Save yourself from REPROACH, get RID of COUGH FAST!

Cough is a common and troublesome respiratory disease which is caused by bacteria, virus or allergens stuck in our throat or lungs. There are OTC (Over The Counter) drugs which fairly gives relieve and can make you drowsy. But here is one that can give relieve without making you drowsy and simply natural.

Ginger is a natural expectorant which is useful when having breathing or respiratory problems. It breaks the phlegm and allows its easy passage out, thereby restoring your respiratory system back to normal. Ginger also has anti-histamine and good decongestant ability. In order to harness its power, we make it into a tea.

Here is a step by step way of making a ginger tea.

1. Boil some water.

2. Grate a thumb of ginger into a cup.

3. Add the boiled water and stir.

4. Drink while warm or cold but warm is preferable.

Add lemon or honey to improve taste.

Bananas; Facts and Myth debunked

Banana Facts

Below are interesting facts about our common Banana;

• Bananas may have been the world's first cultivated fruit. Archaeologists have found evidence of banana cultivation in New Guinea as far back as 8000 B.C.
• Bananas are produced mainly in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Asia and the Americas, as well as the Canary Islands and Australia.

Health Risk of going Bananas

Eating bananas in moderation comes with no significant side effects. Excessive is when you eat dozens of bananas everyday which is quite unlikely except you are a monkey. But consuming the fruit in excess quantities can cause the followings;

Headaches and Sleepiness

Headaches can be caused by the amino acids found in the fruit which causes blood vessels to dilate. The overripe bananas contain more amino acids than the greener ones. Too much of the amino acid; Tryptophan in the blood can contribute to sleepiness.

SIX PILLARS OF GOOD ‪#‎NUTRITION‬

Nutrition might be quite confusing but if you can keep well with these six pillars, you are on the move to having a healthier you 'nutritionally' because good ‪#‎health is more than ‪#‎food!
These rules are keys to getting that body you desire, whether the muscular one or the less fatty one. You don't have to get obsessed over calorie counting or what to eat, just streamline your diet to these pillars and you are good to go!

Quick dietary fix for pounding headaches!

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.

Sweet Potatoes - Health benefits of the sweet tuber

Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes may be one of nature's unsurpassed sources of beta-carotene. Several recent studies have shown the superior ability of sweet potatoes to raise our blood levels of vitamin A. This benefit may be particularly true for children. In several studies from Africa, sweet potatoes were found to contain between 100-1,600 micrograms (RAE) of vitamin A in every 3.5 ounces—enough, on average, to meet 35% of all vitamin A needs, and in many cases enough to meet over 90% of vitamin A needs (from this single food alone).

I am going Nuts with Cashew - Cashew Nuts and its Health Benefits!

The delicately flavoured cashew nut is a favourite in-between meal snack that can be readily found in your local market all year round. It also makes wonderful nut butter and a special addition to salads and stir-fry dishes.
Cashew nuts are actually the kidney-shaped seeds that adhere to the bottom of the cashew apple, the fruit of the cashew tree, which is native to the coastal areas of north-eastern Brazil. While cashew apples are not appreciated in the United States, they are regarded as delicacies in Brazil and the Caribbean. Cashews are always sold shelled because the interior of the shells contains a caustic resin, known as cashew balm, which must be carefully removed before the nuts are fit for consumption. This caustic resin is actually used in industry to make varnishes and insecticides. In Nigeria, you can get the nuts de-shelled and it became a delicacy sold commercially due its advertised nutritional benefits. I have so many friends here that have been asking me; 'why should I eat nuts when I am trying to watch my weight?' and many other questions concerning nuts, below you will get some reasons why you should go nuts especially with cashew.

The Evil smile behind that cup of tea - dangers of tea bags

Tea is a miraculous thing, bursting with antioxidants and health benefits galore. Drink it iced during hot season or steaming hot during cold season. Any season, any time of day, tea is there to boost your health while bringing you serenity and comfort. But, wait… could there be a dark side to this naturally healing beverage?

