activity began in the early 1980s, due in large part to advances in scientific measurement and tools. It was around this time, for example, that researchers discovered that physical activity led to an increase in the secretion of endorphins (hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system with a number of physiological functions). This effect was found to be linked to a variety of psychological changes, such as positive mood state changes and improved concentration, and physical changes to the brain, such as increased blood flow, growth of nerve cells in the brain’s center of learning and memory, increased density of networks of nerve cells, and increased brain tissue volume.

Numerous tests and measures have been developed since this time. Some of these infer cognitive processes from the observation of behavior (such as the ability to pass psychological or educational tests), while others have been developed that allowed direct measures of brain activity (such as Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, fMRI, and Electroencephalography, EEG). The development of these sorts of technologies has offered a new perspective on the subject of physical activity, fitness, and learning.

Let us focus, for now, on the issue of physical fitness.

It now seems fairly clear that increased physical fitness, especially cardiorespiratory (aka aerobic) fitness, positively effects the brain in numerous ways. Some of the most impressive evidence comes from older people, for whom improved physical capacity can significantly enhance both the quality and quantity of life. Research with children and young people is less advanced, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that fitness is associated with improved cognitive functioning among this group, too. In fact, it seems safe to say that cognitive functioning of people of all ages benefits from increased levels of physical fitness.

There have now been many scientific studies in this area, and I will discuss some of the most significant of these in later blog posts. Let me just mention one particularly interesting set of findings that came from Sweden and examined physical fitness, intelligence performance, and school achievement. This was not an intervention or experiment, but rather was a statistical analysis of a huge sample of data (from 1,221,727 people), from every man born from 1950 through 1976 who were enlisted for military service at age 18.

Analysis of this data set revealed a positive association between cardiovascular fitness and performance in intelligence tests at age 18, and changes in physical fitness measures between 15 years and 18 years predicted cognitive performance at 18 years. In addition, it was found that cardiovascular fitness during early adulthood predicted socioeconomic status and educational attainment later in life. So the contribution of increased fitness on cognitive functioning seems to trigger a ripple effect that can ‘nudge’ towards improved performance in related domains, such as examination success and later employment.

While there is a growing consensus regarding the cognitive virtues of physical fitness among researchers, there remains some debate about the underlying neurological mechanisms. As will be seen in subsequent Smart Moves posts, many researchers discuss the “executive function hypothesis,” which frames discussions of fitness in terms of its influence on the cognitive processes required to select, organize, and properly initiate goal-directed actions. The authors of the Swedish study interpreted their findings in terms of two other hypotheses: “the brain plasticity hypothesis,” according to which fitness supports the brain’s ability to adapt to external conditions and challenges; and the ‘’cardiovascular fitness hypothesis,” in which cardiovascular or aerobic fitness acts as a mediator of changes to cognitive functioning.

From the point of view of education, the effects reported here make an compelling case, since they go to the heart of learning and achievement in school. The improvements to mood and concentration enhance what could be called the mindset of learning, because fitter children tend to approach academic tasks with a more positive attitude and greater attention than their unfit peers. At the same time, the changes to the efficient functioning of the brain relate to the mechanisms of learning. In other words, the evidence from these tests suggest that physical activity can improve students’ mental state while learning, and the efficiency with which they learn.

If a pharmaceutical drug was available that had been demonstrated to have such positive effects on children’s performance at school, I suspect that even the most cautious of parents would be lining the streets outside pharmacies. Physical activity is not a wonder drug, it has no harmful side effects, and it is free!

Source: psycholog today


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


10 tips to stay mentally healthy

10 tips to stay mentally healthy

Enjoying mental health means having a sense of wellbeing, being able to function during everyday life and feeling confident to rise to a challenge when the opportunity arises. Just like your physical health, there are actions you can take to increase your mental health. Boost your wellbeing and stay mentally healthy by following a few simple steps.

Connect with others. Develop and maintain strong relationships with people around you who will support and enrich your life. The quality of our personal relationships has a great effect on our wellbeing. Putting time and effort into building strong relationships can bring great rewards.

Take time to enjoy. Set aside time for activities, hobbies and projects you enjoy. Let yourself be spontaneous and creative when the urge takes you. Do a crossword; take a walk in your local park; read a book; sew a quilt; draw pictures with your kids; play with your pets – whatever takes your fancy.

Participate and share interests. Join a club or group of people who share your interests. Being part of a group of people with a common interest provides a sense of belonging and is good for your mental health. Join a sports club; a band; an evening walking group; a dance class; a theatre or choir group; a book or car club.

