Turmeric Or Haldi May Have Strong Antiviral Properties

Turmeric has become a global sensation for its healing properties and health benefits. If findings of a latest study are to be believed, turmeric active compound curcumin may also play a role in killing certain viruses. The study was published in the Journal of General Virology. The study showed that curcumin could help prevent Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) - an alpha-group coronavirus that infects pigs - from infecting cells. At higher doses, the compound was also found to kill virus particles.

Infection with TGEV causes a disease called transmissible gastroenteritis in piglets, some symptoms are diarrhoea, severe dehydration, in worse cases it could also lead to death.

To examine the potential [/topic/antiviral-properties]antiviral properties of curcumin, the research team treated experimental cells with various concentrations of the compound, before attempting to infect them with TGEV.

It was found that higher concentrations of curcumin reduced the number of virus particles in the cell culture.

 "Curcumin has a significant inhibitory effect on TGEV adsorption step and a certain direct inactivation effect, suggesting that curcumin has great potential in the prevention of TGEV infection," said Dr Lilan Xie, lead author of the study and researcher at the Wuhan Institute of Bioengineering.

Interestingly, curcumin has also been shown to inhibit the replication of some types of virus, including dengue virus, hepatitis B and Zika virus.
 
Turmeric is also loaded with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. Curcumin was chosen for this research due to having low side effects according to Dr Xie. They said: "There are great difficulties in the prevention and control of viral diseases, especially when there are no effective vaccines. Traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients, are ideal screening libraries for antiviral drugs because of their advantages, such as convenient acquisition and low side effects."

The researchers also said that more analysis is required to study the inhibiting properties of curcumin "Further studies will be required, to evaluate the inhibitory effect in vivo and explore the potential mechanisms of curcumin against TGEV, which will lay a foundation for the comprehensive understanding of the antiviral mechanisms and application of curcumin," said Dr Xie.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Is Vomiting a Symptom of COVID-19? Here's What Doctors Say

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are pretty much what you’d expect from a respiratory disease: fever, persistent cough, fatigue, and muscle pain. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many people with COVID-19 experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea—sometimes even before developing the respiratory tract symptoms. 

"COVID-19 can present in many ways. I have seen patients who only have symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, but they usually also have a fever," Jorge Vournas, MD, medical director of the Emergency Department at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centerin Torrance, California, tells Health.

Anecdotally, vomiting has been linked to COVID-19. In March, 22-year-old Amy Shircel from Madison, Wisconsin, began detailing her COVID-19 symptoms in a series of tweets. "I'm 22 and I tested positive for COVID-19. Take it from me - you do NOT want to catch this," she wrote. Shircel shared that the first few days of her illness were manageable, with a mild cough, headache, chills, and a runny nose. Because she had just visited Europe recently, her state allowed her to get tested for COVID-19 with minor symptoms. But things progressed on the third day. "I couldn't keep anything down. I was vomiting constantly. I couldn't sleep, I obviously couldn't eat," she wrote. The next day, she received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. She detailed her symptoms through day 12 of her illness—after being hospitalized for dehydration—and still had "all the major symptoms" even then, but is apparently recovered now.

Shircel's not the only one: In an opinion piece for The New York Times, writer Abigail Tarttelin detailed her experience with what she thinks was the coronavirus and the symptoms that accompanied it. "Here's what happened to me," she wrote. "On the morning of Friday, March 6, I woke up with a mild sore throat and, to put it delicately, digestive issues." Just four days later, she came down with what seemed like norovirus. "Profuse vomiting. I spent the day alternating between the couch and the bathroom, feeling sorry for myself," she wrote. Days after that, she developed a cough, muscle aches, and lung pain—and though she never got tested for COVID-19, she believes it's what caused her symptoms.

Research, too, has found gastrointestinal issues, including nausea and vomiting, to be symptoms of COVID-19, in addition to other respiratory symptoms. Some of the earliest research on gastrointestinal issues as related to COVID-19 came from China, and was published in the BMJ's Gut in March. Study authors from Zhejiang University found that, among 651 patients admitted to hospitals in China's Zhejiang province between January 17 and February 8, 74 patients—or 11.4%—presented with at least one gastrointestinal symptom of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. 

 Other research from Beijing, published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics in May, analyzed all COVID-19 clinical studies and case reports relating to digestive issues published between December 2019 and February 2020. Researchers found that 3.6% to 15.9% of adults with COVID-19 experienced vomiting, along with other gastrointestinal issues like loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, and even gastrointestinal bleeding. The study also uncovered that vomiting was more common in children with COVID-19 than adults, with 6.5% to 66.7% of infected children presenting with the symptom.

