Home Quirer - All Home Inquiries Answered

Science-Backed Benefits of Eating Bananas Daily: What Happens to Your Body

-

January 11, 2018

Science-Backed Benefits of Eating Bananas Daily: What Happens to Your Body

Bananas are far more than just a convenient snack – they’re nutritional powerhouses that can transform your health when eaten regularly.

One medium ripe banana provides about 110 calories, 0 gram fat, 1 gram protein, 28 grams carbohydrate, 15 grams sugar (naturally occurring), 3 grams fiber, and 450 mg potassium.

This humble fruit comes in nature’s perfect packaging, making it easy to carry anywhere while delivering remarkable health benefits that science continues to validate.

From supporting your cardiovascular system to enhancing your mood, bananas offer a wide range of evidence-based health benefits that make them worth incorporating into your daily routine.

Here’s what happens to your body when you make bananas a regular part of your diet.

Cardiovascular Health Benefits

1. Lowers Blood Pressure Naturally

The American Heart Association recommends eating bananas and other potassium-rich foods to manage high blood pressure (hypertension) and lower your risk of heart attack and stroke.

The combination of high potassium and low sodium in bananas creates the perfect environment for healthy blood pressure regulation.

Key benefits for blood pressure:

450 mg of potassium per medium banana (10% of daily needs)
Low sodium content helps counteract blood pressure-raising effects
Helps blood vessels relax and improves circulation
May reduce risk of heart attack and stroke

With regular consumption, bananas can be a natural ally in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.

2. Supports Heart Health

A diet high in potassium can lower blood pressure in people with elevated levels and benefits heart health.

The potassium in bananas helps your heart muscle function properly, maintaining a steady heartbeat and supporting overall cardiovascular health.

Additionally, bananas contain 8% of the DV for magnesium, another heart-healthy mineral that works alongside potassium to support proper heart rhythm and muscle function.

3. Helps Manage Cholesterol Levels

Bananas contain phytosterols, natural compounds that can help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol absorption in your digestive system.

While they won’t dramatically lower cholesterol on their own, they’re a heart-healthy addition to a balanced diet focused on cardiovascular wellness.

Digestive Health Benefits

4. Improves Digestive Function

Most of the fiber in bananas is what’s called soluble fiber. It can help keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in check and help ease inflammation.

This fiber also acts as a prebiotic, feeding the beneficial bacteria in your gut.

The fructooligosaccharides in bananas serve as food for healthy gut bacteria, promoting better digestive health and improved nutrient absorption throughout your intestinal tract.

5. Promotes Regular Bowel Movements

Bananas help normalize bowel function thanks to their fiber content and natural enzymes.

With 3 grams of fiber per medium banana, they provide gentle support for digestive regularity.

For those dealing with digestive issues, bananas can be particularly helpful because they’re easy to digest and can help firm up loose stools while also preventing constipation when consumed regularly.

6. Reduces Digestive Inflammation

The anti-inflammatory properties of bananas, combined with their prebiotic effects, help create a healthier digestive environment.

This can be especially beneficial for people with sensitive digestive systems or those recovering from digestive upset.

Energy and Athletic Performance

7. Provides Natural Energy

Bananas are a good source of carbs—your body’s primary fuel for energy production, making them an excellent choice for sustained energy throughout the day.

The natural sugars in bananas are easily digestible and provide quick energy without the crash associated with processed sugars.

Best times to eat bananas for energy:

Pre-workout (30-60 minutes before exercise)
Mid-morning snack (between breakfast and lunch)
Afternoon energy boost (when you feel sluggish)
Post-workout recovery (within 30 minutes of exercise)

8. Enhances Athletic Performance

Research shows that bananas can mimic sports drinks in how they fuel athletes to improve performance and aid post-workout recovery.

Some of that is due to the potassium and magnesium in bananas… Both are electrolytes that help your heart, muscles, brain and nerves function.

Many endurance athletes choose bananas over commercial sports drinks because they provide natural electrolytes, carbohydrates, and essential nutrients without artificial additives.

9. Supports Muscle Function

The combination of potassium and magnesium in bananas helps prevent muscle cramps and supports proper muscle contraction.

The high amount of vitamin B6 in bananas also helps your body produce energy, making them a smart snack to have before a workout.

Nutritional and Metabolic Benefits

10. Supports Healthy Metabolism

Vitamin B6: A medium banana gives you about a quarter of the vitamin B6 you should get each day. It helps with metabolism.

This essential vitamin plays a crucial role in protein metabolism and helps your body convert food into usable energy.

11. Aids in Nutrient Absorption

While bananas don’t contain significant amounts of calcium, they help your body absorb calcium more effectively.

The prebiotic compounds in bananas support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria that enhance mineral absorption throughout your digestive system.

12. Helps Regulate Blood Sugar

When eaten at the right time, bananas can help stabilize blood sugar levels.

Foods that are high in fiber make you feel full without extra calories, which can help prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes.

Ripeness Level	Glycemic Impact	Best For
Green/Unripe	Lower glycemic index	Blood sugar control
Yellow/Ripe	Moderate glycemic index	Balanced energy
Brown/Overripe	Higher glycemic index	Quick energy boost

💡 Pro Tip: Choose slightly green bananas if you’re monitoring blood sugar levels, as they contain more resistant starch and have a lower glycemic impact.

Mental Health and Cognitive Benefits

13. Supports Brain Health

Vitamin B6 plays an important role in brain development during pregnancy and infancy, as well as immune system health.

For adults, adequate B6 intake supports cognitive function and may help with memory and concentration.

14. May Improve Mood

They’ve even been shown to aid in the production of serotonin, a chemical that helps regulate mood and promote feelings of well-being.

The vitamin B6 in bananas is essential for serotonin production, which may explain why some people feel better after eating bananas.

15. Supports Better Sleep

B6 can help you sleep better, as this vitamin is involved in the production of melatonin, your body’s natural sleep hormone.

The natural sugars in bananas can also help tryptophan reach your brain more easily, potentially promoting better sleep quality.

Additional Health Benefits

Natural Detoxification Support

Bananas contain pectin, a type of fiber that may help remove toxins from the body through urine.

This natural detoxification process can be particularly beneficial for removing heavy metals, including support for those dealing with mercury poisoning concerns, as the body works to eliminate these harmful substances.

Making Bananas Part of Your Daily Routine

The per capita consumption of fresh bananas amounted to approximately 27 pounds in 2022, showing just how popular this fruit has become.

The convenience, affordability, and nutritional value of bananas make them an excellent choice for daily consumption.

Simple ways to include bananas in your diet:

Add sliced bananas to your morning cereal or oatmeal
Blend into smoothies with other fruits and vegetables
Use as a natural sweetener in baking recipes
Pack as a convenient on-the-go snack
Make banana “nice cream” as a healthy dessert alternative

🍌 Daily Serving Recommendation: Most adults can safely enjoy 1-2 medium bananas per day as part of a balanced diet. This provides significant potassium, fiber, and vitamin B6 without excessive calories.

The science is clear: incorporating bananas into your daily diet can provide measurable health benefits for your cardiovascular system, digestive health, energy levels, and overall well-being.

With their impressive nutritional profile and proven health benefits, bananas truly deserve their reputation as one of nature’s most perfect foods.

Black Seed: A True Panacea

Features

Kingsley Felix

-

January 8, 2018

0

Few people know what a real fortune having black seed or black seed oil is. Very few know why it’s such. Black seed has been around for ages, dating far back before medieval times.

A bottle of black seed oil was found in the tomb that allegedly belonged to King Tut, and it’s said that he wished to carry the miracle oil with him to the afterlife. The Muslim prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also said that black seed can ‘cure anything except death itself.

Different studies and research that have taken place since then prove that that statement is not to be argued with. Black seed (Nigella sativa), is mainly found in the southwest of Asia.

It is also known by other names such as:

Black sesame
Onion seed
Roman Conanda
Black Cumin
Black caraway

‘Black seed’ is more of a descriptive name than an actual name but it is preferred to distinguish it from some other herbs.

The general properties of black seed that contribute to its health benefits are:

Anti-inflammatory
Anti-oxidant
Anti-viral
Anti-bacterial
Anti-histamine
Anti-coagulant

There are 3 key natural chemicals in black seed that have been studied individually to determine the extent of the magic of black seed. These chemicals are thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone and thymol.

Thymoquinone

Thymoquinone has been under study since 1960 by different scientists and research teams. It has been found to exhibit anti-oxidant capabilities, anti-inflammatory capabilities as well as anti-cancer.

It has helped with the treatment of encephalomyelitis, diabetes, carcinogenesis and asthma. It has also been shown to preserve anti-oxidant enzymes which help protect the liver from toxins that damage it.

Thymohydroquinone

Thymohrydroquinone has been found to be a possible treatment so many diseases and illnesses because it has been found to be a natural acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor.

That is it inhibits the enzyme that is responsible for the breakdown of acetyl choline in nerve endings, making acetyl choline last longer.

