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.

Benefits of Breastfeeding to the child, mother, family and Community - World Breastfeeding Week 2016

This year's world breastfeeding week is aimed at raising the awareness that sustainable development can be achieved through breastfeeding. Not only does the mother and the child benefits from breastfeeding but the community/country as a whole is not left out. Here are a few things that breastfeeding your infant can do.

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.

Bananas; Health Benefits of eating a Banana

Bananas have been recorded as one of the most consumed fruits in the world. But it’s still quite surprising that people still ask the question; are bananas good for me? This medium sized yellow fruit is packed with nutrients that will wow you after reading up the article. This easy to consume fruit is believed to be the ‘forbidden fruit’ that Eve offered to Adam, interesting, isn't it?

Now let’s look at the possible health benefits that can be derived from the sweet nutritious bananas which range from cardiovascular health benefits to even cancer.

Health Benefits of eating a Banana

Lowers Blood Pressure

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!

Home made Treatments Using Basil leaves (Efirin)

Listed below are some home remedies to some illnesses with the use of Basil leaves (Efirin). I have told you in the previous post what this miracle leaf contain. 
1.      Healing: Sharpen memory, use as a nerve tonic, and remove phlegm from your bronchial tubes. Repeat up to once an hour. Leaves can strengthen the stomach and induce perfuse sweating. The seeds can be used to rid the body of excess mucus.

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).

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.

Ten brain damaging acts!

You could be damaging your brain without knowing it, these ten acts which some of us are guilty of could be depriving you of getting the optimal use of your brain.

Reasons why you should avoid instant noodles!

Consumption of instant noodles have increased in recent years due to busy working schedule of people. Instant noodles always seems to be the easiest option to satisfy their empty tummy. Have you ever thought, does this actually fulfill your body’s daily requirement of essential nutrients? Is this easy option also healthy for you or your kid? The answer to these questions is that we should avoid instant noodles due to many reasons. The following are some of them:

The Health Benefits of Basil Leaves "Efirin"

The basil plant, popularly known as “Efirin” in Yoruba is commercially available but not recognized for its great benefits. Rarely consumed by the urban dwellers but the cultural consumption is still noticed among rural dwellers especially the elderly. The volatile oils of dried basil are weak, so fresh basil is usually better in both our cooking and our healing treatments. The herbs' parts are very low in calories and contain no cholesterol, but are very rich source of many essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that are required for optimum health.

Commercial baby foods fail to meet weaning needs

Researchers say that commercial baby foods do not meet an infant's weaning needs and provide little extra nutritional goodness, compared with breast milk. This is according to a study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood.
The weaning process is considered to be a crucial process in an infant's early life, aiming to introduce him or her to a wider range of textures, tastes and flavors, and encouraging the acceptance of a variety of foods while boosting nutrient and energy intake.
Although it is the mother's decision as to when the weaning process should begin, the American Academy of Pediatricsrecommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months after birth.
However, commercial baby foods are promoted from the age of 4 months, which the researchers say could discourage mothers from continued breastfeeding.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Glasgow in the UK, analyzed a variety of 462 baby foods produced by four UK manufacturers, in order to determine the nutritional content. These included ready-made soft and wet foods, powdered meals that require added milk or water, breakfast cereals, and dry finger foods including biscuits, snacks and raisins.
From the products assessed, 410 (79%) were ready-made spoonable foods, of which 44% were aimed at infants from the age of 4 months.
Of the spoonable foods, it was found that their energy content was identical to that of breast milk (283 kj/100 g), while their protein content was only 40% higher than formula milk.
The products containing meat had the highest iron content, although this was no higher than formula milk and only slightly higher than products without meat.
Overall, dry finger foods showed the highest levels of energy and nutrient density. However, they were significantly higher in sugar. The researchers say that infants have a preference for sweet foods, which is why the majority of commercial baby foods contain high amounts.
The study authors say:
"While it is understandable that parents may choose to use commercial foods early in the weaning process, health professionals should be aware that such food will not add to the nutrient density of a milk diet."
The researchers also compared the nutritional content of commercial baby food with typical family homemade foods often given to infants and toddlers.
The savory ready-made spoonable foods showed much lower nutrient density, compared with homemade foods, but they were higher in iron content.
However, the study authors add that a 50 g portion of spoonable homemade food is likely to supply the same amount of protein and energy as 100 g of a spoonable commercial product, so homemade food should be served in its place - as long as it is prepared correctly.
"When advising families, [health professionals] should encourage them to progress to suitable family foods, particularly later in the first year of life," they add.
"Home weaning foods need to be prepared differently from family food. Salt and sugar should not be added and inappropriate adaptation of family meals to weaning foods may contribute to a high sodium intake."
Research from 2012 published in BMJ Opensuggested that infants who feed themselves with finger foods from the start of the weaning process are more likely to maintain a healthy body weight later in life.