And sometimes, vomiting and other gastrointestinal issue were the only sign of a COVID-19 infection, or a precursor to the infection. According to research published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology in April, more than 50% of 204 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in China's Hubei province between January 18 and February 28 reported digestive symptoms like lack of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. Six of those patients had no respiratory symptoms whatsoever. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, too, identified 14 coronavirus patients who had diarrhea and nausea before they showed any signs of fever or respiratory symptoms—that was equal to about 10% of the study's 138-person sample size.

While experts aren't entirely sure why or how COVID-19 may cause vomiting or other gastrointestinal symptoms, researchers have a theory: Because the molecule that the coronavirus attacks in the body—angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, or ACE2—exists not only in the lungs, but in the gastrointestinal tract as well, that may explain why some people experience stomach issues. Another study published The American Journal of Gastroenterology suggests that the virus can enter the digestive system through cell surface receptors for ACE2. Receptors for this enzyme are 100 times more common in the gastrointestinal tract than the respiratory tract. Still, more research needs to be done to identify the exact mechanism. 

All of this research and anecdotal evidence suggests that vomiting and other gastrointestinal issues shouldn't be ignored during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the symptoms may warrant a test to see if you have the virus. "It would be wise to consider that you may have COVID-19 if you develop vomiting and diarrhea and have no other obvious cause," says Dr. Vournas. "In which case, getting tested would be the next best step."

If you experience vomiting, and have been tested for COVID-19, the best thing you can do is self-isolate while you wait for your results and treat yourself at home. The CDC advises staying hydrated, getting as much rest as possible, avoiding foods that upset your stomach, and keeping an eye on your symptoms. But "if you have vomiting, you should seek medical attention if your symptoms are lasting for more than 24 hours, or if you are experiencing high fevers, abdominal pain or have blood or a dark 'coffee-ground’ appearance of your vomiting," says Dr. Vournas, as that can be a sign of a more serious issue that needs immediate care. 

The information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Worst Foods to Eat While Battling a Fever

Fever is an illness that is characterized by an increase in body temperature. Sometimes, fever is just an indication of a more serious disease. 

One of the hardest things you need to do when you have a fever is to eat. But despite that, you need to eat to stay hydrated and to continue to supply your body with nutrients that you need.

There are good foods when you have a fever, and there are foods bad for the fever. Here are some of the foods to avoid when you have a fever.

#6 – Junk Foods
Even without fever, one must avoid or lessen the consumption of junk food and fast food because it has high-calorie content but contains fewer nutrients. The nutrients you need when you have a fever is lacking in these kinds of food. Junk foods such as chips and crackers have high quantities of monosodium glutamate which is bad for the body when taken in large amounts. Children are more prone to have a fever and unfortunately, they love to eat junk food. It is best to avoid the consumption of these foods to help quicken the pace of recovery.

#5 – Soft Drinks or Carbonated Drinks

Soft drinks are another food that shouldn’t be consumed when you have a fever. When you have a fever, you need to eat healthy foods to gain the proper nutrients you need. Carbonate drinks have no nutritional benefits which make it bad for a sick person. It contains lots of acids which is also bad when you have to drink medicine for a fever. Refrain from carbonated drinks but instead, drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated to avoid more complicated diseases. Fighting a fever is a lot easier if you avoid these foods.

#4 – Spicy Foods

When you have a fever, your body temperature rises. When you eat spicy foods, your body temperature rises even more. That is the reason why you shouldn’t eat spicy foods when you have a fever. Lower down your body temperature so the fever will go away sooner.

#3 – Caffeinated Drinks

You have to keep your body hydrated while fighting a fever. There are drinks that you must avoid such as caffeinated beverages, namely coffee and tea. These drinks will dehydrate you rather than hydrate, and it will rob away the vitamin C from your body which is very important in regaining your health. Fighting a fever is easier without these drinks.

#2 – Oily Foods

As much as possible, never eat oily foods when you have a fever. You can have soup, fruits and vegetables. All these healthy foods will hasten your recovery. Oily foods should be decreased because they have fewer nutrients needed by your body.

#1 – Hard to Digest Foods

When you have a fever, make sure to not eat hard to digest foods because your digestive system is not working well enough when you have a fever. Hard to digest foods include beans, mashed potatoes and fried foods. Stick to soup and oats as they are easy to digest. Hard to digest foods are the worst foods you can consume when you have a fever.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Can You Bring COVID-19 Home Through Clothes and Shoes?

