Tag Archives: health

Health Benefits of Watermelon

The health benefits of watermelon are really great. No matter how it is sliced, it is packed with some of the most important antioxidants found in nature.

It is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, particularly through its concentration of beta-carotene.

The beautiful red watermelon is also a source of the potent carotene antioxidant which is called lycopene. These antioxidants travel throughout the body neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are substances in the body that can cause much damage to us. They are able to oxidize cholesterol, making it stick to blood vessel walls and thicken them which can lead to hearty attack or stroke. The lycopene which gives fruits the attractive red color that we find in watermelon can help reduce the risks of prostate cancer.

It is a surprising fact that watermelon is the only fruit that contains higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable.

Watermelon is a fruit that is rich in electrolytes sodium and potassium that we lose through our perspiration.

Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production. Food experts recommend watermelon as a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1 and magnesium. Because of its higher water content approximately ninety percent and calorie value it is ranked more valuable than other fruits.

Watermelon has a special cooling effect and is exceptionally high in citrulline, an amino acid that our bodies use to make another amino acid, arginine, which is used in the urea cycle to remove ammonia from the body.

The antioxidants help reducing the severity of asthma. It also reduces the risk of colon cancer, asthma, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and prostate cancer.

Watermelon is a good source of thiamin, potassium and magnesium which protect our body from so many diseases.

Watermelon is fat free but helps energy production. It protects against macular degeneration.

When the heat of summer tires us with thirst, eating watermelon is a safe alternative to taking energy drinks. Since it contains high water quantity it can hydrates us whereas other drinks are caffeine filled energy drinks which can easily dehydrate us. Nothing can be more satisfactory on a hot, dusty day than a crisp, juicy slice of watermelon!

Papa John’s Health Tips – Importance of Enzymes

In a nutshell, digestive enzymes break down the foods we eat, from complex compounds to the single nutrients within them. The body doesn’t actually use compounds; it uses single building-blocks of nutrition. The faster the compounds we eat are broken down, the more readily they are used by our bodies.

Digestive enzymes are produced by the pancreas, and are present in our saliva, small intestine and stomach. They break foods down at each stage of the digestive process.

They are also found in many foods, primarily acidic fruits and vegetables, such as papaya.

While we do produce digestive enzymes and can also take them in through our diet, dietary enzymes are broken down somewhat in the digestive process, making them less effective than those we produce. Dietary supplements containing digestive enzymes are more effective than those found in foods, because they are able to disperse to the bloodstream before being digested.

When choosing a supplement containing digestive enzymes, it’s important to pay close attention to the enzymes included, especially if you’re seeking a supplement that will help athletic performance, endurance and general fitness. There are numerous digestive enzymes and some are more helpful to athletes than are others.

Three of the digestive enzymes most helpful to athletes are amylase, phytase and protease. When choosing a supplement, try to find one that contains all three.

Amylase is one of the most important enzymes for athletes, because its purpose is to break down carbohydrates. Amylase is found in our saliva, and begins to break starch down into sugar while we are chewing our food. This is why we feel the effects of eating starchy and sugary foods almost immediately: it begins breaking down while it is still in our mouths. The most important purpose of amylase is that the pancreas also uses it to convert dietary sugar into glucose. Glucose is what gives our cells, our muscles and our brains energy. The body can’t use sugar until it is converted into glucose.

Taking amylase supplements does two things: it converts the sugar we eat into energy more quickly and it also keeps the body from storing too much sugar or converting it to fat stores.

Phytase has a very specialized purpose in the body. Phytase digests phytic acid. Phytic acid is the storage container for the phosphorous found in plants and seeds. Once it is broken down, “unpacking” the phosphorous, the phosphorous can be used by the body. The problem is that phytic acid is not digestible by humans without phytase. A supplement containing phytase helps our bodies to break down phytic acid, releasing the phosphorous into our systems. Phosphorous is in most multi-vitamins, as it helps our bodies use minerals like calcium, magnesium and zinc. These minerals are all vital to the athlete, as they keep muscles working properly, especially during workouts or athletics. A lack of these minerals will result in the muscle cramping with which any athlete is all too familiar.

Protease is another digestive enzyme vital to athletes, as it breaks down animal, nut and dairy proteins, making them available for muscle recovery, repair and building. Protease breaks the proteins we eat down into amino acids, which are the building blocks for every single cell in our bodies. Supplemental protease will ensure that the proteins we eat are quickly used to the best effect.

Choosing a supplement that contains all three of these digestive enzymes will help athletes and anyone concerned with performance and endurance.

Health Benefits of Ginger

Ginger has been used as a natural remedy for many ailments for centuries. Now, science is catching up and researchers around the world are finding that ginger works wonders in the treatment of everything from cancer to migraines. Here are ten health benefits of this powerful herb.

Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Ginger may be powerful weapon in the treatment of ovarian cancer. A study conducted at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center found that ginger powder induces cell death in all ovarian cancer cells to which it was applied.

Colon Cancer Prevention

A study at the University of Minnesota found that ginger may slow the growth of colorectal cancer cells.

Morning Sickness

A review of several studies has concluded that ginger is just as effective as vitamin B6 in the treatment of morning sickness.

Motion Sickness Remedy

Ginger has been shown to be an effective remedy for the nausea associated with motion sickness.

Reduces Pain and Inflammation

One study showed that ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and is a powerful natural painkiller.

Heartburn Relief

Ginger has long been used as a natural heartburn remedy. It is most often taken in the form of tea for this purpose.

Cold and Flu Prevention and Treatment Ginger has long been used as a natural treatment for colds and the flu. Many people also find ginger to be helpful in the case of stomach flus or food poisoning, which is not surprising given the positive effects ginger has upon the digestive tract.

Migraine Relief

Research has shown that ginger may provide migraine relief due to its ability to stop prostaglandins from causing pain and inflammation in blood vessels.

Menstrual Cramp Relief

In Chinese medicine, ginger tea with brown sugar is used in the treatment of menstrual cramps.

Prevention of Diabetic Nephropathy

A study done on diabetic rats found that those rats given ginger had a reduced incidence of diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage).

Health Benefits of Celery

For such a humble vegetable, celery health benefits are many.

But first have a look at celery’s nutritional highlights:

Celery is an excellent source of vitamin C and fibre.

It’s a very good source of potassium, folic acid, and vitamin B6 and B1.

Celery is a good source of calcium and vitamin B2.

Rich source of dietary sodium.

Note: While it’s true that celery contains more sodium than most vegetables, the sodium is offset by very high levels of potassium. Furthermore, the amount of sodium is not significant even for the most salt-sensitive individuals.

One celery stalk contains approximately 32 milligrams of sodium and 104 milligrams of potassium and only 20 calories as carbohydrate.

Generally, any food that’s good for your body is good for your breath, but celery seems custom made for fighting halitosis.

Most experts believe that the most common cause of bad breath is poor dental hygiene.

In the absence of proper brushing and flossing, food particles on the teeth and the back of the tongue breed pungent bacteria.

Munching on a stalk of celery is helpful in two ways: its roughness helps scrub bacteria from the back of the tongue and its natural fibres assist in cleaning the teeth. It’s like using an edible toothbrush.

In fact, if you ever find yourself without a toothbrush, chomping on a celery stick after a meal or first thing in the morning will do the trick.

With loads of analgesic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic compounds, as well as some calcium blockers, celery seed extracts seem appropriate for treating bladder infections.

Celery seeds are said to improve the quantity and quality of urine and are a useful diuretic for urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Fresh Pineapple has many health benefits

The pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family. It is extremely rare that bromeliads produce edible fruit. The pineapple is the only available edible bromeliad today. It is a multiple fruit. One pineapple is actually made up of dozens of individual flowerets that grow together to form the entire fruit. Each scale on a pineapple is evidence of a separate flower. Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked. No special way of storing them will help ripen them further. Color is relatively unimportant in determining ripeness. Choose your pineapple by smell. If it smells fresh, tropical and sweet, it will be a good fruit. The more scales on the pineapple, the sweeter and juicier the taste. After you cut off the top, you can plant it. It should grow much like a sweet potato will. This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical, it also offers many benefits to our health.

Pineapple is a remarkable fruit. We find it enjoyable because of its lush, sweet and exotic flavor, but it may be one of the most healthful foods available today. If we take a more detailed look at it, we will find that pineapple is valuable for easing indigestion, arthritis or sinusitis. The juice has an anthelmintic effect; it helps get rid of intestinal worms. Let’s look at how pineapple affects other conditions.

Pineapple is high in manganese, a mineral that is critical to development of strong bones and connective tissue. A cup of fresh pineapple will give you nearly 75% of the recommended daily amount. It is particularly helpful to older adults, whose bones tend to become brittle with age.

Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme, is the key to pineapple’s value. Proteolytic means “breaks down protein”, which is why pineapple is known to be a digestive aid. It helps the body digest proteins more efficiently.

Bromelain is also considered an effective anti-inflammatory. Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis. It produces mild pain relief. In Germany, bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold because it is high in Vitamin C. Fresh pineapple is not only high in this vitamin, but because of the bromelain, it has the ability to reduce mucus in the throat. If you have a cold with a productive cough, add pineapple to your diet. It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to cut mucus after certain sinus and throat operations. Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer sinus problems related to allergies. In and of itself, pineapple has a very low risk for allergies.

Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development. This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and others who may be at risk for blood clots.

An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice. It really works! Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the morning often makes a difference. It’s also good for a healthier mouth. The fresh juice discourages plaque growth.