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Health Benefits of Chilis

16:51 |

Chili originated in the Americas, and has been part of the human diet since at least 7500 BC. Explorer Christopher Columbus brought it back to Spain in the 15th century and its cultivation spread rapidly through Europe, Asia, India and Africa. 
There are more than 200 varieties, coloured anything from yellow to green to red to black, and varying in heat from mildly warm to mouth-blisteringly hot. 

The hottest are usually the smallest: habanero orange, African bird's eye and Scotch bonnet. Green chillies are unripe, so usually aren't as hot as red ones. The active ingredient is capsaicin, most of which comes from the seeds and the veins. So if you prefer your chilli milder, try a green one and remove the seeds before chopping. Wash your hands well afterwards as the burn can linger. 

A 1/2-cup, 75-gram serving of chopped, raw green chili pepper contains 884 International Units of vitamin A. This amount supplies nearly 30 percent of the Food and Nutrition Board's recommended daily allowance of vitamin A for an adult man and 38 percent for a woman. Vitamin A helps with the synthesis of red blood cells and is an essential component of rhodopsin, the protein that allows retinal receptors in the eye to absorb light. It is also necessary for proper growth and development and to support immune system health. Without adequate vitamin A, you may be more likely to develop cancer and vision disorders. 

Vitamin C
Green chili peppers provide 181.9 milligrams of vitamin C in every 1/2-cup serving, or well over 100 percent of the required daily intake ofvitamin C for adults. Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is required by the body to help synthesize collagen, promote the healing of skin wounds and aid in the development of strong bones. It also acts as an antioxidant by preventing free radical damage to DNA. A diet rich in vitamin C may lower your risk of hypertension, cancer, heart disease and osteoarthritis. 

The concentration of vitamin C in a green chili pepper decreases with exposure to heat, light and air. When you purchase fresh chilis, store them in a cool, dark location and use them within three to four days. 

Vitamin K
The body needs vitamin K in order to produce proteins crucial for blood coagulation and to support the development and maintenance of bones. Each 1/2-cup serving of green chilis contains 10.7 micrograms of vitamin K. For a man, this fulfills 8.9 percent of his RDA of vitamin K. For a woman, a green chili serving is almost 12 percent of her daily vitamin K requirement. Regularly eating foods high in vitamin K like green chili peppers may help decrease your risk of osteoporosis and of bleeding dangerously large amounts when you are cut or injured.

Health Benefits
Fight Inflammation
Chili peppers contain a substance called capsaicin, which gives peppers their characteristic pungence, producing mild to intense spice when eaten. Capsaicin is a potent inhibitor of substance P, a neuropeptide associated with inflammatory processes. The hotter the chili pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. The hottest varieties include habanero and Scotch bonnet peppers. Jalapenos are next in their heat and capsaicin content, followed by the milder varieties, including Spanish pimentos, and Anaheim and Hungarian cherry peppers. 

Capsaicin is being studied as an effective treatment for sensory nerve fiber disorders, including pain associated with arthritis, psoriasis, and diabetic neuropathy. When animals injected with a substance that causes inflammatory arthritis were fed a diet that contained capsaicin, they had delayed onset of arthritis, and also significantly reduced paw inflammation. 
Natural Pain Relief
Topical capsaicin is now a recognized treatment option for osteoarthritis pain. Several review studies of pain management for diabeticneuropathy have listed the benefits of topical capsaicin to alleviate disabling pain associated with this condition. 

In a double-blind placebo controlled trial, nearly 200 patients with psoriasis were given topical preparations containing either capsaicin or placebo. Patients who were given capsaicin reported significant improvement based on a severity score, which traced symptoms associated with psoriasis. The side effect reported with topical capsaicin cream is a burning sensation in the area of application. 

Cardiovascular Benefits
Red chili peppers, such as cayenne, have been shown to reduce blood cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and platelet aggregation, while increasing the body's ability to dissolve fibrin, a substance integral to the formation of blood clots. Cultures, where hot pepper is used liberally have a much lower rate of heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolism.

Spicing your meals with chili peppers may also protect the fats in your blood from damage by free radicals - a first step in the development of atherosclerosis. In a randomized, crossover study involving 27 healthy subjects (14 women, 13 men), eating freshly chopped chili was found to increase the resistance of blood fats, such as cholesterol and triglycerides, to oxidation (free radical injury). 

Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups. For 4 weeks, half the subjects ate a freshly chopped chili blend (30 grams/day, about 1 ounce), consisting of 55% cayenne, while the other half consumed a bland diet (no chili). After 4 weeks, the groups were crossed over for another 4 weeks. During the intervention periods, consumption of other spices such as cinnamon, ginger, garlic, and mustard was restricted. Blood samples were obtained at the beginning of the study and after each dietary period. 
After eating the chili-containing diet, the rate of oxidation (free radical damage to cholesterol and triglycerides) was significantly lower in both men and women than that seen after eating the bland diet. 

In addition, after eating the chili-spiced diet, women had a longer lag time before any damage to cholesterol was seen compared to the lag time seen after eating the bland diet. In men, the chili-diet also lowered resting heart rate and increased the amount of blood reaching the heart. 

Clear Congestion
Capsaicin not only reduces pain, but its peppery heat also stimulates secretions that help clear mucus from your stuffed up nose or congested lungs. 

Boost Immunity
Chili peppers' bright red color signals its high content of beta-carotene or pro-vitamin A. Just two teaspoons of red chili peppers provide about 6% of the daily value for vitamin C coupled with more than 10% of the daily value for vitamin A. Often called the anti-infectionvitamin, vitamin A is essential for healthy mucous membranes, which line the nasal passages, lungs, intestinal tract and urinary tract and serve as the body's first line of defense against invading pathogens. 

