Health Benefits Of Seaweed

Seaweed may resemble slimy spinach, but the fact is that this marine vegetable is packed with a range of nutrients and offers more health benefits. You may not consume seaweed like a regular vegetable, but once you are aware of the health benefits of it, you will want to make it a part of your diet. Here are some of the health benefits of eating seaweed.

Provides essential nutrients

You get most of the essential vitamins and minerals by eating seaweed. According to a number of studies, one gram of seaweed contains enough iodine for the proper functioning of the thyroid glands. Some of the brown varieties of seaweed contain fucoxanthin which is a pigment that can help the body burn fats faster. Vitamin A and Vitamin B12 are other essential nutrients contained in seaweed.

Promotes digestion

Seaweed contains a natural fiber known as alginate that can help reduce fat absorption and promote proper digestion of food. It has also been suggested that consuming seaweed on a regular basis can reduce the absorption of fat by up to 75 percent. In addition, the dietary fiber that is responsible for promoting healthy digestion makes you feel fuller faster and prevents you from overeating. The studies done on the health benefits of seaweed suggest that this marine vegetable can lower bad cholesterol in the body and promote healthy weight loss if you include it in your diet. Read more

What’s the Big Deal about Intermittent Fasting?

We can often hear advice by nutritionists like “eat frequent but small meals”, “don’t starve” or “don’t skip breakfast“, but it turns out that fasting offers a number of health benefits. It not only reduces risk of cancer and improves cardiovascular health, but it also promotes longevity and gene repair. It is quite true that when a person is in “feast mode,” the body forgoes much of the natural rejuvenation and repair programming. It is also true that most of the disease processes that are initiated in the body are a result of eating too frequently.

When the body is subjected to severe calorie restriction, a person is able to achieve weight loss, but for most people a starvation diet is not an appealing approach for weight loss. But, a number of studies have suggested that a method called “intermittent fasting” can offer the same benefits without causing any health problems. In the olden days, our ancestors did not have access to food all the time. There were no grocery stores and they would eat only at particular times. According to research, this kind of eating habit offers biochemical benefits to the body.

So, is intermittent fasting for you? Does intermittent fasting really work? What kind of health benefits are there when you use this approach? Let’s a take a look at what intermittent fasting really is and whether it offers real benefits. Read more

Eggs: Myths vs. Facts

Eggs are among the healthiest foods available. Although they are great in value, taste, nutrition and convenience, they have been vilified for a long time. Many people believe that eggs contain high levels of dietary cholesterol. But, a number of researches and studies reveal that eggs do no contain as much cholesterol as it was previously recorded. In fact, healthy adults can eat eggs without worrying about increasing the risk of heart problems. In fact, studies have also shown that eating eggs can lower blood pressure as well.

Recent studies show that a large egg contains no more than 185mg cholesterol. Previously, it was recorded that a large egg contains at least 215mg cholesterol. Similarly, there are many misconceptions which have been swirling around eggs. Here’s a look at some of the myths about eggs and their facts.

Myth: eating eggs raises cholesterol levels in the body.

Fact: dietary cholesterol in eggs is different from the cholesterol that is already in your body. The body is responsible for making its own cholesterol, and it has little to do with the kind of cholesterol you eat. Trans fats and saturated fats fuels the cholesterol making process in the body and eggs contains very little saturated fat. You can find about 1.5g of saturated fat in one large egg which is just a fraction of the saturated fat that can be found in one tablespoon of butter that the egg is cooked in. Eggs are healthy and it would be a bad idea to eliminate them completely from your diet. Read more

Listen to the Most Relaxing Song Ever

If you fell stressed, frustrated and anxious, if you have high blood pressure and fast hart rate or you can’t sleep for some reason there is a song that could help you in 8 minutes.

Sound therapy has been used for thousands of years to help people relax, sleep and improve health and well-being, but according to the British Academy of Sound Therapy, the song ‘Weightless’ is the most relaxing song ever recorded.

The institution, in collaboration with band Marconi Union carefully arranged harmonies, rhythms and bass lines creating melody that slows the heart rate, reduces blood pressure and lowers levels of cortisol – the stress hormone. The UK scientists claim that “Weightless” is so effective at inducing sleep it should not be listened to while driving. The song also slows breathing and reduces brain activity. The study “found the song was even more relaxing than a massage, walk or a cup of tea”. Read more