Can water boost your immunity?

Yes it can!
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise around the globe, it has become important to take good care of yourself. Practising social distancing, maintaining good hygiene and staying at home as much as possible are the most reliable ways to protect yourself from coming in contact with the deadly virus.

The next best thing you can do is to eat healthy and nutritious food, so if you somehow come into contact with the virus, your body will be able to fight it off. Several foods and drinks may help you boost your immunity and fight with the disease-causing bacteria and virus. To your surprise, even water can help to boost your immunity. Here is how it is beneficial for your health!

Importance of water

Water is the basic necessity of life. It carries nutrient and minerals to different parts of the body and flushes out toxins and waste. Apart from this, it also helps to regulate the body's temperature.

​Water and immunity

Even in general when someone is sick or has a fever they are advised to keep themselves hydrated as water helps your body naturally eliminate the toxins and bacteria that cause illness.

Water also helps to carry oxygen to different cells of the body, which in turn helps in the proper functioning of the body. It is recommended to drink at least 2 litres of water daily to stay healthy and fit. When you are sick, try to increase your water intake. Plain water is the best, but if you find it difficult to drink 8 glasses to water in a day then you can also try lemon or mint water. They are equally beneficial for health. 

Mint water

Mint is a prized herb that has a significant role in Ayurvedic medicine. Packed with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, mint helps to prevent free radical activity. It can help to detox your body and is even good for the skin.

​Lemon water

The high amount of vitamin C, folate and potassium present in lemon can also help to boost your immunity. Starting your day with a warm glass of water and lemon juice can do wonders for your health.

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

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6 Health Benefits of Buckwheat

If there is one superfood that does not get enough attention, it is probably buckwheat. Though the name might suggest otherwise, buckwheat is not wheat at all. It is the seed of a plant called Fagopyrum esculentum, which belongs to a group of plants called pseudocereals, the same group as quinoa. All pseudocereals are gluten-free, and for that reason, it's very popular among those who are sensitive to gluten or are simply trying to avoid it.

Buckwheat is mainly harvested in Russia, Kazakhstan, China, and Eastern Europe. The grain-like seeds can be processed into groats, noodles, and flour. The groats are used in much the same way one would use rice and provide the basis for many traditional European and Asian dishes, and the flour can be used in a variety of delicious gluten-free baked goods. The reason we are telling you all of this is that buckwheat is incredibly nutritious and definitely worth adding to your diet. These are the important health benefits of buckwheat you need to be aware of:
 
1. Improves Blood Sugar Control
Buckwheat contains rutin, quercetin, and other similar biochemicals that may have a positive impact on the glucose levels in our body. But the component that was found to have the most beneficial impact on blood glucose levels in both human and animal studies of buckwheat is called chiro-inositol. While researchers do not yet know precisely how it works, early evidence suggests that chiro-inositol makes cells more sensitive to insulin and may even act as an insulin mimic.

2. Improves Cardiovascular Health
Like other whole grains, buckwheat promotes heart health, as it is rich in protein, fiber, and antioxidants. It has been found to improve blood lipid profile, including lower the levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, as well as the capacity to lower blood pressure.
A study conducted by the US Agricultural Research Service tested whole wheat, brown rice, and buckwheat, and found that all three aid in lowering blood pressure. Seven men and nine premenopausal women consumed the same diet for 2 weeks. When the time was up, the researchers exchanged 20% of the participants’ energy (carbs) with the three types of whole grains mentioned above. The subjects had to persist with this new diet for 5 weeks. During this time, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were reduced thanks to the whole-grain intake, irrespective of the type.

3. Rich In Fiber and Promotes Healthy Digestion
This property is thanks to how rich buckwheat is in fiber. For every one-cup serving of cooked groats, this food provides 6 grams of dietary fiber. The fiber is concentrated in the husk, which coats the groat. Additionally, the husk contains resistant starch, which is categorized as a type of fiber. Resistant starch is fermented by gut bacteria in the colon. These beneficial bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids which, in turn, improve gut health, normalize bowel movements, and help in maintaining a healthy weight.  

