Ayurvedic-vegan diet for good health

Darshana Thacker grew up in a family that followed the tenets of Ayurvedic cooking. Then eight years ago, the Los Angeles-based Ayurvedic chef turned adopted veganism. She found that the two diets shared a sense of ethics and health and now she marries them together to have the ideal meal plan for healthy living.

"Ayurveda is a way of life, which brings you in an alignment with yourself," says the chef who is in the city to talk about her Ayurvedicvegan diet. "According to me, a vegan diet because of its ethical values fits into an Ayurvedic life."

So while she eats no animal products, she plans her meal according to the dosha type/body constitution (see box) and ensures the balance of the six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, astringent and bitter), textures, colours and nutrients (balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fats). She also adopts the Ayurvedic cooking methods such as steaming vegetables, soaking and sprouting beans and lentils, and rinsing grains well before cooking.

So how does she ensure that the body is nourished with enough proteins? She says, "Research indicates that we require only 10 per cent of our total daily calories to maintain a strong healthy body; it is very easy to meet this target on a whole foods, plant-based diet.

In fact, there is strong evidence suggesting that protein intake higher than that, especially of animal protein, poses potential risk for diseases."

Of the 20 essential amino acids required for building protein, she says, our body can produce 11 and the other nine are available through various food. It is not necessary for the body to get the remaining nine from the same food - the body breaks down and stores the individual amino acids in a pool when protein is consumed. It will restring the protein as and when required.

Thacker says, "It is very difficult to be protein deficient on a calorie dense diet. From a whole foods and plant-based diet, you get a perfect balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat. This has ample quantities of phytochemicals, antioxidants, fibre, vitamins and minerals."

An animal-based diet consisting of dairy, meat and eggs protein brings with it saturated fat and cholesterol. Thacker recommends a good source of plant-based protein for bananas, brown rice, barley pearl, quinoa, whole wheat bread, chickpeas, lentils, soymilk, broccoli, tofu, and spinach.

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Soybean Are Good Fish Meal Alternative

Soybean

A new study has suggested that fermented soybean meal and enzyme-treated soybean meal may replace fish meal in weanling fish diets.Soybeans contains carbohydrate, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals like calcium, folic acid and iron. The protein in soybean has all the essential amino acids that is adequate for human health.

These new sources of soybean meal might be the answer producers are looking for to keep costs down without sacrificing digestibility of important amino acids.In our study, we conclude the digestibility of amino acids in these two new sources of soybean meal in comparison to fish meal, casein and soy protein isolate.

Health Benefits of Soybean :

• Soybean is an excellent food for diabetic patient.
• It is easily digested and is one of the most nourishing and body building foods in the world.
• It is especially good for growing children to aid growth and development.
• Soybean has high lecithin content and is therefore excellent for mental fatigue and for protection against cholesterol deposits.
• It has been claimed that lecithin lowers blood cholesterol through emulsification of fats and is valuable against the development and hardening of the arteries and all the complications of the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes that follow.
• Lecithin is a brain food, a tonic, energizer, natural supplement.

Soybeans

• It has been reported that diabetic patients were successfully treated with lecithin.
• It has also been reported that lecithin is effective in treating psoriasis.
• Prevents gall stones, when adequate lecithin is included in the diet.
• Liquid lecithin application helps heal bed sores and persistent diaper rash.It is also reported to prevent pellagra, the disease marked by disturbances of the stomach and intestines, skin eruptions and many nervous symptoms such as melancholia.
• Because of the high content of linoleic and linolenic acids (unsaturated fatty acids), this food is conducive to a healthy skin and corrects many cases of eczema.
• The pure pressed oil is used for skin conditions, as it contain the natural and lecithin. Soybeans have about twenty times more alkali than milk.
• Lecithin has the ability to increase the gamma globulin content of the blood . The gamma globulins are known to be associated with the natures protective force against the attack of various infections in the body, thus increasing immunity.
• Enjoying soy foods daily for just 6 months can be enough to exert beneficial effects on bone in menopausal women. All the traditional soy-foods (tofu, soy milk, temp-eh and miso) provide 30 to 40 mg isoflavones per serving.
• The fiber in soybeans also provides preventative therapy for several other conditions. Fiber is able to bind to cancer-causing toxins and remove them from the body, so they can't damage colon cells.

