health benefits

Is Palm Oil Good for You?

June 13, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

Contrary to the preconceived notion that palm oil is not good for our health, it is in reality, a healthy fat source in its natural form. Despite the fact that it is loaded with saturated fatty acids, using unrefined palm oil remains to be a much ideal option compared to cooking with the use of hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Palm oil is derived from African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). This tree produces a fleshy fruit that serves as a source of both palm and palm kernel oil. However, unlike palm kernel oil, palm oil has a higher amount of saturated fat and has to be heavily processed to be extracted. Palm oil has been popular for being the most versatile of all vegetable oils for it contains an equally balanced amount of saturated and unsaturated fats. It turns to a semi-solid phase when placed under room temperature. It has become a perfect ingredient for baked goods and packaged foods due to its odorless and tasteless characteristics. It works perfectly with fried and stir-fried food because its fineness does not dwindle even under extremely high heat. Furthermore, palm oil is highly resistant to oxidation, and therefore, any food containing it does not perish right away.

How good is it for our health?

You have probably heard of palm oil being mistakenly believed to be a cause of high cholesterol build-up in our heart arteries. Notwithstanding, palm oil is different and has a lot less saturated fat than coconut and palm kernel oil.

Here are the reasons that justify why palm oil is a better alternative:

Palm oil provides the same essential fat used in making pastries, cookies, crackers and other items that require a longer shelf life.
Palm oil is a great ingredient for cooking and baking. It is being generally used ubiquitously as cooking oil and a prominent component of margarines and shortenings.
Palm oil products are naturally occurring sources of vitamin E, a widely known antioxidant. These natural antioxidants reinvigorate our cells and removes harmful toxins from our body. They play a vital role in the prevention of cellular aging, atherosclerosis, degenerative diseases, and certain cancers.
Animal studies have shown that tocotrienols (found in palm oil) have the great potential in reversing blockage of the carotid artery and platelet aggregation thus reducing the risks of stroke and other heart diseases. It also aids in the prevention of tumor formations.
Palm fruit oil consists of a variety of fats, vitamins and minerals, and zero trans-fatty acids. Several recent studies have incriminated trans-fatty acids to pose huge risks of cancer by interfering with fat metabolism, embedding fatty deposits in the arteries, and maiming the body’s ability to purge itself of certain contributors to serious illnesses.
Palm fruit oil contains many valuable vitamins that our bodies need for proper nutrition.

Given the benefits of palm oil on our health, it is about time that you incorporate it in your diet regularly.

Helpful Palm Oil Nutritional Facts References:

• Cottrell, R.C., (1991) Nutritional aspects of palm oil. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 53: 989S – 1009S.
• Calloway, D.H. and Kurtz, G.W (1956) The absorbability of natural and modified fats. Food Research 21: 621-629
• Agriculture Handbook 8-4 (1979). Composition of Foods, United States Department of Agriculture, Science and Education Administration, Washington, D.C.
• Life Sciences Research Office (1985). The Health Aspects of Trans-Fatty Acids, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Rockville, MD.
• Krinsky, N.I. (1993). Actions of carotenoids in biological systems. Ann. Rev. Nutr. 13:561-588.
• Walton, J.R. and Packer, L. (1980) Free radical damage and protection: relationship to cellular aging and cancer. In: Vitamin E, a Comprehensive Treatise, ed. L.J. Machlin, Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York, pp. 495-517

Health Benefits of Celery

June 12, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

Celery is a vegetable commonly eaten worldwide. Its upper leafy part is usually eaten though the lower region is also consumed by some. Although common, it is a valuable source of various minerals and vitamins that invigorate the body and are essential to better health.

A member of the Apiaceae family, celery (Apium graveolens) has been an integral part of cuisines around the world. All its parts are used for cooking and consumption, and all have great health benefits. Throughout history, its seeds have been utilized as a spice and as a flavoring for various dishes. The stems and leaves of celery have corresponding places in some of the world’s tastiest cuisines. Even root extracts are utilized to form celery salts that are used as a food seasoning. Together with other vegetables, celery is a natural and healthy alternative to the processed food we commonly see today.

The health benefits of celery are numerous. From the vitamins and minerals it supplies, to various other compounds it contains, eating celery will surely improve one’s health. This leafy vegetable has a very low fat and calorie content, thus it is ideal for people who wants to lose weight. It is also a great source of dietary fiber and vitamin C. Thus, eating celery improves one’s digestion, while boosting the immune system.

Another great property of celery is that our body actually spends more calories digesting celery than the amount of calories it obtains from it. In other words, you lose calories by eating celery.

Celery contains essential elements like calcium and magnesium that help improve one’s bones and teeth. The presence of potassium and phosphorus adds to celery’s nutritive value. These two elements are natural diuretics.

