Honey - health benefits.

Honey is not only yummy to taste but is good for health too. Although its produced by insects and consumed by man it carries lots of benefits. While being healthier, Honey has also traces of vitamins and minerals. Due to the water content present in honey it is less in calories and carbohydrates than sugar. The Glucose and fructose in honey contribute to the sweetness of honey. The clear nature of honey exhibits the higher content of fructose present in it. These simple surgars present in honey are easily digestable and impart instant energy to the body.

Honey has other benefits such as

Its used as a cure for gatrointestinal problems.

Honey consumed with warm milk is a relief for sore throats.

Honey is a natural antioxidant.

Honey mixed with a glass of warm milk and consumed at nights promotes good sleep.

Honey keeps obesity and constipation at bay.

Honey acts as a decongesant.

Honey is a good moisturiser for skin and hair.

Honey forms an important part in many a home remedies.

Pepper fried in ghee and mixed with honey given to young children suffering with severe cough helps reduce the cough.

One spoon of honey mixed with lemon juice in a glass of warm water consumed in empty stomach cleases the entire digestive system.

Gargling Honey is very useful for gingivitis.

Using honey in baked foods helps them from going dry.

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Diet For New Moms

Eating well during pregnancy and lactation requires a few adjustments to general food health dietary guidelines. There are no complicated ‘diet rules’ to follow. Nursing mothers should eat a balanced diet. It is important to eat foods from all the food groups. Avoid going on a crash diet. During lactation nutrition is required in abundance for the mother. The only diet for the new born during the first six months after birth is the breast feed. Thus the nutrition requirement is very high during this period for the growth of the infant and the daily requirements of the mother.
Calcium is required for milk production. Nutrition requirement will reduce the quantity of milk. If mother’s calcium levels are low then the calcium deposits from her bones are used up for the milk production. This in turn weakens her bones. At most care should be taken during lactation periods to avoid such hazards to the mother.
The diet during lactation period must include plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, milk and proteins. Food items like cumin seeds, methi seeds, garlic which aid in milk production should be included in daily diet. Breast feeding needs a supportive atmosphere avoid all emotional problems and anxiety. The breast feed is natures perfect recipe for the infants growth. Breast feeding aids in fertility control and helps in retraction of the uterus. Incidents of Breast cancer are lower in mothers who breast feed their babies.

Ways to watch your waistline from expanding

1. Take control of what you eat. Weight watchers should have complete control over what they eat. One should never have the habit of eating everything laid in front of them. Eat as much as required.

2. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.Increase the intake of unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These types of foods can be consumed in plenty without gaining weight. Meat can be included in ones diet, care should be taken that its lean meat and not the deep fired ones.

3.Eat more fiber. Fiber rich diet should be made an integral part of one's meal. This not only aids in increasing the metabolism but makes us feel full sooner and stays longer in the stomach ensuring decrease in appetite.

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WaterMelon - Nutrition and Body Coolant

There’s nothing quite like a refreshing slice of icy-cold watermelon on a hot summer day. Watermelon's botanical name is Citrullus lanatus and belongs to the family Curcurbitacae and is related to cucumber family.

Watermelon is an ideal health food because it is 92% water, doesn't contain any fat or cholesterol, and is a great source of vitamins A, B 6 and beta-carotene. Vitamin A plays an important role in vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell division and cell differentiation, which is the process by which a cell decides what it is going to become. Vitamin A also helps maintain the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes that function as a barrier to bacteria and viruses and helps regulate the immune system. Vitamin A helps your eyes see normally in the dark. Lycopene is thought to have powerful antioxidant capabilities that may help reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases. Found only in a few red plant foods like tomatoes and watermelon, lycopene, like vitamin C, neutralizes cell-damaging free radicals. Provides potassium: Watermelon, like most fruits and vegetables, is a good source of potassium. Foods high in potassium seem to help protect against high blood pressure. Potassium also helps regulate fluids and mineral balance in and out of body cells, aids in muscle contraction and helps transmit nerve impulses. Its very low in cholestral and helps you watch your weight!!!. Water Melon is ofcourse the favourite fruit of all weight watchers. It helps control Blood pressure and also lowers the risk of stokes.

Choosing the perfect melon is easy, according to the National Watermelon Promotion Board. First, choose one that is symmetrical and firm, without bruises, cuts or dents. Next, pick it up. You’re looking for one that is heavy for its size. Finally, turn it over. If you see a yellow area, the watermelon rested on the ground while it ripened in the sun, which means you’ll get a sweeter, juicer melon. Contrary to popular belief, don’t thump your melon – slap it. If it sounds hollow, it’s ripe.

There are over 50 different types of watermelons, but two main varieties: Picnic and ice box. Picnic watermelons are generally oblong and weight from 12 to 50 pounds. Ice box varieties are smaller because they’re designed to fit into a refrigerator.