Common acetyl- cholinesterase inhibitor drugs are used in the treatment of diseases such as apathy, glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, myasthenia gravis, and neurodegenerative diseases among others.

Thymol

It is a natural monoterpene and also a good disinfectant, domestically and clinically. It has also been used in food flavoring, perfumes, mouthwash and some cosmetics.

Black seed has been defined by some as a true panacea, treating everything from allergies to hypertension.

Studies tested all three chemicals against 30 human pathogens and it resulted in 100% inhibition of these pathogens. Of all the health benefits of black seed, 6 sticks out to scientific literature and they are prevention of cancer, diabetes, hair loss, obesity, skin disorder, infections like MRSA.

health benefits of black seed

Cancer

Hymoquinone and thymohydroquinone have been found to kill tumor cells as well as prevent their growth. When a test was carried out on mice, there was a 52% decrease of tumor cells.

Tumor cells are associated with cancer and the ability of these chemicals found in black seed make black seed capable of preventing cancer and likely cure, to an extent, some stages of cancer in patients.

Liver health

Black seed has a wonderful healing effect on the liver. It speeds the healing process of damaged liver as a result from side effects of medications, excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco usage, disease and other things that may cause liver damage. The black seed oil also benefits liver function and prevents damage.

Acne treatment

The occurrence of acne has been linked to inflammation of the regenerative skin cells. Because of the anti-inflammative property of black seed and its oil, it clears up the skin, getting rid of acne while making the skin soft and giving it a luminous healthy glow.

It can also be used to prevent acne and is therefore advised for those with acne prone skins.

Skin

Like for the acne treatment, black seed’s anti-inflammatory property prevents and heals skin problems caused by inflammation of the epidermal cells and the deeper layers of the skin keeping the skin healthy.

It contains some fatty acids that keep the skin moisturized as well as anti-oxidant properties. It therefore nourishes the skin and takes care of the look of the skin from the tone of the skin to the texture of the skin. It decreases the occurrence of eczemas.

Diabetes

Diabetes is as a condition characterized by excess amount of sugar in the blood.

It is due to physiological in capabilities of the body to get rid of excess blood sugar and this may be due to reduced insulin production in the body caused by damage of pancreatic beta cells where insulin is produced.

Black seed has been found to cause gradual regeneration of damaged pancreatic beta cells, causing increased production of insulin which could reduce blood sugar level, which is beneficial to diabetic patients.

Unlike the prescribed diabetic drug metformin which causes sides effects such as bloating, skin flushing, headache, heartburn, muscle pain or stomach pain, black seed has no side effects.

Weight loss

Following the same mechanism as that of treatment for diabetes, black seed reduces blood sugar and decreases weight gain triggers such as appetite, cholesterol appetite and it also increases the absorption of glucose in the intestine.

Hair growth

The role of black seed in promoting hair growth is not completely understood but it may be as a result of its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammative properties which strengthen hair follicles which prevents hair breakage and loss of hair.

It also provides the body with essential fatty acids that are generally good for the skin and the hair.

Epilepsy

Black seed has been found to have anti-convulsive properties, reducing seizures in patients suffering from epilepsy.

Fertility

People that consume black seed have been found to be more fertile than those that do not. It also acts as an aphrodisiac.

It increases blood and oxygen circulation and flows to the sex organs which may increase sexual vigilance and strength, therefore, improving sex drive and sex life.

The benefits of black seed can be enjoyed by forming a habit and diet of consuming black seed or its oil.

Powerful Nutrients and Foods That Fight Cancer

Features

Faith David

-

January 6, 2018

0

Powerful Nutrients and Foods That Fight Cancer

Cancer is a deadly disease that is characterized by uncontrollable growth and division of body cells, worldwide this disease takes thousands of life yearly and yet no cure has been found for it.

Some symptoms of cancer are vertigo, seizures, headaches, cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, depression, suicidal thoughts, compression of the spinal cord, jaundice, pain, fractures, liver problems, tumors or growths, extreme fatigue and other uncomfortable symptoms.

Medically, chemotherapy and other drugs can be used to treat cancer, but these treatments are expensive and deadly and most cancer patients are said to die from the chemotherapy itself and not the cancer, this may be due to the fact that chemotherapy cannot recognize cancerous cells, it just kills all the cells of the body and this worsens the situation.

Although it is widely speculated that the main cause or causes of cancer is not known yet there are many scientific researches that proves bad lifestyles and some foods can cause cancer alongside faulty genes inherited from ones parents.

According to scientific research and studies, faulty genes, genetic mutations caused by environmental factors and bad diet and infections caused by parasites (bacteria, fungi and viruses) are the main causes of cancer.

Cancer can occur when one inherits faulty genes from his/her parents and do nothing to prevent having cancer but rather lives bad lifestyle and eat unhealthy foods as his/her main meal.

Genetic mutation which is also another cause of cancer includes factors like bad diet, chemical pollution, exposure to harmful and ionizing rays, tobacco and alcohol use, obesity, sedentary lifestyles and side effects of some drugs and medications over prolonged use.

Parasites like bacteria and viruses can enter the body, insert their own DNA into the host cells and this can cause the cells of the body to multiply out of control, leading to cancer.

In this article, we will be looking at the role good nutrition play in preventing, treating and managing cancer symptoms. We will also be looking at foods to avoid to cut down the risk of cancer and foods and nutrients that are powerful inhibitors of cancer cells.

Nutrition is not just what we put in our body; it communicates with our DNA, the body uses the nutrient from the food we give it to build, repair and defend itself from foreign bodies and diseases.

That is you are what you eat; what you eat can either heal you or make you sick, it can either break you or make you, it can either fight diseases or feed diseases, this is why it is highly advised to make healthy nutritious foods your main meals and avoid junks and empty calorie foods.

According to dieticians and nutritionists, cancer fighting foods are foods that reduces the risk for developing cancer and helps one heals fast when down with cancer; they contain powerful phytochemicals that protects the cells against damage from harmful compounds in foods and the environment. To gain the immense health benefits of these foods, they should be mixed together and eaten regularly as ones main meal.

Nutritionists have proved a connection between diet and cancer, they believe eating healthy foods, avoiding unhealthy foods and maintaining a healthy weight can cut the risk of cancer by half; and if already diagnosed with cancer, good nutrition can hasten healing, make the action of drugs effective, they can help one manage the side effects of chemotherapy and help one recover fast if the case is arrested early.

Good and healthy nutrition also support a strong immune system, it boosts its function and makes sure it operates optimally thereby defending the body from diseases like cancer.

All the studies on cancer and nutrition prove that plant based foods leads in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Know that there is a long list of cancer fighting foods but in this article, we will be looking at common foods and nutrients that beat cancer.

Vitamin B complex

This vitamin corrects and control cellular division and replication of DNA; it also helps in keeping the spread of cancer under control and helps in replacing the amount of good bacteria destroyed by chemotherapy and anti-biotic. Natural sources of this vitamin are legumes, organic cereals and green vegetables.

Vitamin C

This is the best and most powerful immune boosting anti-cancer supplement; it boosts immune strength and functions and kills cancer cells at higher doses by producing hydrogen peroxide inside tumors making them to self-destroy. Good sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits, red peppers and green vegetables.

Vitamin E

This vitamin is a very powerful immune booster; almonds, spinach, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, palm oil and wheat germ are good sources of this vitamin.

Vitamin D

This vitamin is actually a hormone that helps in activating and strengthening the immune system; research proves that it corrects cancer cells and reduces the risk of one coming down with cancer when taking regularly.

It does this by positively influencing over 200 genes in the body; it reduces inflammation, inhibits cancer cell growth and replication, stops new tumors from forming and makes cancer cells to self-destruct.

It also promotes growth of healthy cells. You can get this vitamin from sunlight, food sources like eggs and poultry.

Melatonin

This is a powerful anti-oxidant that is produced by the brain but many of us don;’t make enough due to electromagnetic stress and artificial lighting at night, so it can be taken as supplements to help cancer patients win the war.

It has cytotoxic effects on different types of cancer cells; it lowers the risk of any type of cancer by 34%.

Coenzyme Q

This supplement has anti-aging, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties; it strengthens the action of macrophages which are part of your immune cells that eats up cancer cells and any other foreign or harmful substance in the body, it also aids the actions of granulocytes, immune cells involved in healing. Take it at the prescribed dosage to avoid wasting.

Quercitin

This potent anti-oxidant and immune strengthening supplement helps the body manage inflammation and stress; it also makes cancer cells to kill themselves, stops growth of tumors and reduce the resistance of cancer to chemotherapy. It removes heavy metals and other toxins from the body.

Selenium

Helps to detoxify the body by displacing heavy metals from the body which are carcinogenic when left to accumulate in the body and it is potent in reducing the risk of prostate cancer.

Garlic

This powerful herb has an active ingredient Allicin and other organosulphur compounds; these are toxic to cancer cells and stop the spread of cancer in varieties of ways; it stops blood supply to tumor cells, it directly attacks and kills cancer cells; stops the formation of nitrosamines, a carcinogen formed in the stomach when nitrates a common food preservative is consumed.