Help Stop the Spread of Prostate Cancer
Red chili pepper's capsaicin, the compound responsible for their pungent heat, stops the spread of prostate cancer cells through a variety of mechanisms, indicates a study published in the March 15, 2006 issue of Cancer Research. Capsaicin triggers suicide in both primary types of prostate cancer cell lines, those whose growth is stimulated by male hormones and those not affected by them. In addition, capsaicin lessens the expression of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), inhibits the ability of the most potent form of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, to activate PSA, and directly inhibits PSA transcription, causing PSA levels to plummet. 

The dose effect for test animals was equivalent to 400 milligrams of capsaicin, three times a week, for a man weighing about 200 pounds. After four weeks of receiving capsaicin, prostate cancer tumor growth and size decreased significantly in the animals. One warning: Excessive intake of hot chilies has been linked to stomach cancer, so don't go overboard.
Prevent Stomach Ulcers 

Chili peppers have a bad--and mistaken--reputation for contributing to stomach ulcers. Not only do they not cause ulcers, they can help prevent them by killing bacteria you may have ingested, while stimulating the cells lining the stomach to secrete protective buffering juices. 
Lose Weight
All that heat you feel after eating hot chili peppers takes energy--and calories to produce. Even sweet red peppers have been found to contain substances that significantly increase thermogenesis (heat production) and oxygen consumption for more than 20 minutes after they are eaten. 

Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Making chili pepper a frequently enjoyed spice in your Healthiest Way ofEating could help reduce your risk of hyperinsulinemia (high blood levels of insulin) —a disorder associated with type 2 diabetes. 

In a study published in the July 2006 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Australian researchers show that the amount of insulin required to lower blood sugar after a meal is reduced if the meal contains chili pepper. When chili-containing meals are a regular part of the diet, insulin requirements drop even lower. 

Plus, chili's beneficial effects on insulin needs to get even better as body mass index (BMI, a measure of obesity) increases. In overweight people, not only do chili-containing meals significantly lower the amount of insulin required to lower blood sugar levels after a meal, but the chili-containing meals also result in a lower ratio of C-peptide/ insulin, an indication that the rate at which the liver is clearing insulin has increased. 

The amount of C-peptide in the blood also shows how much insulin is being produced by the pancreas. The pancreas produces proinsulin, which splits into insulin and C-peptide when secreted into the bloodstream. Each molecule of proinsulin breaks into one molecule of C-peptide and one molecule of insulin, so less C-peptide means less insulin has been secreted into the bloodstream.

In this study, which involved 36 subjects aged 22-70 years, the effects of three interventions were evaluated. Subjects were given a bland meal after a bland diet containing no spices, a chili-containing meal after a bland diet, and finally, a chili-containing meal after a chili-containing diet. A palatable chili flavoring, not pure capsaicin (the active component in chili), was used. 

Blood sugar rose similarly after all three interventions, but insulin rose the most after the bland meal after a bland diet and the least after the chili-containing meal after a chili-rich diet.
The maximum increases in insulin after the bland diet followed by a chili-containing meal were 15% lower than after the bland meal following a bland diet, and 24% lower after the chili-containing meal after a chili-rich diet compared to the chili-containing meal after the bland diet. 

C-peptide blood levels also increased the most after the bland meal after a bland diet and the least after the chili-containing meal after a chili-rich diet, showing the least insulin was secreted after the chili-rich diet and meal. 

In addition, the C-peptide/insulin ratio was highest after the chili-containing meal after a chili-rich diet, indicating an increase in the liver's ability to clear insulin. 

Besides capsaicin, chilies contain antioxidants, including vitamin C and carotenoids, which might also help improve insulin regulation. 

A little chili pepper can really perk up an omelet, add heat to a black bean/sweet potato soup, or transform an ordinary salad dressing. So, spice up your meals with chili peppers. Your body will need to make less insulin and will use it more effectively. No need to go overboard though. Population studies in India and Mexico suggest that loading up on hot chilies at every meal may be linked to increased risk of stomach cancer. 

Capsaicin : Chilies have vitamin C and Vitamin A containing beta-carotenoids which are powerful antioxidant. These antioxidants destroy free radical bodies. Usually, these radical bodies may travel in the body and cause huge amounts of damage to cells. These radical bodies could damage nerves and blood vessel in diabetes.

The antioxidants present in the chili wipe out the radical bodies that could build up cholesterol causing major heart diseases such as atherosclerosis. 

Chilies have antioxidants that can destroy cholesterol, which could cause major disease like atherosclerosis and other heart diseases. Other disease like cataract and arthritis like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It also dilates airway of the lungs which reduces asthma and wheezing. 

Detoxicants: Chilies act as detoxifiers as they remove waste products from our body and increases supply nutrients to the tissues. It also acts as gastrointestinal detoxicants helping in digestion of food. 

Painkiller : Chilies stimulate the release of endorphins that are natural pain killers. It relieves pain caused due to shingles (Herpes Zoster), bursitis, diabetic neuropathy and muscle spasm in shoulders, and extremities. It also helps in relieving arthritic pains in the extremities. 

Antibiotic : Chilies bring fresh blood to the site of the infection. The fresh blood fights infection. The white blood cells and leukocytes present in the fresh blood fights viruses. 

Brain : Capsaicin stimulates brain to excrete endorphin and gives a sense of pleasure when ingested. This is the reason people get addicted to chili. 

Cancer : It has been noted that vitamin C, beta-carotene and folic acid found in chili reduces the risk of colon cancer. Chilies such as red pepper have carotenoid lycopene, which prevents cancer disease. 

