Archive for July, 2008
Posted July 28th, 2008 By: Rod Newbound
Did you know prunes were once considered almost as precious as salt in Europe. And that people would even work for prunes. In the 15th Century, the French even had a phrase for this: “travailler pour des prunes”. To this day, they are considered a delicacy in France and other parts of Europe. Expensive vintage Ports are described as being “superbly integrated with lush prune and raisin nuances” or “multifaceted aromatics led by smoky prunes”.
Not Just Your
Grandmother’s Fruit Anymore
Prunes aka dried plums need no longer be relegated to the backbench of culinary fruits only available as a rather bland stewed side dish for breakfast. Instead you might want to try them in such exotic ways as prune and Armagnac(brandy) ice cream or serve them with a citrus fruit like kumquats or oranges, or even with chocolate. Some people even describe the moister prunes now available as being better than chocolate. More about that later…
Although prunes have long been known for their value in promoting regularity and preventing constipation due in part to the high fiber content, research has now shown they have many remarkable health benefits.
- Prunes are an excellent source of potassium, a nutrient important to our bodies for muscle strength. This is of particular concern as regards our heart muscle… So much so that doctors routinely check your level of potassium when doing blood tests. Even a slight downward deviation from the norm, can be very serious.
- Because prunes are also low in sodium they can promote lower blood pressure. A 4-year study of 40,000 professional men who ate diets higher in potassium, magnesium and cereal fiber showed a substantially reduced risk of stroke.
- Prunes also help reduce cholesterol
- They play an important role in maintaining normal blood sugar levels, making them an excellent food for those who have (or are at risk of developing) Type II diabetes.
- As it ferments in the intestine prune fiber provides food for friendly bacteria.
- Just a quarter cup of prunes will provide 16.9% of the daily value of Vit. A and 9% of the daily value of copper.
- High in antioxidants that will help reduce the damage of free radicals
- Because their soluble fiber promotes a sense of satisfied fullness after a meal, prunes can also help prevent overeating.
Natural Cancer Prevention by Consuming Prunes
- In a Swedish study of 51,823 postmenopausal women conducted over 8.3 years, it was shown the risk of breast cancer can be reduced as much as 50% with a diet high in fruit and cereal fiber. And prunes is a perfect fruit with high fiber content.
- The fiber in prunes can reduce risk for colon cancer and hemorrhoid problems.
- Research by Tufts University and USDA scientists placed prunes and raisins atop a list of the best cancer-fighting fruits. Recommended amount – ½ cup daily
Natural Treatment for Osteoporosis
According to a recent article, published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, prunes may help combat osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is common in postmenopausal women, which results in the bones becoming brittle creating a higher risk for fractures.
In two separate studies Florida State University scientists have been looking at how the antioxidants in prunes work in the body to promote the enzymes responsible for bone formation.
While the studies are on going, considering the other nutritional values of prunes it certainly would be wise to make them a part of your regular diet.
Healthy Ways to Enjoy Prunes
- Stuff them with your favorite nuts for a filling low calorie snack
- Add them to pancakes and muffins
- Substitute them for dates in Date Nut Bread
- Make a fruit salad with prunes, oranges or other citrus fruits, and fresh strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries. Leave out the sugar and use plain yogurt. If you prefer it a little sweeter drizzle on a small amount of honey.
- Make your own healthy trail mix with prunes, roasted almonds, sunflower seeds and unsweetened chocolate nibs.
- Create a cinnamon spiced orange sauce with walnuts and prunes to serve over oatmeal or polenta. You can find this delightful recipe at whfoods.
Store your prunes in an airtight container. They require no refrigeration but will keep up to 6 months in the refrigerator. When shopping for prunes look for them in a see through container so you can evaluate the quality. They should be plump and shiny. Look for prunes that are dried to 35% humidity instead of the more normal 21-23%. At 35% humidity, no rehydration is needed. They can even be frozen this way. Because of the high sugar content, they won’t freeze solid and can be eaten straight from the freezer.
