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الجمعة، 14 ديسمبر 2012
الأربعاء، 5 ديسمبر 2012
Health Benefits of Lemons:
It is the most commonly used citrus fruit with a
broad range nutrients, the health benefits of lemons can be enjoyed in
desserts, drinks and as a component of topical creams and lotions.
Their
exact origins are unknown but they are believed to come from Asian
countries such as India, China and the northern parts of Burma where the
locals knew of the health benefits of lemons. Around 1
A.D. they arrived in Europe but were not cultivated until the 15th
century. Finally in the 18th and 19th centuries lemons made their way to
the United States where they began to be used as an ingredient in
recipes and drinks. Currently the Untied States ranks seventh in global
lemon production, behind India, China and Mexico.There ten varieties of lemons that are grown worldwide, but it’s the Eurkea that you will find in most supermarkets because it grows year round although their peak growing season is April to August.
Vitamins and Minerals
Lemon juice has just 29 calories in half a cup of juice (a whole lemon, when juiced, contains just three tablespoons of juice) with a trace amount of fat and a little protein. Eating the pulp will net you two and a half grams of fiber as well. Lemons are high in vitamin C but also have vitamin A, both B1 and B2 vitamins (thiamine and riboflavin), Niacin, Folate, Panthoetic Acid, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin E.As for minerals, lemons are high in potassium and phosphorus. Other minerals found in lemons include magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, selenium, manganese, copper and zinc.
Health Benefits of Pomegranate
One of the oldest cultivated fruits, pomegranates
first grew in ancient Persia and the health benefits of pomegranate were
recognized even then.
One
of the oldest cultivated fruits, pomegranates first grew in ancient
Persia and the health benefits of pomegranate were recognized even then.
The Romans gave it its name — “pomegranate” literally means “seed
apple” in Latin — and planted the sturdy seedlings throughout their
empire. Spain so loved pomegranates that they named the city of Granada
after them, according to some historians. The fruit also made its way
eastward to India, where its juice was considered a health elixir that
cured any number of ills. As modern researchers discover more about the
importance of antioxidants to good health, it’s beginning to look as
though the Ayurvedic specialists of centuries ago were right about
pomegranates.The round red fruit has a symbolic history as rich as its geographic history. Its profusion of seeds linked pomegranate fruit with fertility, while the long-lived trees became associated with rebirth and renewal. Garnets, the rich red gemstone prized throughout the ancient world, took their name from their resemblance to pomegranate seeds. Pomegranates have been the subject of poetry and allegorical tales from Greek mythology to the book of Exodus. Paintings and frescoes depict legendary heroes, gods and goddesses dining on pomegranates.
Nutritional Information
However poetic they may be, there is also practical value due to the health benefits of pomegranate. Nutritionally speaking, pomegranates compare favorably to many more familiar fruits. They contain no fat, low sugar and only 80 calories per 100-gram serving, yet they offer 5 grams of fiber and 15 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C.Pomegranate juice is almost as popular as whole fruits. Because it’s more concentrated, pomegranate juice is slightly higher in calories than whole seeds at 120 calories per 8-ounce serving. Like whole pomegranates, pomegranate juice is rich in antioxidants. This nutrition information applies to pomegranate juice, not to the sweetened mixture of juice and simple syrup called grenadine.
Going beyond the label reveals the full extent of the health benefits of pomegranate.
Pomegranates and Antioxidants
Pomegranates’ deep red color delivers more than just plate appeal; that garnet hue signifies the fruit’s rich supply of antioxidant phytochemicals. Antioxidants counteract cellular damage due to free radicals. While researchers are still studying the effects of antioxidants within the human body and haven’t yet concluded that these compounds work the same in people as they do in a test tube, the National Cancer Society asserts that within the testing they’ve done so far, “antioxidants help prevent the free radical damage that is associated with cancer.” It’s impossible to talk of curing disease with antioxidants, but it’s clear that foods with antioxidants appear to be sensible preventive medicine.Plenty of foods have antioxidants, but only pomegranates have a related set of compounds called punicalagins. That tongue-twister of a name has its roots in the scientific name for pomegranates, Punica granatum. Punicalagins have the same capacity to neutralize free radicals as other antioxidants, but preliminary studies suggest that these substances also actively seek out free radicals and may have an effect in reducing the chance of prostate cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer.