Nutritional Facts Of Soybean :

Soybean Nutritional Content

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Think You Are Doing Your Body A Favor By Ordering A Salad?

Many of us believe that eating salad at a restaurant is good for us. Sometimes we may be right but in most cases it is far from the truth. Most coffee shops serve a salad made from iceberg lettuce. This lettuce has no nutritional value, it is very basically fiber held together by water. In the digestive system iceberg lettuce has the nasty habit of turning into a slime that your body then has to break down.

On top of this leafy non-nutritional plate or bowl full, we pour all sorts of different types of salad dressings. Most of these dressings are a creamy sort that is full of fat and sugars. 

Why do we use these dressings in such large amounts on this particular salad? Because by itself iceberg lettuce has very little taste and this is because, as I said before, it is simply fiber and water.

So next time you think you are going to suffer through a salad in order to feel like you’re doing your body some good, consider this article and maybe decide to go with soup instead. The soup may not be all that good for you but at least you are getting some good flavor for your trouble and you aren’t telling yourself stories.

If a salad is available that has deep green vegetables of all kinds, that one will be healthy for you, but again, dousing it with a large dollop of dressing will negate it’s value to a degree.

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Easy ways to enhance cancer fighting effects of broccoli

A new study suggested that some simple procedures could enhance the cancer fighting ability of broccoli. The green vegetable is already known to diminish the threat of developing many slayer diseases. The tasty green vegetable is already advertized as innate speculate drug to fend off cancer counting bowel, skin, breast and stomach cancer.

The latest study conducted by research team from the University of Illinois proposes that the therapeutic influence of broccoli can be improved by faintly altering the technique in which the vegetable is cooked now. It is advised that not to overcook broccoli because it destroys the enzyme called myrosinase.

It is vital to the formation of the cancer killing composite Sulforaphane (SFN). There present a high-flying isothiocyanate (SFN) in cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, brussels, broccoli and cabbage. The compound imitates the functioning of chemotherapy drugs taxol and vincristine, destroying cancer cells that replicate the highest.

The study also recommends that joining broccoli sprouts with broccoli can make their cancer-preventing talents more influential. According to Elizabeth Jeffery, professor of nutrition at University of Illinois broccoli, prepared properly, is a tremendously powerful cancer-fighting mediator. Three to five portions a week are sufficient to have an effect. To maximize benefits of broccoli, the enzyme myrosinase should to be present.

Steaming broccoli for two to four minutes is the ideal way to protect the enzyme as wells as nutrients of the vegetable. Numerous health conscious people use supplements of broccoli powder in recipes to improve their nutrition. However, such people do not know that they are not receiving adequate nutrients because the supplements often do not contain this essential enzyme, added Prof Jeffery.

Broccoli sprouts comprise myrosinase in profusion. The powder of broccoli frequently comprises the antecedent to sulforaphane without the enzyme which would enhance its healthy benefits, explained Jenna Cramer, co-author of the study reported the study published in Medindia.

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How To Sneak Vegetables Into Your Diet

We've all heard it before:  eat your vegetables.  Never the entree and always the appetizer, vegetables seem to be the category of food that most often gets pushed around the plate.  Sure, they're not as exciting as that juicy piece of meat or that heavenly piece of bread.  Even a plate of fruit is sexier than a plate of vegetables.  So why, you might ask, do we have to eat our vegetables?  

Quite simply, vegetables are good for you.