Eating three cloves of garlic everyday will help to ward off any type of cancer; as research has proven that people who eat garlic regularly have increased number of natural killer cell count (front line immune cells that fights cancers) compared to those who don’t.

It also removes heavy metal, toxins and carcinogens from the body; it also helps in the production of glutathione, another powerful anti-oxidant of the body.

Berries

This included strawberries, blueberries and blackberries; they are all packed with cancer fighting phytochemicals.

Blackberries have the highest concentration of Anthocyanins, a powerful phytochemical that slows the growth premalignant cells and starves cancer tumors of blood. A fresh juice daily of blackberries will help; berries are potent against skin, colon, oral and esophageal cancer.

Aloe vera

Research has proved that aloe vera contains anthraquinone a compound which cause death of cancer cells. This plant is so smart that it can differentiate between cancerous cells and healthy cells, unlike chemotherapy.

The best way to take Aloe vera for cancer is to cut the leaf and add the fresh gel to your smoothies every morning. Blend it along with your smoothie’s ingredient in the blender so that the tough cellulose can be broken.

Green tea

This contains good amount of polyphenols that are potent anti-cancer compounds. They scavenge free radicals and inflammatory agents; they fight inflammation and protect the DNA from damage. It stops the development of tumor blood vessels, makes cancer cells to destroy themselves.

Turmeric

This spice has tremendous anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties when ingested; it is used mostly in treating colon cancer traditionally.

It’s powerful active ingredient Curcumin is able to shrink cancer tumors and stops the flow of blood to the tumors; in many research it outperformed cancer drugs and anti-inflammatory drugs without side effects. Taking this herb in generous amounts everyday will make you heal quickly.

Ginger

Fresh raw ginger have a number of powerful cancer fighting compounds, it has a powerful anti-body effects and helps to reduce the effects of carcinogens.

Ginserols, one of the compounds present in ginger is potent against breast cancer, leukemia and other cancer cells. It also helps in reducing the spread of cancer to other body parts.

It also contains helpful vitamins and minerals that aids in fighting cancer and it benefit the whole body generally. You can ingest ginger essential oil, take ginger and lemon tea every morning and generously add ginger to your meals during preparation.

Tomatoes

According to research taking tomatoes regularly like 7-10 servings a week helped to cut down the symptoms of prostate cancer by 40%; it also has influence on other types of cancers.

Lycopene its active ingredient is responsible for this and lycopene can also be found in peppers, carrots, strawberries and peaches; but the highest concentration of lycopene is found in tomatoes.

It is advisable to cook the tomatoes before eating because heat was found to increase the amount of lycopene the body can absorb. Lycopene is potent against lung, prostrate, endometrial and stomach cancers.

Oily fish

Oily fishes are loaded with plenty omega-3-fatty acids which have powerful anti-inflammatory effect in the body; it also minimizes the effects of carcinogens and reduce inflammation by inhibiting the actions of eicosanoids (negative hormones that cause inflammation).

Omega-3 also lengthens lifespan, fish oil has been proven by research to be potent in reducing the levels of prostrate, breast and colon cancers; they also help to prevent cachexia during chemotherapy.

Carotenoids

Carotenoids are powerful cancer fighting compounds and they also convert to vitamin A in the body. Foods high in carotenoids are red and yellow peppers, kale, green leafy vegetable, carrots, apricots and carrots.

Onions

Onions are high in anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-biotic and anti-cancer compounds; it lowers the risk of all kinds of cancer and there are also rich in polyphenols.

Seeds and nuts

Sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds are all full of immune strength.

Cancer Causing Foods You Need to Avoid

Features

Faith David

-

January 3, 2018

0

In our previous article, we saw how good nutrition can ward off cancer, help one manage the symptoms of cancer, and hasten healing. In this article, we will be looking at foods that cause cancer, feeds cancer cells, and make them multiply faster than normal cells.

Plant based foods have been proven by research to heal, prevent and treat cancer while man made, over processed and chemical laden foods are the leading causes of cancer worldwide.

When we don’t give our body the right nutrients it needs, things go out of control and chronic diseases like cancer can set in.

In this article, we will be looking at some of those foods that cause problems like cancer in the body. The food listed below should not be your main meal, replace them with healthy, organic, and unprocessed whole foods.

You can take them occasionally and in little quantity if you choose but it will be best if you avoid them totally.

Canned foods

The lining of all canned foods are made with a chemical called Bisphenol-A, (BPA); little amount of this harmful chemical in the body increases the risk of breast, prostate and other types of cancer, it also cause early puberty in girls and other types of health problems like infertility, type II diabetes and metabolic disorders.

So any food stored in cans should be avoided. The worst and most dangerous is canned tomatoes, because tomatoes are acidic in nature, this will make the BPA in the can lining to leach and mix with the tomato paste.

Use fresh tomatoes to cook if you want to avoid this deadly disease or you can make your own tomato paste and store them in glass jars.

Saturated fats

A 2015 study proved that saturated fats increased the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women by 30% compared to those who were not given saturated fats. Older people should try and reduce or totally stop their intake of saturated fats.

Also highly processed snacks made with vegetable oils, processed cheese, fatty meals and butter based diets should also be avoided. Vegetable oils cause skin cancer and heart diseases.

Hydrogenated oils

These are oils used to preserve processed foods; it gives processed foods an appealing look for as long as it stays on the shelf.

These oils can cause lot of harm in the body; they influence and affect the structure of the cell membrane and flexibility of the cell and this can lead to cancer. Use virgin unrefined olive oil in place of hydrogenated oil and Trans-fats.

The reason why vegetable oils are not healthy is because they are chemically extracted from their source, chemically treated and more chemicals are added to change the taste and smell.

They are also packed with unhealthy omega-6 fats which alter the structure of the cell membrane and this can lead to cancer.

Alcohol

Next to tobacco, alcohol is the leading cause of cancer. Over consumption of alcohol can also lead to other diseases like heart failure and stroke.

Excessive intake of alcohol leads to cancer of the mouth, esophagus, liver, colon, breast and rectum. Try and reduce or totally avoid Alcohol for the sake of your health. Moderate consumption of Alcohol is OK if you can’t stop it but do not over take it.

Dairy and dairy products

Diary contains good amount of calcium which increases bone strength but now health experts are discovering links between high intake of calcium and the development of prostate cancer in men.

Calcium gotten from dairy products reduces the level of vitamin D3, a hormone that actively protects men against cancer of the prostate.

So men who take lots of dairy products have greater risk of prostate cancer than men who don’t. Besides the high calcium content, dairy animals are raised in unnatural ways; they are given drugs and growth hormones.

These drugs and growth hormones can also affect humans who consume them and cause health problems for them like cancer. The process diary and dairy products go through when they are being made can also lead to health problems.

Refined sugars

White refined sugars feed cancer cells and make tumors to increase in size; it also weakens the immune system and makes it unable to fight bacteria, foreign bodies and diseases.

There are many names for sugar on the label of processed foods, avoid them at all cost. Names like glucose, sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, mono-sodium glutamate, etc.

In 1931, Otto Warburg, a Nobel Prize winner in medicine found out that to multiply cancer cells, you feed them fructose rich sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Cancer cells can absorb easily absorb and metabolize high fructose corn syrup than other sweeteners. When you want to buy processed foods due to unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances, check the label and avoid foods prepared with HFCS which is the biggest cancer causing food.

Excess red meat and processed meat

Processed meats found in foods like sausages, hot dogs, bacon, bologna and others contains various chemicals and preservatives which makes them look attractive and fresh but they are carcinogenic when exposed to high heat.

Smoke meats are even dangerous because the meat picks up tar during the smoking process (tar is a deadly ingredient found in cigarettes) and numerous studies have proven that excessive salt and chemicals used to process meats are unhealthy.

Grilled red meat releases heterocyclic aromatic amines, a carcinogen that changes the chemical and molecular structure of the meat.

Conventionally raised farm animals that are given anti-biotics, drugs and growth hormones are also not healthy for consumption and over eating their meat can lead to colorectal cancer. Rather eat organic, grass fed, drug free and hormone free animals.

Soft drinks and carbonated beverages

Soda, diet soda and carbonated drinks are cancer causing foods due to their high sugar content and additives. They are filled with high fructose corn syrup, dyes and other harmful chemicals that destroy the body.

They don’t even have nutrients; rather your body uses the nutrients you get from other foods to break them down, this can cause malnutrition. They also contain Aspartame which has the same work as rat poison to the human body.

Any food label that you see the word “diet”, avoid that food completely for the rest of your life. They also lead to excessive weight gain which is also a risk factor for cancer.

White bread

The process of making white flour strips it of all its nutrients and fibers; then when this empty calorie flour is used is baking bread, an additive potassium bromate is added to it to whiten the bread, add bulk to it and speeds up the manufacturing process. Potassium bromate is a carcinogen and it also causes disorder of the nervous system.