Posted in Food & Diet | No Comments »
Posted July 23rd, 2008 By: Rod Newbound
Disclosure: This post asks you to take 10 minutes of your time and help a good cause that could restrict FDA’s flaunting and mis-using its power. Read on…
1. The Problem: FDA Takes Action Against Compounded Menopause Hormone Therapy Drugs
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has limited the rights of women to seek natural hormone alternatives instead of synthetic drugs (which are created from horse urine). Compounded drugs are specifically personalized to each patient by their doctor and carefully prepared by licensed pharmacists. The chemicals used in these compounds are molecularly identical to hormones produced by the human body. They are usually safer too. But yet the FDA has banned them.
2. The Start of the Problem
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals makes Premarin and Prempro – synthetic drugs.
A study funded by the National Institutes of Health specifically linked these two drugs to increased risk of stroke, breast cancer, and heart attack. As a result, sales of these 2 drugs dropped by 68%! The beneficiaries were compounded natural hormone therapy drugs.
So Wyeth Pharmaceuticals responds by sending a “citizens petition” to the FDA requesting action against natural hormonal therapy for women.
3. The FDA Bias to Take Bad Action
In an unprecedented ethical conflict of interest, the FDA receives a cut (called drug user fees) from the pharmaceutical companies based on the number of drugs they sell. Since the states and not the federal government regulate compounding pharmacies, they don’t have to pay the FDA.
And because natural hormones cannot be patented, there is comparatively little financial incentive to the drug companies to bring them to the market.
So despite an outpouring of support for natural hormonal therapy from doctors, patients and pharmacists the FDA heeded to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals citizens petition and made the move to ban bio-identical hormone therapy.
4. Is There a Solution to This FDA Problem?
In a key first step toward reigning in the FDA’s actions against women’s health, Congress has introduced House Concurrent Resolution 342 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 88. This resolution calls upon the FDA to stop their new policy of restricting women’s access to prescriptions containing estriol, a natural hormone that has been prescribed for women in the US for over 20 years.
So What Can You Do To Help?
- Write your senators and congressmen.
- Send letters to your local newspaper. (You can send this post along with your letter too.)
- Ask your friends and family to get involved.
Also…
- Please send this post to your friends.
- Vote for it at StumbleUpon.com and other social media websites and help us spread the message.
Thank You!
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Posted July 21st, 2008 By: Rod Newbound
Tips On How To Be In Better Control of Your Blood Pressure Even When You Go to the Doctor
Things You Should be Aware of While Testing Your Blood Pressure
Have you ever thought about the fact your blood pressure can vary significantly during the day depending on your level of stress? And stressors can come in many forms, such as…
- Stimulants like a cup of coffee, a can of Mountain Dew, the latest “power drink” or a cigarette
- Maybe you worked all day before your appointment
- Or you failed to have a restful night’s sleep because you were a bit anxious about the appointment
- Someone cut you off in traffic, or you were late because of road construction
- Your boss just told you you’re working Saturday (and you were planning to go fishing)
And what if the person taking your blood pressure is lazy, or hasn’t the necessary training to understand the importance of being accurate, or worse, just doesn’t really care. Think this can’t happen? It certainly can (and does). When I was finishing up my nurse’s training, I was assigned to shadow the nurse in an OB/GYN clinic. Specifically I was there to learn more about prenatal care. I watched the LPN take one blood pressure after another as these pregnant women came in for their appointments. The blood pressures she wrote down didn’t vary 10 points in the readings. For this to happen with 16 patients is a statistical anomaly. In other words, the likelihood of all these readings being accurate is very slim.
Because these readings were also in the “normal” range, they were unlikely to be checked by the doctor. And in many health care settings, even abnormal readings are rarely rechecked unless there is another reason. This means you could have a blood pressure reading high enough for your doctor to prescribe a medication that either isn’t accurate or isn’t normal for you in a less stressful situation.
So what can you do about it?
6 Ways You Can Be in Better Control of Your Blood Pressure
1. Listen to classical music just before going into your doctors appointment. One study showed just 3 minutes of classical music will lower your blood pressure to pre-stress levels (add some deep breathing and it will plummet even faster). If you happen to have a portable CD or digital music player, take your tunes in with you
2. Meditate for a few minutes before your appointment taking deep slow breaths
3. Take a leisurely walk
4. Use visual imagery – imagine yourself sitting in a high mountain meadow of wild flowers on the side of pristine lake surrounded by snow-covered peaks. Now change the season to winter where you’re enveloped with absolute quiet.
