Carrots Benefits

Carrots Benefits

Carrot is a vegetable grown for its edible root. It is a root vegetable.Carrot contain beta carotene, a chemical that is converted into vitamin A by the body, it helps prevent night blindness. beta carotene is responsible for making the orange colour of the carrot.

Carrots are nutritional heroes, they store a goldmine of nutrients. No other vegetable or fruit contains as much carotene as carrots, which the body converts to vitamin A. This is a truly versatile vegetable and an excellent source of vitamins B and C as well as calcium pectate, an extraordinary pectin fibre that has been found to have cholesterol-lowering properties.
The carrot is an herbaceous plant containing about 87% water, rich in mineral salts and vitamins (B,C,D,E). 

1. Carrots are excellent for the eyes. 

2. Carrots contains large quantities of vitamin A, in the form of beta carotene.

3. Juicing a carrot removes the indigestible fiber. Thus, the nutrients in it are available to the body in much larger quantities than if the carrot was eaten whole. This is because many of the nutrients are trapped in the fibre, and while fibre aids digestion, some part of the fibre is indigestible.Thus, you don't get the benefits of the nutrients that are trapped in the indigestible fibre. Did you know that if you eat a carrot raw, you only get access to about 1% of the available beta carotene? But, when you or your child has a glass of carrot juice, you your system absorbs almost 100% or the beta carotene!

4. Carrot juice has anti-carcinogen properties. Thus, it helps prevent cancer. It is also believed to have cancer-curing properties. Beta carotene is an anti-oxidant, and thus it prevents cell degeneration. Anti-oxidants also slow down the ageing process. Another fruit which is an excellent anti-oxidant is the berry.

5. Carrots are also good for the skin. Due to the presence of Vitamin C.

6.Carrot juice is like a tonic. It will improve the overall health of you and your child, and increase immunity. In fact, two glasses of carrot juice a day can increase your immunity by as much as 70%! 

7. Carrot juice is rich in so many minerals, that it's no less than a miracle juice! You could also add some spinach or beetroot to your carrot juice. Squeeze some lime into the glass, add seasoning if you must, and a tasty glass packed with nutrients is ready! 

8 .Carrots have many important vitamins and minerals. They are rich in antioxidants Beta Carotene, Alpha Carotene, Phytochemicals and Glutathione, Calcium and Potassium, and vitamins A, B1, B2, C, and E, which are also considered antioxidants, protecting as well as nourishing the skin. They contain a form of calcium easily absorbed by the body. Finally they also contain Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorous.and Sulphur

So why don't you try some carrots today

Helpful supplements for allergies

Allergy refers to an exaggerated reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. It is exaggerated because these foreign substances are usually seen by the body as harmless and no response occurs in non- allergic people. Allergic people's bodies recognize the foreign substance and one part of the immune system is turned on. Allergy-producing substances are called "allergens." Examples of allergens include pollens, dust mite, molds, danders, and foods. To understand the language of allergy it is important to remember that allergens are substances that are foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction in certain people.

How Supplements can help

Supplements like quercetin can help inhibit the release of histamine -an inflammatory agent- and it is less likely to cause side effects. It is best to combine it with nettle which can help combat swollen nasal passages, itching and sneezing.

Other supplements worth consuming are Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Panthotenic Acid ( Vitamin B5) and Ephedra.

*Ephedra may cause insomnia and is not suitable for hypertensive, heart disease or anxiety,or if MAO inhibitor is taken.

Vitamin E and Magnesium can help too.

Supplements for Migraine

Migraine is a severe, throbbing headache that usually begins on the side of the head but may affect the whole head. Attacks can persists for hours even days and this proves to be a very painful experience for the sufferer.

Migraine attacks may be triggered by:
Allergic reactions
Bright lights, loud noises, and certain odors or perfumes
Physical or emotional stress
Changes in sleep patterns
Smoking or exposure to smoke
Skipping meals
Alcohol
Menstrual cycle fluctuations, birth control pills, hormone fluctuations during the menopause transition
Tension headaches
Foods containing tyramine (red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and some beans), monosodium glutamate (MSG) or nitrates (like bacon, hot dogs, and salami)
Other foods such as chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, avocado, banana, citrus, onions, dairy products, and fermented or pickled foods.

In what way supplements can help?

It is recommended that everyone who has migraine to take magnesium and calcium for a long term period. These materials are known for their effects in maintaining healthy blood vessels and low levels of magnesium are common in people who have migraine. Other herbs that can help are Feverfew and Rosemary. Whereas, Riboflavin, Vitamin C and Pantothenic acid (also called Vitamin B5) can help too.


