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Showing posts with label vegetables. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vegetables. Show all posts

Oct 25, 2010

Skin Healthy Skin


Healthy diet is essential for a healthy skin !

 
 Fruits and vegetables should be a constituent of this diet.  They are rich in nutrients and have powerful antioxidants.  The antioxidants guard against free radicals which are the minute enemies that accelerate the aging process.  
 
The fruits and vegetables should be taken in different varieties since some help in gaining and lose of weight.

Raw food majority contain more minerals and stronger life energy.  
Some fruits which help in enhancing beauty are; fresh summer fruits such as peaches, plums and nectannes.  They are good sources of antioxidants and other phynonutrients.  Antioxidants are essential for protecting skin from damaging ultraviolet rays and they are more effective when more than one is present.

  Yogurt contains natural acids and antioxidants also found in some fruits.  This nourishes and lightly exfoliates skin, while oil released from walnuts gives softness and sheen to the skin. 
 Berries contains antioxidants and natural ant inflammatory compounds that help repair skin and prevents further damage by neutralizing free radicals in your body, to control wrinkles you can take olive oil and cantaloupe.  These maintain a dewy healthy skin since they have antioxidants that help pores stay clear.  The fruits also contain high carotene content which keeps skin cells healthy. 
 Soya contains estrogen that stimulates connective tissues and promotes healthy skin. 
 
 Green vegetables also help to clear pimples and black heads such vegetables are; spinach dietary.  They help in reducing inflammation and neutralize cell damaging agents.  
You can get five or six servings of leafy greens per week together with a daily serving of orange vegetables like carrots, pumpkins and peppers.  They contain beta carotene which is converted in to vitamin A in the body which heals the damaged skin tissues.

Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins A C and E which helps in healing wounds, since they help from connective tissues such fruits include, apricot, carrots, kales, collards, mango, spinach and sweet potato.  They contain vitamin A vitamin C is contained in; chili peppers, grape fruit, pineapple, cabbage plums and orange, you are required to take the above fruits in a right quantity as follows; take at least one serving of vitamin A – rich fruit or vegetables a day, one serving of vitamin C – rich fruit or vegetables a day.

Caution

There are some fruits and vegetables that can worsen the skin condition.
 
  For instance, rosacea is a skin condition characterized by facial redness and swelling.  It can be triggered by re,d black and white pepper.
  Eczema symptoms can be worsened by peanuts, soya, and tomatoes.  You are therefore required to avoid some fruits and vegetables that trigger any of the skin conditions.

You must be careful with the way you handle the fruits and vegetables when preparing or eating them.  You should wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food, especially fresh whole fruits and vegetables.  Rinse raw produce in warm water.  Do not use soaps or other detergents. 
 You can use a small scrub brush to remove surface dirt.  While cutting use smooth durable non- absorbent cutting boards that can be cleaned and sanitized easily.  The cutting boards should be washed by hot water, soap and scrub brush to remove food particles.  You can then sanitize the board.

People whose immune system may be compromised, for example, if you are very  old, you have chronic illness or you are under a certain medication, you should stick to pasteurized juices and adder, since pasteurization kills harmful levels of bacteria found in food. 
 
 Avoid fruits and vegetables that look brownish, slimy or dried out when buying them.  This is an indication that they have been stored under poor conditions. When you want to lose weight, take fewer calories daily.  This includes fruits and vegetables that are high in nutrients and low in calories such as tomatoes, cantaloupe, strawberries and broccoli.  They will make you feel ‘full’ hence consuming fewer calories.  You should also take water to keep your skin soft and smooth.

May 21, 2009

CASE STUDY : COUGH


There are two basic kinds of coughs, congested and dry, with each one having different underlying causes.

Aromatherapy :
The use of inhaled steam can be very effective in liquefying mucus and reducing irritation.
To control the steam, bend over the steaming water while holding a towel over your head. Try some of these aromatherapy oils. Inhaling essential oils can stimulate your lungs to expel phlegm.

