Quinoa and its Health Benefits

Quinoa is often described as a ‘supergrain’ or ‘superfood’ and is very popular among people who are health conscious. Quinoa is naturally gluten-free and is packed with fiber, protein and a variety of other minerals and nutrients. When compared with other grains, quinoa contains more proteins. It is low in carbohydrates and high in heart healthy unsaturated fats. Because quinoa is considered as one of the healthiest foods on the planet, it is important that people are aware of the benefits it offers. Here’s a look at the many health benefits of quinoa.

Decreases the risk of chronic inflammation

Chronic inflammation has many implications on the human body which scientists and researchers are still trying to understand. Some of the disorders in which chronic inflammation is believed to play a role include asthma, bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. According to a number of studies, quinoa may help decrease the risk of chronic inflammation as they help promote friendly bacteria that can be found in the gut. 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

Why is Coconut Oil a Miracle Product?

Few years ago we had barely heard of coconut oil and all its attributes and applications. Maybe in our vegetable green curry or as some ingredient relegated to the shelves of the local health food store, but not as something we were using every day and applying to our face and skin.

Pressed from the fruit of the coconut palm tree, coconut oil is ideal for light fare and subtly flavored dishes. It gives a perfect touch of coconut flavor to many tasty dishes like Chicken and Vegetable Curry Soup. It’s great in baked goods, desserts, confections, smoothies and it’s best for healthier frying since it’s stable at high temperatures. You can use it to cook veggies, fry potatoes or drizzle it over popcorn to get delusions and healthy meal.

Regardless of the use make sure you pick organic, pure, extra virgin coconut oil. Organic coconut oil has a soft coconut aroma and more pronounced coconut flavor. Pure virgin coconut oil, containing no hydrogenation, contains over 92% saturated fat — the highest amount of saturated fat of any fat and it’s also very healthy.

Coconut oil is a miracle product. Besides for cooking it’s also used as natural skin care product. It contains lauric acid, a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent that keeps away inflammation, infections, viruses and acne. Coconut oil is rich in Vitamin E and also rich in essential fatty acids, which are perfect for keeping your skin soft and smooth. Coconut oil is natural solution for almost all skin problems. It relieves insect bites, helps with rashes, gets rid of flaking skin, softens and shrinks wrinkles, protects against sun damage, speeds healing, keeps tans longer, acts as an antioxidant to prevent cellular aging. It removes makeup easily and you can also warm it up and use it as massage oil.

Green or Black Tea?

Green tea has been used as a medicine for thousands of years. Originating in China but widely used throughout Asia this beverage has a variety of uses from lowering blood pressure to preventing cancer. Recent studies have shown green tea can potentially have positive effects on everything from weight loss to liver disorders to type 2 diabetes.

The reason that green tea has more health benefits attached to it than black tea is (apparently) due to the processing. Black tea is processed in a way that allows for fermentation whereas green tea’s processing evades the fermentation process. Green tea is considered one of the world’s healthiest drinks and contains the highest amount of antioxidants of any tea. The natural chemicals called poly-phenols in tea are what are thought to provide its anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects.

Strawberries – The Queen of Fruits

One of the most popular strawberries, refreshing and healthy treats on the planet are the fresh summer strawberries. Wild strawberries have been popular since ancient Roman times and were used for a wide variety of medicinal purposes such as alleviating inflammation, fever, kidney stones, bad breath, gout and more.

The Strawberry is called ‘the queen of fruits” In Asian countries because it’s packed with health benefits. Compared to fruits like apples, oranges or bananas, strawberries have the highest amount of nutrients.

These juicy heart-shaped delights have much more to offer beyond sweetness and flavor. I consider them a power food.

Today there are over 600 varieties of strawberries. The sweet, slightly tart berries rank among the top 10 fruits and vegetables in antioxidant capacity. Their deep, rich hue supplies their high flavonoid content, a topic of research in many studies supporting the health benefits attained by consuming strawberries on a regular basis.