6 NATURAL WAYS TO MAINTAIN BLOOD PRESSURE

Will it be good to begin the new year with blood pressure in its highest possible readings? even if it's possible the person might die within few minutes or hours of the elevated blood pressure. Here are good methods to maintain the optimum blood pressure naturally.

No pre-packaged foods: Many frozen meals pack a huge sodium punch, while many of them don’t have enough vegetables to help you meet your daily requirements.

Trade salt for spices, vinegar, or fruit juice: Start by adding fresh or dried herbs and spices — like hot pepper and thyme — lemon or lime juice, flavoured vinegar, and garlic in place of salt in your favourite recipes.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Fruits and vegetables are fresh and attractive to the eye，they don't create bulk in our body，they are good source of fibre，vitamins and minerals，they have sufficient water and they are rich in nutrients. Eaten vegetables and fruit is a healthy practice for all. They help reduce risk of heart attack，ease digestion，they improve skin freshness and maintain body weight. Choose your choice！

HOW TO IMPROVE DIGESTION IN 7 NATURAL WAYS

We all want our cake and to eat it too, especially during the holiday season. While all the holiday fare may taste great at the moment it often leads to digestive aftermath in the form of indigestion and bloating. Here are simple ways to boost your digestion:

AVOID MUCH DRINKING. The liquid dilutes your body’s natural digestive enzymes which are needed in full force to cope with all the heavy food at this time of year. Snack more and eat less food at meals, rather than eating huge meals. Your body is better able to digest the food in smaller amounts.

TAKE YOUR TIME. Chew your food well and really savour the taste by slowing down. Chewing mixes food with digestive enzymes that get started immediately to improve digestion.

EAT EARLIER IN THE DAY AND NOT TOO MUCH JUST BEFORE BED. Your body needs adequate time for digestion. Lying down too soon after eating is a recipe for heartburn and indigestion.

TRY NOT TO EAT WHEN YOU ARE FEELING STRESSED. If you’re frequently stressed, try to create a more relaxing time to eat.

EAT MORE FERMENTED FOODS LIKE UNPASTEURISED YOGURT. The naturally-present bacteria aid digestion and replenish the body’s natural bacteria in the gut.

EAT SMALL SALADE WITH APPLE CIDER VINEGEI BEFORE MEAL.

The enzymes in the greens help with digestion, while the apple cider vinegar stimulates the body’s natural production of hydrochloric acid to aid protein digestion. Avoid apple cider vinegar if you have a stomach ulcer.

ENJOY PEPPERMINT OR GINGER HERBAL TEA. Both have been shown in studies to improve digestion. They are best drunk between meals rather than with meals.

HOW TO CONQUER STRESS EVERYDAY

During a strenuous workday, the rate of oxygen consumption increases, mobilization of stored energy ensue, rate of blood flow increases and rate of metabolism (energy metabolism) increases as well. As the body's metabolism increases, there is also an increase in the generation of reactive oxygen species also known as free radicals. 
Free radicals are highly reactive species such as superoxide anion... that have potentials to attack biomolecles and oxidize it. One of the molecle that can be oxidized by this species is lipoprotien which, when oxidized become substrate for macrophage and thereby activate another signal pathway in the body. 

TOP 3 REASONS WHY WOMEN SHOULD AVOID EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL

If you have encounter argument with female counterpart you would have been hearing the common slang " WHAT MEN CAN DO, WOMEN CAN DO BETTER" among women. You will agree with me that some women go extra mile to place bet in order to challenge men superiority, this is not limited to some particular task but, virtually everything. If alcoholism is your area of specialisation as a woman, here are top three reasons you should quit or reduce it to the minimal level. 

 •Gender: Women metabolise alcohol more slowly than men, and are thus more susceptible to developing the alcohol-related liver disease.

•Alcohol and weight in women: The combination of high alcohol consumption and excess body weight increase a woman’s risk of developing chronic liver disease considerably. Their risk of death from liver disease is also higher.

•Hepatitis C: Regular drinkers who have had any type of hepatitis have a greater risk of developing the disease.

Men who consume alcohol in excess should also know that liver damage is not far from site!

MM

5 WAYS TO WEAN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY OF SUGAR

      Most of us eat too much sugar. In fact, according to scientists, the amount of sugar we consume every year has soared nearly 30 per cent since 1983 and is likely a major contributor to the soaring rates of overweight and obesity generally.