Full of fibre and precious antioxidants, vegetables are nature's solution to preventing chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.  Eating a diet full of brightly coloured vegetables ensures that your digestive tract works at an optimal pace.  They also make you feel fuller and aid in weight loss.   Are there any other foods that contain all of these benefits in such a low calorie package?  Likely not. 

Health Canada recommends eating a minimum of 5 servings of vegetables and fruit per day; however the average person consumes nearly half that.  How can we make it easier to include more vegetables into your diet? 

Here are some suggestions beyond just eating plain old salad: 

1.  Buy frozen vegetable blends. 

Contrary to popular belief, frozen vegetables have just as much nutritional value as fresh vegetables.  In fact, sometimes frozen vegetables have even more vitamins and minerals per serving because these vegetables are harvested and frozen when they are at their peak in nutritional value. 

The convenience of using frozen vegetable blends is parallel to none.  You no longer need to use that huge celery bunch in one night.  Wastage is minimal as you only use what you need, and then place it back into your freezer for another night.  If you are single, or do not have a large family to cook for, it can be expensive to buy many different vegetables for a single vegetable dish.  Using these blends allow you to eat a larger variety of vegetables without having to spend a fortune.

My favourite blend is the Far East Blend from Green Giant.  Snow peas, bamboo, crunchy water chestnuts and broccoli!  Just add some oyster sauce and a touch of garlic oil, microwave for 2 minutes, and you have nutritious "fast food."

You can also make your own vegetable blends by picking a variety of fresh veggies, cutting them up, and then freezing them in individual ziploc bags for use later on. 

2.  Drink your vegetables.

You know those V8 commercials?  They're true, you have no excuse.  I like the low-sodium V8. Vegetables can also easily be hidden in shakes and smoothies.  Make your smoothies with 60% fruit and 40% vegetables.  Spinach is the easiest to disguise, with no impact on the delicious fruity taste of a smoothie. 

3.  Make a vegetable soup.

For all you vegetable haters, this is the easiest way to increase your vegetable intake without changing your diet significantly.  You can make a huge pot of vegetable soup that contains more than your recommended daily servings of vegetables in one sitting!  It's so easy, all you need is an assortment of vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, onions, leeks), a blender, and some sort of soup stock (vegetable, chicken, onion).  Throw them in a pot, boil for 20 minutes, and then blend into a thin puree.  I also add red curry paste and a touch of coconut milk in my soups.  Delicious!

Alternatively, if you are making a broth soup, just throw some frozen or fresh vegetables into your soup while heating to make it healthier. 

4.  Shred your vegetables. 

Shredding your vegetables makes it easy to hide in a variety of different types of food.  Instead of just using lettuce as a topping for your burger, add some shredded carrot, zucchini, mushrooms or spinach as a garnish.  Throw shredded veggies into your pasta sauce or chili.  I like using tons of red/green/yellow peppers and spinach in my pasta sauces.  The following vegan recipe is also a great alternative to red or creamy sauces, using plenty of vegetables:

Blend 1 package of spinach and 1 bunch of fresh basil with 1/3 cup lemon juice, 1/2 tsp dijon mustard, 1 tsp of agave nectar or maple syrup, 3 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp of salt and pepper to taste.  Toss with 1/2 cup of pine nuts and add to freshly cooked whole grain pasta.  Super quick, super easy, and very healthy. 

5.  Make a vegetable dip. 

That huge bag of baby spinach looks intimidating, but have you ever thrown it into your blender?  It becomes less than half a cup!  Instead of hummus, make a delicious dip with vegetables, like red pepper or spinach dip. 

Here's an easy recipe:

1 bag of baby spinach

1/2 cup of vegan mayonnaise or low fat mayo or low fat yogurt

1 packet of onion soup mix

Throw it into your blender or hand puree, and you will have a nutritious dip for your chips, carrots, and pita bread. 

Just on a side note, it's actually clinically been proven that babies who were breastfed as a child for 5 months or longer are less likely to reject their vegetables as toddlers.  This is due to the transmission of flavour in breast milk--if the mother has a varied diet, the baby is familiar with the taste of vegetables by the time they are introduced to solid foods. 

