Monthly Archives: November 2012

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Healthy Lifestyle topic for today is on KIWI fruit and Health.

Healthy Lifestyle topic for today is KIWI fruit and Health. Kiwi fruit is brownish-green colour covered with fuzzy the flesh can be golden or dark green and the edible black seeds are throughout the fruit. The Kiwi skin contains an outline of protease meat tenderizer; cooks use it to meat dishes specifically for tenderizing quality. Anti-Oxidant properties of Kiwi Fruit, and are rich in many vitamins, flavonoids and minerals. Kiwi fruits contain a substantial amount of Vitamin C, E and A. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that protects one body from free radicals dramatically improving the health of individuals who consumed it regularly against all kinds of problems from cardiovascular problems to cancer and obesity. Vitamin E has similar effects but is fat-soluble and therefore, is complimentary to Vitamin C in its functions. Kiwi fruits contain both these vitamins in high amount, which help protect one body against free radicals from all fronts. Kiwi contains almost as much potassium as bananas and more Vitamin C than oranges. It is also rich in beta-carotene, magnesium, copper, phosphorous, carotenoids, and polyphenols.

 

Prevent asthma (Vitamin C)
Lack of vitamin C (or antioxidants) in the body may increase the risk of developing asthma. Being one of the highest sources of vitamin C among fruits, is an excellent way to prevent inflammation. Vitamin C is beneficial to the human condition as it helps protect against free radical damage to cells and tissues, which could then lead to cancer. Vitamin C also aids in iron absorption. Kiwi and citrus are also effective against respiratory-related health problems including wheezing, shortness of breath, and excessive coughing.

Reduce wrinkles (Vitamin E)
Eating a variety of fruits can be extremely useful for the skin. The rich vitamin E content helps protect against wrinkles and improve the skin’s texture. Kiwifruit contains a vast amount of Vitamin E. therefore, potent antioxidant in reducing the risk of heart diseases. Kiwi is also rich in antioxidants and enzymes.

Strengthens bones (Vitamin K)
Vitamin K is one of the nutrients which play a role in bone metabolism. Vitamin K deficiency is also linked to low bone mass and increased risk of osteoporotic fracture. A good source of vitamin K helps blood to clot normally. Vitamin K can also help protect us from liver and prostate cancer.

Aids in normal blood clotting (Calcium)
When one wounded, and the blood flow will stop, one should thank calcium (along with vitamin K and the protein called fibrinogen). Although calcium is best known for bone building, it also plays an important role in blood clotting. Kiwi is one of the few fruits which contain calcium. One can significantly reduce your risk for blood clots, and lower blood lipids by eating kiwi fruit as platelet aggregation reduction of 18% takes place which further reduces the amount of fats and leads to 15% of reduction of triglycerides in your blood.

Helps the body make melanin (Copper)
The color of one hair, skin and eyes depends on melanin. This substance produces from the essential amino acid L-phenylalanine by an enzyme system dependent on copper. Dietary copper helps the body to utilize iron; tissue damage caused by free radicals, produces melanin and keeps the thyroid gland functioning normally.

Prevents constipation (Fiber)
Kiwi fruit fiber regularity bowel and prevents colon cancer. The high content in dietary fiber improve diseases such as diabetes, by controlling sugar levels, and colon cancer, since fiber binds to toxic compounds in the colon and helps to eliminate them. Fiber also helps maintain blood sugar levels and to maintain normal cholesterol levels, improving the conditions of patients with cardiovascular diseases and lowering the chance of heart attacks.

Prevent anemia (Folate)
Anemia larger than normal red blood cells can cause various disorders including vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. Kiwi is rich in folate.

Regulates blood sugar levels (Manganese)
Poor glucose tolerance may indicate a lack of the mineral manganese in the body. Eating kiwi can provide a significant amount of manganese.

Prevents muscle soreness (Magnesium)
Muscle tension, muscle soreness, muscle spasm, muscle cramps, and muscle fatigue. If one might have any of these, one body may be calling for magnesium. Having a kiwi may be the key to that call. Kiwi can provide a substantial amount of the macro mineral magnesium which plays an important role in relaxing one nerve and muscles. Magnesium, which helps to build and strengthen bones relaxes muscles and nerves and keeps the blood circulating smoothly.

Prevents hypokalemia (Potassium)
Feeling tired and weak has muscle cramps and constipated? One may be low in potassium levels in one body. Load up on potassium by having a kiwi or two. Potassium helps the nerves and muscles to function properly, maintains the bodies' acid balance and helps to reduce the risk of high-blood pressure.