With its own addictive seduction and treated socially as an acceptable addition to almost everything we consume, sugar is hard to avoid. Yet, sugar has not always been an integral part of the human diet – once, sugar was hard to obtain in nature, so our bodies didn’t develop a need for its consumption. And while, 150 years ago, we ate no sugar, now the average person is eating at least a kilo of it a week!

Uncovering all the sugar in your diet isn’t easy. Sugar often hides under several pseudonyms and turns up in even the most innocuous foods like bread, pastries, rice and yam. 

Eating less sugar is about preserving your health. There are many good reasons to minimise the sugar you eat each day. Health is definitely a top reason, as too much sugar ingestion is implicated in a range of poor health conditions and diseases, including Type-2 diabetes, dental problems, acne, infertility, certain cancers and heart diseases.

IMPORTANCE OF TOMATOES IN CANCER PREVENTION

A tomato-rich diet may help protect at-risk postmenopausal women from breast cancer, according to new research accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Breast cancer risk rises in postmenopausal women as their body mass index climbs (Calculate your body mass index by following the method in front page of this site) . The study found eating a diet high in tomatoes had a positive effect on the level of hormones that play a role in regulating fat and sugar metabolism.

Eating fruits and vegetables, which are rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals such as lycopene, conveys significant benefits. We believe regular consumption of at least the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables would promote breast cancer prevention in an at-risk population.”

Consuming a diet rich in tomatoes had a larger impact on hormone levels in women who maintained a healthy weight.

The soy diet was linked to a reduction in participants’ adiponectin levels. Researchers originally theorized that a diet containing large amounts of soy could be part of the reason that Asian women have lower rates of breast cancer than women in the United States, but any beneficial effect may be limited to certain ethnic groups.

FACTS ABOUT NATURAL HONEY AND IT'S BENEFITS

This wonderfully rich golden liquid is the miraculous product of honey bees and a naturally delicious alternative to white sugar. It is available throughout the year. In addition to its reputation as nature’s nutritive sweetener, research also indicates that honey’s unique composition makes it useful as an antimicrobial agent and antioxidant.

The health benefits of honey — like all foods — depend on the quality of the honey. But in this case, the situation is even more extreme, because the pollen that collects on the bees’ legs as they move from plant to plant is only as healthful and as diverse as those plants.

In addition, the processing of honey often removes many of the phytonutrients found in raw honey as it exists in the hive. Raw honey, for example, contains small amounts of the same resins found in propolis. Propolis, sometimes called “bee glue,” is actually a complex mixture of resins and other substances that honeybees use to seal the hive and make it safe from bacteria and other micro-organisms.

Bee keepers sometimes use special screens around the inside of the hive boxes to trap propolis, since bees will spread this substance around the honeycomb and seal cracks with the anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal resins.

The resins found in propolis only represent a small part of the phytonutrients found in propolis and honey, however. Other phytonutrients found both in honey and propolis have been shown to possess cancer-preventing and anti-tumour properties. These substances include caffeic acid methyl caffeate, phenylethyl caffeate, and phenylethyl dimethylcaffeate.

7 WORKING METHODS TO RELAX WHEN STRESSED

Ever increasing demands, competition and struggle for better living is a great threat to the body and soul, no wonder; we grow old very fast and get stressed in every moment of our day. Here are six natural methods to conquer stress and relax within few minutes.

•Sip green tea: Instead of turning purple with rage, get green with a cup of herbal tea. Green tea is a source of L-Theanine, a chemical that helps relieve anger. Boil the water, pour it out, and take a soothing sip.

•Eat chocolate: Just a square of the sweet stuff can calm your nerves. Dark chocolate regulates levels of the stress hormone cortisol and stabilizes metabolism.

•Slurp some honey: Replace stress with sweetness and try a spoonful of honey. Besides being a natural skin moisturizer and  antibiotic, honey also provides compounds that reduce inflammation in the brain, meaning it fights depression and anxiety.

•Take a mango: Use a five-minute break to peel, slice, and bite into a juicy mango, which packs a compound called linalool that helps lower stress levels.

•Chew gum: Minty, fruity, or bubble-gum flavour, a stick of gum is a surprisingly quick and easy way to beat stress. Just a few minutes of chewing can actually reduce anxiety and lower cortisol levels.

•Munch a crunchy snack: Sometimes there’s nothing more satisfying than munching away on a candy bar when we’re stressed — one study found stressed adults craved crunchy and salty snacks more than usual. But that salty crunch doesn’t have to be so sugary — a handful of trail mix or a bag of celery sticks will work just as well.