Check bread label to make sure it does not have this additive before buying. White flour has also been stripped of its fiber and fiber is very good at preventing colon cancer; it aids easy and regular bowel movement thereby preventing toxic excreta from stating long in the body.

So those who make their main meals with white processed flour are at risk of getting colon cancer and other health problems caused by food additives and the process of manufacturing.

Genetically modified foods

Many health experts warned and are still warning about the dangers of genetically modified foods; they cause health problems like cancer, anti-biotic resistance, premature aging, fertility and reproductive problems, food allergies and poisoning. It is advisable to go for non-GMO foods and animals.

Farmed fishes are also to be avoided, they are feed with anti-biotics, pesticides and other carcinogenic chemicals, and they don’t even have omega-3 fatty acids as fishes in the wild.

Microwaved foods and microwaved popcorn

Micro waved popcorn is the leading cause of lung cancer around the world; the GMO corn used, the additives added for taste, flavour and colour contains Diacetyl which is very toxic to humans. You can make your own popcorn in the old fashion organic ways to save you lot of health problem.

Microwave is unhealthy and changes the chemical composition of foods which when ingested causes a lot of problems, avoid microwaved foods at all cost.

Salted, smoked and pickled foods

These products contain preservatives to prolong the shelf life; these additives will accumulate in your body over a long time and lead to cancer because they will cause damage at the cellular level.

When these processed foods are cooked at high temperature, their preservatives, especially nitrates are converted to nitrite, a more dangerous form and this cause harm in the body.

The ones you do at home without preservatives are better than store bought ones laden with preservatives.

Processed foods also contain salts that damage the lining of the stomach which can lead to stomach cancer. Taste enhancers and colours added to processed foods also cause lots of health problems.

White flour

Refined white flour has all its nutrients and fibers removed, it is bleached with chlorine gas to make it look appealing, its glycemic index is high and it spikes your insulin levels, it can lead to insulin resistance and they are also a source of fuel for cancer cells since refined carbohydrates are easily converted to simple sugars by the body. It has no fiber and cannot prevent colon cancer.

The above mentioned are common foods that cause cancer; and from what you have seen, cancer can be prevented by choosing what you eat wisely.

There are also unhealthy lifestyles that can trigger cancer in humans and they are responsible for half of cancer cases worldwide; such unhealthy lifestyles are:

Obesity

Excessive weight gain is a risk factor for cancer, a new study in UK revealed that this was the second biggest cause of cancer; control the rate at which you eat, avoid processed, junk and empty calorie foods which makes one fat.

An overweight body produces and stores more estrogen and insulin; these hormones can stimulate cancer growth.

Sedentary lifestyle

Physical inactivity is a risk factor for cancer as it leads to weight gain and obesity and decreased immune functions.

Engage in exercises, walk for at least one hour every day and avoid long hours of sitting, lying down, watching TV and playing video games.

Eating unhealthy foods

We can either get sick or get healthier by the foods we eat, this article says it all. Avoid these foods listed above and make organic, non-GMO, unprocessed and whole foods your main meals.

Increase your daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Include herbs, herbal teas, homemade fruit juices and smoothies in your meal plan and also take pure clean water, free from germs and chemicals. High intake of salt and salty foods leads to stomach cancer.

Excessive intake of alcohol

Excessive drinking of alcohol leads to cancer and other health problems.

Stress

This silent killer is behind the scene of many chronic diseases including cancer. Avoid or reduce stress and it will impact your health positively by cutting down the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.

Smoking

Tobacco and tobacco smoke are the leading cause of cancer caused by genetic mutation; try and quit smoking if you do, and if you don’t smoke, try and avoid tobacco smoke; try not to be around where people or someone is smoking.

Bad hygiene

Parasites like bacteria, virus and some scientists believe fungi can cause cancer; these can enter the body through dirty water and contaminated foods.

Mind what you eat and drink, do not eat and drink in a dirty environment or eat foods that are not hygienically prepared. This can increase the risk of one having cancer by infection with parasites.

Exposure to pollutions

Pollutions by harmful chemicals, harmful rays can put one at risk of cancer. Those who work in chemical laboratories should employ safety measures to prevent coming in contact with those chemicals, also try and reduce the way you expose yourself to radiations.

When these lifestyles are avoided, 30 to 40% of cancer cases can be avoided. Take your health personal, make healthy choices and enjoy a healthy life.

Importance of Vitamins and Minerals

Features

Faith David

-

December 9, 2017

0

Nutrition is an important aspect of life, it determines the status of our health, how long we live and how happy we are when being alive.

Nutrition is not only about stopping hunger or getting energy, it also determines the type of body we have, how strong our body is in fighting infections.

The type of food we eat provides building blocks for our body to repair itself every day. There are six classes of nutrients and the body needs all in balanced proportions but many people are unaware of this.

The main classes of nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, fats and oils (being the most popular), vitamins, minerals (the most often overlooked nutrient and most people don’t even know what they do), and water. In this article, we will be looking at the roles of vitamins and minerals in the body.

Their natural sources and what will happen if they are too low or lacking totally from the body. Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients; the body needs them for vital functions where they help perform hundreds of roles in the body.

They are only needed in little amounts and if over taken (especially through supplements) can give rise to health complications. Taking one mineral too much can make the absorption of other mineral impossible leading to a deficiency.

A healthy diets consisting of fruits and vegetables is the best way to get sufficient amounts of minerals and vitamins that your body needs.

Vitamins

They are five types of vitamins (A, B, C, D, E and K) where they are grouped into two: water soluble vitamin and fat soluble vitamin.

Water Soluble Vitamins

This group of vitamins can be dissolved by water, they are found in the watery portions of fruits and vegetables, and immediately the food or supplement is broken down, they are absorbed into the blood stream.

Absorption and circulation of water soluble vitamins in the body is easy and fast because 70% of our body is water, they kidney play a role in regulating the amount of water soluble vitamins by excreting excess of it in the urine.

Vitamin B complex (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12) and vitamin C are water soluble vitamins, they have many functions in the body but the most important functions are:

Release of energy, they help in releasing the energy present in the foods you eat.
They help in keeping the tissues healthy. Vitamin C does this by strengthening the immune system.
They produce energy.
They make collagen and other important structural proteins of the body. Vitamin C does this and it uses the collagen to heal wounds, supports blood vessels and it also forms raw materials for teeth and bones.

Fat Soluble Vitamins

These vitamins cannot enter into the blood stream directly; they have to enter the blood stream through the lymph channels present in the walls of the small intestine.

There are proteins that carry these vitamins round the body. Fatty foods and oils serve as reservoirs for these vitamins, fat tissues and the cells of the liver helps to store them till they are needed by the body.

Vitamins A, D, E and K in this class of vitamin and their functions are:

They help to repair vital organs and tissues of the body like lungs, skin, eyes, GIT and nervous system.
They help the body in building strong bones.
They help give us good vision and protect our eyes, e.g. vitamin A.
They help the body in absorbing and storing nutrients e.g. vitamin E.
They help in protecting the body against oxidation by acting as an anti-oxidant.

Minerals

Minerals are also grouped into two: major and trace minerals.

Major Minerals

The minerals that fall under this group are calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and sulfur. Their functions are:

Maintain proper level of water in the body (sodium, potassium and chloride).
They give healthy and strong bones (calcium, phosphorous and magnesium).
They help in stabilizing protein structures like nails, skin and hair (sulfur).

Trace Minerals

For the fact that there are needed in trace or very little quantity does not make them less important than major minerals.

Minerals under this group are chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese, iron, molybdenum, selenium and zinc. Their functions are:

Iron helps in transporting oxygen throughout the body.
Fluoride prevents tooth decay and strengthens bones.
Copper helps several enzymes that regulate important functions of the body. They also forms part of key enzymes and enhance their activities.
They help to prevent damage to the cells of the body.

The best sources of vitamins and minerals are fruits, green leafy vegetables, organic grown foods, nuts, seeds and spring water.

When any of these vitamins and minerals are lacking from the body, their roles won’t be performed and this will lead to serious health complications like weakened immune system, loss of vision, weak bones and teeth, malnutrition, infertility, impaired tissue and organ functions, abnormal metabolism and sometimes death if not addressed.

As said earlier, the best sources of these nutrients are fruits and vegetables, taking them regularly will give your body its right doses, it is very rare to have overdose of vitamins and minerals by taking fruits and vegetables, overdose and toxicity comes when one is taking the supplements.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are very important too, they are prescribed by doctors to patients who have become critically ill due to a mineral or vitamin deficiency and in this case, there is no amount of fruit and vegetable that you can eat to bring up the level of the deficient mineral to foster quick healing.

So when you are prescribed a mineral or vitamin supplement, take it as prescribed by the doctor, do not overtake it to prevent toxicity and overdose.

When you get better and your supplements have finished, you can now switch to eating fruits and vegetables daily to help you maintain that healthy balanced level of mineral and vitamins and to prevent coming down with a deficiency.

The Importance of Good Nutrition

Features

Faith David

-

December 2, 2017

0

How long we live and how happy we are while living all depends on Nutrition. We are what we eat, because what we eat can either heal us or make us sick.