Protection from Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD)
Surprisingly, study found that while vegetables were not correlated with an improved resistance to the disease, fruits containing high amount of Vitamin A, C and E (the most common antioxidant vitamins) helped considerably in protecting against ARMD.

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TCM Chinese Herbs, Health Benefits of Lou Han Guo (罗汉果).

The “Luo Han Guo” fruit pulp is dark green, is commonly grown in the Guanxii province, southern China, near the mountains of Guilin. It is also known as “the longevity fruit” and fairy fruit to ordinary people because of the steep mountain fields and have a significant number of residents that live to be 100 years old or more! In ancient China, Luo Han Guo was the tributes to the emperors.

It is harvested while green, seeded and then dried before using in tea, soup or other foods. Once harvested, the fresh fruit Luo Han Guo cannot be kept too long, processed and kept in the fridge. After dry, the outer surface of the fruit will be soft and yellow-brown dust and the skin is a bit hard but thin, juice and the inside contains a large number of seeds.

TCM Chinese Herbs, Health Benefits of Lou Han Guo (罗汉果) is the only nutritious fruit, that all components from the skin to the seeds have a sweet taste, widely used to treat the disease according to rules.

• Luo Han Guo leaves contain terpene glycoside, regularly brewed to make tea and extracts of the various health products.
• Luo Han Guo roots to treat smallpox.
• Luo Han Guo skin heals wound cut.

This TCM Chinese Herbs, Health Benefits of Lou Han Guo (罗汉果) is use as a cool drink among Chinese. Air drinks can help control fever or circumstances described in the tradition as the 'hot'. The fruit can be used in both drinks and cooked food. Boil some of the fruit in water until a sweet, concentrated liquid, keep the liquid in a cool place and use it as a substitute for both sugar and honey.

The cooked Luo Han Guo extract provides primary health benefits for invalids and people infected by the HIV. It contains high amounts of amino acids, fructose, vitamins and minerals. Its nutrients are not destroyed during cooking. Its nature and sweetness are not affected by heating or cooling thus making it a versatile fruit to use.

It is three hundred times sweeter than regular sugar. However, it hardly has any calories and use as a flavour-filled natural sweetener. Luo Han Guo is a healthier sugar substitutes. However, the Chinese had Luo Han Guo "secret" weapons as a natural sweetener and healing solution for many centuries.

Luo Han Guo is of cool nature and taste sweet, entering meridians of lung and spleen.

From the perspective of Chinese medicine, dryness is the main characteristics in autumn. People are to be exposing to pathogenic dryness in autumn. In autumn choose food which can balance and moisten the lung, to remove all pathogenic dryness in the lung. Luo Han Guo is the priority option and one of the best herbs that can clear lung benefit throat, transform phlegm, stop coughing, and moisten intestines and loose bowel.

Basic clinical manifestations are as follows:

• Dryness in the mouth, nose, and throat.
• Dry cough with little phlegm
• Dryness even chapped or threatening skin in women.
• Malnourished, result in hair loss.
• Relieves constipation induces regular bowel movements.

TCM Chinese Herbs, Health Benefits of Lou Han Guo (罗汉果):

• Clearing heat, cooling blood heat, promoting production of fluid, stopping coughing, detoxification, rejuvenation and skin care.
• Treat coughing due to phlegm-heat, sore throat, constipation, irritability and thirst.
• Treat dry coughing due to lung fire, sore throat and aphonia, intestinal dryness and constipation.
• Effectively treat diseases like acute bronchitis, acute tonsillitis, throat burning and acute gastritis.
• The root of this tree can fix ringworm, carbuncle, sore boil, etc.
• The hair of it can be used for wounds.
• Relieve throat infection or cough.
• Prevent heatstroke and cooling the body in hot climates.

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Healthy Lifestyle topic for today is on Vitamin C

Vitamin C key role is producing collagen and helps us deal with daily wear and tear. Thus, it is one of the nutrients required for strengthening of tissues, increase gum health and can also prevent premature aging and boosting the immunity. Ascorbic Acid or Vitamin C is an essential nutrient found in fruits and vegetables. Fresh raw; foods have the highest concentrations of vitamin c, while whole grains, seeds or beans contain little Vitamin C. Vitamin C is water-soluble and one of the least stable vitamins.