Hope that helps, this blog is dedicated to my friend Kenny, who requested a blog on "vegetables."

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Cabbage Soup Diet

A diet plan is generally a radical change made by an individual with the aim of losing or gaining weight. 

The body weight of an individual is dependent on many different factors. These factors include height, weight, and gender. There are body weight charts that can describe the normal weight of an individual. It is always considered as healthy if an individual is around the normal weight range or slightly above it.

Any individual who is more than 10% overweight or more than 10% underweight is likely to be at risk when it comes to many different health issues over time. Excess weight is caused by excess fat accumulation in the body. This may happen because of an improper diet where food is consumed far in excess of the requirements of the body. Food that is consumed may also be unhealthy and this can cause further weight gain.

A lack of exercise can also be blamed for excess body weight. When the body does not utilize its nutrition properly it will end up storing this in the form of fat. This is why exercise, particularly long duration exercise is important for an individual who wishes to lose weight.

When it comes to weight loss diets, there are many ‘fad’ diets that may be used by individuals. A ‘fad’ diet is one where the diet becomes extremely popular very quickly for reasons which aren’t always completely clear. Individuals following this type of diet usually swear by the diet and often suggest it to their friends. ‘Fad’ diets are almost always associated with some radical changes in the eating patterns of an individual or with the consumption of some odd combinations of food.

The cabbage soup diet is a ‘fad’ diet that has become quite popular. It involves the consumption of cabbage soup along with many other foods over a period of 7 days. This diet is very popular because it requires little effort on the part of the individual.

The diet period is just 7 days and this is easy for most people to handle. The cabbage soup diet planlasts for just 7 days and can be repeated over and over by an individual until the desired weight loss is achieved. There are many conflicting reports about the actual effect of the cabbage soup diet. Many researchers suggest that the diet does not actually help with weight loss whereas others suggest that there is solid science behind the cabbage soup diet.

There are many different versions of the cabbage soup diet recipe. The diet cabbage soup recipehowever, will only contain vegetables and cannot contain any fat-based ingredients like butter, cheese, or oil. The essential ingredient cabbage must be included and the soup should be quite watery. There are many ingredients like tomatoes and beef stalk cubes that can be added to the soup for taste. The cabbage soup diet plan follows the 7 day regime as follows.

On all days, cabbage soup must be consumed. The first day includes as many fruits as the subject wishes to have. Bananas, however, are on the list of forbidden fruits for the first day of the diet. On the second day, the diet does not contain any fruit, but, instead, contains vegetables including potatoes. The third day of the diet features cabbage soup with all the fruits and vegetables that a person would like to have except for potatoes and bananas. The fourth day of the diet is when bananas are allowed. An individual is allowed up to 8 bananas on this day along with some milk. Beef and tomatoes are on the menu for the fifth day of the cabbage soup diet plan. On this day, up to ten ounces of beef can be consumed although many people will limit their consumption to far less than that. Beef continues to be on the menu for the sixth day in an unlimited amount. Vegetables are also permitted on this day but potatoes are not allowed. The final seventh day of the cabbage soup diet includes fruit juice, brown rice and vegetables without potatoes.

There are several reasons why doubts have been cast over the cabbage soup diet. The diet features almost no protein in its entire 7 day period. This is considered to be dangerous by some medical professionals. Many people feel tired and dizzy during the course of such a restrictive diet. The rapid nature of the diet and the weight loss makes it possible for the diet to be temporary as weight lost rapidly may be gained once the individual’s normal pattern of food consumption is resumed.

This is very harmful to the body in the long term because rapid fluctuations in body weight can cause problems over the long term.