Heart Attack : Chilies have vitamin B6 and folic acid. The vitamin B reduces high homocysteine level. High homocysteine levels have been shown to cause damage to blood vessels and are associated with a greatly increased risk of heart attack and stroke. It also converts homocysteine into other molecules which is beneficial to lowercholesterol level. 

Lung disease : Chilies gives relief from nasal congestion by increasing the metabolism. It also dilates airway of the lungs which reduces asthma and wheezing. It relieves chronic congestion in people who are heavy drinkers.


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Some Tips For Weight Loose

16:40 |

Every single day, you will see countless products promising magical weight loss without any effort on your part whatsoever. But such is the paranoia of being obese, millions fall for those shams. There’s only one way to lose weight – exercise and eat right. However, there are certain foods/herbs/ home remedies for weight loss you could try.
Loose Your Weight
Disclaimer: These home remedies for weight loss won’t help you magically lose weight, it will just help make your efforts more effective. 

Flaxseed (alsi)
Called alsi in Hindi, the seed comes out with an outer coating which makes you feel fuller than normal and hence curbs your tendency to eat. It’s also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart. Simply crush flaxseeds and add to foods like soups, cereals, oats, chappati and since they’re naturally bland, they won’t change the taste of your dish. Read about the health benefits of flax seeds. 

Green Tea
Green tea has gained immense popularity as a tool to facilitate weight loss and millions are switching from coffee to green tea because of its high antioxidant capacity. Research also suggests that it boosts metabolism, burns fat, which makes it a perfect drink for people who want to lose weight. Also, it’s not supposed to be drunk with milk or sugar, which reduces the calorie intake. Read about the healthbenefits of green tea. 

Cinnamon
The herb that makes things ‘Christmasy’, helps activate insulin receptors and enzyme systems involved in carbohydrate metabolism. This helps regulate your blood sugar levels, increase metabolism and reduce bad cholesterol from the body. You can simply sprinkle some on your breakfast cereals, coffee or tea for that added flavor! Read about the health benefits of cinnamon or dalchini! 

Black Pepper
Hot things usually help you lose weight and black pepper is no different. The piperine in it acts as a digestive while it also helps prevent the formation of fat. Also, spicy food items tend to people more active which will help with weight loss. The best thing is that pepper can be added to almost anything you’re eating from salads to meats. Read about the health benefits of black pepper. 

Turmeric/Haldi
Recently, studies have shown the immense health benefits of turmeric and scientists are even researching methods to see if it can be used to fight cancer so no wonder it helps in weight loss as well. Studies have shown that it helps metabolise fat and also reduces the risk of developing diabetes. The great thing about turmeric is that it’s already part of our eating habits and can be added to veggies, rice, curries, dals, etc. Read turmerics or haldi - health benefits of galore. 

Ginger
Another herb which can help because of its digestive properties is ginger which is thermogenic. This basically means that it helps raise the body’s temperature by burning fat, which makes it perfect for people looking to lose weight. Researchers also found that it has a satiating effect which means you tend to eat less and this further helps the cause. Ginger can be eaten either by powdering and mixing with rice dishes or veggies or by mixing a tablespoon of it with water. Read about the health benefits of ginger. 

Bean soup
“Soups have a high water content, which means they fill your stomach for very few calories,” says Rolls. Broth-based bean soups, in particular, contain a hefty dose of fiber and resistant starch—a good carb that slows the release of sugar into the bloodstream—to make that full feeling really stick. “Once in the stomach, fiber and water activate stretch receptors that signal that you aren’t hungry anymore,” Rolls says. All this for a measly 150 calories per cup. 

Feel even fuller: Resist the cracker pack on the side in favor of a bigger soup helping. Beans are starchy, satisfying and caloric enough on their own, Rolls says. Hate soup? Throw lentils, black-eyed peas or kidney or navy beans into a vinegar-based salad. 

Greek yogurt
Harvard researchers examined the eating habits of 120,000 people for 20 years and found that yogurt was the single best food for shedding pounds: Over time, people who downed more of the protein-packed stuff lost pounds without trying. 

Meanwhile, a Nestlé Nutrition Institute study, review found that consuming dairy proteins increases satiety, reduces food intake and keeps blood sugar steady. “Greek yogurt, which is strained to remove the liquid whey, contains double the protein and less sugar than regular yogurt,” Dubost says. 

Feel even fuller: Top yogurt with fibrous foods like raspberries (4 grams of fiber per half cup) or a cereal such as Kashi Go Lean Crisp Cinnamon Crumble (9 grams per three quarters of a cup). 

Apples
Apples are one of the few fruits that contain pectin, which naturally slows digestion and promotes a feeling of fullness, according to a study in Gastroenterology. In fact, people who ate an apple as part of a meal felt more satiated and ate less than those who consumed a calorically equivalent amount of juice and applesauce. “Whole apples take a long time to eat for very few calories,” says Susan Roberts, PhD, professor of nutrition at Tufts University. Your body has more time to tell your brain that you’re no longer hungry. That means you can eat lots of this low-energy-density, high-satiety fruit and avoid feeling deprived while losing weight, adds Roberts. 

Feel even fuller: Add apple chunks to oatmeal or salad, or slices to a turkey-on-whole-wheat sandwich.
Popcorn
This movie-night fave is a low-energy-density food—for 90 calories, you could eat 3 cups of air-popped corn but just a quarter cup of potato chips. “Popcorn takes up more room in your stomach, and seeing a big bowl of it in front of you tricks you into thinking that you’re eating more calories and that you’ll feel full when you’re finished,” Rolls says. 