 •Lay your head on a cushion or pillow: There are days when all we really need is a nice, long nap. But it’s not always possible to start snoring in the office. If you’ve got a pillow, you’re already on the road to relaxation. Try this visualization technique: Lay your head down for a few minutes and imagine the pillow is a sponge sucking up all your worries.

AMAZING WAYS TO FIGHT RABIES

Scabies are mites that spread via skin-to-skin contact with an infected person; or by sharing bedding, clothing, or towels with an infected person. Regardless of personal hygiene, a scabies infestation occurs when mites burrow under the surface of the skin and cause an allergic reaction. Scabies is very contagious, and can infect an entire family household very quickly. For some reason, scabies is more widespread in children, infants, and babies, who can become so infested and irritable that they won’t eat or sleep.

Scabies can develop anywhere on the body, however, the mites to prefer to burrow and live in these areas:

•Arms — particularly around the elbows and wrists (they like little folds in the skin)

•Hands — especially in the spaces between the fingers, around the fingernails, and under rings

•Covered skin — mainly any areas of the body that are normally covered by clothing or jewelry, such as the belt line, or in places where you wear jewelry or a watch

•Buttocks & genitals — in the folds around the butt and around the moist areas of the penis and genitals.

Since scabies will not go away on its own, effective scabies treatment aims to treat the rash and banish the mites from under the skin in the following ways:

•Your doctor may prescribe a topical cream or lotion that is applied to the surface of the skin.

•Oral scabies medication is ingested in pill form for adults. However, children, pregnant women, or older adults with at risk immunity can have dangerous side effects and medication is not recommended.

To prevent scabies mites from being continuously transferred back and forth between infected individuals, all clothing, towels, and bedding must be thoroughly washed and sanitized.

4 NATURAL WAYS TO AVOID DEPRESSION

If you’ve had depression, you know how hopeless you can feel. It’s important to get professional treatment. But there are things you can do to ease symptoms of depression. Exercise, changing your diet, and even playing with a pet can improve your mood. 

Eat smart: There’s a connection between mind and body. Although there is no specific diet that works for depression, a healthy diet can be part of an overall treatment plan. Build your diet around plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to help boost your physical and emotional health.

Choose your foods: Some studies suggest omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12 – especially for people who may not get enough of these nutrients – may ease the mood changes that are part of depression. Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel contain omega-3 fatty acids. So do flaxseed, nuts, soybeans, and dark green vegetables. Seafood and low-fat dairy products are sources of B12. Vegetarians who eat no meat or fish can get B12 in fortified cereals, dairy products, and supplements.

Try low-fat carbs: Serotonin is a brain chemical that enhances your sense of well-being. Carbohydrates raise the level of serotonin in your brain. Low-fat carbs such as popcorn, a baked potato, graham crackers, or pasta are options. Vegetables, fruit, and whole grain options also provide fiber.

Drink less caffeine: Anxiety can accompany depression. And too much caffeine can make you nervous, jittery, or anxious. While possible links between caffeine and depression haven’t been definitively established, cutting back on caffeinated drinks may help lower your risk of depression and improve sleep.

HEALTHY FACT ABOUT MILK

Whole milk is loaded with saturated fat，the type that raises bad cholesterol levels，promote inflammation，and may contribute to clogged arteries. Do your heart and waistline a favour and switch to skim (fat free) or low fat milk. This is one of the easiest changes you can make for a healthier diet. Skim and low-fat milk minimize the bad stuff，while delivering all the good stuff (calcium，protein，Vitamin D and potassium).

3 GREAT REMEDIES OF SORE THROAT

A sore throat burns，feel scratchy and may cause pain that makes it hard to talk or swallow. The usual cause is a virus or bacteria，though throat irritation may also be caused by smoking，dry heat，postnasal drip or an allergic reaction. These are great remedies that will make you feel better.

1. SALT WATER GARGLE: Salt acts as a mild antiseptic，and also draws water out of mucous membranes in the throat，which helps to clear phlegm. Dissolve a half-teaspoon salt in a glass of warm water，gargle and spit out. Repeat same steps up to four times a day.

2. GARGLE WITH BAKING-SODA: Dissolve one-half teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water and gargle it.

3. QUIT SMOKING: Cigarette smoke is extremely irritating to the lining of the throat. Breathe through your nose rather than your mouth. This is a natural way to humidify the air you breathe.

3 WAYS TO IMPROVE MEMORY

Several researches have shown the impact of some certain things on the brain power and memory boost. Here are those tips and supplements that can increase the memory;

Supplements: Few supplements are known to encourage the growth of new neurons and decrease substances that can inhibit cognitive function. The gold standard is fish oil, which has been associated with lowering the risk of dementia because it contains DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that decreases the production of memory-inhibiting substances in the brain and that may be involved in the formation of new neurons.