Know your medicine

Medicines are basically divided in two categories: prescribed medicines and non-prescribed medicines. Prescription medicines are those that could be habit forming, toxic and unsafe for use except under medical supervision. All other medicines are non-prescription medicines. It is important for the consumers to know the danger of using the prescription medicines without medical advice.

Recently warnings are introduced in labels to advice the consumers regarding dosage etc., Even the liver toxicity of paracetamol becomes acute, if the patient consumes alcohol during the course of medicine.

Iron preparation are likely or cause gastric irritation and are better tolerated if taken after meals. Usage of Aspirin for children should be strictly avoided.

One should strictly follow the following guideline on using non-prescribed or counter medicines.

-Do not exceed the recommended dosage.
-Stop using the medicine if the problem aggravates.
-Read the label of the medicine to avoid duplicates.
-The manufactory date of the medicine should be noted.
-Usage of the non-prescribed medicine should be only for a few doses or days, prolonged usage of the medicines should be done only with appropriate medical advice.

Banana - Nutritional benefits of Banana

Banana - The alltime favorite and affordable fruit.

Bananas have been the alltime favorite and perennial fruit for hundreds of years now. It has many curative properties. This fruit is affordable by anyone and is available in plenty in India. All the varieties available are beneficial in their own way.

Banana is rich in fiber content and also contains natural sugars like sucrose, fructose and glucose.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Turmeric for skin care and health benefits

Turmeric, the Yellow Spice is an integral part of the Indian cuisine. The Indians and Chinese have been using turmeric in various aspects of their lives over hundreds of years. However, the health benefits of the spice were unleashed by the researchers only in the recent past.

Turmeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. A paste of turmeric with milk or water is a well known remedy for any kind of skin inflammations. Its used as an antioxidant. Antioxidants, as we all now, play an important role in helping prevent free radicals from damaging our body's cells.

A pinch of turmeric added to a glass of hot milk is a well known handy home remedy for common cold and cough. A thick paste made of turmeric and pepper powder in hot water and applied on the nose and forehead chases running nose and heaviness in the head.

The Hindus consider turmeric very holy and sacred. Every Hindu festival or pooja is begun only after making a Ganesha made of turmeric paste. Repeated use of turmeric prevents all kinds of skin disorders.
The Age old Indian beauty therapy also involves the usage of turmeric to a greater extent. The Indian women use a paste of turmeric and sandalwood to enhance their beauty. Repeated usage of turmeric is said to deplete unwanted hair growth in the body.

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Severe Snoring

Generally, snoring is found among middle aged and over weight men. If you fall under this category, it is time you start your diet and fitness workouts. It's analyzed that a moderate snorer has seen a remarkable reduction in the snoring after regular diet and exercise.

Healthy habits are always essential to have a sound sleep. Alcohol during bed time could worsen snoring, hence avoid alcohol. Smokers also tend to snore, so its time you stop smoking. Sedatives also have the ability to increase snoring.

Moderate snorers usually snore when they are on their back. But, heavy and loud snorers snore in any positions. Moderate snorers can control by sleeping on the sideways. Pillows usually increase the snore, so try avoiding pillows.

Sleep apnea is one of the worst problems related to snoring. Here the snorer literary stops breathing and snores very loundly. The snore can be as loud as it can be heard from outside. Sometimes this is too irritating for the housemates. It is advisable for such people to visit the doctor and consult.

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Healthy habit tips for Good Health

Healthy habits are essential for a good health and fitness. There are a few healthy habits which can be followed on a daily basis. These will help improve the blood circulation in the body and also can increases the energy and fitness levels.

Simple excercise - If you are planning to add a daily dose of exercise to your routine, this is the right time to start. There is nothing like an early morning walk to start with. Do a little bit of stretching exercises which will relax your muscles and help blood flow to be more free. A good brisk walk of about 30 minutes will recharge your batteries for the day. Half way round you could also exercise your joints by gently moving them around in different directions.

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STARTING RIGHT - Breakfast is the most important meal

Breakfast is the ideal and important food to keep the whole day live and active. Remember the hot paratha (Toast) and curry that Mom used to serve for breakfast? Or the steaming idlis with chutney and sambar? In the current scenario, where everybody is rushing to work, making a 'proper' breakfast has become burdensome.

Yet, after a night of fasting, our body needs breakfast. We burn around 450 calories while sleeping, and wake up with an energy deficit. Breakfast replenishes our body fuel and kick-starts our metabolism.

Without breakfast, all of us - irrespective of age - are likely to experience the late morning slump: tiredness, sleepiness and the urge to sit back. our efficiency goes down further as the day progresses. Moreover, skipping the first meal of the day leads to intense hunger pangs by late morning and we end up eating chips, samosas, burgers or other high - fat unhealthy foods. Breakfast-skippers are more likely to be overweight.

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