4. May Protect Against Breast Cancer
Speaking of fiber, it has also been found to be one of the components that help buckwheat prevent breast cancer. Recent studies have shown dietary fiber possesses a powerful anti-carcinogenic effect, primarily on the development of breast cancer cells in postmenopausal women. In fact, a study showed that the frequency of breast cancer is 50% lower in women who consumed the recommended amount of daily dietary fiber.
This anti-cancer property of buckwheat is also thanks to the lignans it contains, which are converted into animal lignans in our stomachs. Animal lignans are integral in the defense against breast cancer and other hormone-based cancers.
 
5. May Prevent Gallstones
Another disease the insoluble fiber in buckwheat helps prevent is gallstones. How does that happen? Researchers believe that insoluble fiber not only aids the food to move quicker through the intestines but also reduces the secretion of bile acids - excessive amounts of which contribute to gallstones formation. Other foods that are abundant in fiber and have this effect include tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, berries, and beans.

6. Source of Vegetarian ProteinBuckwheat is an excellent source of digestible plant protein. For every 100 gram serving, this food contains as much as 14 grams of protein, and 12 different amino acids to support growth and muscle synthesis. Admittedly, the protein content is not as high as it is in some beans and legumes, but it is higher than most whole grains.

How to Cook Buckwheat Groats

To cook raw buckwheat groats, you will need two cups of water for every cup of groats, and ½ tablespoon of salt.

Bring water to boil in a small pot, then add the buckwheat and salt. Return to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until tender. It should take about 10–15 minutes. Drain off any remaining water. It is not recommended to rinse the groats after cooking, as you might do with pasta. If you plan to add the groats to a soup, you should do so during the last 20 minutes of the soup’s cooking time, and refrain from adding too much! The groats will inflate 3-4 times their original size.

There are of course many more elaborate and delicious buckwheat recipes that can found online!

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

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Myths About Boosting Your Immune System To Take Note Of

The world is currently grappling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. All of us are trying to stay safe and are finding ways to protect ourselves from this deadly virus. Focusing on improving our immune system is being touted as one of the best ways to safeguard our body against the attack of the novel coronavirus at present. This has expectedly led to a sudden surge in people trying out different ways to boost their immunity.

While being healthy and developing good immunity will certainly be helpful in these circumstances, there is a lot of misinformation surrounding the immune system that needs to be countered. Here, we separate fact from fiction and bring out some of the most prominent myths about the immune system you shouldn’t fall prey to.

Myth 1. Eating garlic will help protect you from a viral infection

Garlic is good for your health, undoubtedly. It is highly nutritious and is known to improve cholesterol levels. However, there is a long-standing myth associated with this food as well - that eating garlic will prevent viral infection in our bodies. That is untrue, though.

"There are a few lab studies that show that garlic extract can partially inhibit the replication of the virus in cells," says Gary Linkov, MD. That being said, there is hardly any comprehensive proof to suggest that garlic will prevent viral infections, and certainly not something as potent as the novel coronavirus. Until we get more evidence from studies, we must not depend on garlic to save us from any viral infection. In fact, the World Health Organization has clearly stated on its website that "there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus."

Myth 2. The immune system is centralized in your upper body

Getting a cough, runny nose, or headache are some of the first symptoms we associate with coming down with the flu. It is because of this notion that we have generally assumed that our immune system is primarily centralized in our upper body. The truth, however, is that a lot of our bodily organs and mechanisms are involved in making the immune system - from the bone marrow to our bowels. In fact, there are multiple systems that are integral to the immune system. That is the reason the gut and microbiome are important, along with the lymphatic system to properly develop a robust immune system.

Myth 3. Eating sugar won’t affect your immune system
Eating or drinking too much sugar inhibits the immune system cells that attack bacteria. The effect of a sugary drink, in fact, lasts for a couple of hours. For instance, a 12-ounce (354.8 ml) soda will suppress your immunity by 30 percent for at least 3 hours. The suppression of the immune system starts about 30 minutes after you have consumed sugar and can last up to 5 hours.