Vitamin D may also work, since it “stimulates the growth of new neurons and helps clear protein abnormalities associated with diseases that affect memory, such as dementia. You might also consider folic acid, B6, and B12 complex.

Meditate: Meditation improves your concentration and focus, which benefits memory. In addition, meditation has been shown to reduce stress, which can do a number on memory.

When we’re under stress, our body and brain release hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and corticotropin-releasing hormone, which in short bursts can help us fight or flee danger. But when you’re stressed-out over long periods of time, these hormones change the structure of the hippocampus, destroying nerve endings involved in information flow. A study released last year showed that subjects who performed a 12-minute chanting meditation once a day for eight weeks saw marked improvement in their memory and increased blood flow in the areas of the brain used in a variety of memory tasks.

Do something out of the ordinary: New experiences, such as taking a different route to work, can also improve recall. Our brains are constantly deciding what’s important enough to remember and what can be tossed away.

5 FOODS THAT BEAT HYPERTENSION

The heart pumps blood into the blood vessels (arteries), which carry the blood throughout the body. The blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls.

The online portal, mayoclinic.com, explains that blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. “The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure,” it states.

Physicians say high blood pressure (also called hypertension) is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body — a situation that contributes to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), ultimately leading to the development of heart failure.

While experts argue that the exact causes of high blood pressure are not known, they warn that several factors and conditions may play a role in its development. These factors include smoking, being overweight or obese, lack of physical activity, too much salt in the diet, too much alcohol consumption, stress, older age, genetics, family history of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and adrenal/thyroid disorders.

Beyond taking appropriate medications for hypertension, though, cardiologists, nutritionists and a host of scientific evidence all agree that you can lower your blood pressure and keep it in check by eating sensibly. Again, they say, certain foods are so beneficial to the body because of their capability to lower blood pressure. Nutritionists say plant-based diets and diets high in fruits and vegetables are strongly associated with lower blood pressure

 So, what are these wonder foods? These ones…

Broccoli

Broccoli contains fibre, potassium, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and beta-carotene, all of which can help in lowering blood pressure. It also contains chromium, which helps to regulate insulin and blood sugar.” You can eat it raw, steamed, juiced, or as a side dish.

4 BENEFITS OF EXERCISE

We all know that exercise will tone muscles and keep you fit. It might even help your heart or keep your blood pressure in check. But there are many other reasons to hit the gym or the trails regularly. From healthy skin to a sharper mind, read on to check out some of the most surprising benefits of exercise.

Boosts brainpower, productivity: Hitting the gym doesn't just strengthen your muscles, it can also strengthen your brain. Study after study has linked regular exercise to everything from better grades in school to a stronger memory. Other studies have shown that working out can help improve concentration, boost creativity and help with your productivity in the office. Seniors can especially see benefits in regular exercise, because it keeps your mental capacity in shape and aids in lowering the risk of dementia.

Improves skin: Working out can actually help you look younger. When you break a sweat, your circulation increases; the more blood that reaches your skin, the more your body naturally repairs skin damage, and the harder your collagen works to stay strong and elastic. Exercise can improve the skin of younger folks, too.

Helps digestion: Regular exercise can actually help keep you, well, regular. Working out helps your intestines speed up the time it takes to break down food; the faster food is broken down in the digestive tract, the less likely you are to be constipated.

Boosts self-esteem: Experts have long linked regular exercise to lower rates of depression, stress, and anxiety. One recent British study has taken it even further than that, finding that exercise also helps you feel better about yourself. The study showed that women on a regular exercise programme had higher levels of self-esteem and self-acceptance. The researchers found that aerobic exercises, like walking, swimming, and running, were particularly good for boosting self-esteem. And it’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario. The best exercise for boosting your mood is the one you enjoy the most.

5 FOODS THAT HELP RELIEVE HEADACHE

Sufferers of headaches know just how debilitating they can be. Headaches occur in millions of individuals across the country, and they have a myriad of different causes. Improper nutrition can easily be the cause of a headache. Here are some foods that could relieve your headache and get you back to feeling good in no time.

1. Salad; If you wake up with a pounding headache from partying too hard from the night before, your pain may be in part from dehydration. One great meal to help rehydrate yourself is salad. Lettuce leaves are high in water and fibre, which will make your body feel great.