Pomegranate juice has an antioxidizing capacity of 2,860 units per 100 grams. That compares favorably to prune juice, goji berries and melon juice. If research bears out the distinction between punicalagins and other antioxidants, then consuming both could have an even bigger buffering effect on free radicals.
Vitamins, Minerals and Micronutrients in Pomegranates
Like many fruits, pomegranate supplies a healthy dose of vitamin C. Unlike others, it also contains vitamins B5, B9 and K. Potassium and zinc top the list of vital minerals that pomegranates and pomegranate juice contain.Better known by its full name, pantothenic acid, vitamin B5 is essential to healthy skin and nerve function. The name might be more familiar as a hair-care ingredient, but pantothenic acid is also an important dietary requirement. Research into the importance of pantothenic acid is ongoing, but this micronutrient may help prevent muscle cramping, insulin resistance and adrenal insufficiency.
Vitamin B9, also known as folate or folic acid, took on greater significance in the world of nutritional science when researchers found that folic acid deficiency contributed to neural tube defects in babies. Adults also need this vitamin to repair DNA and create healthy blood cells. A single serving of pomegranate seeds contains 10 percent of an adult’s recommended allowance of the vitamin.
People who don’t get enough vitamin K may bruise easily and run a greater risk of developing osteoporosis. Usually found in dark green leafy vegetables, vitamin K becomes more palatable when it’s packaged in sweet pomegranate seeds. Pomegranate juice and whole pomegranate seeds contain about 10 percent of an adult’s recommended daily allowance of vitamin K.
Allergies and Contraindications
While pomegranate allergies are rare, anyone who notices itching or burning of the skin after handling pomegranates should avoid these fruits. The mild acidity of pomegranate juice could exacerbate GERD or heartburn symptoms; if heartburn is a common occurrence, try cutting down on acidic foods including pomegranates shortly before bedtime.The seeds in pomegranates may cause irritation for people with diverticulitis. Like tomato, strawberry and raspberry seeds, pips in pomegranate seeds can get into the diverticuli of the bowel and cause pain. For other people, the relatively large seeds of the fruit cause no trouble at all. The seeds can be easily and quickly removed using a pomegranate deseeder.
People on certain blood thinners must be careful of their vitamin K intake. Because the vitamin prohibits clotting, too much of it combined with medications could cause an interaction between the two. Account for the vitamin K in pomegranate seeds and juice to ensure that the food doesn’t interact with medications and the pomegranate health benefits can be enjoyed safely.
Selecting, Cooking and Eating Pomegranates
Pick a pomegranate that has a bright red color and feels heavy for its size to get the best-tasting fruit. Pomegranates are in season throughout the fall, so buying them in season ensures a better product.Most fruits consist of sweet flesh wrapped around inedible seeds. Pomegranates reverse that familiar formula; they’re full of translucent juicy seeds surrounded by a fibrous white pith. Separate the delicious seeds from the pith with a sharp rap from the back of a spoon against the back of a pomegranate half. The seeds should shower down from the pith and into the bowl with a few taps from the spoon.
Pomegranate seeds closely resemble the garnets to which they lent their name. Their vivid color and translucency make them a beautiful garnish to ice cream dishes and desserts. Try them in salads, too, where their bursts of tangy juice add a new dimension of taste and texture. Use pomegranate juice anywhere that other fruit juices would go: in glazes and sauces, with mixed fruit drinks and as a frozen treat.
However you decide to use them, whether you learn how to juice pomegranate or use it in salads or desserts, it is easy to start exploring the health benefits of pomegranate fruit.