“What we do know is that diabetes appears to be common in people confirmed to have COVID-19,” notes Nate Favini, medical lead at Forward. “This suggests that having higher levels of sugars in your blood could make it easier to contract COVID-19.” Thus, if sugar is a big part of your diet, it can be weakening your immune system right now. In these times, especially, when most of us are quarantined at home, it is easy to eat that extra candy or cake as a night-time snack. The wise thing to do would be to limit your sugar intake as much as possible right now.

Myth 4. Supplements will help keep your immune system safe
Supplements have become quite popular these days. Many people depend on a variety of supplements to help them ward off colds and the flu. There are certain supplements like elderberry, astragalus, and Echinacea that are believed to boost your immune system. But a lot of experts do not agree.

"Unfortunately, the reality is that those kinds of products aren't really offering you any benefit," says Michael Starnbach, a professor of microbiology at Harvard Medical School. "There's no evidence that they help in fighting disease." Likewise, no evidence suggests that Vitamin C supplements can help prevent COVID-19, say some noted health experts.

Supplemented vitamins are usually quite an overkill according to experts. This is because our bodies are unable to absorb more than a few hundred micrograms per day. Thus, it is vital to understand that there is no one pill that can boost your immune system. The best thing to do is to talk to your physician and see what they recommend according to your needs.

Myth 5. Lack of sleep won’t affect your immune system
There are many of us who don’t sleep well. Lack of sleep, though, has been linked to several mental and physical health problems. This includes issues arising from an impaired immune system. Our immune system is made up of several types of cells and proteins that help in keeping colds or the flu at bay. Not many would know this, but sleep affects almost every type of tissue and system in the body. Thus, when we don’t get proper sleep, our immunity is adversely affected.

“A lot of studies show our T-cells go down if we are sleep deprived,” says Diwakar Balachandran, MD, director of the Sleep Center at the University of Texas. “And inflammatory cytokines go up. This could potentially lead to a greater risk of developing a cold or flu.”

In simpler words, lack of sleep suppresses the functioning of the immune system. It also decreases your body's production of cytokines (a large group of proteins that mediate and regulate immunity) which can make you more susceptible to illness. 

Myth 6. Over-exercising can boost your immune system
Exercise is good for our body, of course. But will over-exercising help in building our immunity? Experts say that working out vigorously, especially if you are not feeling well, can actually increase your risk of infection by 3-6 times. On the other hand, moderate activity like walking for 20-40 minutes will help you reduce the risk of upper respiratory infections by as much as 50 percent. Thus, if you are not feeling in the best of health, don’t overexert yourself. Rather, try a lighter workout to be on the safer side.

Myth 7. Antibacterial foods can help your immune system

When we fall sick, there are plenty of natural antibacterial food items that are recommended to us. Honey, turmeric, coconut oil, and chicken soup, along with a few others, are some of the common food items that we tend to try when we are down with fever. We have been made to believe that these foods can help your immune system combat infections. While it is true that some food items that are rich in Vitamin C can help your overall health, it would be unwise to depend on any food blindly for enhancing your body's immunity.

"Research is still ongoing on the topic, but there is no evidence of the actual immune-boosting effect from these (antibacterial) foods," says Dimitar Marinov, MD.

So while there is no harm in having your antibacterial foods regularly, don’t expect them to work wonders on your immunity.

Myth 8. Stress doesn’t have any effect on your immunity system
Stress has become a normal part of our day-to-day life. So much so, that we often don’t stop and think how much harm it can cause our body, including our immune system. Ongoing stress can make you susceptible to illness and disease. This is because the brain sends defense signals to the endocrine system, which goes on to releases a series of hormones that gravely suppress our immunity.

