Top Health benefits of Spinach

Cancer prevention: Spinach and other green vegetables contain chlorophyll which has shown to be effective at blocking the carcinogenic effects of heterocyclic amines which are generated when grilling foods at a high temperature.

Asthma prevention: The risks for developing asthma are lower in people who consume a high amount of certain nutrients. One of these nutrients is beta-carotene, of which spinach is an excellent source. Apricots, broccoli, cantaloupe, pumpkin and carrots are also rich sources of beta-carotene.3


Lowering blood pressure: because of its high potassium content, spinach is 

recommended to those with high blood pressure to negate the effects of 

sodium in the body. A low potassium intake may be just as big of a risk factor 

in developing high blood pressure as a high sodium intake.4

Other high potassium foods include potatoes, tomatoes, lima beans and oranges.

Bone health: Low intakes of vitamin K have been associated with a higher risk 

for bone fracture. Adequate vitamin K consumption is important for good 

health, as it acts as a modifier of bone matrix proteins, improves calcium 

absorption and may reduce urinary excretion of calcium.5

Promotes regularity: Spinach is high in fiber and water content, both of which 

help to prevent constipation and promote a healthy digestive tract.

Healthy skin and hair: Spinach in high in vitamin A, which is necessary for 

sebum production to keep hair moisturized. Vitamin A is also necessary for the 

growth of all bodily tissues, including skin and hair. Spinach and other leafy 

greens high in vitamin C are imperative for the building and maintenance of 

collagen, which provides structure to skin and hair.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

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Vodka Cure for Cold Sores

Cold sores generally take about two weeks to clear up. Here’s a suggestion for helping it along. Dab a cold sore with a swab that’s been dipped in a little vodka—the alcohol will help dry it out. Be warned that the alcohol will also sting.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

ps- those interested in recipes are free to view my blog-

http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/

for info about knee replacement, you can view my blog-

http://Knee replacement-stick club.blogspot.com/

for crochet designs

http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com

Good bacteria that protects against HIV identified

Can bacteria keep the deadly Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) at bay? Experts from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston believe so. In an article written in the PLOS ONE journal, they have said that they have identified some good bacteria'' that could protect women from HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections.

A press release put out online by the university said they had identified the good bacteria after growing vaginal skin cells outside the body and studying the way they interacted with "good and bad" bacteria.

"The health of the human vagina depends on a symbiotic/mutually beneficial relationship with "good" bacteria that live on its surface feeding on products produced by vaginal skin cells. These good bacteria, in turn, create a physical and chemical barrier to bad bacteria and viruses including HIV,'' said the release.

The research team, led by Richard Pyles, said they discovered that certain bacterial communities alter the way HIV infects and replicates. In their current studies, a bacterial community associated with a symptomatic condition called bacterial vaginosis substantially reduced the antiviral activity of one of the leading anti-HIV medicines. Conversely, vaginal surfaces occupied by healthy bacteria and treated with the antiviral produced significantly less HIV than those vaginal surfaces without bacteria treated with the same antiviral.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

ps- those interested in recipes are free to view my blog-

http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/

for info about knee replacement, you can view my blog-

http://Knee replacement-stick club.blogspot.com/

for crochet designs

http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com

Is salt a villain?

Salt is responsible for 2.3 million deaths globally, says a study released by Harvard School of Public Health. One in ten dies from a heart attack, stroke or some cardiovascular disease as a result of eating too much sodium, according to the study.

Salt is a hard habit to shake off. It is a basic taste, and if there are people with a sweet tooth, then there are some who crave salt. When we sweat or vomit, our sodium levels decrease and we get a salt appetite. Research suggests stress can make us reach for the salt shaker, leading to a salt-habit. We consume salt indirectly through processed/canned items where it is a preservative.

Is salt a villain? The sodium and chlorine in common salt are essential to maintain the fluid balance in our body and for normal cellular functions, says Dr. Priya Chockalingam, cardiac wellness physician. Also called electrolytes, they carry an electric charge and move in and out of our cells to provide energy for muscle/nerve/brain/heart cells to work. The normal sodium level in our body is 135-145 millimoles per litre of blood; too much (hypernatremia) or too little (hyponatremia) of it can cause cells to malfunction and extremes can even be lethal.

Less and more

Both increased and decreased intake of common salt can affect us, warns Dr. Y V C Reddy, Senior Consultant Cardiologist (Apollo Main). “Salt intake should be less in patients with hypertension and heart failure, where increased salt intake can cause fluid accumulation, increase blood volume and BP, and worsen breathing difficulty. In patients prone to hyponatremia, decreased salt intake can precipitate low-sodium problems.”

How much salt is too much? More than 4-6 grams/day is excess for a normal individual, he says. Patients with heart or kidney problems should reduce it to the minimum. No, we can’t avoid it completely. “Hyponatremia or low sodium in serum in certain patients can lead to seizures, brain damage, even death.” Aren't some people unaffected by excess salt intake? “Our homeostatic mechanisms can keep blood-sodium levels optimal despite a lot of dietary salt intake,” he agrees, but “if you are a salt-sensitive, hypertensive person, excess salt is bad.”

Salt-BP nexus

Dr. Priya explains the salt-BP nexus. If the sodium level in the blood is more than normal, our body tries to neutralize that by increasing the water level in the blood (makes us thirsty to drink water, and kidneys restrict excretion), eventually bringing the sodium concentration to normal again. In this process, the circulating fluid level has increased, and this in turn increases the BP level. Apart from too much salt, being physically inactive, being overweight, excessive alcohol consumption and family history are risk factors.

What of potassium salt? Potassium salt can be used as a substitute in normal individuals, says Dr. Reddy. But for patients prone to hyperkalemia (too much potassium in the blood) this option is closed. Eating potassium-rich items such as bananas, tomatoes and low-fat dairy products has a heart-healthy effect, because it helps the kidneys remove excess sodium from our body, says Dr. Priya. So restrict the use of salt in cooking, have a lot of potassium-rich natural foods to keep BP under control.

Our love for processed items has left us getting much more sodium than required, says Dr. Priya. Our perception of taste has changed and we try to add more salt in our daily cooking. Fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood also contain sodium. Apart from the salt, processed items have baking powder, flavour enhancers and preservatives that contain a lot of sodium. “Salt is an integral part of our lives. But it is certainly a double-edged sword. We need strict balance since both too much and too less can be harmful.”

Some pointers on salt intake

WHO recommends limiting sodium to less than 2,000 mg/day.

American Heart Association recommends 1,500 mg/day. (One teaspoon of salt has 2,325 mg of sodium.)

Hence, keep intake of processed and tinned items to a minimum.

Avoid pickles.

Eat wholesome items like fruits, vegetables, lean meats and beans to satisfy your craving for salt.

Minimise the use of added salt in curd and salad. Remove the salt shaker from your dining table.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

ps- those interested in recipes are free to view my blog-

http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/

for info about knee replacement, you can view my blog-

http://Knee replacement-stick club.blogspot.com/

for crochet designs

http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com