Feel even fuller: Sprinkle on some red pepper. In a recent Purdue University study, people who added a half teaspoon of the spice to a meal felt less hungry. 

Figs
A great natural cure for a sweet tooth, fresh figs have a dense consistency and sweet flesh that’s high in fiber (each 37-calorie fig packs about a gram), which slows the release of sugar into the blood, preventing the erratic high caused by cookies or cake. 

Feel even fuller: Halve and add protein, like a teaspoon of goat cheese and a walnut.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal’s filling force comes from its high fiber content and its uncanny ability to soak up liquid like a sponge. When cooked with water or skim milk, the oats thicken and take more time to pass through your digestive system, meaning you’ll go longer between hunger pangs. 

Feel even fuller: Sprinkle almonds on top of your bowl. “The nuts pack protein and fiber and contain unsaturated fats that can help stabilize insulin levels,” regulating blood sugar, Dr. Katz says. 

Tired of spending hours at the gym yet failing to slim down? Have vigorous exercises and gym equipments let you down?
Well, fret no more. We bring to you natural remedies which will help youloose weight. 

Here’s what you should do to loose weight naturally.
-Consume 10 grams of honey and a glass of warm water each morning on an empty stomach. 

-Drink a glass of lukewarm water containing half a lime and one teaspoon of honey. This mixture should be taken every few hours.
-Eat 10 to 12 fully grown curry leaves every morning. You should do this for three months.
-Eat one or two tomatoes, on an empty stomach, every morning. This should be in place of breakfast. 

-Add ginger and lemon to a glass of boiling water. Drain the water and have them.
-Add three teaspoons of lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, and a teaspoon of honey to a
Cup of water. Drinking this once a day for three months will help with weight loss.
-Carrot juice with water is another Indian remedy used to lose weight.

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Keep Away Yourself From The Ulcer

17:18 |

An ulcer is an erosion (open sore) on the surface of an organ or tissue. Ulcers most commonly erupt in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, in which case they are known as peptic ulcers. About five million Americans have peptic ulcers. 
Causes
The problem begins, in most cases, with a spiral-shaped germ that seems to live for one purpose, digging holes in our stomachs. This bacterium, known as Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori for short), is very common: It's found in about half of all people under 60 years old in the United States. H. Pylori never causes problems in most people, but in an unlucky minority, the bug burrows through the stomach's protective mucous coating. The bacteria and stomach acid irritate the sensitive lining beneath, causing ulcers to form. 

In some cases, H. Pylori isn't the villain, however. People who use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin for pain relief over long periods can develop ulcers. 

Heredity also plays an important role in contributing to ulcers. People who have a family history of ulcers seem to have a greater likelihood of acquiring the condition, as do people with type O blood. In addition, liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and emphysema are among the conditions that may increase vulnerability to ulcers. Stomach and pancreatic cancers also can cause these sores to form. 

Symptoms 
Users can produce mild symptoms resembling heartburn or severe pain radiating throughout the upper portion of the body. The most common discomfort of ulcers is a burning sensation in the abdomen above the navel that may feel like hunger pangs. Pain comes about 30 to 120 minutes after eating or in the middle of the night when the stomach is empty. At this time, the acidic stomach juices are more apt to irritate the unprotected nerve endings in the exposed ulcer. Usually, pain subsides after eating or drinking something or taking an antacid to neutralize stomach acid.
Some people experience nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Blood in the feces (discoloring them black), blood in the vomit, extreme weakness, fainting, and excessive thirst are all signs of internal bleeding and may appear in more advanced cases. 

Although ulcers are not usually life-threatening, they can cause serious damage if left untreated. Ulcers may erode nearby blood vessels and cause internal seepage of blood or hemorrhage (massive internal bleeding). A perforated ulcer may penetrate an adjoining organ, causing infection. 


Diagnosis
Physicians diagnose peptic ulcers primarily on the basis of an X-ray examination after the patient has swallowed a special chalky substance called barium. The barium makes the digestive tract visible on X-ray film, allowing the doctor to view any abnormalities. 

A second diagnostic technique is called an upper GI endoscopy (also called gastroscopy). The doctor inserts an endoscope (a flexible, lighted, tubelike instrument) through the mouth and down the esophagus to directly view the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. An endoscopic examination and a biopsy (removal of a tissue sample for analysis) are necessary to confirm that an apparent ulcer is not actually a cancerous growth. Helicobacter pylori can be diagnosed with endoscopic biopsy or through a blood or breath test.

Treatment
Most ulcers caused by H. Pylori can be cured with a combination of antibiotics and acid-blocking drugs or bismuth subsalicylate (better known as Pepto Bismol). Unfortunately, even though this information has been widely disseminated in medical journals, some doctors still send ulcer patients home with little more than orders to take it easy, knock off the booze, and eat a bland diet. If you have an ulcer-like symptoms, ask your doctor to perform tests that can determine whether you have the H. Pylori bug, so that if prescription medications are appropriate for your condition, you get them. 

Treatment of ulcers involves relieving the irritation, so that healing is able to progress naturally. Antacids counteract stomach acid and relieve symptoms, but they can also cause complications. For example, sodium bicarbonate, a primary antacid ingredient, contains large amounts of sodium, which can aggravate kidney disease or high blood pressure.
For treatment of more problematic ulcers, a physician may prescribe other preparations to promote healing. Sucralfate coats the stomach, protecting it against gastric acid. Cimetidine, ranitidine, and other H2 blockers inhibit gastric acid production. Antibiotics and antacids are often prescribed to treat ulcers caused by infection with H. Pylori. 