2. Coffee: In moderation, coffee can be a great fix for a pounding headache. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which means it can reduce the size of blood vessels. In excess, this can cause a headache. However, one cup of coffee could help tame a difficult migraine. Coffee can reduce the release of histamine in your blood, which will calm allergic reactions and save your head from pounding pain.

3. Bananas: Bananas are a great food to eat when trying to relieve a stubborn headache. They are high in magnesium, which can relax your blood vessels and ease head pain. They are also high in potassium, which is an essential part of your electrolyte balance.

4. Spicy foods: If seasonal allergies or the flu have your head pounding, try snacking on spicy foods. Consuming spicy foods can relieve congestion, which will reduce sinus pressure and open up your airways. Chili powder is also packed with vitamin E. This nutrient can relax your blood vessels, helping give relief to a sore head.

5. Bread: Whole grain bread is a great food for people suffering headaches or migraines. The unprocessed grains release carbohydrates slower than white bread, which can replenish your physical energy. If you have started a new diet, headaches can be common as your body gets used to its new fuel sources. Remember to consume healthy carbohydrates for complete nutritional health. Some simple toast with butter could be the ticket to a pain-free head.

8 REASONS YOU MUST EAT SWEET POTATOES

Sweet potatoes — a root vegetable — have been described as one of the healthiest foods that nature has endowed man with.

This distinctive tuber comes in variety of colours, such that they can have red, orange, yellow or even purple skin.  They can also have orange, white or purple flesh, adding to the visual appeal that a food could give.

Though sweet potatoes are … well, sweet, experts say they won’t cause blood sugar spikes and crashes — phenomenon that are usually linked with fatigue and weight gain. Nutritionists say when eaten, the natural sugars in sweet potatoes are slowly released into the bloodstream, helping to ensure a balanced and regular source of energy.

The vegetable is also regarded as a good source of fibre, which helps with blood sugar regulation and keeping you regular as well.

1. Low calories

For weight watchers, sweet potatoes can be eaten without the usual fear of packing the pounds around your waistline. This is because this tuber crop has fewer calories per serving than yams, experts assure.

4 FOODS THAT CAN DAMAGE THE TEETH

We know that the most broadcasting aspect of many foods are the good side but, we cant neglect the fact that they also have negative impact on specific part of the body. Below are the brief effects of four selected foods on the teeth.
 1. Milk- Dough milk is rich in calcium，vitamin D，riboflavin，carotene，retinol and others but，lactose in milk rots the teeth because it can be converted to acid by bacteria.

2. Lemon- Dough lemon drinks have detoxifying and other benefits，it can affect teeth in more ways. the high content of citric acid can cause enamel erosion and other dental problems.

3. Dried fruits- Because they have concentrated sugar and stickness，when you eat dried fruits part of it can adhere to the teeth while the sugar encourage bacteria growth which can erode the enamel.

4. Red and White wine-When taken in moderation，wine benefit the heart immensely. It is also known that red wine contain natural dyes，acids and tannin. these three ingredients leave lasting effect on teeth as they can contribute to teeth stain.

2 SURPRISING HEALTH BENEFITS OF ONION ( SKIN CARE)

Many research have shown the importance of antioxidant in body maintenance and the effect can not be disputed. Out of the numerous sources of antioxidant, onions remain outstanding. 
1. Fresh onions can keep your skin radiant, soft, and supple because of the antioxidants, vitamins and sulphur in them. You can apply onion juice or a small onion piece on your face to get a naturally radiant skin. 
2. Consumption of raw onion purifies our blood by eliminating impurities, this gives you a healthy and glowing skin. In addition to this, onion also help in the management of acne and infections. Massaging onion juice on the skin brings forth its antiseptic quality that helps our body fight acne and other skin infections. You can also combine onion juice with almond or olive oil to make a face pack to fight acne spots. Onion juice also helps to heal insect bites and burn scars.

9 FACTS ABOUT DARK CHOCOLATE AND ITS HEALTH BENEFITS

Dark chocolate is especially rich in theobromine, a chemical that stimulates the heart. Theobromine also relaxes smooth muscle and dilates blood vessels.

According to a 2008 article from Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, research suggests that dark chocolate can help prevent pre-eclampsia, a condition in which a woman’s blood pressure increases rapidly during pregnancy. This complication causes excess protein to be released into the urine. If the condition is not treated quickly, it can lead to serious or even fatal results for a pregnant woman and her baby.

Theobromine has also been used to treat high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries, suggesting chocolate has health benefits beyond those specific to pregnant women.