It’s okay to be suspicious of your surroundings these days, especially when it comes to commonly used items like your smartphone, the car keys, door handles and shopping carts. This is because SARS-CoV-2 can survive for days on hard surfaces, and it’s easier to disinfect them than leave your own health to chance. However, clothes and shoes are somewhat different, as they are made of soft and porous materials. Should you be concerned about your clothes and shoes? Do they have the potential of harboring the Novel Coronavirus? For a thorough explanation, carry on reading.

How Likely Is the Virus to Survive on Clothes?

The good news is - there have been no recorded cases where a person was infected by the Novel Coronavirus through clothing at this point. This makes sense and is consistent with what scientists know about viruses. This is because viruses need moisture to survive, which makes textiles a very inhospitable environment for them, as these materials are porous and tend to absorb water into their fibers.

Still, most of the tests conducted on this topic were done on other viruses, mainly influenza, and we already know that the Coronavirus lasts on certain surfaces longer than other viruses. It can also remain active in the air for hours, and so the potential for transmission through clothing and shoes is not ruled out completely.

The truth is, you’re very unlikely to get the virus if you’re following the social distancing rules and only go outside to buy essential grocery items and medications.

When Should You Worry About Clothes and the Coronavirus?

There are several scenarios in which you should take extra care of your clothes after going outside. These situations include:

    If you’re a doctor or other medical worker and you work with or in close proximity to COVID-19 patients.
    While at the supermarket or picking up groceries, you didn’t manage to maintain a distance of 2-3 meters (6-8 ft) from others.
    Someone sneezed or coughed near you while you were outside.

In these cases, you should put the clothing you have worn directly into the washing machine and clean them immediately. Experts assure that regular detergents will be capable of killing the virus, but to learn more about disinfecting your clothes with COVID-19 in mind, consider reading the article Safe Laundry Instructions from Healthcare Experts.

What About My Shoes?
Shoes are a bit trickier than clothes are, and there are two reasons why. The first reason is that they can be made of artificial or natural leather, rubber, and water-resistant fabrics, which may be a better environment for the Coronavirus. As for the second reason, we know that shoes can spread germs since they typically carry more dirt than clothing and bags.

Still, doctors consider shoes a low-risk item, and that’s because we rarely make face contact with our shoes, why would we? Similarly, most people wouldn’t put their shoes on a table or the kitchen counter either, from which germs could potentially travel to your mouth through food. If, however, you have kids or pets at home, and you worry about them not being careful enough with handling shoes, follow these tips:

1. Clean your shoes with alcohol wipes or soap and water after using them.
2. Leave your shoes at the door, in your garage, or let them air out on the porch. It is also a good idea to do so with clothing you don’t wash often, such as raincoats, winter jackets and hats.
This way, you’re creating a separate designated location for items you only use when you’re outdoors that could potentially carry germs, and you're minimizing even the slightest risk of contracting the virus.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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The 12 Health Benefits of Fennel

I love this aromatic herb, as well as its flavour. It is well known to aid digestion, that is why in many Indian restaurants, it is offered at the end of the meal.

If you’ve never tried fennel now is the time to try this uniquely aromatic and flavorful vegetable, reminiscent of anise. A brief introduction to its many nutritional benefits may make it the most desirable addition to almost every salad and dish you prepare because it is simply a treasure trove of health.

Unlike its seeds used for seasoning, fennel looks like a bulb, even though it doesn’t grow in the dirt. Most importantly, it has special abilities to protect you from anemia, cancer, aging, bone fractures, heart attacks, infections and more. In addition to all of these, it is also an excellent diet food! So keep an open mind (and mouth) when learning about fennel in the following article.

1. Prevents anemia
Iron and amino acid histidine, which are found in fennel, are two essential substances that fight anemia. While iron encourages the production of hemoglobin in the blood, histidine helps produce red blood cells and is therefore important in preventing anemia and encouraging oxygen supply to the tissues.

2. Helps digestion
In Indian culture, it is customary to chew fennel seeds after meals to help digestion and prevent bad breath. Fennel, filled with dietary fiber, relieves digestive problems such as abdominal cramps, gas, and constipation. One fennel has about 7 grams of dietary fiber, which is about 28 percent of the recommended daily intake. The fennel plant also reduces acidity in the stomach and intestines and helps in better absorption of nutrients found in the food we consume. The aspartic acid that is preserved is one that actually absorbs gases, so fennel is especially recommended for anyone who feels bloated after a meal.

