Health

How Healthy Can Kimchi Be?

June 28, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

Have you been wondering what kimchi is? Kimchi is a spicy fermented cabbage and a tasty complement to Korean dishes. Commonly contained in jars, it has a conspicuous aroma and a sour-spicy taste. Oh well, it may seem to have this pungent smell but do not let that push you back. Why? You got to read on to find out the answers…

Where It Is Made From?

Kimchi is made from the combination of garlic, scallions, vegetables, vinegar, oil and salt. All these make it an au naturel condiment. While Koreans do consume small amounts of protein especially meat and seafood, nonetheless, their intake of fermented Kimchi is what makes their diet so out of the ordinary. There is very little fat found in Korean dishes, because the meat does not dominate the meal at all.

What We Get Out Of Eating Kim Chi?

Scientists conducted a number of studies that show how this Korean food can increase metabolism and prevent obesity and possess numerous health benefits. Therefore, what the Koreans claim about this food to contain many therapeutic elements has just been justified. Conversely, we are now at the focal point of this article, the reasons why you should not underrate kimchi are because:

Garlic, garlic and garlic! The garlic we find in kimchi is a powerful antioxidants that purge your body from free radicals that cause harmful diseases like cancer. When garlic is crushed, two enzymes work in a tandem to produce the powerful substance called allicin. Allicin is responsible for bringing down cholesterol and triglyceride levels. With kimchi having massive amounts of fresh garlic, eating this certainly helps you reduce your bad cholesterol level. The scallions included in kimchi have the same effect on cholesterol levels as well. Furthermore, garlic is the best known natural source of selenium, a key ingredient that helps our skin and hair healthy. On top of that, it restores Vitamin C, the body’s most important antioxidant. The blend of garlic and vegetables in kimchi keeps us healthy and energetic.

The cabbage in kimchi is popularly hailed for curing ulcers, since it helps in nurturing the beneficial bacteria and inhibit the bad ones. Good bacteria are needed for proper digestion and healthy digestive system.
Studies have shown that kimchi can shorten the duration of a cold. Moreover, there have been subsequent studies that show how kimchi can be helpful in clearing up yeast infections and urinary tract infections. By incorporating kimchi in your diet, you surely get both a protective and healing effects all in the same package. What a solace!

Pairing kimchi as a side dish with meat, eating it with rice or stewing it could never be even better. There are many recipes sold in many places to make your own kimchi. You can also choose to just pick it up in the chilled section of your grocery store or Asian markets; that is how they call it convenience food. So do not forget to include kimchi in your next meal; you might just love it![ad#afterpost]

Resource Links:

http://bodyecology.com/articles/kimchi_wonderfood_recipe.php
http://www.treelight.com/health/nutrition/KimchiHealthy.html

Health Benefits of Cabbage

June 27, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

The humble cabbage is a perfect representative of a green leafy vegetable because not only it is green in colour but also a bundle of leaves put together by crafty hands of nature. Cabbage is savoured by all and sundry across the globe as an important part of cultural cuisines, adding it either as an ingredient or an accompaniment.

From Chinese chowmein and US burgers to Mediterranean salads, the cabbage is omnipresent. Besides the variety it presents in terms of taste, the cabbage health benefits are widespread.

Being high on roughage, cabbage is great for any disorder of the tummy. Whether it is constipation or stomach ulcer, the vegetable treats them all naturally. It also prevents various other disorders including headache, intestinal cancer, indigestion and resultant loss of appetite, skin diseases, eczema and ageing which could have originated from lack of fibre.

Isothiocyanates in cabbage are also helpful in proper regulation of gut bacteria which can damage the stomach lining.

Steamed cabbage can offer you better variety of fibre which binds with bile acids in your digestive tracts and throws them out, thus resulting in lowering of cholesterol levels. Steamed cabbage even scores over the effect of a cholesterol-lowering drug and it was found that the vegetable bound 17 percent more bile acids than the drug. Lowering of cholesterol also works well for your cardiovascular health since it reduces the possibility plaque deposits in the arteries.

With vitamin C much more than equal amount of orange, cabbage offers an effective cure for scurvy, which is recognised by symptoms of spongy and bleeding gums, cracked lip corners, very weak immune system and frequent infections. Vitamin C also reduces the levels of free radicals in your body thus preventing ageing and also repairing wear and tear of the body. Being high on antioxidants means cabbage is good in dealing with certain cancers while sulphur in the vegetable helps strengthen the immune system in its fight against infections and delayed healing of wounds and damaged tissues.