Remember that famous quote by Hippocrates the father of modern medicine; he said “let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food”. Another famous quote says “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”.

Every second, our body creates new cells, repairs old and worn-out cells and tissues and science has confirmed that every 90 days the body renews itself. What do you think the raw material used for all these processes is? They are nothing but what you eat.

And that is why what you eat can either make you or break you; it can either heal you or kill you. You are what you eat. You decide the type of body you have by what you eat.

This is where nutrition plays a major role in our lives and determines our fate and destiny. Eating a well-balanced diet every day is very vital for good health and well-being; it helps one in achieving optimal health throughout life.

The function of food goes beyond just relieving hunger, it provides the body with energy, vital nutrients without which the body cannot function properly, helps normal growth and development and helps the body in fighting off diseases and infections.

For one to be sure of a balanced diet, they need to eat a wide variety of foods; they must belong to the three main classes of foods which are Carbohydrates, Proteins, Vitamins and Minerals (the most neglected and overlooked classes of food but they are very important, severe deficiency in any vitamin and mineral can lead to death), fat and oil and water.

When one makes it a habit to eat all these foods in the right proportions, the benefits they bestow the body are:

They reduce the rate of chronic diseases like stroke, heart attack, heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes.
They increase the energy level of the body.
They help one recover from illnesses faster and they strengthen the immune system.
They improve total well-being.
They reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure
They help to control moods and emotions and thereby help us relate well with others because a healthy body is equal to a healthy mind
They prevent malnutrition which is the leading cause of deaths and sicknesses worldwide.
They help cut down expenses because being unhealthy is very expensive, imagine being on a pill for the rest of your life or going for regular treatment e.g. Chemotherapy.
It helps one maintain a healthy weight because all these processed foods with unnatural additives are the main cause of weight gain and obesity.
They delay the process of Aging and increase focus, attention span, and concentration.
They increase lifespan

These are just a few benefits of a healthy diet.

To live healthy; avoid these foods

Processed foods

These foods are scam; they have no nutrients and that is why they are commonly called “empty calorie foods”. They offer nothing to the body, rather they cause more harm than good.

Example, processed white flour has been stripped of all its nutrients and fibers and frequent eating of foods made with processed white flour raises the risk of colon cancer and other diseases it causes due to deficiencies.

Sugar

flat lay photography of desserts — Photo by Karley Saagi on Pexels.com

Sugar feeds cancer cells and weakens the immune system; in fact after taking a can of soft drink the immune system will be weak for five hours, that will make the body susceptible to germs and infections because the immune system will not be able to defend the body at that time.

It also raises the risk of diabetes and obesity. Note that sugar comes in many names like mono sodium glutamate, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose etc.

Raw honey is a good natural replacement for refined white sugar, it has no side effects and it offers therapeutic benefits to the body.

Food additives, sweeteners and colourings

These are artificial substances that are added to foods to enhance its taste, colour and physical appearance.

When they enter the body, they cause all kinds of problems because they interfere with biochemical functions even at the molecular level.

They cause dis-balanced hormones, cause ADHD in kids (Attention deficit hyperactive disorder) and other health problems they cause.

GMOs

There have been many controversies surrounding genetically modified organisms ever since it became approved; some supports it because of crop resistance to diseases, increase crop yield, resistant species of animals and increased productivity; and so on but many argue that the long term side effects of all these drug and hormone laden fruits and animals have not yet been known.

This has been backed by research recently; there have been an increase in early menstruation and early menopause in young girls and women. Now a six year old girl can be seen menstruating and women in their thirties have started seeing signs of menopause.

This has been linked by several studies to the consumption of GMO crops and animals. The drugs and hormones that are injected into these crops and also feed to the animals affect people who eat them and have the same effect on humans as it have on animals and crops.

Even recently anti-biotic resistance to infections in humans has been linked to consumption of GMO crops and animals. GMO foods have also been linked to increase rate of cancer in the society.

This is why I advocate for local species of crops and animals; let us eat it the way mother nature gave us. Man is not wiser than nature, science can’t neat nature, and nature always wins. Eat organic, non-GMO fruits, vegetables, foods and meat for good health.

Alcohol

selective focus photography of several people cheering wine glasses — Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Nothing destroys your liver and ages quickly than Alcohol; excessive drinking leads one to an early grave. Hundreds of thousands of people die yearly due to alcohol poisoning and other alcohol related diseases.

Slowly cut down on Alcohol till you can avoid it totally, then regularly take lots of fruit juices, herbal teas, smoothies and clean drinking water.

They will help heal and repair your body from all the damages caused by alcohol. Also don’t smoke, the effect is even written on your cigarette pack.

What about cheating?

I am not saying it is possible to avoid all these foods especially white flour products like cakes, doughnuts, egg roll etc. and soft drinks.

I cheat too in fact I took a doughnut yesterday but I don’t make these junks my main meal. The acceptable cheat rule is 80-20. 80% of healthy organic foods, fruits, vegies and; water and 20% of all the junks you want to eat.

Junk foods should not also be taken regularly, they are OK to be taken when you have no time to cook or no access to cook foods or you are in an occasion or with friends but when it comes to your health matters you should learn to say no at times.

Your friends should know what you like and what you don’t like and your stance on healthy food.

Secrets for a Flawless, Beautiful, and Glowing Skin

Features

Faith David

-

December 2, 2017

0

Secrets for a Flawless, Beautiful, and Glowing Skin

The skin which is the largest organ of the body helps in protecting all our internal organs and systems (that is why doctors consider the skin as part of the immune system, they say that it is the first layer of the immune system) and it beautifies the body.

The appearance of the skin can tell how healthy a person is and it is used in many traditional healing like Chinese medicine to diagnose illnesses. The appearance of the skin can make one attractive or repulsive, for women it is a thing of joy to have flawless and glowing skin.

The best way to get this natural beauty is from the inside out; and this can be done through nutrition and healthy lifestyle.

Even if you use the most expensive cream in the world and you are still not getting the right nutrients, your skin will show it and this will not be pleasant.

Remember the skin is an indicator for what is happening inside the body, ancient Chinese healers used skin problems to diagnose diseases and they were right because research has proved them right.

So in this article, we will be looking at natural ways to get a beautiful, glowing and flawless skin; this will include nutrition, face and body mask recipes and healthy lifestyle that ensure a healthy and beautiful skin.

Nutrition

Vitamin A

This vitamin helps with skin repair and maintenance; vitamin A deficiency leads to a dry and flaky skin. It also helps in reducing the damage caused by free radicals and it promotes a healthy skin. Rich sources of this vitamin are eggs, sweet potato, liver, green vegetables and red peppers.

Vitamin C

This vitamin is one of the most important for a healthy, flawless and glowing skin. It strengthens the skin, helps to protect the skin from damage and infection, improves production of collagen, enhance complexion, slows down aging and prevents appearance of aging signs and wrinkles, it brightens the skin and prevents spots and pigmentation.

It also helps in the synthesis of collagen, the main protein that makes up the skin. Take vitamin C rich foods every day; rich sources of vitamin C are red peppers, grapes, oranges, guavas, lemons, limes, kiwi fruit, broccoli, blackcurrants, strawberries, Amla, pawpaw and sweet potatoes.

Vitamin D

This vitamin helps with skin growth and repair; it also helps the skin to regenerate. It fights the activity of free radicals and optimizes the skin immune system.

It makes the skin radiate, boost elasticity and collagen production, prevents acne, fights aging, wrinkles and dark spots.

Get lots of sunshine but avoid high heat of the sun, preferably spend time in sunrise and sunset and eat lots of eggs and poultry to up your vitamin D level.

Vitamin E

This vitamin is vital for skin health; it even prevents skin cancer when combined with vitamin A. Vitamin E is rich in anti-oxidants which help fight free radicals and it slows the process of aging.

Foods rich in vitamin E are walnuts, eggs, almonds, asparagus, avocados, sunflower seeds, olives, oatmeal and dark green leafy vegetables.

Zinc

This trace mineral helps in repairing damaged tissues and heal wounds faster; it also protects the skin from harmful rays and prevent acne because some studies have linked zinc deficiency to acne. It also controls the production of oil and this can help control oily skin.

Rich sources of zinc are ginger, legumes, whole grains, seafood, poultry, pumpkin seeds, mushrooms and dark green leafy vegetables.

Omega-3 fatty acid

This essential fatty acid helps in preventing and treating all kinds of skin conditions like eczema. It also regulate production of hormones, it keeps the skin soft, fresh and supple, it prevents formation of wrinkles, it increases skin flexibility, moisture content and repairs the skin.

Good sources are walnuts, oily fishes, chia seeds, flaxseeds and fish oil supplements.

Selenium

This trace mineral is a powerful anti-oxidant that maintains skin elasticity and firmness; it prevents skin conditions like acne and fights skin cancer. It also promotes absorption of nutrients like vitamin E and this leads to a glowing and healthy skin.

Rich sources of selenium are walnuts, Brazil nuts, wheat germ, brown rice, whole grains, poultry, seafood, onion and dark leafy vegetables.