Although recent studies have shown that a bland diet is not necessary for user management, such a diet is sometimes recommended until the acute symptoms disappear. Thereafter, many doctors suggest avoiding only those foods known to cause stomach distress. 
 Most ulcers heal within two to six weeks after treatment begins. To prevent recurrence, patients should continue to avoid cigarettes, alcohol, and any foods or substances that appear to cause irritation of the digestive tract lining. 

When drug therapy and diet cannot cure an ulcer, surgical repair may be necessary. Surgery is appropriate for ulcers that recur or are life-threatening, such as perforated ulcers. Sometimes, surgeons remove a portion of the stomach and parts of the vagus nerve (which controls digestive secretions) to reduce stomach acid production. Usually, ulcers do not reappear after surgery. 

Recently, endoscopic cautery (burning of tissue through an endoscope), direct injection of medications, and lasers have been quite successful in stopping bleeding, reducing the size of lesions, and correcting strictures (narrowing of the ducts due to scar formation). These procedures have spared many individuals from surgery. 

Once they leave the doctor's office, ulcer patients can help their condition by watching their diet. Check out the next section for home remedies to take care of your digestive tract. 

For more information on ulcer-causing stress and its harmful effects, visit the following:
To see all of our home remedies and the conditions they treat, go to our main Home Remedies page.
Among the many digestive problems that herbal remedies can relieve, herbs can also go a long way toward healing gastric ulcers. Find out how in Herbal Remedies for Ulcers.

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How Should Be Blood Pressure Monitor for Home Use

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High blood pressure Known as the silent killer that can lead to heart, brain, and multiple organ damages very quickly if not treated. Unluckily, it tends to be under diagnosed because of lack of symptoms initially. For most it’s not until their hypertension reaches a disturbing level that they begin to experience the symptoms; sometimes when it’s too late. This is why it is vital that those with high blood pressure are aware of their readings at all times and take precautionary measures including dietary restrictions as well as using a 24 hour monitor to keep track of their BP levels on an ongoing basis.

With so many styles available on the market, there are only handfuls that are sensitive enough to get an accurate reading. Three models that are both dependable and accurate include the Equinox BP Monitor, Bremed BP Monitor, and the Omron Wrist BP Monitor.

Equinox BP Monitor
Equinox is a very effective, convenient, and affordable 24 hour monitoring machine Suitable for home use. Anyone who must have their blood pressure checked on a regular basis should consider Equinox as it not only gives extremely accurate readings but is also easy to use.

Equinox has been a leader of first-rate medical products with unparalleled innovations including heart rate monitors and blood pressure monitoring. The Cuff feature allows it to fit easily on a person arm for ease of use and without requiring any external help. To take a reading you only need to install the batteries and then place the Easy Cuff on your arm and press a single button- nothing more. The gadget will then check your blood pressure and your pulse rate and is accurate even if you have an irregular heartbeat.

Bremed BP monitor
Another leading 24 hour monitor is the Bremed comparable to some of the best on the market. It automatically inflates with the push of a button and offers reliable diastolic/systolic readings including pulse rate. It is as accurate as those used in a physician office or hospital without the bulky stethoscopes and bands and can be used without the help of someone else. One of its best features is its small size and that it can be worn as a watch around your wrist. It also has memory and remembers and records the previous 99 readings so you can chart your levels and includes auto shut-off after 60 seconds.

The Omron BP monitor was the first digital unit available on the market and of course several updated versions have been released since then. Omron is the number one doctor and pharmacist recommended brand because of its consistent accurate results. They offer both upper arm and wrist monitors that are reasonably priced, accurate, and accessible. 
 
A 24 hour blood pressure monitor is good for monitoring blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and even morning hypertension. Finding one with automatic positioning sensors will ensure the cuff will fit well each time and inflate to your personal levels including giving accurate readings for blood pressure and irregular heartbeat. Having a unit handy at home will also enable you to monitor your morning levels since hypertension is believed to be the most precise. And since hypertension affects more than 900 million people worldwide and is one of the leading causes of death from heart disease, home device measuring blood pressure is important for anyone with high blood pressure.


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Hot And Cold Treatment for Joint Pain

15:15 | Labels: , , , ,


Hot and cold treatment is the best home remedy for muscles and joint pain also known as arthritis pain. It is a non-addictive and non-invasive, pain-relief therapy. In fact, some time these two treatments are also used to treat acne.
Suppose, there is a new injury that may cause redness and swelling, therefore ice pack that is a cold pack or cold compressor can be used to decrease the blood flow of the injured area, thus decreasing the soreness and swelling. On the other hand, if it’s an old pain that returned back then it is advisable to use heating pads or hot compressor to bring the blood to the injured area to heal your pain. 
 
Knee Pain
The hot treatment is used when you need to open the blood vessels that provide nutrients and oxygen by increasing the blood-flow, thus reducing the joint pain and tenders the sore tendons, muscles and ligaments. The heat increases the muscle movements and reduces the muscle contradictions. It also enhances the flexibility of ligaments and tendons and reduce muscle pain. 
 
On the other hand, by using the cold treatment the blood-flow of an injured area can be decreased, thus lessening the swelling and pain of muscles. It slows the circulation, decreases the muscle pain and contradiction, therefore it needs to be used in injured and swelling area. 
 
You can either use moist or dry heat to your pain area. You can use hot water bottle, hot water bath, heating pad or gel packs. Whole using these methods make sure that the temperature is consistent warm but not too much. In fact, it is advisable to ask the physician exact source and temperature efficient for your pain or injury.
When it comes to cold treatment then you can apply cold packs. There are also ice-packs, cold gel and cold compressor that can be used in bruised area to numb the injured area to reduce the swelling.