Contribute to your community. Volunteer your time for a cause or issue that you care about. Help out a neighbour, work in a community garden or do something nice for a friend. There are many great ways to contribute that can help you feel good about yourself and your place in the world. An effort to improve the lives of others is sure to improve your life too.

Take care of yourself. Be active and eat well – these help maintain a healthy body. Physical and mental health are closely linked; it’s easier to feel good about life if your body feels good. You don’t have to go to the gym to exercise – gardening, vacuuming, dancing and bushwalking all count. Combine physical activity with a balanced diet to nourish your body and mind and keep you feeling good, inside and out.

Challenge yourself. Learn a new skill or take on a challenge to meet a goal. You could take on something different at work; commit to a fitness goal or learn to cook a new recipe. Learning improves your mental fitness, while striving to meet your own goals builds skills and confidence and gives you a sense of progress and achievement.

Deal with stress. Be aware of what triggers your stress and how you react. You may be able to avoid some of the triggers and learn to prepare for or manage others. Stress is a part of life and affects people in different ways. It only becomes a problem when it makes you feel uncomfortable or distressed. A balanced lifestyle can help you manage stress better. If you have trouble winding down, you may find that relaxation breathing, yoga or meditation can help.

Rest and refresh. Get plenty of sleep. Go to bed at a regular time each day and practice good habits to get better sleep. Sleep restores both your mind and body. However, feelings of fatigue can still set in if you feel constantly rushed and overwhelmed when you are awake. Allow yourself some unfocussed time each day to refresh; for example, let your mind wander, daydream or simply watch the clouds go by for a while. It’s OK to add ‘do nothing’ to your to-do list!

Notice the here and now. Take a moment to notice each of your senses each day. Simply ‘be’ in the moment – feel the sun and wind on your face and notice the air you are breathing. It’s easy to be caught up thinking about the past or planning for the future instead of experiencing the present. Practising mindfulness, by focusing your attention on being in the moment, is a good way to do this. Making a conscious effort to be aware of your inner and outer world is important for your mental health.

Ask for help. This can be as simple as asking a friend to babysit while you have some time out or speaking to your doctor (GP) about where to find a counsellor or community mental health service. The perfect, worry-free life does not exist. Everyone’s life journey has bumpy bits and the people around you can help. If you don’t get the help you need first off, keep asking until you do

Source: better health channel


Turmeric the Root of Life

turmeric

Turmeric-Curcuma longa
The root of turmeric (Curcuma longa) which for centuries has been an ingredient of the Indian curry also has medicinal properties.
The main ingredient is curcumin and because of that spice has a strong yellow color . Contains vitamin B6 , B3 , folic acid and minerals .

Curcumin, stimulates the flow of bile, which helps in the breakdown of fats. Curcumin is a cure against inflammation and therefore reduces the pain associated with arthritis.
It has been proven that curcumin recommended as therapy for diabetes .

But recently in this spice has been found one until now undiscovered molecule called CNB- 001, which has incredible power over the brain, and in the recovery of the human body . The action of this molecule is not preventive but curative.

As one of the most important properties of turmeric still its diverse anticancer activity, particularly in the treatment of ovarian cancer and breast cancer.

Researchers, however, have expanded the list of healing powers of turmeric proving that helps in the prevention of colon and prostate cancer and helps in the treatment of leukemia, especially at children.

turmeric2

15 good reasons for adding turmeric in your daily menu:

  • – Has antiseptic and antibacterial properties , it is useful for disinfecting wounds and burns ;
  • – Excellent in the prevention of prostate cancer, at the existing prevents further development ;
  • – Inhibits the growth of breast cancer ;
  • – Turmeric is a natural prevention of melanoma; at the current kills cancer cells and prevents its further development ;
  • – Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia;
  • – Cleanse the liver in a natural way ;
  • – May slow or prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease ( destroys accumulated amyloidosis in the brain ) ;
  • – Prevents the growth of metastases in many cancers ;
  • – Natural remedy against pain ;
  • – Regulates metabolism and helps in weight loss ;
  • – In China has been used as a cure for depression for a long time ;
  • – Cure for arthritis ;
  • – Protects against cancer of the thyroid gland ;
  • – Accelerates wound healing and quickly restores the injured skin ;
  • – Assists in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases .

Note:

  • – Pregnant women should consult with an expert before using turmeric .
  • – A study on animals has shown that turmeric reduces fertility . If a woman is trying to conceive or had problems with fertility , you should consult with an expert before using turmeric .
  • – If a person has a blood clot disorders, before use of turmeric should consult with a specialist.
  • – Children and people over the age of 65 years should use lighter products . Do not give to children under the age of two years .

Source: secretly healthy