Lifestyle

Eat healthy foods

Good health starts from your diet, your skin is alive and it needs to be maintained by good nutrition.

Quality nutrients gives quality skin, eat lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins and foods high in vitamins and minerals for a natural glowing and healthy skin. Vitamin C helps to promote a radiant skin.

Avoid over processed foods, they cause nutritional deficiencies which leads to skin problems and unattractive appearance.

Don’t sleep with makeup on

Before you go to bed at night make sure you clean your makeup by either washing your face with soap and water or by using a face wipe made with natural ingredients; you can also put a little quantity of olive oil on a cotton ball and use it to clean your face.

This will aid the skin to breath; it will prevent skin clogging which can lead to blemishes and blackheads. Sleeping with makeup on also promote the growth of yeast on the skin.

Detoxify your body regularly

When we let toxins accumulate in our bodies, this leads to slow circulation of blood because most of the blood vessels will be clogged; this will also increase appearance of pimples, acne and other skin problems and the skin will appear dull.

So to prevent this from happening, regularly detoxify your body by drinking lots water, fasting at least once a week and taking herbal teas like ginger tea regularly.

You can also meet a qualified naturalist to follow a detoxification program which can last up to 30 days.

There is an easy way to detoxify your body every day; always start your day by taking lemon and ginger tea or Moringa tea every morning, it will clear out toxins, strengthen your immune system and prevent chronic diseases from happening to you.

Exercise regularly

This will help to improve blood circulation which will in turn clean out toxins and waste and thereby make the skin glow.

When blood flow is increased, the skin cells will get more blood and this will help them to fight oxidation and neutralize the effect of free radicals and oxidative stress which speeds up aging process in humans. A sedentary lifestyle affects all part of the body including the skin.

Exfoliate

Try and exfoliate your skin at least once a week, this will help to remove dead skin cells which will lead to a brighter complexion and healthy glow.

Natural ways to exfoliate your skin is by mixing oatmeal and yogurt, or walnut powder and yogurt; apply the mixture on your skin, scrub gently with a soft sponge.

The anti-oxidants present in these mixtures will help slow aging, remove dirt and dead skin cells and make the skin radiate naturally. You can also use orange peel powder or lentil powder mixed with yogurt.

Sleep well

Try and have at least eight hours of sleep every night, sleeplessness leads to aged and saggy skin. Also during sleep, the body repairs itself and healing hormones are released which repairs the body even the skin.

Avoid stress

Do not overwork yourself, practice deep breathing and meditation; stress disrupt the normal level of hormones in the body and these leads to more breakouts, spots and blemishes.

Stress also makes the body to overproduce cortisol and other hormones, it makes the skin oily and oily skins are more prone to acne. Exercise also helps in reducing stress.

Get lot of sunlight

Contrary to modern believe, the sun does not cause cancer. Sunlight is good for every living thing on this planet including humans; sunlight has been used in ancient healing systems to cure virtually every kind of diseases and the act of using sunlight to heal is known as Heliotherapy.

Sunlight strengthens the immune system, increases the number of white blood cells in the body that helps in fighting infections, diseases and foreign invaders and it makes the skin glow.

Sunlight does not cause cancer, in fact the rate of skin cancer increased and is higher in people using sunscreens; what causes skin cancer are the chemicals you put on your skin called creams, the sunscreens you use and when you are filled with toxins.

When you are filled with toxins and you expose yourself to sunlight, the sun will try to expel the toxins from your body by bringing it to the surface and that is why many people have skin problems like aging, wrinkles and sun burn when exposed to sunlight and they blame the sun and don’t know it is they who have the problem.

So back to what I was saying, if you eat well, detoxify yourself regularly and use natural skin products, when you expose yourself to sunlight you will glow naturally.

Enjoy sunrise and sunsets, avoid high heat of the sun and if you must use sunscreen. Use aloe vera gel; it is more effective than all these sunscreens and it fights cancer.

Drink lots of water

woman drinking water — Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Take lots of pure water, this will hydrate your body, flush out toxins, improve circulation of blood and all these will make the skin glow. Water also hydrates the body and removes excess oils and dirt from the skin.

The skin is made up of 15% water so dehydration will affect its appearance and health negatively.

To see a difference in your skin in less than a week, drink at least two liters of water every day, this will brighten your complexion, prevents dryness and wrinkles and it will also improve immune function.

Avoid too much hot water

Frequent usage of hot water on the skin makes it dry because it strips the skin of its moisture and wash away protective oils of the skin.

You can use hot water only when the weather is so cold, if not the best water for skin is cold water, cold water makes the skin glow and strengthen the immune system.

Hot water also opens the pores of the skin and this makes it easy for bacteria and germs to enter into the body but cold water closes the skin pores and this helps in reducing age lines and wrinkles.

Natural skin care recipes

Coconut oil

These are very rich in antioxidants and they fight and prevent the activities of free radicals which cause aging. It helps to maintain clear complexion and keeps the skin soft and moisturized. You can apply this oil all over your body as cream. You don’t have to wash it off.

Lemon

This is one of the best natural ingredients for promoting a clear skin, its high content of citric acid helps to remove dead skin cells and its rich vitamin C removes spots and helps the skin to renew itself.

You can mix the juice of a lemon and apply it on your body for 15, then you wash it off; you can also exfoliate with it by mixing sugar and lemon juice, apply this mixture on your body and use a mild sponge to scrub your body in a circular motion, wait for 10 minutes then you wash it off with lukewarm water. Do this once every week for glowing skin.

Honey

This is a great natural moisturizer; it gives clear skin and prevents skin infection. It also makes the skin soft and supple.

You can apply honey on your skin and let it dry, then you wash it off with lukewarm water, you can also mix honey and milk and apply the mixture on your body. Let it sit for 20 minutes, and then you wash it off with lukewarm water. Do this once a week for a flawless and glowing skin.

Pawpaw

This fruit has natural bleaching properties that will help one get a bright complexion, reduce scar appearance and improve the texture of the skin.

Papain, an enzyme present in papaya helps heal wounds fast and prevents bacterial activities on and in the skin, it also removes dead and damaged skin cells.

To use pawpaw for your skin, blend ripe pawpaw and mix it with a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of sandalwood powder; apply this mixture on your body and let it sit for 30 minutes, then you wash it off and have your bath, you can do this once every week.

Aloe vera

This is one wonderful herb with many benefits for the skin; it prevents and treats any kind of skin issues, stops bacterial activities, and soothes inflamed skin.

It also helps in healing scars and it promotes the growth of new skin cells. Apply fresh aloe vera gel all over your body, wait till it dries then you wash it off with a lukewarm water. You can do this daily before you have your bath.

Turmeric

This is a natural skin lightening agent that minimizes scars and skin marks. It can also fight skin allergies and infections.

Mix one table of turmeric powder with pineapple juice, apply this paste to your body, leave it till it dries then you wash it off with lukewarm water.

Walnuts

variety of brown nuts on brown wooden panel high angle photo — Photo by Marta Branco on Pexels.com

This nuts are very powerful in converting a dry and dull skin into a beautiful and glowing one; they are rich in anti-oxidants that repairs skin cells makes skin glow.

The powder can be used to exfoliate the skin. Mix walnut powder with yogurt, apply this paste to your body and wait till it is dried, then you scrub your body using a mild sponge, then you wash it off with water and have your bath. You can do this once a week.

Cucumber

This fruit has many benefits for the skin, it helps to improve overall appearance, repair damaged skin cells, removes dead skin cells and makes the body glow. Mix equal amounts of cucumber and lemon juices, apply it on your body and let it dry then you wash it off.

You can also apply only cucumber juice on your body and leave it overnight, in the morning you can wash it off.

Wonderful Health Benefits of Herbs

Features

Faith David

-

December 1, 2017

0

Herbs are plants with leaves, seeds, or flowers that are used as food, medicine, or perfume. Botanically herbs are seed-bearing plants that don’t have woody stems and they die to the ground after flowering.

They have been used since time immemorial to treat lots of diseases, historical facts and holy books bear witness to that.

In this article, we will be looking at the therapeutic/medicinal value of herbs generally then in subsequent articles, we will look at individual herbs and the functions they perform in the body.

Herbs are used to add taste and aroma to foods, but their function goes beyond that; when used for medicinal purposes, they can treat, cure and prevent almost any disease we know today or alleviate the symptoms of some of the diseases.

Their actions are so potent that some researches have proved that ginger and turmeric reduces pain than most pain relieving drugs we have now.