* Cypress : Add three drops each of cypress and juniper oil and a drop of ginger.
* Cedar Dilute 3 drops of oil of cedar in one teaspoon of carrier oil, such as olive, sweet almond or jojoba, and massage onto your chest several times a day.
* Add 10-15 drops to a pot of steaming water and inhale the vapors
* Eucalyptus Add a few drops of eucalyptus to a carrier oil and rub on your chest.
* Put 10-15 drops of oil in boiling water and inhale the steam. Eucalyptus is a good decongestant and expectorant. You can also add three drops of hyssop oil.
* Jasmine Use the oil in a burner or put a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale the fumes.
* Myrrh Add a few drops of myrrh to a carrier oil and rub on your chest. This will help reduce mucus.
* Peppermint Dilute 3 drops of peppermint oil in one teaspoon of carrier oil, such as olive, sweet almond or jojoba, and massage onto your chest several times a day.
* Add 10-15 drops to a pot of steaming water and inhale the vapors.
* Pine Put some essential pine oil in a burner to soothe the throat. You can also place a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale the fumes.
* Thyme Add 10-15 drops of this oil in a pan of boiling water and inhale the fumes, in an infuser, or place a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale.

* Massaging using oil of thyme may also be helpful in relieving your cough. Put 5 drops in ¼ cup olive oil and massage your neck and upper body. Thyme is an excellent expectorant and has been used for centuries to heal respiratory conditions.

Reflexology :
Rub the padded area below your big toe in various directions at the first sign of a cough. Also, hold back the toes and press on the raised area with your thumb. This will help relieve chest congestion.

Congested Coughs :
Causes
The obvious causes of coughing are colds, flu, bronchial infections, sinus congestion, smoking, and the need to rid the throat of foreign matter.

But did you know that heartburn is one of the leading causes? For some unknown reason heartburn is the cause for about 10% of chronic coughers. See our Heartburn section for suggestions to relieve both the heartburn and coughing. Dust, pollen and chemicals are other sources of irritants. Also, some drugs, most notably ACE inhibitors used for high blood pressure, have coughing as a side effect in 21% of the people using them. Coughing is also a common symptom of asthma. The sound of your cough may indicate its cause. Below is a list of the cough sounds and what that may indicate:

* A barking cough - bronchitis or croup

* A high-pitched cough - your vocal cords are involved and the airways have become narrowed

* A wheezing cough - asthma and/or bronchitis

* A loud, gasping cough with difficulty getting air - whooping cough.

See Your Doctor When...
* If you have any of the following conditions along with your cough,

* See your doctor without delay because you may have an infection, or the cough may indicate the presence of a more serious health condition.

* Your cough doesn't get better after a few days. Coughing can lead to fractured ribs or a heart attack.

* You cough up blood or bloody mucus.

* Your mucus is yellow, brown or green and does not improve in a few days. This will indicate that you have an infection.

* If you cough for more than three days for no apparent reason.

Or, if you have:

* Shortness of breath when you cough.

* Sharp pains in your chest when you cough.

* A fever along with a persistent cough. This could be indicative of a serious respiratory illness. If you have a high fever and difficulty breathing you may have pneumonia.

* Chest pain

* Persistent chills

* Excessive night sweats

* Laryngitis and a persistent cough that lasts for more than three weeks.

* A skin rash, earache, pain in the teeth or sinuses, or a headache.

Dry Coughs :
A dry cough will be raspy and without phlegm and may be due to smoking, asthma, dust, foreign matter, pollution, or come after a sore throat.

* Another cause of your dry cough could be a climate-controlled building. The heating and cooling systems dry the air and your respiratory membranes, too. Rapid temperature and humidity changes upon entering a building add to the problem. Chronic coughing, sneezing and a runny nose may be the result. If you work in a climate-controlled building, avoid cold drinks and food as they interfere with your body's ability to maintain its optimal temperature. During the air-conditioning season cold foods and drinks affect your body's temperature and its ability to adjust to the building's conditions; instead drink hot liquids and eat warm foods. When your building is heated, drink fluids at room temperature. You want to soothe the mucus membranes and moisturize your throat.

* Inhaling steam from a pan with one of the essential oils mentioned above added is particularly helpful with dry coughs.