5. Ask to sit in a regular chair in the exam room when you have your blood pressure taken
6. And most important of all – know your normal everyday blood pressure..
How To Know More About Your Blood Pressure Than Your Doctor
Go to your local pharmacist and have them recommend the right size blood pressure cuff for you. Yes size matters. If your arm is small, you need a small cuff. The same applies if your arm is larger than normal. Tell them you want to monitor your own blood pressure at home. Avoid cheap equipment, especially if you decide to purchase an electronic blood pressure cuff. In my experience most of the cheaper models are unreliable. Remember, you want accuracy. After all, it’s your health. Right?
It’s really not too difficult to take your own blood pressure with a manual cuff, but if you just feel uncomfortable or prefer to use an electronic model, I suggest you check out Omron Healthcare Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with ComFit Cuff.
However you decide to do it, blood pressure is composed of 2 numbers, the systolic and the diastolic. The systolic reading is the pressure created against the artery walls when your heart beats. The diastolic is the resting pressure between beats. Although blood pressure is generally considered normal in a 10-point range either side of 120/80, everyone is different. So it’s important to know your normal range.
Once you’ve decided on a machine, make a commitment to take your own blood pressure regularly at home. Choose a quiet time, preferably the same time each day you take it. Be sure you’re rested and haven’t had any strenuous exercise, stimulants or depressants like alcohol for at least 30-60 minutes. Take two or three readings over about 15 minutes and record them in a journal with the date. Average the results of readings over two or three days a week. You’ll then know your real resting blood pressure. The next time you visit your doctor, bring along your journal for comparison.
Image Credit: ahhyeah
Posted in Medical | No Comments »
Posted July 10th, 2008 By: Leon
Use these skin care recipes to make your skin smoother and younger
Aging is a natural process and no one can stop it (yet) but we can definitely slow down the aging process and age gracefully. This post shares some do-it-yourself (DIY) recipes that can help you get rid of Wrinkles, Saggy and Dull Skin.
Benefit of these DIY Skin Care Recipes
- They are tried and tested and work very well
- They are safe and natural
- And most importantly, they’ll save you a lot of money
Recipe 1: Milk Cream, Sandalwood and Turmeric Face Pack
This face pack nourishes and tightens skin, heals adult acne, lightens age spots, cools skin and brings glow to your face.
- Sandalwood has cooling and skin tightening properties
- Milk cream nourishes your skin
- Turmeric is known for its anti-bacterial and skin brightening properties
Preparation
Take one tablespoon sandalwood powder, a pinch of turmeric powder and one tablespoon milk cream. (Boil some milk for about ten minutes and let it cool for sometime, you will be able to see a thick layer of cream on the top). Mix it together and apply on your face. Rinse off after fifteen minutes
Note: Turmeric can stain your cloth so make sure you don’t wear any light colored cloth while applying this mask.
Recipe 2: Coffee and Plum Exfoliator
- Coffee exfoliates and revitalizes your skin and has anti aging properties
- Plum is another effective antioxidant
So this combination of coffee and plum works great in getting rid of the oldest dead skin cells and makes a wonderful anti aging exfoliator.
Preparation
Take one tablespoon fine ground coffee and mix it with 3 mashed plums and one teaspoon honey. Apply it on your face and gently scrub off after ten minutes.
Recipe 3: Green Tea and Chamomile Toner
Green Tea and Chamomile is a very effective anti aging toner. This toner not only takes care of signs of aging but also soothes puffy eyes and lightens your complexion.
Preparation
Boil one cup water and steep one green tea bag and one Chamomile tea bag. Let it cool for sometime. Apply it on your face with the help of a cotton ball. Do NOT rinse.
If you follow these recipes religiously it can easily take 10-15 years off your face!
This is a guest post by Leon. If you want to read more DIY anti aging skin care recipes, visit her website.