They are rich sources of anti-oxidant: Anti-oxidants are compounds that fight oxidative stress and the activities of free radicals in the body, when these is not checked or prevented, rapid aging and other health issues sets in. so regular intake of herbs supplies the body with anti-oxidant benefits and prevent many chronic diseases from occurring.
They are very rich sources of phytochemicals: A wise woman once said that “phytochemicals are gift to humanity from the plant world” and this is true because studies have proved the healing powers of phytochemicals and drugs are being made now by creating synthetic phytochemicals. Phytochemicals like flavonoids are said to fight cancer cells and prevent it from even happening in the first place.
They prevent cancer: Since ancient times, traditional Chinese healers have used herbs to treat cancer and its symptoms; herbs like ginger even help to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. Many studies have proved the ability of medicinal herbs to destroy most types of cancer and regular intake prevents the formation of cancer cells in the body. Turmeric even blocks the supply of blood to cancer cells. They purify the blood, prevents mutations which can lead to cancer and they flush out waste and toxins from the body because accumulation of these can also lead to cancer. Ginger, turmeric, aloe vera (this plant is smarter than most cancer drug, it only kills cancerous cells while chemotherapy and other cancer drugs kill all the body cells), lemon and limes (due to high vitamin C content), etc.
They provide essential oils: Essential oils from herbs and plants have very anti-inflammatory effects, they fight infections, reduce symptoms and boosts immune function. Essential oils fight inflammation by inhibiting COX (cyclooxygenase), an enzyme that mediate inflammatory reactions in the body; this makes essential oils potent in treating and alleviating symptoms of arthritis and other diseases that are caused by inflammation. Essential oils are also used to lift moods, fight colds and flus and to scent the house. Examples are ginger essential oil, lemon grass essential oil, lavender and rosemary essential oils.
They protect the skin: Regular intake of herb helps our skin which is the first layer of our immune system and the largest organ in the body to be healthy. For ages, women have used herbs to herbs to beautify themselves, look younger and get a brighter and radiant complexion. Herbs for skin care are aloe vera, neem, turmeric, ginger, holy basil, mint, tea tree and Moringa.
They prevent malnutrition: Regular intake of herbs supplies the body with many trace minerals and vitamins, phytochemicals, phytosterols and plant derived nutrients and this will make the body to be rich in all these thereby preventing nutritional deficiencies which can lead to sicknesses and death.
They reduce sugar and cholesterol levels in the body: Herbs have powerful effect on the pan crease and they do the work better than most drugs and they give no side effect. They can also reduce blood pressure and thereby prevent many chronic diseases. Examples of such herbs are ginger, garlic, turmeric and Moringa.
They strengthen the immune system: They help in strengthening the immune system and boosting its function because they are rich in essential oils, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, phytosterols, antioxidants and other phyto chemicals which the body uses to fortify itself against toxins, germs and diseases. Ginger, turmeric, garlic, goldenseal, elderberry, hibiscus, onion and cinnamon.
They can be used as cheaper and alternative medicine: Herbs cheap natural cures with no side effects; studies have also proved them more potent than most over-the-counter drugs and they can also be used in cases of medical emergencies.
Oral care: Herbal toothpaste are now everywhere in the market because of the tremendous oral benefits and they have no harmful chemicals that cause problems in the body. They can whiten teeth without destroying the enamel, they fight mouth odour and bleeding gums, remove stains from teeth, prevent and cure tooth ache and decay, fights bad breath and prevents infections due to bacterial. Herbs for oral/dental hygiene are mint, aloe vera, sage, strawberry, lavender, parsley, and thyme.
They fight inflammation: Herbs are powerful in fighting inflammation which is behind many chronic diseases. Ginger is a very powerful fighter against inflammation.
They boost brain functions: Herbs helps the brain to function properly and they also prevent many brain related diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Ginkgo, ginger and ginseng are good for this.
Boosts healthy hair growth: Herbs are good for mega hair growth and that is why they are being put into many hair care products these days; they prevent drying, splitting, breaking and hair loss. Herbs for hair care are jojoba oil, marigold, lemon juice, aloe vera, fenugreek and horsetail.
Boost fertility: Herbs helps to regulate the production of hormones including sex hormones, they can increase sex drive, prevent reproductive problems and promote healthy functioning of the reproductive system. Herbs like ginger, milk thistle, mother worth, red raspberry, red clover and nettles.

Many people are afraid of taking herbs in the name of “side effects”, “natural things are dangerous” and all those jargons I hear every day that makes me marvel at them.

These same people can take more than one can of soft drink a day, they take lots of sugar and eat sugary and junk foods but they are not afraid of those ones that will cause harm and send them to an early grave.

Herbs cannot harm your body even if taken in excess, because in the first place they were created as food for man; they contain many nutrients but there are in very little quantity, that is why you can never get vitamin and mineral overload by eating herbs, fruits and vegetables.

Your body has many daily nutritional needs, repairs to do every day and infections to fight which will require daily intake of herbs.

Every day toxins enter your body through what you eat and drink, what you apply on your skin, breathing in contaminated air, makeup products, electromagnetic radiations from telephone masts, cell phones and laptops, you come in contact with viruses, bacteria and fungi every day, you don’t know because they cannot be seen with the eyes, every second your body is either repairing or creating new cells, so why should daily intake of herbs be a thing to be scared of while the above mentioned points don’t even make some to raise their eyebrows.

I think the main cause for this is ignorance. Herbs have no side effect and there is nothing like overtaking it especially in our world today where everything is designed to kill one; from stress to what we eat, apply on our skin, drink and even when you are in the comfort of your home, you are surrounded by harmful electromagnetic radiation.

The only time herb should be discouraged and might cause problem is when one is on medication; in that case a doctor needs to be contacted to know if it is safe to take a particular herb along with the drug.

But in most cases this is not advised and allowed by medical doctors due to drug herb interaction. When taking blood thinners and aspirin, it is not advisable to take herbs like ginger and garlic, because they do the same work and that can lead to more serious problems.

So if you are on any medication, do not take herb till you are done with taking it, then you can start including herbs and herbal teas in your diet to remove toxins (by-products of the drugs), to help your body heal faster and to restore your body to its normal metabolism.

Pregnant women who are on medications should also avoid herbs. A week before surgery, herbs should also be avoided.

Common ways to use herbs

Essential oils

This is the most potent way to use herbs for medicinal purposes; they are very concentrated in phytochemicals and other phytonutrients. They can be taken orally, applied topically, inhaled and added to bath water.

For sensitive skin and to avoid toxicity, it is advised to mix essential oil with carrier oils like coconut, olive or jojoba oils. Consult with a well-trained herbalist to know if an essential oil can be taken orally and do not combine them with drugs to avoid drug-herb interaction.

Capsules/supplements/powder

This is another way to take herbs for medicinal purposes; in this method, the active ingredients only are extracted, quantified and packaged as a drug; let it be prescribed by a doctor and follow prescription to avoid issues.

Herbal teas

This is how I take my herbs, I start my day every day by taking a cup of ginger and lemon tea, and this has helped me greatly, it reduced the rate of frequent illness, increased my energy, stopped menstrual cramps and made my skin beautiful.

Other teas to start your day with are lemon and honey, peppermint and cinnamon herbal teas. When on medication, consult with a doctor if it safe to take herbal teas.

As spice

Herbs are also good as spice, they add unique taste and aroma to foods; adding herbs generously to your meals is also another way to take herbs as medicine. Ginger, garlic, turmeric and cinnamon are common spices that are added to foods.

Boost Hair Growth Naturally: Proven Methods for Stronger Hair

Hair

Kingsley Felix

-

November 29, 2017

0

Boost Hair Growth Naturally: Proven Methods for Stronger Hair

A woman’s hair is her glory and beauty, and for centuries, women have always desired and cherished long hair.

It plays a role in the personality, perception, and self-esteem of a female.

Hair loss and scanty hair are very devastating to women, and most of them don’t know that there are safe, natural ways to fix this.

We will be looking at natural ways to boost hair growth and prevent hair loss and breakage.

These strategies include nutrition and everyday handling of the hair.

Herbs That Boost Hair Growth

Aloe vera

This wonderful plant contains enzymes and phytochemicals that help to dissolve sebum and dead skin cells that can clog the follicles of the hair.

The gel of Aloe vera is an excellent moisturizer with a molecular structure that is similar to keratin, which is a protein that makes up the hair and skin.

It promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss and breakage. Apply the gel to the scalp of your hair regularly; you can also use hair care products and hair creams that contain aloe vera gel.

Hibiscus Flower

red hibiscus in bloom — Photo by Talha R on Pexels.com

This flower contains vitamins and minerals that aid healthy hair and prevent scalp problems.

Add fresh or dried hibiscus flowers to coconut oil and grind them into a fine paste.

Apply this mixture to your hair regularly, it will increase hair growth, fight dandruff, and prevent premature greying. Allow it to soak into your scalp, let it sit for two hours, then wash it off.

Rosemary

This is one of the most popular and effective herbs that treat scalp and hair problems, and it also boosts hair growth.

Massage a good quantity of rosemary oil on your scalp daily.

Fenugreek

This vitamin C-rich herb helps to improve the circulation of blood in the scalp and stimulates hair growth.

To use this for hair growth, soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight and grind them into a fine paste.

Mix this paste with yogurt because the lactic acid in yogurt is good for the hair.

Apply this mixture to your hair scalp and let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse your hair with clean water.