Many experts have observed that stress is responsible for almost 90 percent of all illnesses and diseases. Excessive stress triggers chemical reactions in our body and floods it with cortisol that is known to be the chief reason behind anxiety, high blood pressure, stroke and the fight-or-flight response (also called hyperarousal, or the acute stress response). Stress also decreases the body's white blood cells and thus puts us at more risks for viruses.

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

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Here's a list of disinfectants you can use against coronavirus

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is arming consumers with a list of disinfectants that people can use to protect themselves from the novel coronavirus.

The federal agency released a five-page list of chemicals and products Thursday that it says are strong enough to ward off "harder-to-kill" viruses than SARS-CoV-2, the virus that's responsible for the disease.

"Using the correct disinfectant is an important part of preventing and reducing the spread of illnesses along with other critical aspects such as hand washing," EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a statement.

"There is no higher priority for the Trump Administration than protecting the health and safety of Americans. EPA is providing this important information in a public and transparent manner on disinfectant products to help reduce the spread of COVID-19," he said.

The EPA says it's best to follow the instructions on the disinfectant's label and pay attention to the how long the product should be on the surface you're cleaning.

In a statement to CNN, the EPA said companies can apply for an "emerging pathogens claim" based on previously approved claims for harder-to-kill viruses. The agency reviews them and determines whether the company can safely make that claim.

One important fact to note, however: Handwashing with soap and water is still the best way to prevent transmission of the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How long should you wash your hands to avoid the coronavirus? Sing the chorus to any of these songs

That's because from what we know so far, the novel coronavirus is thought to spread primarily by people and their respiratory droplets — think coughs, sneezes, spit.

In other words, person-to-person transmission is most common.

While it's possible that people who touch surfaces or objects contaminated with the virus and then touch their mouths or eyes can also become infected, this may not be the main way the virus spreads, the CDC said. So disinfectant wipes can only go so far.

Here are some of the registered disinfectants on the EPA's list:

    Clorox Multi Surface Cleaner + Bleach

    Clorox Disinfecting Wipes

    Clorox Commercial Solutions® Clorox® Disinfecting Spray

    Lysol brand Heavy-Duty Cleaner Disinfectant Concentrate

    Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist

    Lysol brand Clean & Fresh Multi-Surface Cleaner

    Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant Wipes

    Sani-Prime Germicidal Spray

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

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How Fasting Can Slow Down Aging

Dietary trends such as ketogenesis and intermittent fasting are currently extremely popular due to their rapid weight loss effects. However, scientists are now beginning to find out how they can actually help the body in other ways. In fact, a molecule produced during fasting has recently been found to provide the vascular system with a longevity boost, which will, in turn, slow down the aging process of the entire body.

While fasting, the human body enters a metabolic state called ketosis, which means that the body begins to rely on fat instead of glucose as a source of energy. One of these energy sources, collectively known as ketones, is a molecule called β-Hydroxybutyrate.

According to senior study author Dr. Ming-Hui Zou, "previously, studies on ketone bodies focused on energy metabolism, but this study showed that there are other physiological effects which regulate cell cycle to retardate aging progression."

A previous study, carried out at Harvard University in 2017, found that the activity of mitochondrial networks inside our cells can become altered due to fasting, in turn leading to better health, slower aging, and an increased lifespan.

Zou's study, though, aims to explore how high levels of β-Hydroxybutyrate might display similar effects by interfering with senescent cells, which are cells that are unable to divide or multiply.

The team discovered that β-Hydroxybutyrate actually slows down these senescent vascular cells at the perfect moment, which prompts them to divide, thereby preventing them from aging. When tested on mice, the team discovered that it was also able to keep blood vessels young by promoting stem cell factors that protect against DNA-related senescence.

"We think this is a very important discovery, and we are working on finding a new chemical that can mimic the effect of this ketone body's function," said Zou.

"We're trying to take the global approach to reducing cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease. It's difficult to convince people not to eat for the next 24 hours to increase the concentration of this compound, and not everybody can do that, but if we can find something that can mimic this effect and people can still eat, it would make life more enjoyable and help fight disease."

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

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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