Fish - What is the benefits

Fish has long known to be an important diet, this is because it is a good source of Protein. Fishes are staple diet among people who lives down the river or along the seaside as it is difficult to get raw meat.

Besides containing protein and other nutrients such as vitamin D and selenium, fish (either finfish or shellfish) contain a specific type of fat, omega-3 fatty acids, that may reduce the risk of developing heart disease and other medical problems. However, fish may also contain mercury and other contaminants that may have risks for health.

Foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids
The recommended daily amount of omega 3 fatty acids from fish is 200–600mg and from plants it is 1–2g. 

The following are approximate amounts of omega 3 fatty acids per 60g serve of varieties of fish: 

• Salmon (fresh Atlantic) 1,200m
• Smoked salmon 1,000mg
• Canned salmon 500mg
• Sardines 1,500mg
• Trout (fresh rainbow) 350mg
• Gemfish 300mg
• Blue-eye, shark (flake), salmon, squid 250mg 
  Scallop or calamari 200mg
• Sea mullet, abalone 170mg
• Canned tuna 145mg
• Orange roughy or sea perch 7mg.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish—especially oily fish such as salmon, sardines, and herring. These omega-3 fatty acids can help lower your blood pressure, lower your heart rate, and improve other cardiovascular risk factors. 

Eating fish reduces the risk of death from heart disease, the leading cause of death in both men and women. Fish intake has also been linked to a lower risk of stroke, depression, and mental decline with age. 

For pregnant women, mothers who are breastfeeding, and women of childbearing age, fish intake is important because it supplies DHA, a specific omega-3 fatty acid that is beneficial for the brain development of infants.

Omega-3 fatty acids contribute to a decreased risk of sudden death and arrhythmia; decreased thrombosis (blood clots); decreased triglyceride levels; decreased growth of atherosclerotic plaque; and lower blood pressure. 

Omega-3s also show promise for reducing the risk of dementia, arthritis, asthma and kidney disease.

Possible Drawbacks for eating Fish

Despite the clear benefits of fish, warnings about polluted waters have some concerned that a buildup of toxic matter in fish, including mercury and PCBs, could diminish or counteract their good work.

Some fish contain mercury. For men and women not of childbearing age, it is not clear that mercury exposure from typical levels of fish intake has any adverse health effects. In contrast, fish intake has significant benefits for reducing the risk of death from heart disease, the number one cause of death. So, mercury exposure from fish intake should not be a major concern for men or for women not of childbearing age. The benefits of fish intake can be maximized by consuming a variety of different seafood. 

Mercury may have subtle effects on the developing nervous systems of infants. Therefore, pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, those who are breastfeeding, and very young children should avoid 4 types of fish that are higher in mercury content: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and golden bass. Other fish should still be consumed to ensure that infants receive the benefits of DHA for brain development. Light tuna has relatively low levels of mercury, and other fish, such as wild and farmed salmon and shrimp, contain very low levels of mercury. 

Chemicals called dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can accumulate in foods, including fish. The levels of these chemicals in fish, including farmed fish, are very low and similar to levels in meats and dairy products. Compared with the health benefits of fish intake, the health risks of these chemical levels are very low and should not influence individual decisions about fish intake. Compared with store-bought fish, locally caught freshwater fish may have higher chemical levels, so local advisories should be consulted.

Therefore, it is very important to know where the fishes come from before it ends up on the dinner table. 

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/277124_fish11.html

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Fish?Open

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/296/15/1926

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.