Celery seeds have also been utilized as a treatment for arthritis. This debilitating disease can be relieved by consuming celery seeds which prevents inflammation of the joints. Because of this anti-inflammatory property, celery has been utilized as a pain reliever, even during ancient times.

Celery seeds are also able to cleanse a person’s blood, leaching out impurities. This property together with its diuretic properties is an asset for a person’s undergoing detoxification.

Celery can also help lower a person’s blood pressure. High blood pressure, caused by stress, obesity, and other factors can lead to serious diseases like strokes, diabetes and heart attack. People from Asia have long consumed celery to help alleviate and prevent high blood pressure. This was clinically proven using rats applied with a compound, 3-N-butyl-phthalide, commonly found in celery seeds. This compound allows the muscles around blood vessels to relax, effectively facilitating the flow of blood by allowing the vessels to expand.

Cancer has been a bane in today’s world. The number of cancer cases worldwide has been steadily increasing. Celery contains various compounds that help prevent the occurrence of cancer. Coumarins and acetylenics are known compounds which have anti-cancer properties. Celery also contains phenolic acids which prevent the growth of tumors or abnormal cells. These properties make celery an effective shield against cancer.

The number of compounds in celery mandates caution for pregnant women. Some compounds found in the oil of celery seeds may stimulate activity in the uterus, leading to premature contractions. Also, celery provokes severe allergic reactions in some individuals. Severe allergic reactions could lead to anaphylactic shock, which when untreated, may result in death.

The health benefits of celery are staggering. By simply consuming celery, you will not only improve your digestion but you will also lose weight and prevent cancer and high blood pressure.

Reference:

Ilott ,Charles (2010) The Book of Asparagus; With Sections Also on Celery, Salsify, Scorzonera and Seakale General Books LLC

Health Benefits of Kelp

June 12, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

Kelps are common marine plants. They belong to the brown algae group (Phaeophyta) under the order Laminariales, having approximately thirty genera. Kelp is known to have various medicinal uses. The health benefits of kelp include supplementing diet, preventing diseases and treating them.

Kelp thrives in cool, temperate waters. They form massive plantations or forests that become habitat to other marine organisms. These fast growing plants have two life stages: a diploid spore releasing stage and a haploid gamete stage that cycle into each other. Green, leaf-shaped structures compose the body or thallus of the algae. The kelp is anchored to the seafloor by means of the holdfast (pseudo root), preventing waves from washing them away. Some species have gas-filled bladders that help kelp maintain a surface presence, enabling them to access to sunlight easier. They are fast growing and large organisms with some species approaching growth rates of fifty centimeters per day and reaching approximately eighty meters in height.

Throughout the years, the health benefits of kelp have been enjoyed by cultures around the world. They have been used in ethnic cuisine, usually as a spice, although many cultures use them as vegetables and garnishes. Japanese cuisine extensively uses kelp as flavoring, food wrapper and even as candies or snack. They are either lightly cooked, eaten raw or simply immersed in vinegar.

Kelp was also a very valuable commodity early in history as a source of soda ash. Being mineral rich, it has, throughout history, been used as a fertilizer. Currently, there are many products which have components derived from kelp. Toothpaste, dog food, gelatin, and ice cream all have ingredients coming from kelp. With its high iodine content, it has been used as a medicinal treatment for goiter. Its fast growth rate, a lack of any need for irrigation and the ease by which it could be harvested makes kelp an ideal crop. Coupled with high methane and ethanol yield, kelp is seen as a viable alternative source of fuel. Since it is not really a “food” crop, utilizing kelp for fuel would not deprive the world of a vital food source.

One of the many health benefits of kelp is the fact that it is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Vitamins B1, B5, and B9 are all present in kelp with a single serving able to fill about 50% of a person vitamin B9 (folate) needs. These vitamins are essential in maintaining energy and vigor. It is also an excellent source of calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, zinc and iodine. These are some of the basic building blocks of the human body, essential in most processes that allow us to live a healthy life.

Aside from being an excellent addition to one’s diet, kelp also has many remedial and preventive health benefits. As mentioned, the high iodine content of kelp helps prevent and treat instances of goiter. Kelp can aid indigestion. Indigestion is usually caused by the body’s inability to break down sugars and other substances. Kelp contains enzymes that allow it to break sugars, preventing indigestion and also reducing the occurrence of flatulence. Its high fiber content also relieves constipation, allowing the digestive system to efficiently remove waste material. Kelp can make our stomachs more efficient, and yet recent research has shown that a substance found in kelp could also help reduce the chance of obesity. Known as alginate, this substance can reduce the body’s fat absorption even better than some over-the-counter drugs.

The health benefits of kelp are substantial. Coupled with its properties as a very viable, easy to grow crop, it would not be surprising to find much more uses for kelp in the future.

