Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Protect yourself against cancer

Radical liberals are not a political group, but a kind of very
active molecule that is suspected of being one of the causes of cancer.
How can you protect yourself? Diet plays an important role here,
especially in the absorption of anti-oxidants. The strongest
anti-oxidizing agent is Vitamin E, which is found in wheat germ oil
and sunflower seeds.
Next comes Vitamin C (oranges, grapefruits, lemons, red peppers
etc.).
Beta carotene also absorbs large amounts of radical liberals.
This substance seems to act as a protecting agent against most types
of cancer.
Where do you find it? In red vegetables (like tomatoes), orange
ones (carrots), yellow (squash), and dark green (broccoli). All these
are rich in beta carotene. So make them a regular part of your menu!。


Sunday, June 27, 2010

Cinnamon & Its Health Benefits

Cinnamon has a long history both as a spice and as a medicine. Cinnamon's unique healing abilities come from three basic types of components in the essential oils found in its bark. These oils contain active components called cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, and cinnamyl alcohol, plus a wide range of other volatile substances.

Anti-Clotting Actions

Cinnamaldehyde has been well-researched for its effects on blood platelets. Platelets are constituents of blood that are meant to clump together under emergency circumstances (like physical injury) as a way to stop bleeding, but under normal circumstances, they can make blood flow inadequate if they clump together too much. The cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon helps prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets. Cinnamon's ability to lower the release of arachidonic acid from cell membranes also puts it in the category of an "anti-inflammatory" food that can be helpful in lessening inflammation.

Anti-Microbial Activity

Cinnamon's essential oils also qualify it as an "anti-microbial" food, and cinnamon has been studied for its ability to help stop the growth of bacteria as well as fungi. In lab tests, growth of yeasts that were resistant to the commonly used anti-fungal medication fluconazole was often (though not always) stopped by cinnamon extracts.

Blood Sugar Control

Cinnamon may significantly help people with type 2 diabetes improve their ability to respond to insulin, thus normalizing their blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that compounds in cinnamon not only stimulate insulin receptors, but also inhibit an enzyme that inactivates them, thus significantly increasing cells' ability to use glucose. Studies to confirm cinnamon's beneficial actions in humans are currently underway with the most recent report coming from researchers from the US Agricultural Research Service, who have shown that less than half a teaspoon per day of cinnamon reduces blood sugar levels in persons with type 2 diabetes.

Cinnamon's Scent Boosts Brain Function

Research led by Dr. P. Zoladz (April, 2004), found that chewing cinnamon flavored gum or just smelling cinnamon enhanced participants' cognitive processing. Specifically, cinnamon improved participants' scores on tasks related to attentional processes, virtual recognition memory, working memory, and visual-motor speed while working on a computer-based program. Encouraged by the results, researchers will be evaluating cinnamon's potential for enhancing cognition in the elderly, individuals with test-anxiety, and possibly even patients with diseases that lead to cognitive decline.

Calcium and Fiber Improve Colon Health and Protect Against Heart Disease

Cinnamon is an excellent source of the trace mineral manganese, dietary fiber, iron and calcium. The combination of calcium and fiber in cinnamon is important and can be helpful for the prevention of several different conditions. Both calcium and fiber can bind to bile salts and help remove them from the body. By removing bile, fiber helps to prevent the damage that certain bile salts can cause to colon cells, thereby reducing the risk of colon cancer. In addition, when bile is removed by fiber, the body must break down cholesterol in order to make new bile. This process can help to lower high cholesterol levels, which can be helpful in preventing atherosclerosis and heart disease. For sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome, the fiber in cinnamon may also provide relief from constipation or diarrhea.

A Traditional Warming Remedy

In addition to the active components in its essential oils and its nutrient composition, cinnamon has also been valued in energy-based medical systems, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, for its warming qualities. In these traditions, cinnamon has been used to provide relief when faced with the onset of a cold or flu, especially when mixed in a tea with some fresh ginger.

A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

Enjoy one of the favorite kids' classics - cinnamon toast - with a healthy twist. Drizzle flax seed oil onto whole wheat toast and then sprinkle with cinnamon and honey.

Simmer cinnamon sticks with soymilk and honey for a deliciously warming beverage.

Adding ground cinnamon to black beans to be used in burritos or nachos will give them a uniquely delicious taste.

Healthy sauté lamb with eggplant, raisins and cinnamon sticks to create a Middle Eastern inspired meal. Add ground cinnamon when preparing curries.


Sunday, June 20, 2010

Prevent high blood pressure

Research has shown that people whose diet is rich in potassium
(vegetarians for example) are less likely than others to develop high
blood pressure.
Calcium is also beneficial. Fortunately, potassium and calcium
are abundantly present in a large variety of foods.
Fruits, vegetables, beans, fish, fowl and lean meats are full of
potassium.
Calcium is a little more restricted. Foods rich in calcium usually
also contain large amounts of sodium and fat, which can increase
blood pressure.
However, moderate amounts of milk are recommended, as well
as yogurt, almonds, bananas, grapes, broccoli, potatoes, beans, tofu
and sardines.

Friday, June 18, 2010

To Keep Young or to Keep Aging

FOODS THAT KEEP YOU YOUNG

Spinach contains the pigment lutein, present in the retina, which helps maintain the health of the eye.
Tomatoes contain the anti-oxidant lycopene, which can protect the skin from UV damage from the sun.
Purple or red berries - such as blueberries, raspberries and strawberries - are full of anthocyanins which can help protect against diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and help maintain strong arteries.
Oily fish, such as fresh water salmon, herring, mackerel and sardines, and also flax seeds and linseeds, are the main source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can delay the ageing process of the skin.
Water: drinking more aids digestion and elimination; drinking too little can harm the complexion.


...AND SOME THAT AGE YOU

Carbonated drinks - along with tea, coffee, sugar, red meaat and alcohol - can push the body's balance towards the acidic, meaning that alkaline minerals (such as calcium) are removed from bone stores to balance it, weakening the bones. Restricting them may help you keep stronger bones.
Nightshade vegetables - potatoes, tomatoes, challis, auberginee and peppers - while often healthy in other respects, contain a chemical that studies suggest can activate pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. Avoiding these foods may help reduce it.
Refined carbohydrates - such as white bread, white rice, sugarry cereals, pasta and noodles - contribute to the development of type II diabetes, which accelerates the ageing process and, if not controlled, can lead to a wide range of other health problems.!


Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Aging with a healthy body and mind

Did you know that sexual activity can keep you looking good as
you age? Studies conducted in Sweden have shown that elderly
people who have sexual partners have much more vitality and a better
memory than those who do not.
So don’t let your golden years deprive you of the pleasures of
sex !
Just forget about the obsession of having to “perform” - the final
result is less important than the stimulation itself.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

How to avoid cancer

If you smoke, you can greatly reduce the risk of contracting
cancer by drinking carrot juice. This according to the German Doctor
Hans Nieper, founder of Eumatabolic Medicine, a new alternative
mode of treatment which has become very popular in Germany. The
carotene found especially in carrots prevents and can even cure
cancer.
Dr. Nieper states, “If you smoke 60 cigarettes a day but drink 4
glasses of carrot juice, you will still be less prone to contract cancer
than someone who doesn’t smoke but who doesn’t drink carrot juice.”
Of course, if you don’t smoke and do drink carrot juice all the better!