Cabbage is a good detoxifier and its vitamin C and sulphur contents help purify the blood by removing free radicals and uric acid which is responsible for arthritis, gout, rheumatism, skin diseases and eczema.

Also being high on iodine, cabbage helps in effective functioning of the brain and the nervous system thus helping in prevention and treatment of brain disorders like Alzheimer’s. Iodine also keeps endocrinal glands in good condition. The cabbage health benefits even extend to treatment of varicose veins, leg ulcers and peptic ulcers. While its high in vitamin E content keeps the skin, eye and hair healthy, calcium, magnesium and potassium are very useful for overall health.

Cabbage is a great source of sinigrin, a component found to be of great help in prevention of bladder cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. This is because it is rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory nutrients and glucosinolates all of which are well known villains of cancer.

Also, try to include different types of cabbage in your meal since red cabbage has high concentration phytonutrients than its green siblings.

Red cabbage has four times the amount of polyphenols and eight times the amount of vitamin C than that found in green one.

High levels of anthocyanins in red cabbage mean you can bid good bye to inflammatory compounds which can lead to chronic inflammation and hence give birth to various disorders including cancer, arthritis, heart disease and diabetes. Glucosinolates in cabbage are responsible for its protection against bladder cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.

Cabbage can also be a good diet controller. Just finishing your leafy cabbage salad before gorging on to the more sinful food items would not only fill you up and hence check overeating, the health benefits will be far reaching.

Why Calves Hurt From Running?

June 27, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

You must have enjoyed watching Tom Hanks running miles without stopping in the movie Forrest Gump. Running has been a way of life for humans since the early age when they used to run continuously for hours to hunt for survival.

This passion for running is reflected in several men and women across the globe who like to run for fun or participate in competitive marathons. However, several enthusiasts quit running during first few days because their calves hurt from running. They need to understand that calf pain is the first hurdle they need to cross to fulfill their desire to run. There is no need to panic because the pain is transitory and there is no serious cause behind it.

Here we solve the puzzle of calf pain for you.

Everything is fine

First you need to understand that all kinds of exercises, whether running or weight training, lead to soreness and muscle pain. The main reason for pain is because your body gets surprised by sudden strain that it is put under.

Calf muscles are lean muscles at the back of your leg which can get injured or attain soreness because of any lower body activity including walking, running and improper weight distribution.

However, you will realize that the calves hurt from running only during the start of a practice. After you spend a few days running, the pain will subside as your body will get used to the physical strain. There is no real cure to prevent this pain so better bear it and grin all the way to the finish line. A good warm up exercise can, however, lower the amount of soreness you are likely to get from running.

Standing toe touches and the hurdler stretch are the best warm up exercises your calves can have. Standing toe touches is the most basic stretch everybody is likely to know about. Stand upright placing both feet together and slowly reach down to touch your toes without bending the knees. For hurdler stretch, sit straight up on the ground and straighten out one leg while the other is bent with the base of your foot touching the extended leg. Slowly try to touch your extended foot and hold for some seconds and change the legs alternately.

Building calve muscles is also a good option to avoid soreness. Carry a dumbbell in each hand and try standing up on your tippy toes before slowly going back to your level footed position. Do four sets of 10 reps each.

Other reasons

Your calves may also hurt because of other kinds of pain which may not be because of muscle soreness. This kind of pain is clearly distinguishable as it is much more severe. It can be due to torn or pulled muscle. This can be dealt with by employing the popular RICE technique which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

You need to rest your legs as long as possible especially during the first 48 hours of getting an injury. Applying ice on your calves will help numb the pain by contracting the blood vessels. Remove the ice every few minutes allowing blood vessels to dilate and increase the amount of nutrient-rich blood reaching the affected area. This dilation and contraction of blood vessels will help in quick healing.

Wrapping your calf in a compression bandage will prevent swelling and also provide support to the area. Elevation is the last of this first aid process and also the most effective in prevention of swelling.

While sleeping or sitting, just put a pillow under your calves to reduce pressure on legs.

Cramps can also give you pain in the calves which will be sharp and infrequent. Cramps occur because of dehydration and loss of essential salts from the body. The most effective treatment against cramps is intake of liquids. Be sure to fill up on the liquids before getting on to your daily running routine.

Calf pain is not something you need to fret about while putting on those running shoes.