Health Benefits of Avocado
As well as being a nutrient and calorie rich fruit,
the health benefits of avocado assist in health bones, eyes and
antioxidants to help fight cancer and heart disease.
Sometimes referred to as an alligator pear, the health benefits of avocado
as well as it’s high nutrition should make it a part of your weekly
diet. The avocado is a green fruit that grows in tropical and
semi-tropical areas of the world including Central America, South
America, California and Florida. Avocados are climacteric fruits,
meaning they come to maturity while on the tree, but ripen only after
falling to the ground. The avocado has been cultivated for approximately
eleven centuries and more than 450 variations of the fruit exist today.
A single avocado tree can produce up to 600 avocados each year.
Although few fruits can boast the same nutritional value of an avocado,
many people are completely unaware of just how many vitamins and
minerals are packed into this tasty fruit. Avocados can be eaten raw or
used to make condiments such as guacamole or salad dressings.A Vitamin-Rich Fruit
A mid-sized avocado contains approximately 300 nutrient packed calories. The fruit contains generous amounts of vitamins K, D, C, E and B, as well a vast array of both primary and trace minerals. Vitamin B is essential to a healthy nervous system and to proper metabolic function. Vitamin D is necessary for adequate bone growth and healthy teeth. Vitamins C and E are powerful anti-oxidants and are vital to a strong immune system. Vitamin K is essential to proper blood clotting and bone health. Vitamins D and K also work together to promote healthy joint cartilage and enhance the human body’s production of osteoclasts, the cells that form new bones as a child grows.
Health Benefits of Tomatoes
Health Benefits of Tomatoes
Technically
a fruit but often classified as a vegetable, the health benefits of
tomatoes stem from their high levels of lycopene, an antioxidant, and an
array of body nourishing vitamins.
Taste and nutrition as well as the health benefits of tomatoes
have been highly valued. Enjoyed all over the world, they are
essential ingredients in the diets of many cultures. Yet the plant has a
spotty past, including myths, misconceptions and controversy, and the
challenges of modern mass production of the tomato continue to spark
debate. Yet there is no debate over the intrinsic health benefits of the
tomato. The tomato is treasured for its nutritional value as much as
for its delicious taste.History of the Tomato
Peru is generally credited with first cultivating of the fruit now known as the tomato. The tomatoes of that day were tiny compared to modern tomatoes, but were already a valued food, bred for flavor. From Peru, the tomato spread through Southern and Central America. Mexico’s Aztecs prized them, using them extensively in their cooking, including salsa. When the Spanish invaded Mexico during the early 1500’s, the Aztecs developed a new, gruesome recipe involving tomatoes. The fruit was served with the flesh of the Spanish invaders.Some believe it was the Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortés who brought the tomato to Europe after conquering the Aztec capital, Tenochtítlan, now Mexico City. Others believe Christopher Columbus brought plants back to Europe with him as early as 1493. An Italian herbal document in 1544 mentions the tomato as pomo d’oro, or golden apple. In 1597, English surgeon John Gerard published an herbal declaring that the tomato was poisonous and not to be eaten, prompting a century or two of excluding the fruit from British and colonial diets.
Health Benefits of Grapes
The health benefits of grapes include its ablity to treat constipation, indigestion, fatigue, kidney disorders, macular degeneration and prevention of cataract. Grapes, one of the most delicious fruits, are rich sources of vitamins A, C, B6 and folate in addition to essential minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium
and selenium. Grapes contain flavonoids that are very powerful
antioxidants, which can reduce the damage caused by free radicals and
slacken ageing.
Grapes, owing to their high nutrient content, play an important role in ensuring a healthy and robust life.
Benefits: Some of the health benefits of grapes include the following:
Benefits: Some of the health benefits of grapes include the following:
- Asthma: Due to its eminent therapeutic value, grapes can be used for cure of asthma. In addition to it, the assimilatory power of grapes is also higher. It increases the moisture present in lungs.