NUTRIENTS THAT BENEFITS YOUR SKIN - Nutrients for a healthy skin!

Everyone wants a healthy skin and soft skin. Its the dream of every woman to have a that soft baby-like skin. But to achieve this, your skin needs these important nutrients.

Water benefits your skin

Few things are as good as water for keeping your skin in shape.Water keeps skin hydrated, reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It helps cells take up nutrients and purge toxins. And water improves circulation and blood flow, keeping your skin glowing.

The Institute of Medicine recommends nine to 12 8-ounce glasses of water a day.

Selenium for your skin

Selenium is a trace mineral that may help protect skin cells from free radical damage. It may also play a role in skin cancer prevention.

Excellent sources of selenium include Brazil nuts, button mushrooms, shrimp, lamb, and fish such as snapper, cod, halibut, tuna, and salmon. Selenium is also found in cooked beef, light turkey meat, oysters, sardines, crab, and whole-wheat pasta.

CoQ10: Coenzyme Q10

CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant made naturally in your body. However, its production decreases with aging. CoQ10 protects skin and other body cells from the damage caused by free radicals. It’s also involved in energy production and basic functioning of cells. Low levels of this antioxidant are found in many age-related illnesses. When used topically, it is reported to improve the appearance of wrinkles and the signs of aging.

Rich sources of CoQ10 include fish (such as salmon and tuna), poultry, organ meats

Antioxidants for healthy cells

Antioxidants prevent or slow the damage done to cells by free radicals. This damage contributes to signs of aging, such as wrinkles and dry skin.

Antioxidants can be found in all kinds of foods, especially colorful fruits and vegetables such as berries, tomatoes, apricots, beets, squash, spinach, sweet potato, tangerines, peppers, and beans.

Vitamin A for skin repair

Want to steer clear of dry, flaky skin? Grab an orange, a carrot, or a slice of cantaloupe. These fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamin A. Applying vitamin A to the skin appears to improve signs of aging, such as wrinkles. Topical and oral forms of vitamin A are common prescription treatments for acne and other skin conditions, including wrinkles. Other sources of vitamin A include leafy greens, eggs, and low-fat dairy.

Silica:Silica is a trace mineral that strengthens the body's connective tissues - muscles, tendons, hair, ligaments, nails, cartilage, and bone - and is vital for healthy skin. Silica deficiency can result in reduced skin elasticity and can hamper the body's ability to heal wounds. Food sources of silica include leeks, green beans, garbanzo beans, strawberries, cucumber, mango, celery, asparagus and rhubarb. In its natural form, silica is found in the horsetail herb. Silica is also available as a concentrated liquid supplement from Eidon Ionic Minerals.

Zinc: The mineral zinc is an important component of healthy skin, especially for acne sufferers. In fact, acne itself may be a symptom of zinc deficiency. Zinc acts by controlling the production of oil in the skin, and may also help control some of the hormones that create acne. Zinc is also required for proper immune system function, as well as for the maintenance of vision, taste, and smell. Zinc consumption is also strongly linked to a reduction of prostate cancer.
Foods rich in zinc include fresh oysters, pumpkin seeds, ginger, pecans, Brazil nuts, oats, and eggs. Zinc can be purchased in supplement form, in both liquid concentrates and tablets.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Dry, inflamed skin or skin that suffers from the frequent appearance of whiteheads or blackheads can benefit from supplementing with essential fatty acids (EFAs), especially omega-3s. EFAs are responsible for skin repair, moisture content, and overall flexibility, but because the body cannot produce its own EFAs, they must be obtained through the diet.
The typical American diet is overabundant in omega-6 fatty acids found in baked goods and grains, and lacking in omega-3s, found in cold-water fish such as salmon and mackerel, as well as flaxseeds and safflower oil. Simply balancing the intake of omega-3s with omega-6s can result in smoother, younger-looking skin. EFAs are also available in supplement form - such as fish oil capsules or evening primrose oil - and are effective at treating a wide range of disorders, from depression and cancer to arthritis and heart disease. Good sources of omega-3 oils include chia seeds, flax seeds and, for non-vegetarians, wild-harvested fish oils.