Side Effects of Mixing Bactrim With Alcohol

June 25, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Brand name: Bactrim)

Drinking can be the most exciting part of your weekend. You just can’t wait to head to the bar, elbow your way through the crowd waiting to be served. Whether it’s beer, vodka, whisky, gin or rum, a couple of drinks make your life seem content. You express yourself freely to your friends and you have a sense of being powerful enough to achieve anything.

However, instead of any positive outcomes, you are soon vomiting, rashes appear on your skin, there is severe pain in your bones and you feel extremely fatigued.

Later, doctors diagnosed you had a dangerous combination of alcohol and Bactrim. You remember taking the medicine for the ear infection you had been having for some time. You are lucky to have been saved because the seemingly innocuous pastime of drinking when on Bactrim can be much more dangerous.

What is Bactrim

Bactrim is a common medicine used to treat bacterial infections but it has various side effects which is why caution is always advised. Bactrim generally contains sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim and is commonly recommended for cholera, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, ear infections, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis besides prostate and lung infections.

The main task of Bactrim, which has earned its infamy, is to check the bacteria’s ability to use folic acid. Due to its action on folic acid, Bactrim is not recommended to people with lack of folic acid, lactating mothers and infants under two months of age. Pregnant women are advised caution because folic acid is essential for normal development of the fetus.

People allergic to certain drugs including diabetes drugs, thiazide diuretics and sulfa drugs are advised against taking Bactrim because of increased chance of fatal allergic reaction. Those with renal or liver diseases can also be affected because Bactrim can have adverse impact on urine output.

Fever, cough, chills, sensitivity to light, diarrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, upset stomach, rash, itching, fatigue, excessive pain, swelling of eyes, coating of the tongue, neurological symptoms and reduced blood counts are some of the adverse effects of taking Bactrim.[ad#co-1]

Mixing Bactrim with Alcohol

Notably, some of the side effects recorded with consumption of Bactrim are also seen after alcohol use which is why side effects of mixing Bactrim with alcohol are much more pronounced. Importantly you don’t need to be on a high to notice the side effects. Even consuming mouthwash containing alcohol and cough medicines can prove to be detrimental resulting in rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting which can also lead to dehydration. So it’s better to check the label of these products before using them when you are on Bactrim.

However, alcohol does not reduce the efficacy of Bactrim which is why there is no need to worry about the treatment unless the dose is vomited out.

If you are an alcoholic or don’t have control over drinking, it’s better to talk to your doctor and substitute Bactrim with some other medicine. However, keep in mind that alcohol does delay your recovery from any disease. In addition, alcohol impacts the liver and may also alter the way drugs, including antibiotics other than Bactrim, are metabolised. This may reduce the impact of these medicines and hence higher doses would be required which may also lead to multi-drug resistance.

So, the best way is to avoid alcohol until you feel fit and hearty again and are totally off medication. This will surely keep the side effects of mixing Bactrim with alcohol at bay.[ad#afterpost]

Health Benefits of Hemp Seeds

June 24, 2011 by rfcamat Leave a Comment

For all vegetarians, finding a good source of protein is always a challenge. While milk and soy does provide a good amount of protein, they are either not part of a regular diet or not liked by many. In addition, they are missing on one or the other amino acids. This makes the vegetarians feel inferior to their non-vegetarian friends high on amino acids from eggs and chicken.

Enter hemp seeds which have the levels of edestin and albumin proteins much higher than any other plant-based source. In addition, unlike soy it does not have high amounts of phytic acid which blocks absorption of minerals in your body.

While most people face problem digesting high-protein food, hemp seed is easily digestible due to high amount of fiber. The seed contains all 20 amino acids and essential fatty acids. The seed is made up of 35 percent protein, 47 percent good or healthy fat, and 12 percent carbohydrates. However, hemp seed health benefits are not restricted to high protein content. Being also rich in vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, sulphur, phosphorous, zinc, copper, manganese, and vitamin E, these seeds makes a perfectly natural food supplement.

What is hemp?

Hemp is known as one of the earliest plant domesticated by man. In fact, it is widely believed that hemp can sustain all of man’s dietary needs and since they are easy to add to any food item, the hemp seeds became even more popular. Besides being an excellent source of protein, hemp contains omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids which are not made by our bodies and should be supplemented from an external source to protect the skin and build the immune system. In fact, it contains seven times the amount of omega 3 fatty acids found in fish hence giving another reason for vegetarians to include hemp seeds in their regular diet plan.

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids have been found to be excellent in keeping the heart in good health since besides reducing the levels of cholesterol, they also remove plaque build-up in arteries of the heart which is the most common cause of a heart attack and stroke.