- Heart diseases: Grapes increase the nitric oxide levels in the blood, which prevents blood clots thereby reducing the chances of heart attacks. In addition the antioxidant present in grapes prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which blocks the blood vessels.
- Migraine: Ripe grape juice is an important home remedy for curing migraine. It should be taken early in the morning, without mixing additional water.
- Constipation: Grapes are very effective in overcoming constipation. They are considered as a laxative food, as they contain organic acid, sugar and cellulose. They also relieve chronic constipation by toning up intestine and stomach.
- Indigestion: Grapes play an important role in dyspepsia. They relieve heat and cure indigestion and irritation of the stomach. They are also preferred as they constitute a light food.
- Fatigue: Light and white grape juice replenishes the iron content present in the body and prevents fatigue. Though, the dark grape juice might not give an iron boost and on the other hand, decrease the iron levels. Drinking grape juice also provides you with instant energy. The anti-oxidants present in grapes also provide the needed boost to your immune system.
- Kidney disorders: Grapes can substantially reduce the acidity of the uric acid and helps in the elimination of the acid from the system, thereby reducing the work pressure of kidneys.
- Breast cancer: Through a latest study, it has been discovered that purple colored Concord grape juice helps in preventing breast cancer. Significant reduction in mammary tumor mass of laboratory rats was seen after they were fed the grape juice on the experimental basis.
- Alzheimer’s disease: Resveratrol, a beneficial polyphenol present in grapes reduces the levels of amyloidal-beta peptides in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Studies suggest that grapes can enhance brain health and stall the onset of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Macular degeneration: Grapes can prevent the age related loss of vision or macular degeneration. Three servings of grapes a day can reduce the risks of macular degeneration by over 36 %.
- Prevents cataract: Flavonoids present in grapes have antioxidants, which can reduce and fight the damage caused by free radicals such as cataract apart from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and age related problems.
- Blood cholesterol: Grapes contain a compound called pterostilbene, which has the capacity to bring down cholesterol level. Saponins present in grape skin can also prevent the absorption of cholesterol by binding with it.
- Antibacterial activity: Red grapes have strong antibacterial and antiviral properties and can protect you from infections. They have a strong antiviral property against poliovirus and herpes simplex virus.
- Anticancer properties: Grapes are found to have strong anti cancer properties due to the anti-inflammatory effect of resveratrol present in grapes. It is particularly effective in colorectal cancer and breast cancer. Anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins present in grapes have properties of an anti-proliferate and can inhibit the growth of cancer causing agents. Grape juice not just prevents the risk of cancer but also suppresses the growth and propagation of cancer cells. The pigments contained in grapes enhance the overall immunity of the body.
الاثنين، 3 ديسمبر 2012
Lavender Oil Benefits
Most everyone loves the smell of lavender. It’s such a relaxing and comforting smell. Lavender oil is an essential oil used in aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a healing modality that uses the power of essential oils. These aromatic oils contain the life force of the plant that helps the body naturally repair, heal and retard aging.Lavender oil can be used to treat headaches, fungal infections, cuts, bruises, acne, eczema. It’s also healing for muscle and joint pain. It has balancing properties so it can help the body to relax and also can be used for energy and more stamina.
A French scientist named René Gattefossé discovered the healing properties of lavender after being severely burned in a lab explosion.
Uses for Lavender Oil:
1. Rub lavender oil on feet for calming effect.
2. Massage lavender drops on temples and forehead to aid in relaxation. It’s also good to relieve headaches.
3. Put a drop of lavender oil under your nose. This is calming.
4. Put a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow to help you sleep.
5. Put a drop of lavender oil on an insect bite to reduce swelling and stop itching.
6. Place a few drops of lavender oil on a wet cloth, throw into the dryer to freshen your laundry.
7. Rub lavender oil on your chest, neck, and on the bridge of your nose between your eyes to alleviate sinuses and allergies.