3. Prevents heart disease and stroke
As noted above, fennel contains a large amount of dietary fiber, and besides the benefit it gives to our digestive system, it also contributes to the protection of heart health. The reason for this is that the fibers reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood and, indirectly, also the risk of heart disease and stroke resulting from blocked blood vessels. Aside from its fiber content, fennel contains vitamins C and B as well, which also help your body keep your heart healthy.
 
4. Balances blood pressure
Fennel has a large amount of potassium, an essential mineral in our body, whose benefits are connected to vascular expansion. This means that eating fennel helps reduce the pressure exerted on blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure itself. Because of this effect, it can be said that fennel protects us from heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis, partly because of the potassium in it. For diabetics, this advantage is especially important since high blood pressure makes it difficult for them to regulate their insulin and glucose levels.

5. Improves brain function
Fennel not only helps our body but also our ability to think. The same potassium, which helps us to control blood pressure and prevent heart disease and stroke, is an electrolyte that also helps in the electrical transmission of the body, including the important electrical processes that occur in the brain. Potassium helps our cognitive functioning, that is, our ability to think and understand. In addition, the contribution of potassium to the expansion of blood vessels allows more oxygen to reach the brain, so don’t be surprised if you feel sharper and smarter after having a bite of fennel.
 
6. Strengthens the immune system
One cup of chopped fennel contains 20% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential and natural antioxidant that strengthens our immune system and protects our body from inflammation, heart disease, and various cancers. Vitamin C is also one of the partners in the production of collagen in the body - an essential protein for the production of connective tissues and soft tissues that protect us against pollutants.

7. Regulates menstruation and encourages the production of breast milk
Fennel also has female-only benefits, thanks to phytoestrogen molecules, which help to balance the female hormonal system. Components of fennel are used in a variety of pre-menstrual treatments, and its consumption as a vegetable will help you cope with the symptoms of menopause and the lack of estrogen. For those pregnant and breastfeeding, fennel is also known as a vegetable that helps to produce breast milk in cases where mothers suffer from a lack of it.

8. Improves vision
Fennel's benefits also touch on our vision, as the vegetable protects the eyes from inflammation and helps prevent premature aging of vision and macular degeneration. The antioxidants in fennel, derived from vitamin C and amino acids such as arginine, are very effective in renewing tissues and preventing damage to vision associated with the effects of age. You can consume the vegetable as it is or juice it and place it on the eyes using cotton rounds to reduce irritation and a look of fatigue. Fennel also contains flavonoids, other antioxidants known to protect vision.

9. Protects bone health
Fennel has a great amount of calcium that helps maintain healthy bones and teeth and prevents bone depletion - osteoporosis, a skeletal disease that is the most common cause of fractures in older age. Apart from calcium, fennel also contains a high amount of magnesium, phosphorus and vitamin K, all of which have additional benefits and important roles in protecting the health and strength of bones in the body.
 
10. Reduces inflammation
Fennel is a powerful anti-inflammatory plant thanks to Anethole, which is a phytochemical found in the plant responsible for its unique smell and flavor. This component prevents the development of inflammatory processes and also the development of carcinogenesis, which is the primary stage in the development of cancerous cells. Fennel is highly recommended for consumption to prevent diseases, and also as a natural treatment if you experience gum infections or urinary tract infections.
 
11. Improves skin appearance
It turns out that fennel helps us feel good inside and also looks good on the outside. Its vitamin C content helps prevent premature aging of the skin and encourages the production of collagen that protects our skin and gives it volume and a youthful appearance. Generally, a sufficient intake of vitamin C reduces the formation of wrinkles and keeps our skin tighter, and as you are about to discover in the next section, fennel helps with this for another reason.
 
12. Helps weight loss
Many of the products we purchase in order to lose weight are based on increasing the sense of satiety and suppressing the desire for sweet and salty foods. Fennel can help you do this naturally, along with significant savings in financial expenses, while helping your body and improving your health in the various ways described so far. The secret of its magic lies in the high amount of dietary fiber it contains which intensifies and extends the sense of satiety after eating.

Studies have shown that people who added 14 grams of dietary fiber to their diet, without changing anything else, ate 10 percent fewer calories a day and dropped 4 pounds after 4 months. In average fennel which weighs roughly ½ a pound, there are about 7 grams of fiber, which means that eating 2 servings a day may help you shed extra pounds of your weight in a short time. Just make sure not to exceed the recommended daily intake of 25 grams of fiber.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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