References:

Druehl, L.D. (1988). Cultivated edible kelp: Algae and Human Affairs. Lembi, C.A. and Waaland, J.R. (Eds.)
Kazuko, Emi (2002), Japanese Cooking. Hermes House , p. 78,
Sky News (2010). Is Seaweed The Answer To A Dieter’s Prayer?

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Health Benefits of Wheat Grass

June 10, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

The health benefits we obtain from wheat grass are traced from its complementary nutrition down to its extensively useful therapeutic properties. Most of us are aware how useful wheatgrass is, but only a very few know the real reasons why!

As you go further along, you’ll be amazed with how wheat grass does wonders to our body:

Chlorophyll, that green pigment you find on wheat grass leaves, acts as a powerful antiseptic and antioxidant. It purges your body from harmful toxins that could make you susceptible to debilitating diseases. It cleanses your lymphatic system and cells from toxic metals.
Wheat grass is embedded with naturally occurring substances that have powerful effects on the body. It is packed with all the other elements that your body systems don’t have enough of. It has lots of vitamins (A, C, K, many others), minerals (Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium, many more), enzymes and essential fatty acids that help in revitalizing your cells.
Wheat grass contains 17 amino acids, and contains zero fat. It has been proven to aid in effectively bringing down your weight by subduing your appetite, boosting metabolism, and improving blood circulation. So forget those phony diet pills. Go organic, instead.

Quick and Interesting Wheat grass Trivia:

A small regular shot of wheat grass is like consuming a regular serving of spinach.
Taking a single shot of wheat grass is like absorbing the nutrients of milk and bananas all in one teaspoon.
It shields you from carcinogens by providing an immunization effect
It can either be taken in capsules, tablets, and powder form, so it’s much easier for you to travel around with it anywhere.
It can be used on our skin to make it supple and toned.
The so-called “The Grass Juice Factor”, a miracle asset of wheat grass, helps it sustain the life in animals such as cows, mice and guinea pigs.
It delays the ageing process so you don’t need to worry about being in a geriatric center very soon!
It clears your eyesight and prevents you from getting those ugly dark circles around your eyes.
It can be applied on both our scalp and hair to maintain their health.

Dosage Recommendations:

As earlier mentioned, wheat grass comes in various forms as tablets, powder, and juice. A daily dosage of about 3.5 grams is highly recommended to achieve optimum health results.

Wheat Grass Detox Plan:

While it has been known that a shot or two of wheatgrass can supercharge your intake of vitamins and minerals, you might want to try adding one more shot in the morning and another one at night time, doubling it to 4 shots a day to optimize your detox program. Don’t worry, you won’t get overdosed. This is purely organic. It’s understandable that you’d get bothered by its taste the first time you take it. If you want to mask its flavor, you can try mixing it with other fruits and vegetables to achieve a palatable effect.

Wheat grass works as the best part of any detox plan, however, it shouldn’t be taken as a stand-alone item. You can’t just solely depend on wheat grass to detox, there has to be a balanced approach. Wheat grass helps you achieve a desired detox effect by being incorporated in a plan rich in foods such as fruits, vegetables, fish and chicken.

Contrary to the belief that it can cause allergies, wheat grass doesn’t contain any gluten unlike the wheat berry. Therefore, it is very safe to take. Any shot of wheat grass gives you nothing but pure chlorophyll.

Truly, nature only offers nothing but the best things in their simplest forms. The health benefits of wheat grass are infinite that it’d take me the whole year to finish enumerating them. Wouldn’t be a shame not to put it in your family’s diet plan?

Effects of Not Exercising

June 10, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

Lack of routine workout can land you with an overweight body, weak bones and depressive state of mine.

Pain, sweat and fatigue are just some of the key stumbling blocks in your desire to exercise. Though all of us know that working out is the best way we can keep ourselves fit, the discomfort arrives much before the benefits.

Here we tell you how the effects of not exercising are more harmful and long lasting than the imminent and short-term botheration. Our bodies decay as we age and exercise is just like providing regular service to your most reliable vehicle. The body looks younger while you naturally feel blessed.

Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, uncontrolled blood sugar, brain stroke and osteoporosis, there is not a single disease which you can’t prevent with regular exercise.

Why exercise?

After reaching middle age, our bodies start the downhill march. Metabolism goes sluggish leading to fat accumulation, skin gets wrinkles, bones turn weak, and brain starts losing its capacity to memorize. Numerous research studies done over the years have shown that exercise and good diet are the only sure shot ways to keep our faculties on track.

After the age of 30 years, the ability of your body to burn food into energy takes a hit and it turns weak. This leads to storage of fat which is mostly visible on abdomen, thighs and hips. High blood pressure, heart ailments, uncontrolled blood sugar and high cholesterol are just some of the problems you can face because of accumulated fat.