To minimise the occurence of migraine you may ask yourself or find out, what causes and what can eliminate your migraine triggers. You may also tery biofeedback or relaxation techinque to help you cope with stress. Exercise regularly and drink plenty of water.

Saw Palmetto

The saw palmetto, a small palm tree that grows wild from Texas to South Carolina, gets its name from the spiny, saw-toothed stems that lie at the base of each leaf. Its medicinal properties are derived from the blue-black berries, which are usually harvested in August and September.

USES:

Shrinks the prostate; reduces symptoms of BPH, such as urgent or frequent urination or urinary leaking. Other claims are made with little or no evidence—for example, that saw palmetto helps treat baldness, low libido, bladder disorders, prostatitis, and migraines.

Native Americans used the fruit for food, but also in the treatment of a variety of urinary and reproductive system problems. The Mayans drank it as a tonic, and the Seminoles used the berries as an expectorant and antiseptic.

How It Is Used

The ripe fruit of saw palmetto is used in several forms, including ground and dried fruit or whole berries. It is available as a liquid extract, tablets, capsules, and as an infusion or a tea.


Possible side effects:

Mild abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness and headache.

Please consult your doctor if problems persists.

Acidophilus

Some 500 species of bacteria inhabit the digestive tract. Among these, the most beneficial is acidophilus and bifidus - two strains of lactobacilli bacteria. Both of them are probiotics, meaning that they help to maintain proper balance of health-promoting bacteria in the intestine. They also manufacture natural antibiotics that kill dangerous microbes.

Among foods that encourage the growth of lactobacillus in the body are green leafy vegetables which contains chlorophyll, slippery alm powder and jerusalem artichokes, milk products e.g. yoghurt and whey powder: miso and sauerkraut.

Yoghurt, a traditional source of acidophilus has been used as an elixir in folk medicine for a long time.

Uses:

Acidophilus helps to restore a normal balance of healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and vagina, which combats digestive disorders and vaginal yeast infections. It may contain cancer-fighting agents, and may possibly lower serum cholesterol levels. Acidophilus helps to manufacture certain vitamins in the intestines, including vitamins B12 and K, thiamine and folic acid.

Acidophilus may prevent or control vaginal yeast infection or Candida albicans. Acidophilus also creates an inhospitable environment for harmful types of Escherichia coli, as well as for salmonella, streptococcus and many other strains of bacteria that can be dangerous or even life threatening.

Calcium

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, most adults get about half the calcium they need each day. Eating enough calcium rich diets may be difficult, but you can prevent a deficiency by taking supplements.

A wide array of products is available. The most common are calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium hydroxyapatite, calcium gluconate, calcium phosphate and calcium lactate. A supplement's elemental  -or pure- calcium depends on its accompanying compound.

Calcium carbonate, which is a useful antacids to relieve heartburn provides 40% elemental calcium, while calcium gluconate supplies 9%. The lower the calcium content, the more pills you may need to meet recommended amounts.

Uses of Calcium

Majority of the body calcium's is stored in the bones and teeth, where it provides strength and structure. The small amount circulating in the bloodstream helps move nutrients across cell membranes and plays a role in producing the hormones and enzymes that regulate digestion and metabolism.

Calcium too is needed for the normal communication along nerve cells, for blood clotting, for wound healing and for muscle contraction. To have enough of this mineral available in the blood to perform many functions, the body will 'steal'it from the bones. Over time, many calcium 'withdrawals' leave bones porous and fragile. Therefore it is very important to have enough supply of this mineral.

 Calcium

- Maintains bones and teeth
- Helps to prevent progressive bone loss and osteoporosis
- Facilitates hear and muscle contraction, nerve impulses and blood clotting.
- May help to lower blood pressure in hypertensive people
- Eases heartburn

Deficiency

A prolonged calcium deficiency can lead to bone abnormalities, such as osteoporosis. Muscle spasms and cramps also can result from low levels of calcium in the blood

Too much calcium

leads to body's impaired absorption of the minerals zinc, iron and magnesium. Very high doses of calcium form supplements might lead to kidney stones. Calcium carbonates may cause wind or constipation and if this persists switch to calcium citrate.

Sources of Calcium:

Pills and Supplements
Dairy products (low fat)
Canned salmon and sardines (soft bones eaten)
broccoli
almonds