Basil

This plant is very rich in Magnesium, an essential mineral for many cellular functions; frequent application of this herb to the scalp strengthens hair, prevents breakage, and improves circulation in the hair follicle, which helps to stimulate hair growth.

Flaxseeds

This herb is filled with fatty acids and antioxidants, which help in removing toxins and dead cells from the scalp, which will boost hair growth.

To use flaxseeds for the hair, boil the seeds in water till they form a soothing gel.

Apply this gel to your hair and scalp, It will act as a hair moisturizer, it will stimulate hair growth, and improve the strength of your existing hair to prevent breakage.

Indian Gooseberry

Also known as Amla, this plant has plenty of antioxidants and a high content of vitamin C, which is necessary for the production of collagen, a protein that is found in the hair; it increases the strength of new hair strands.

It also helps the premature greying of hair; use Amla oil for your hair, or you can mix the powder with a moisturizer like coconut oil and massage this mixture into the scalp of your hair daily.

Ginger Root

You can use ginger essential oil, which is extracted from ginger root, on your hair; it will improve blood circulation in hair follicles, and it promotes stronger and faster hair growth.

It is a wonderful moisturizer that helps in clearing dandruff and treating other hair and skin conditions that interfere with healthy hair growth.

Lavender

Lavender oils stimulate blood circulation in the scalp, strengthen new hair growth, and help in balancing the natural oil production of the scalp.

Lavender oil is also a natural insect repellent; it keeps lice, fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes away from the hair.

Peppermint

This stimulates hair growth by boosting circulation and stimulating the follicles of the hair; its anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory actions treat and heal scalp problems.

Nutrition

What we eat can actually affect the growth of our hair; there are nutrients that can help boost hair growth.

Taking them regularly by eating the right foods will help with fast hair growth.

Proteins

Our hair is made up of a protein called keratin; Keratin is used by the body to make hair strands.

Taking lots of protein helps your body to make more keratin, which will boost hair growth.

A deficiency in protein leads to less keratin in the body, and this ultimately leads to poor hair growth.

Eat foods rich in protein like beans, legumes, soybeans, chicken, beef, and dark green vegetables.

Fish Oil

This oil is rich in many varieties of fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids, which nourish the hair, support thickening of hair, stimulate hair growth, and fight inflammation, which leads to hair loss and other hair problems.

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are oily fish, white fish, salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, egg yolks, Natto, hemp seeds, and walnuts.

You can also take fish oil supplements if you don’t have access to most of these foods, but do not take fish oil supplements if you are blood blood-thinning medications.

Vitamin C

Many experimental studies have proved that oxidative stress plays a major role in the process of aging, causing free radical damage to cellular structural membranes, lipids, proteins, and DNA.

Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant that fights free radicals and prevents oxidative stress, which contributes to hair thinning, loss, and greying.

Take lots of vitamin C-rich foods like red peppers, oranges, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, grapefruits, kiwi, and kale.

Vitamin D

Hair follicles are very sensitive to hormones, and vitamin D is a hormone and also a vitamin that plays important roles in many cellular functions and cell growth, and differentiation.

Studies have made it known that people with hair loss are deficient in vitamin D.

Expose yourself to sunlight, eat lots of eggs, poultry, salmon, mackerel, mushrooms, and other oily fish.

Zinc

This is a mineral that helps in fighting hair loss and makes the follicles of the hair healthy, and also stimulates healthy hair growth.

It helps with important functional activities in the hair follicles; it inhibits the regression of hair follicles and accelerates the recovery of hair follicles.

Some studies have proved that people with chronic hair loss are deficient in zinc.

Rich natural sources of zinc are cereals, poultry, and sea foods, organic dairy, and dark green vegetables.

Iron

Many studies have linked different types of hair loss, like alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia, Telogen effluvium, and diffuse hair loss, to iron deficiency.

Rich sources of iron are spinach, black and navy beans, Swiss chard, eggs, collard greens, and dark green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin B5 and Biotin

These are potent natural treatments for hair loss; they reduce hair shingles that have been damaged by chemical-filled shampoo, blow drying, and ironing.

Vitamin B5 supports the adrenal gland, which helps in stimulating hair growth.

A major sign of biotin deficiency is hair loss; eat foods rich in biotin, foods as beef, eggs, avocados, chicken, nuts, potatoes, and legumes.

Easy Hair Care Routine to Follow

Reduce hair washing: This may sound good, but everyday hair washing damages the hair, especially when the shampoos are full of harmful chemicals, will strip the hair of its natural oil, and this will slow hair growth.
Regularly trim your hair: Regular trimming of split ends helps to make hair grow, and it also improves the appearance of the hair.
Reduce stress: Stress has the ability to disrupt hair growth; the more you are stressed, the slower your hair will grow. Relax and sleep more, practice meditation, and deep breathing.
Don’t comb the hair when wet: This will damage your hair; it will break and pull out some hair. If you must comb your hair after shampooing, add a little quantity of conditioner, then use a wide-toothed comb to comb your hair.
Use natural hair products: Natural products help to boost hair growth, prevent hair breakage and loss, while chemical hair products do the opposite. Read the labels well before buying.
Avoid smoking: Smoking reduces the level of biotin and other nutrients that boost hair growth in the body.
Avoid heat: Frequent blow-drying, stretching, and other forms of heat application to the hair damage it and reduce growth.

Benefits of Drinking Water on Empty Stomach Every Morning

Faith David

-

November 28, 2017

0

Benefits of Drinking Water on Empty Stomach Every Morning

We must have heard that it is good to drink a glass of water first thing upon waking up in the morning, but we may not know the reason why or the tremendous health benefits this act has on our health.

This water therapy has lots of amazing health benefits, and it helps to treat a lot of medical conditions.

Drinking water on an empty stomach in the morning originates from ancient Ayurvedic medicine, and in Sanskrit, this practice is called usha paana chikits, meaning “early morning water treatment”.

It Purifies the Body

This practice cleanses the body’s internal systems and flushes out toxins from the body. It cleanses the colon and aids the absorption of nutrients.

When we sleep at night, the body cleanses and repairs itself, it packs the toxins and waste materials to be released and flushed out by the excretory systems, and so taking water on an empty stomach in the morning will help this purification process.

When toxins are cleared from the body, the skin will glow, the complexion will be clearer, there will be lower or no incidence of diseases, skin issues will be kept at bay, and the blood flowing around the body will be pure.

It also increases the production of new blood cells and muscle cells.

It Makes the Kidneys Healthy

It helps the kidneys to carry out their main function, which is elimination; it also combats kidney stones and other kidney problems and infections.

It Prevents Headaches and Migraines

Dehydration is one of the primary causes of chronic headaches and migraines; this act combats all kinds of headaches and migraines, and it also helps to prevent dental problems.

It Helps One Lose Weight

It boosts your metabolism in the morning, prevents overeating and cravings, and maintains a healthy weight, thereby preventing obesity.

It increases the ability of body to burn more calories during the day and prevents unnecessary snacking during the day.

It makes one feel full for a long time and reduces the feeling of hunger.

It Makes Bowel Movements Easier

It is good for the digestive system; it prevents constipation because the colon will not need to draw water from the poop in your bowels and it aids regular bowel movement.

This prevents the accumulation of waste and toxins in the colon, which can lead to diseases and health challenges.

It also helps the colon and the digestive system to function optimally and prevents digestive problems.

It Hydrates the Body

Dehydration can cause lots of problems in the body, including serious headaches, because the brain is 85% water.

During sleep, we lose a lot of water through respiration, so when we wake up in the morning, this act will help to refill the body with water, thereby replacing lost fluid.

It Reduces Pain and Cramps

This act helps one to reduce unbearable pains, including menstrual pains and cramps.

It Reduces the Symptoms of Arthritis

It helps reduce joint inflammation, the major problem of arthritis, by restoring fluids in the joints and making movement easy.

It Makes the Skin Beautiful

Taking water on an empty stomach in the morning is one of the best natural ways to take care of your skin and brighten your complexion.

It also makes the skin glow, makes it supple, smooth, clear, and without blemish.

The skin which is the largest organ in the body tells what goes on in the body by through its appearance; so if the inside of the body is clean and healthy, the skin will show this by radiating normally and if it is not, what we will see is a dried, wrinkled and blemished skin.

This hydrotherapy will correct many internal problems and give us naturally beautiful skin.

It Boosts the Immune System

This act supports the immune system and strengthens it.

Many diseases originate in the gut and stomach, and this also cleans the stomach and gut of waste and toxins, aids digestion and absorption of nutrients, and boosts the functions of the immune system.

It also maintains proper functioning of the lymphatic system, and it reduces stress in the body.

To get the full benefits of this practice and to live a healthy life, you have to make this a daily routine till it becomes a habit.

When you wake up in the morning, the first thing to do is to take five to six glasses of water, do not eat or drink anything one hour before and one hour after drinking water, and it will be very good if you don’t consume alcoholic beverages before going to bed.

If you feel five or six cups are too much, you can start with a cup and gradually increase it till you can even take a litre of water first thing in the morning upon waking up.