How to add hemp seeds in your diet

While hulled hemp leaves, seeds and nuts can be used commonly in various food items, they can also be pressed to get good quality polyunsaturated oil or made into flour to be used for baking and other purposes as a substitute for wheat flour. One of the easiest ways to increase your intake of hemp seeds is to sprinkle them over your salad.

Smoothie made of hemp seeds is very popular while you can also sneak in some of these seeds into oatmeal, vegetarian chili besides vegetable and pureed bean soups. The flour can also help as an alternative for those with gluten allergy. You can have hemp seeds as raw, sprout them or make them into hemp milk quite similar to soy milk.

Besides being excellent source of cooking, oil from hemp seeds can be used to nourish the skin since it gets soaked in the skin easily and prevents ageing because of high vitamin E content which is three times more than that in flax seed.

Hemp seed also contains lecithin which builds up the power of cognition; inositol that helps against problem of hair fall; and phytosterols to maintain hormonal balance. The hemp seed health benefits are numerous and including them in your diet will only increase your stake in good health.

Is Skin Tanning Cancerous?

June 22, 2011 by rfcamat 1 Comment

Skin color has been the greatest divider in the history of mankind with wars fought, slaves tortured and communities stigmatised because of difference in skin tones. However, things have changed and we have become more acceptable to people of different appearance than others. In fact, there seems to be a reversal of trends. While in many countries people still wish to have fair skin, those with white skin are going crazy over tanning to make their skin appear darker because they feel that it is much sexier.

They are spending hours basking in the sun or sitting in the artificial chambers of ultraviolet (UV) radiations even though their grandparents always thought dark skin is associated with lower class. However, various research studies have shown that skin tanning causes cancer. Read on to know how.

Understanding tanning

Tanning is actually your skin’s response to UV radiation. The melanocytes cells in the skin produce pigment melanin, which darkens the cells of the outer skin as a defence against further damage from UV radiation which is called tanning in common terminology.

However, this protection mechanism can also lead to skin cancer. When the UV rays damage DNA of the outer skin cells, body rushes certain enzymes to do the repairing job but since not every repair is perfect, the leftover DNA damage results in mutations and hence skin cancer.

It’s not that sun rays are always bad for you. In fact, moderate exposure is essential because it triggers the production of vitamin D in your body. Vitamin D has been found beneficial in reducing the risk of many forms of cancers, diabetes, and other diseases but natural food sources of this vitamin are limited. In comparison, just 20 minutes exposure to sunlight can help you maintain the optimal levels.

However, try to restrict this exposure to early morning because the wavelength of sunshine at early hours is most effective. On the other hand, avoid the sun between 11 am and 3 pm because during this time the sunlight is strongest and hence can cause skin burn and tanning, both of which have been linked to development of skin cancer.[ad#co-1]

Ultraviolet radiations

The ultraviolet radiations from sunlight are of different wavelengths are divided into UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer and hence is not deemed a threat while UVB is considered to be the most dangerous of all wavelengths.

UVA is present uniformly throughout the day and throughout the year while the amount of UVB in sunlight varies by season, location and time of the day.
There was doubt about the effect of UVA till some time back as many thought it was not harmful but according to recent studies the wavelength penetrates deeper causing greater genetic damage to the skin cells than UVB and hence being equally if not more carcinogenic. Moreover, sunscreens are more effective in blocking UVB than UVA which can only be barred to some extent by clothing.

Saloon owners have been selling their tanning machines by claiming that the artificial exposure is safer than outdoor tanning because they use UVA rays in a controlled manner. However, as the new studies have shown these machines are as much responsible for causing skin cancer as traditional sunbathing.

The message is simple: Skin tanning causes cancer so better avoid it. Your natural skin color is as good as any other.

Risk factors

Most skin cancers affect the body parts which are frequently exposed to the sun, including head, face, hands, neck, forearms, shoulders, back, chests of men, tips of the ears and lower legs of women.

Caucasians are more likely to get skin cancer because they have light skin which means less melanin to protect against harmful sun radiations. Those with a dark complexion have more melanin in their skin which acts as a sun blocker. Hence, a white skinned man will fall to skin cancer in lesser time than an Asian or an African. Even among fair skinned, those who get sunburns easily are at greater risk. Having a history of skin cancer in the family, having several moles, freckles or birthmarks on the body and being out in the sun a lot during childhood are some other risk factors.