Heat treatment is best when you suffer from prolonged joint and muscle pain. It is used for old injuries that recur after some time, whereas cold treatment is used within one to two days of the injury. It is apt for bumps,sprains, bruises and strains that may occur while lifting or playing sports. Apply ice bags in the injured area for not more than 20 minutes and then remove and re-apply it

Hot Water Bag
Few measures you need to take while applying heat pads and cold packs are as follows-
  • Wrap the hot device in thin cloth or towel before applying it to your skin. Same is the case with a cold pack. Wrap the cold device in thin towel first, then apply.

  • Both hot and cold packs should be applied not for more than 20 minutes until your doctor suggests.

  • When there is swelling then use cold pack first, then heating pad.

  • Heating pads should never be used in open stitches and wounds.

  • When you are asleep don’t use heating pads else you might burn your skin.

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How to Get Fairness By Home Remedy

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Tired of applying skin whitening lotions and fairness creams, which fail to deliver results? While many brands adore creams which guarantee to minimize the melanin content in your skin to make you look fair, most of them are mere publicity stunt.
All of us wish for a fairer skin tone. We bring to you natural ways to make your skin look fair and flawless. 

Here’s what you can do to make your skin look like pearls.
Mix 1 spoon of sugar in lemon juice. Scrub on your face, and body till sugar melts completely. 

Home Remedy For Fairness

Mango peels mixed with 1 spoon of milk can be applied on face, and neck to impart healthy glow to your face. 


Boil cabbage/cumin seeds in water to make you fair. Wash off your face with this water to get incandescent glow in your complexion.
Apply an egg white, and honey for 20 minutes to tighten your skin.This home remedy will give a soft skin and help to retain a youthful glow to your skin. 

Lentil, curd/milk, lemon juice, and rice mixed together become a great scrub for getting fair, soft, and glowing skin naturally. Follow this beauty tip on alternate days. 

Soak up sunflower seeds (chirongi) in raw milk overnight, and grind them. Apply with a pinch of saffron, and turmeric.
Potato or tomato alone is a good bleach for your skin. Use this beauty tip daily. Apply bread crumbs with Malai (milk cream) to get fair, and smooth skin which glows from within. Naturally fair and beautiful Many of us dream to have a fairer glowing skin. Isn't it? We always go behind many creams and beauty products which attract us. But the fact is that they have their effect on our skin only for a certain period of time. Let me share with you the best home remedies my grandmother taught me. 

The following remedies may not give you instant results, but for sure you will find marvelous change after 45 days.
Mix besan (gram flour) with tomato, curd, honey, lemon juice and rose water. Apply this mixture to your face at night time and wash it with water after 30 minutes (Avoid soap).

Fairness

There is also a style to wash it for best results. Instead of just washing it off directly pat your face with wet hands and try to massage the mixture for 2 minutes before washing. This will remove the dirt, black heads and tan. Your skin turns silky soft. Use this recipe daily and you will wonder having such a great skin, after all you deserve to have a lovely skin.

Mix olive oil with sugar and lemon juice. Use this as scrub once in a week to have baby soft skin.
Soak almonds in water and leave it overnight. Mix the soaked almonds paste with raw milk and apply it on your face. Wash off after 20 minutes. This will make your skin soft and supple.
Add some salt and lemon juice to milk and use it for cleansing. This is the best way to exfoliate your skin. 

Mix milk, lemon juice and glycerine. Apply to your face and wash off after 30 minutes. This is the best recipe to improve your complexion and moisturize your face in winter season.
Mix lemon juice, glycerine and rose water in equal quantities. Apply this to your skin instead of a moisturizer and leave it overnight.Wash it off morning when you wake up.Use this in winter to moisturize your skin. This is the best moisturizer and I bet, you will never feel that your skin is dry.

Mix turmeric powder with lemon juice and apply to your face to enhance your complexion. (But please take care turmeric powder does not suit all skin types). 
Remedy For Fairness