Picture Credit: Laurafries
Posted in Skin Care | 11 Comments »
Posted July 7th, 2008 By: Yorick Pinto
Just as physical exercise makes your body fit, mental exercise helps your brain stay alert especially when you grow older.
A recent study published in “Psychological Medicine” highlighted the fact that the risk of dementia is lowered by 46 percent for individuals who have high mental stimulation. Mental stimulation also reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other mental ailments by nearly half.
If you wish to have your mental faculties functioning at optimal levels well into your old age, try out these useful exercises that help your brains in achieving high mental stimulation:
1. Play Brain Teasers
Keep Your Brain Healthy by Playing Crosswords
Games such as jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, crossword puzzles as well as electronic games are excellent for improving your mental faculties. Not only will these games help you improve your memory but they will also help you stay alert.
2. Diet: Consume Healthy Fats
Eat Walnuts: Rich in Healthy Fats
You need to provide your brain with a regular supply of healthy fats. Some food products which contain such healthy fats include walnuts and fish oil from wild salmon. Fish oils are a major source of omega-3 fatty acids. These are useful for everything from cardiovascular health to brain protection. Also make it a point to eliminate Tran’s fats (a type of unsaturated fat) completely from your diet while increasing the intake of less saturated fat.
3. Learn a New Skill
Learn how to dance to sharpen your brain!
Learning a new skill is an excellent way of staying mentally alert. It will not only give your brain a much needed workout but will also keep your mind sharp. Go ahead and learn a new sport such as tennis or maybe an activity like fishing. A very good idea is to learn something you have never done before. For e.g.: If you enjoy dancing then go ahead and sign up for salsa lessons. Not only will you stay fit, but you will also have a whole lot of fun. Remember that when you learn something new, multiple areas of brain become active.
4. Meditate
Meditate to Rejuvenate Your Mind
Meditation is one of the best exercises that can rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. It helps your mind stay calm and thereby makes it more alert. It is an excellent practice, especially if you want to enjoy a long, healthy and stress-free life. There are various types of meditations that you can choose from. Choose a type that you are comfortable with and which you can easily practice.
5. Enjoy Outdoor Activities
Let Nature Relax Your Brain
A good way to spend some quality time with your family would be to go outdoors for a picnic or to the beach. Spending time in a place of natural beauty is far better than catching the latest flick on television. Nature has its own way of relaxing your mind. So whenever you do get an opportunity, do visit that spot you always wanted to visit.
Related article: Five Quick Ways to
Supercharge Your Memory
Posted in Mental Fitness | 7 Comments »
Posted July 1st, 2008 By: admin
Did you know that unlike its other more famous counterparts, the benefits of Vitamin K have often been overlooked? In fact this vitamin is often called the ‘forgotten vitamin’ as it rarely gets any press coverage. But this is going to change. According to the latest research, Vitamin K is one of the most remarkable anti aging agents and demonstrates properties that no other vitamin does.
Here are some interesting facts about Vitamin K
- Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in aiding blood clotting. What this means is that, when your body gets injured, vitamin K begins the healing process by reducing the bleeding and helping it stop.
- It also prevents the hardening of the arteries, which helps prevent heart disease and heart failure.
- Researchers have found that Vitamin K may play a major part in reducing many degenerative diseases.
- Vitamin K helps regulate the flow of calcium to the bones. Thus it helps in improving bone density.
- According to a study published in the September 2003 International Journal of Oncology, treating lung cancer patients with vitamin K2 slowed the growth of cancer cells.
- Sufficient amounts of vitamin K could reduce the susceptibility to stroke and other blood vessel related problems.
- A deficiency of Vitamin K may be a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s disease.
How to improve your consumption of Vitamin K
Asparagus – Rich in Vitamin K
Remember that Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin. This means that in order for your body to absorb Vitamin K, you will need to consume some fat along with it.
Some of the foods which are rich in Vitamin K are:
- Spinach
- Collard Greens
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Olive Oil
- Yogurt
- Green Tea
- Liver & Fish liver oils
- Egg yolks
- Blackstrap molasses
Note: If you have experienced a stroke, cardiac arrest or you are prone to blood clotting, do not take vitamin K without first consulting your physician.
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