Remedies :
* Aloe vera juice Mix equal parts of aloe vera juice and honey and take a tablespoon or two as needed. Good for a smoker's cough.
* Apple cider vinegar Sprinkle apple cider vinegar on your pillowcase before bedtime.
* Put 1 or 2 teaspoons of vinegar in a glass of water and keep beside your bed to use when you feel the tickling sensation coming on. Take a few swallows as needed. Vinegar dissolves mucus and reduces inflammation.

* Mix ½ cup of honey with 3-4 tablespoons of vinegar. Take one tablespoon before going to bed or during a coughing fit, and throughout the day, as needed. Stir well before use.

* Comfrey -Take a comfrey tea for dry persistent coughs. Comfrey should not be taken for long term use as it may cause liver damage.

* Codonopsis root Use a decoction, tincture or powder for chronic coughs.
* Garlic Mince a clove of garlic and place in a small bowl; cover with honey and cover the bowl with plastic wrap; marinate overnight. Take one tablespoonful upon awakening, then throughout the day, as needed.

* Honey Add a tablespoon of honey to a glass of boiling water and drink as needed. This will soothe the throat.

Horehound lozenges help suppress a dry cough.

* Licorice root -Take 5 grams of powdered root with honey three times a day. You can also make a decoction by using ½ teaspoon to one cup of water. Take three cups daily. Licorice has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, and is an expectorant. Do not use if you have high blood pressure.

* Tea -Make a tea of wild cherry bark, slippery elm or red clover. Sweeten with honey.
* Zinc lozenges are helpful.

Homeopathy :
Antimonium tart Is to be used if the cough is loose and rattling with little or no phlegm and breathing is painful.

Bryonia Use when a cold has gone to the chest and turned in to a hard, dry cough.

Drosera Use for a cough after which you have a whooping sound or with vomiting.

Ferrum phos. Is beneficial for a hard, dry cough with a tickle.

Remedies Folk :Aloe vera Mix equal parts of aloe juice and honey. This is very good for a scratchy cough.

Angelica : Use a tincture of the root or leaf, or make a tea. Angelica is an expectorant. Do not use if you are pregnant.

Bee balm : Native Americans used bee balm to alleviate colds and coughs. Steep two teaspoons of fresh (one, dried) bee balm leaves in a cup of hot water, covered, for four minutes. Sip a cup three times a day. Bee balm has antiseptic compounds that can help heal respiratory infections and clear nasal congestion.

Carrot juice : Mix with honey and a little warm water. Take a tablespoonful several times a day.

Cayenne pepper :Mix ¼-½ teaspoon of pepper in a glass of water and use as a gargle, swallowing afterward. You can also use 15-20 drops of Tabasco sauce in a glass of water or juice. Pepper helps clear congestion and draws blood to the throat to fight infection.

Chamomile tea will soothe the throat.

Garlic Grate : one or two cloves of garlic and mix with a teaspoon of honey. Take as needed.

Ginger :Make a tea using ginger and drink 6 oz several times a day, as needed.

Grape juice: Mix a cup of grape juice with a teaspoon of honey.

Honey : Mix honey with juice of a fresh lemon and take as needed. Not only does honey soothe the tickle, but it has antibacterial properties, too.

* Dr. D. C. Jarvis, in his classic book, Folk Medicine, described another honey remedy that worked very well: boil a whole lemon for 10 minutes; when cool enough to handle roll it back and forth on a hard surface, cut it in half and squeeze the juice into a pint of raw honey. Add a teaspoon of glycerin and take as often as needed.

Horehound cough drops have been used for generations to quell coughs. One of horehound's compounds, marrubiin, stimulates bronchial secretions and helps break up congestion.

Hyssop Steep two teaspoons of dried hyssop in one cup of boiling water, covered for ten minutes; strain and drink cool for an expectorant or hot to relieve congestion. The oils in hyssop are good for mild respiratory problems. Hyssop contains marrubiin, the same compound that makes horehound an excellent expectorant.

Lime juice
Mix equal parts of lime juice and honey.

Mullein :soothes and relaxes the lungs and bronchial tubes, which eases a cough. Use 25-30 drops of tincture in a small glass of boiling water three times a day.

Onion broth :
Make a broth by boiling an onion for 10-15 minutes; strain and drink the broth several times a day. The broth will reduce congestion.