1. Scrub a half of lemon on your face daily to lighten your skin tone. Lemon is an excellent bleaching agent, and it is very helpful in ironing out the blemishes of the face. Try this home remedy for getting fair skin at home.
2. Squeeze a juice of potato in a bowl, and apply this on your skin to bleach your face. Your skin's will get fair gradually after using this home remedy.
3. Use tomato mashed tomato pulp on your skin to give a pinkish glow to your skin. The tomato is very good for giving you fair skin tone. Home remedy of tomato also absorbs excess oil off your face to treat open pores of your face.
4. Home remedy of lemon juice and honey in equal quantity and apply on the skin to get fair skin.
5. Take half teaspoon of honey with a pinch of cinnamon; apply on your face to get fair skin at home.
6. Apply cucumber juice with lemon juice to lighten your skin. This home remedy is very useful for making oily skin fair.
7. Apply plain curd on your skin to get fair and soft skin. Curd is a good source of zinc and lactic acid, both aid in lightening the skin tone. Curd is an excellent home remedy for getting fair skin.
8. Apply coconut water to get fair and flawless skin at home. This home remedy is helpful in lightening the scar of chicken pox also.
9. Massage your skin with almond oil or olive oil to get fair and soft skin, you can add a pinch of saffron to get better results You can use this home remedy for your small babies at home also.
10. Mix 1 spoon of milk powder, 1 spoon of lemon juice and 1 spoon of almond oil. Apply this concoction on your skin; leave it on for 15 minutes before washing off. This is an effective skin lightening mask. This home remedy gives excellent results in getting fair skin at home.
11. Home remedy of Cucumber juice mixed with honey is very useful for making dry skin fairer.
12. Apply egg white on face twice a week to get fairer skin. Use this home remedy if you have to make your oily skin fair at home.
13. Mix oatmeal, curd with tomato to make a face pack for getting fair skin at home.
14. Mash a tomato and pour 4-5 drops of lemon juice, and apply this home remedy for your skin to get fair skin.
15. Mix papaya, honey, milk and milk powder, and apply this home remedy on your skin to get fairer face instantly. This remedy is good for oily skin.
16. Apply sandalwood paste mixed with almond oil to get fair skin. This home remedy is a good home facial for getting fair skin at home.
17. Soak up almonds in the raw milk overnight, and grind it to apply on your skin. It is an excellent home remedy in giving you fairer skin tone.
18. Using raw milk on your skin lightens your skin tone. You can use this remedy on your babies also to get fair skin.
19. Clean your face with raw milk in which a pinch of saffron is added. Use this home remedy with cotton pads daily to get fairer and clearer skin at home daily.
20. Use home remedy of fuller's earth (Multani mitti) with sandalwood paste to get fair and glowing skin at home.
21. Take 2 tablespoon gram flour (besan) , 1 spoon of raw milk, 6 drops of lime juice with a few drops of olive oil to make a face pack to get fair skin. This home remedy is good for all skin types.
22. Boil cumin seeds in water, and rinse your face with this water to reveal fair and radiant skin. Use this home remedy for getting fair and radiant skin at home.
23. Apply lentil (Masoor daal) with milk or curd. This home remedy is very good face pack for getting fair face, and body. Use it daily to get results in 15 days.
24. Grind the dried orange peel and mix it with milk or curd to l get fair skin tone.
25. Boil radish in the water and apply this water on the face to get fair skin at home.
26. Soak black gram (urad) with 4 almonds in the raw milk and grind it in the morning. Apply this pack on your skin to get excellent results to lighten your skin in a few days if used daily. This home remedy is excellent in getting fair skin at home.
27. Mix 2 spoons of mint juice with half spoon of lemon juice. Use this home remedy on your skin to get fairer skin; this pack knocks out the whiteheads as well as exfoliates the skin.
28. Apply the juice of ripe pineapple to get fair skin naturally at home.
29. Mix cucumber pulp (grated) with curd to apply on your skin, and see your skin gets fairer in a few days. Try this home remedy for sure.
30. Home remedy of Fuller's earth (Multani mitti) mixed with rose water to make it skin lightener for oily skin.
31. Mix watermelon with papaya to get makes a fairness face pack to get fair skin at home for oily skin. 
Get Fairness
32. Grind chirongi (sunflower seeds) which has been soaked up in milk overnight with few strands of saffron to get fairer skin. This remedy is best for very dark skinned people. Use this remedy to daily to make even dusky complexion lighter. It will take time to improve your complexion if you have dark skin, but it will surely work. So, have patience. You can trust this home remedy if I have really dusky tone, it will help you in getting fair skin at home in a few months or years. 33. Apply turmeric with honey and lemon to get fairer skin. Do not use this if have dark skin.
34. You can use this excellent home remedy of licorice with honey to get fair skin.
35. Mix 1 egg yolk, 1 spoon of curd, 1 spoon of fuller's earth, 1 spoon of honey to make a face pack to make your skin fair as well as tightening the skin. This home remedy is helpful in getting fair skin at home. 
36. Take 2 spoons of sugar with the juice of a lemon to scrub your face. Scrub your face till sugar granules do not melt. Use it on your face, neck, elbows, legs to get fairer and softer skin. Do not do this if you have pimples on your face as pimples will burst in the process of scrubbing. This home remedy is helpful in getting your fair and smooth skin.
37. Use home remedy of lentil with rice after grinding to make it a skin lightening scrub for your face.
38. Home remedy made by Mixing turmeric, cream (Malai) and gram flour to exfoliate your face on the alternate day to get fairer skin. Exercise caution while using turmeric, as it will give yellowish tinge to your face.
39. Spray rose water on the skin to get fair skin.
40. Breadcrumbs with cream (Malai), when applied daily make you fair.
41. Face pack of saffron with cream (Malai) makes you fair.
42. Malai with besan (gram flour) is the best for dry skin, this home remedy will help you in getting your fair skin.
43. Malai with curd works well in making you fairer. Try this home remedy to get creamy and fair skin at home.
44. Home remedy of Curd with honey is a skin lightener. Use this home remedy for 15 days to get fairer skin like never before.
45. Home remedy of Curd with lemon works good for giving you fair and silky skin.
46. Curd with tomato will give you excellent results, if you use it before bedtime daily. Try this home remedy for getting fair skin at home.
47. Coconut oil is helpful in giving you light skin.
48. Milk and chapatti (bread) is very good fairness facial mask at home. Mash bread (chapatti) in milk to make a paste to apply, see results in just 15 minutes after washing off. This home remedy helps you in getting your fair skin at home.
49. Home remedy of Milk powder with honey makes your light skin and eases out the fine lines of dry skin.
50. Home remedy of Milk with honey will help in getting you fairer if you use it daily.

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Benefits of Drinking Milk

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Recently, the milk industry, announced that it was dropping the “Got Milk?” campaign. The new marketing approach will emphasize the protein in milk in relationship to health. While the marketing approach is new, the nutritional value of milk hasn’t changed. 

http://www.healthgenie.in/home-care/pain-relief-aid/abdominal-support Milk is a powerhouse when it comes to nutrition. Dairy foods are important in our daily diet. They are naturally nutrient-rich foods that provide us with calcium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, riboflavin, magnesium, as well as other vitamins and minerals. All of these nutrients are essential for human growth and development. 