Aerobic exercises like jogging, cycling and skipping can deal with these risk factors by reducing the amount of fat deposits. Exercise also perks up your sluggish metabolism hence dealing a direct blow to the root cause of the problem.

In addition, aerobics increase the capacity of your heart to pump blood and ability of lungs to breathe in more oxygen. This means, more nutrient-rich blood circulates in your body nourishing every nook and corner besides sounding the death knell for disease-causing organisms. Better blood circulation also leads to a healthier-looking skin.

Use it or lose it

There are several parts of our which lose their optimum capacity if we don’t use them often. For instance, muscles and bones get feeble with age and if not regularly exercised the rate of decay is faster resulting in frequent fractures and disorders like osteoporosis. A routine work out builds up your muscles and strengthens your bones helping them withstand the travails of ageing.

Flexibility and balance exercises are specifically meant to keep the body supple and avoid loss of the sense of balance with age.

Exercise is also the reason why physiotherapy has become such a popular concept. Physiotherapy involves rehabilitation of trauma or chronic disease patients with help of specific movements.

The happiness pill

Not many know that exercise actually makes you happy. After you get over the initial pain and fatigue due to exercise, you are rewarded with a cheerful mood. It so happens that to deal with the pain of exercise, your brain releases chemicals called endorphins which not only eases discomfort but also creates a feeling of euphoria. Release of serotonin and norepinephrine by the brain during exercise also lifts up your mood. In fact, the euphoria is so addictive that you

Research studies have shown that exercisers are able to deal with mental stress better than physically inactive people. Effects of not exercising also show on your brain power as non-exercisers are more likely to have poor cognitive skills.

Working out has shown to help in development of new neuron connections in the brain resulting in better concentration and memory.

So, get off that couch of yours and start working out because that’s the best way to have a fitter body and a sharper brain. If you don’t like running, join a swimming class or horse riding. There is something for everyone out there. You just need to get going for a perfect present and a healthy future.

The Health Benefits of Cashew Nuts

June 9, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

Cashew nuts are kidney-shaped nuts that are jam-packed with nutrients that eating a handful of them completes your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals not commonly found in other foods. Likewise, eating a handful of these nuts, at least four times a week, decreases your risk in getting cardiovascular problems; eating the same quantity once a week prevents gall stone formation.

Cashew nuts are indigent in Brazil but have gained popularity all over the world. They are readily available at local markets and grocery stores at any time and season. Although they are more expensive than other nuts, their health benefits are worth every penny. They are known not only for their unique flavor and texture but for their amazing nutritional benefits. Let’s take a look at some of these nutritional benefits:Monounsaturated Fats

Compared to other nuts, cashew nuts contain lower fats and most of these fats are monounsaturated fats or the “good fats.” Oleic acid, the same unsaturated fat found in olive oils, is one of the monounsaturated fats found in cashew nuts. These good fats promote good cardiovascular health by reducing triglyceride levels in the blood.

Antioxidants

Cashew nuts contain antioxidants that neutralize unstable free radicals that can cause cancer and other degenerative diseases. These antioxidants also maintain the cardiovascular system by preventing the formation of cholesterol plaques in the arteries.

Minerals

Significant amount of copper is found in the enzymes of cashew nuts. This essential mineral is needed in numerous physiological processes like proper iron utilization, bone and connective tissue development, melanin production, energy production, and immune defense.

Cashew nuts contain an ample amount of magnesium. This mineral is essential for bone development and maintenance of calcium balance in nerves and muscles. It also serves as a natural calcium channel blocker, controlling the activity of calcium to prevent excessive muscular contraction. It protects the body against high blood pressure, migraines, muscle spasms, muscle soreness, and fatigue. Moreover, it normalizes sleeping patterns in menopausal women.

Selenium is also present in cashew nuts. It is a crucial micro-nutrient that acts as a key component for various antioxidant enzymes.

Cashew nuts also contain zinc, an important mineral needed for growth and development, sperm development, nucleic acid synthesis, and normal digestive functions.

Vitamins

Essential vitamins (vitamins that the body cannot produce) such as vitamins B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B2 (riboflavin) and B1 (thiamin) are also present. These are necessary for efficient carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism in our body.

Enzymes

Cashew nuts contain antimicrobial enzymes that kill gram positive bacteria which cause tooth decay, gum disease, acne, tuberculosis, and leprosy.

Conclusion

Cashew nuts are truly nutritious! They can be eaten between meals or can certainly be added to salads and other viands. Whether raw, roasted, salted, sugar-coated, or chocolate-covered, cashew nuts will always be a mouth-watering snack to everybody. Try cashew nuts now and enjoy their amazing health benefits.