Vitamin C is available in sources like oranges, lemons, gooseberry, papaya, grapefruit, cabbage, broccoli. However, since the vitamin gets washed out while cooking, storage, it is easily oxidized in the air and sensitive to light. It is mostly contained in the watery part of fruits and vegetables, eating raw for better benefit; vitamin C cannot be produce by the body, needed from external sources.
It is unfortunate that most Vitamin C supplement is not natural Vitamin C, and there is not perfect ascorbic acid. Ascorbic Acid can derive from the food (plant).

Health Benefit of Vitamin C:

Allergies and Asthma:
Vitamin C immune system reduces the allergic reaction. Vitamin C with magnesium is beneficial for asthma.

Cataracts:
Vitamin C take increases the blood supply to the visual zones of the body help to prevent cataracts in elder.

Cancer
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, protect DNA from free radical damage, Vitamin C also feeds ones lymphocytes, part of the body's first defense system against cancer. High consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits minimised risk of various types of cancer. People with high levels of vitamin C and other antioxidants is less likely to develop cancer of the lung, cervix, colon, pancreas, eosophagus, mouth and stomach. The antioxidants remove all the free radicals and damaging toxins before they can damage cells/DNA and trigger cancer.

Diabetes:
Diabetics have problems with low levels of ascorbic acid and other antioxidants in ones tissues. These nutrients need insulin to bring them to one cells. Since diabetics do not produce enough insulin, they have problems with antioxidant levels in general. The antioxidants do not flow when the insulin is low, results in poor control of diabetes and blood sugar level, result in excessive free radical production and consumption of your antioxidant reserves.

Colds:
Vitamin C certainly helps reduce the risk of developing colds and conditions like lung infections, pneumonia, etc. Consuming oranges, lemons in fruit or juice form can help strengthen the body and prevent attack from seasonal colds.

Collagen:
Collagen is an essential for structural protein in the body, whose primary purpose is tissue growth. If the collagen has the potential to revitalize quickly, by consuming large amounts of vitamin C as required by the body (not overdose!). Its remarkable activity can result in control various medical conditions like muscular pain, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation of blood vessels, gout, aging, rheumatoid fever, etc.

Heart Disease:
Vitamin C is essential for healthy cardiovascular system. Include vitamin E supplement will enhance vitamin C protects against LDL cholesterol in ones bloodstream. It has also lower high-blood pressure individuals with high-blood pressure (hypertension) have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Hyper-Tension:
People with hyper-tension are at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, vitamin C intake helps in lowering the blood pressure.

Infections:
Vitamin C assists in the treatment of the respiratory system like asthma, chest colds, bronchitis. It also helps the mucus membrane in the lungs to dry during times of infection. Vitamin C is also use to treat urinary tract infections.

Immune System:
Vitamin C immune system ones the body. White blood cells are the defenders of one's body, which fight against infections like bacterial invasions, and protect the body. However, these cells require high levels of vitamin C to do their job, which is why it is necessary to consume adequate amounts of vitamin C. Vitamin C deficiency can result in weak body, susceptible to infections and illnesses.

Lead Toxicity:
Lead Toxicity is a serious health problem found primarily in children. They have behavioral problems, learning disabilities and have low IQ. It may harm the kidney and increase blood pressure in adults. Vitamin C supplements lower the blood lead level.

Scurvy:
Is a gum disease caused due to vitamin C deficiency in the body. Thus, vitamin C helps maintain healthy gums and teeth.

Symptoms are dry skin, hair loss, bleeding hair follicles, swollen or bleeding gums, bleeding eyes, aching joints and bones, fatigue.

If vitamin c deficient in ones diet, the symptoms may take longer to develop and may appear in slightly different ways, such as loss of appetite, poor growth patterns, fatigue, weakness and bleeding beneath the skin.

Women on birth control pills and cigarette smokers are at greater risk of developing a vitamin C deficiency and so are some elderly.

Skin Aging:
Vitamin C function beyond its role as a network antioxidant. Vitamin C needed for the production of collagen, the connective tissue that supports your skin. Collagen needs for the formation of ligaments, bones and blood vessels. It is essentially the cellular glue that holds your body together.

Stroke:
Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid reduce the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease. Diet vegetables and fruits provide a significant amount of vitamin C, which maintains the blood pressure level. Protects the body from free radicals.

Vasodilation:
Vitamin C has effectively resulted in proper dilation of blood vessels in the cases of atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol, and high-blood pressure.

Wounds recovering from surgery:
Vitamin C levels may be low right after surgery. To help speed up healing and fight off infections, Vitamin C level needs to be high. It facilitates the growth of the connective tissues, which fastens up the process of healing of wounds.

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