Current USDA recommendations for everyone 9 years old and older is three 8-ounce servings of milk every day. This recommendation provides individuals with 90 percent of their daily calcium needs. 
The health benefits of milk and dairy products are linked to improved bone health and the reduced risk of osteoporosis. The intake of dairy products is especially important to bone health during childhood and adolescence, when bone mass is being built. Intake of dairy products is also associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and with lower blood pressure. 

Most of us think of calcium when we think of the importance of consuming milk or other dairy products. Calcium is used by the body to build bones and teeth and maintain bone mass. Dairy products are the primary source of calcium in American diets. Diets that provide 3 cups or the equivalent of dairy products each day can improve our bone mass.

The heart, nerves and muscles need calcium to work well. Calcium plays an important role in muscle contraction, smooths the conduction of nerve impulses and assists with clotting of blood to initiate wound healing. 

Calcium from dairy products is better absorbed by the body than plant based sources.
Milk also has other nutrients that contribute to good health. Potassium is one of the many nutrients in dairy products. Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain healthy blood pressure. Dairy products, especially yogurt, milk and soy milk, provide potassium. A cup of milk has as much potassium as one small banana. 


Milk is fortified with Vitamin D. Vitamin D functions in the body to maintain proper levels of calcium and phosphorous, thereby helping to build and maintain bones. 


Milk is also a good source of protein. One 8-ounce serving of milk provides 8 grams of protein. The recommended amount of protein for a woman older than age 19 is 46 grams daily. The rule of thumb is that 10 percent to 35 percent of your total daily calories should be protein. Three servings of milk can easily help you reach the desired amount of protein. 

We need protein to help build and repair tissues in the body. Protein is an important part of all body cells. Protein helps repair muscles after exercising. Protein also provides energy in the same manner that carbohydrates do. Protein is a more expensive source of energy for our bodies than carbohydrates, so the preferable source of energy is carbohydrates. 

Milk provides both protein and carbohydrates, making it an excellent food to include in your daily diet for many reasons.
When choosing milk and dairy products, choose the low-fat or no-fat versions. A cup of no-fat milk has the same nutrients that a cup of whole milk does; you are only missing the extra calories. A cup of whole milk has 150 calories compared to 90 calories for a cup of low-fat milk. 


By choosing the low-fat versions of dairy products, you also are reducing the amount of unhealthy saturated fat in your diet.
If you or your children prefer flavored milk, that’s OK. Flavored milk has all the same nutrients as white milk. Just choose low- or no-fat flavored milk. Research shows that children who drink flavored milk meet more nutrient needs, do not consume more added sugar, fat or calories and are less likely to be heavier than non-milk drinkers. 

Milk is the new power drink for athletes. The protein, nutrients and carbohydrates in milk make it the perfect power drink after participating in active sports.
Despite claims sometimes made about the health benefits of drinking raw milk, evidence does not suggest that drinking raw milk will relieve or lessen the symptoms of lactose intolerance, according to a study conducted by nutritionists at Stanford University and published this week in Annals of Family Medicine.


But, according to the dairy owner who supplied the raw milk and aided in the study, the design had several limitations that were not obvious until after the data had been collected. As a result, he says, the study raises more questions than answers and should be seen as paving the way for a more complete analysis. 

The relatively small study required 16 individuals with the clinical definition of lactose intolerance to drink raw milk, pasteurized milk and soy milk exclusively over the eight-day periods, separated by a week of zero milk consumption each time. As each phase progressed, the test participants reported on their level of physical discomfort as they went through bouts of diarrhea, cramping, flatulence and audible intestinal sounds. 

The results found no noticeable difference between the severity of lactose-intolerance symptoms faced when participants drank raw milk compared to pasteurized milk, said Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., professor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center and senior author of the study. 


Gardner said, however, that the test did not account for whether or not the eight-day phase of drinking raw milk was a long enough time for bodies to adjust to the bacteria in raw milk, as theorized by Mark McAfee, the owner of Organic Pastures, a prominent raw milk dairy and the supplier of raw milk to the study. 


Gardner said that he became personally interested in the subject of raw milk and lactose intolerance when a student in one of his nutrition classes said that drinking raw milk did not cause him to suffer from symptoms of lactose intolerance such as diarrhea and abdominalcramping, but he did suffer those symptoms when he drank pasteurized milk. In fact, the student has said he had developed severe intestinal problems from drinking pasteurized milk since moving to the U.S. From Africa, but was able to nurse him back to health with raw milk, which he was accustomed to drinking back home. 

At first, that claim didn’t make sense to Gardner. Raw milk and pasteurized milk contain the same amount of lactose and should therefore both require a person to produce the lactase enzyme in order for them to digest it. 

Raw milk has just as much lactose in it, but it also has probiotics,” Gardner said, explaining his thought process. “Does that make a difference? It sounded like something I could test.”

Gardner told Food Safety News that he is personally a big proponent of whole foods and studying how whole foods influence nutrition, as opposed to studying isolated nutrients. 

He said that he understands the attraction to whole foods as a response to the abundance of refined and highly processed foods found in grocery stores, and that’s why his nutrition studies focus on whole foods. 

How the study worked
Participants were asked to rate the severity of their symptoms on a scale of 0 to 10 for each of the eight days they drank progressively larger servings of each type of milk. A rating of 10 indicated “unbearably severe” symptoms. 

The ratings of symptom severity for raw milk and pasteurized milk matched up almost identically on day seven of each phase – the day when participants consumed the largest serving of milk.
On average, participants rated the severity of their flatulence at a little more than 4 out of 10 after drinking both raw and pasteurized milk. For diarrhea, severity averaged around 3 for both, while it also averaged around 3 for intestinal sounds and 2.5 for abdominal cramping.

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