Onion juice : Make a syrup by combining 1 teaspoonful of raw onion juice with 1 teaspoonful of honey; let stand for 3-4 hours, and take in divided doses.

Sugar :
Suck on a cube of raw sugar.

Tea : Tea made with peppermint or rosemary will help break up congestion.

Thyme :
Make a tea using two tablespoons of fresh (one tablespoon of dried) thyme in a cup of boiling water; steep, covered, for four minutes; strain and drink hot. Thyme relaxes the lungs and promotes expectoration of mucus. It contains a volatile oil, thymol, which has antiseptic and antibacterial properties.

Supplements : Vitamins A, C and E are beneficial with conditions that cause coughs.
Tips to Control Cough :
* Breathe the steam from a vaporizer, hot shower, or pan of boiling water. The moist air will soothe the airways and loosen sinus congestion and phlegm in your throat and lungs. A few drops of the oil of eucalyptus will help this process.
* Elevate the head of your bed. This will allow your sinuses and nasal passages to drain better and not create that "tickle" in your throat.
* Stop smoking. Passive smoke or other irritants, such as chemicals, can be a cause. Household cleaners, new carpeting, paneling and mattresses are some of the many possible sources of chemical irritants.
* Drink at least 8 eight ounce glasses of water. This is especially important if your cough is due to an illness. Water is the best expectorant you can take and will help thin the mucus and loosen the cough.
* Do not use over-the-counter expectorant cough remedies as they just suppress the symptoms and do not address the underlying problem. If you have the kind of cough with mucus you want to get it out of your respiratory system, not suppress it. Try one of the natural expectorant remedies below.
* Try eating hot chili peppers, horseradish or other spicy foods. They will help loosen mucus.
* During the winter, if your house is dry, use a humidifier and a cool-mist vaporizer in your bedroom at night. This will help thin the mucus. Be sure to thoroughly clean the vaporizer, as it can harbor bacteria.
* Drink hot tea to break up the mucus and open and moisten the airways.
* Cough drops or hard candy will help stop the tickle if you have a dry cough and will moisten the throat.
* Avoid foods that increase the production of mucus, such as dairy products, meat and fried foods.

Hot packs placed on your throat and chest are very soothing.

May 13, 2009

Edibles Alphabet :


Healthy body means there will be a healthy mind automatically.

Lets have a quick strategic look at how English alphabet teaches us to keep ourselves healthy by making an acronym out of the same. Some alphabet refers to fruits while few refer to nuts , some to vegetables and many more indeed.

These are  smart strategies to adopt which can help us become more disciplined and focused towards our healthy lifestyle and wealthy Aging !

A : is for Apple that keeps me healthy and the stomach troubles at bay. 

B : is for Beetroot which gives me my iron and gets my dandruff away. 

C : is for Corn which is good for my nerves and brain. 

D : for Dates which gives me my iron and takes away all my strain. 

E : for Eggs which gives me my protein for hair and body. 

F : for Figs which keeps my bowels clean. 

G : for Grapefruit which is good for throat and mouth allergy. 

H : for Honey that is antiseptic and full of energy. 

I : for I have to follow this acrostic. 

J : for Jaggery which is going to satisfy my sweet tooth. 

K : for Kiwi fruit which would aid me to digest food. 

L : for Lemon which is good for cold. 

M : for Moong whose sprouts would stop me from growing old. 

N : for Nuts which I can eat in between my meals. 

O : for Olive oil which feels good when massaged into my skin. 

P : for Potatoes which gives me energy. 

Q : for Quake oats—The complete breakfast meal and good for skin. 

R : for Rice which if unpolished and brown , is good for my hair. 

S : for Soyabeans which I find a better alternative to cow’s milk. 

T : for Tomato which would help my complexion get softer like silk. 

U : for U as well to follow the Acronym. 

V : for Vitamins found in green leafy veggies and fruits and nuts. 

W : for Wheat germ which makes my rotis (chappatis) tastier and yummy. 

X : for The Xit of junk foods that results liver problems. 

Y : for Yoghurt which cleanses my face and hair. 

Z : for Zeal in attitude to follow all this.

This is just tip on tips of life, this list can be endlessly long with so many nutritious food available by our mother nature to bring a balance in our healthy well being.