Vitamin E: is another powerful antioxidant that reduces the effects of sun exposure on the skin. When combined with vitamin A, vitamin E is especially effective at preventing certain skin cancers. Vitamin E also reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and, when applied topically, soothes dry or rough skin. Food sources of vitamin E include wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds, safflower and sunflower oils, almonds, spinach, peaches, prunes, tomatoes, cabbage, asparagus, and avocados.Avoid synthetic vitamin E supplements, as they have been shown to actually harm health.

REFERENCE

The top five nutrients for healthy skin

http://www.naturalnews.com/021773_healthy_skin_care_products.html

www.care2.com

Carrots: a must have in your shopping basket.....health benefits

Although carrots are available throughout the year, locally grown carrots are in season in the summer and fall when they are the freshest and most flavorful. Carrots belong to the Umbelliferae family, named after the umbrella-like flower clusters that plants in this family produce. As such, carrots are related to parsnips, fennel, parsley, anise, caraway, cumin and dill. Carrots can be as small as two inches or as long as three feet, ranging in diameter from one-half of an inch to over two inches. Carrot roots have a crunchy texture and a sweet and minty aromatic taste, while the greens are fresh tasting and slightly bitter.

Lack of sleep increases temptation to purchase food

It can sometimes be difficult to resist buying tasty candy and snacks while doing the weekly grocery shopping. But according to new research, a bad night's sleep could make the temptation even harder and lead to increased food purchasing.
The study, published in the journal Obesity, analyzed whether sleep deprivation would impair or alter an individual's shopping habits, based on the hypothesis that sleep deprivation can decrease higher-level thinking and increase hunger.
"We chose total sleep deprivation (TSD) to investigate the influence of sleep loss on food purchasing behavior in humans," say the study authors. "Our findings are broadly significant for people working in a variety of professions, including shift workers, cab drivers, nurses, doctors, and other jobs requiring work at night."
The researchers recruited 14 men of normal, healthy weight for their research. At the baseline of the study, all participants enrolled were confirmed to have normal sleep-wake rhythms.
The subjects were asked to have one full night of normal sleep and one night of total sleep deprivation (TSD).
On the morning after both occasions, the men were given a fixed budget of $50 to buy food from a supermarket.
The subjects were instructed to purchase as much as possible from a list of 40 food items. This consisted of 20 high-calorie foods and 20 low-calorie foods. Before the task, all men were given a standardized breakfast to limit the effect of hunger on their food purchases.
Findings showed that when the men were sleep deprived, they purchased 9% more calories and 18% more food, compared with their purchases after a good night's sleep.
The men's blood levels were also measured, both after one good night's sleep and one night of sleep deprivation. The results revealed that after sleep deprivation, concentrations of the hormone, ghrelin - a hormone that increases hunger - were significantly higher. The researchers add, however, that this did not correlate with food purchasing behavior.
Colin Chapman, first author of the study from Uppsala University in Sweden, says:
"We hypothesized that sleep deprivation's impact on hunger and decision making would make for the 'perfect storm' with regard to shopping and food purchasing, leaving individuals hungrier and less capable of employing self-control and higher-level decision-making processes to avoid making impulsive, calorie-driven purchases."
"Our finding provides a strong rationale for suggesting that patients with concerns regarding caloric intake and weight gain maintain a healthy, normal sleep schedule."
The researchers say that follow-up studies are needed to address whether these findings are more prominent within obese populations and in those with chronic sleep disorders.
"Additionally," say the study authors, "studies should investigate whether or not this impact on purchasing behavior extends to other items beyond food, including high-price items, where purchasers could fall victim to disrupted decision making."
Last year, a study from the University of California suggested that a bad night's sleep can lead to unhealthy food choices by impairing activity in the frontal lobe of the brain - an area vital for making good food choices.