The miracle cabbage soup diet is known by many different names as well. There is no clarity on who came up with the recipe in the first place. The General Motors diet is quite similar to the cabbage soup diet as well. The cabbage soup diet may therefore be known by several different names and these differences in names may also be represented in the form of minor changes and tweaks in the recipe. Another problem with the cabbage soup diet is the inability to stick to healthy eating habits the day after the diet. The subject may choose to eat heavily on this day because he or she may feel starved. This can reverse some of the positive effects of the diet. Before trying the 7 day cabbage soup diet, the subject must have a normal health status and must not be suffering from any illness or disease. 

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Foods Containing Vitamin K

Sources Of Vitamin K And Vitamin K Supplements

Vitamin K is available as vitamin K1 or phylloquinone, in plants. This is converted to Vitamin K2 or menaquinone in the intestine. This process is catalyzed by the intestinal bacteria. Synthetic vitamin K is referred to as menadione or vitamin K3. Vitamin K is essential for the prevention of bleeding, in case of bruise or injury. It is necessary, especially in case of gall bladder, liver or digestive system problems. Vitamin K is also essential for the synthesis of certain protein carriers that aid in the transport of calcium.

Hardening of blood vessels is seen in case of low dietary intake of vitamin K. Hardening of arteries results in heart failure and cardiac diseases. It also prevents the formation of tumor. Deficiency of vitamin K results in poor coagulation, which in turn increases the bleeding time. Intake of certain medications for the heart also decreases the clotting time, thereby resulting in its deficiency. Anticoagulant medications and bile acid sequestrants, such as colestipol and cholestyramine result in hindrance of vitamin K absorption.

Food Sources For Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin. It is seen to be deficient in individuals with celiac disease, obstructive jaundice, chronic pancreatitis, liver disease, bypass surgery and chronic diarrhea. Typical symptoms of deficiency are eye hemorrhage, nose bleed, bleeding gums, unexplained bruising, nasal bleeding and bleeding in the gastro intestinal tract.

Foods that is rich in vitamin K aids in proper coagulation of blood. Vitamin K is an antioxidant which protects the system from oxidative damage. This is attributed to the scavenging action of free radicals, which in turn results in degenerative diseases, such as cataract, atherosclerotic plaques, cancer and osteoporosis. It also maintains the bone density of individuals. Vitamin K is seen to occur in abundant quantities in Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, spinach, mustard greens, turnip, green tea, cabbage, broccoli, green beans, kale and asparagus. Carrots and green peas are also good sources of vitamin K. Other food sources of vitamin K are 

soya beans, cereals, broccoli, cabbage, wheat bran and cauliflower.

Fresh foods are abundant in vitamin K. They are resistant to moisture and heat. Normal cooking fails to result in any kind of loss. Vitamin K is destroyed by light, oxidizers, acid and base. Freezing foods decrease the vitamin K content of foods. About one hundred grams of raw spinach has 483 micrograms of vitamin K, whereas teh same amount of frozen spinach has only 377 micrograms.

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Raw food diet

A raw food diet is one in which at least 75% of the ingredients are raw, though there are many who claim that a raw food diet should be 100% raw and uncooked. 

To prepare a raw food diet, cooking methods which do not destroy the nutrients of the food are used. Most of the food however, is consumed either raw or very lightly cooked.

The proponents of raw food believe that there are many health benefits of consuming a completely raw diet. The biggest advantage of consuming such a diet is that there are several improvements in the overall health of a person. The individual’s weight begins to normalize since several uncooked foods are low in fats. These foods are also not processed so a person’s consumption of chemical preservatives and additives is drastically reduced. The raw food diet provides the individual with plenty of essential nutrients without significantly increasing the calorific content of their meals. 

When we cook foods, the heat and the acids alter the composition of the food, making part of it difficult to metabolize.

Therefore, a part of the cooked food we consume is not assimilated by the body. The raw food diet, on the other hand, consists of natural foods and therefore the body is equipped to completely metabolize the food. Raw food can break down into several components which are then sent to be metabolized by various different cells in the body. This not only aids in the proper digestion of food, but also allows a person to remain healthy and energetic.

One of the greatest improvements of a raw food diet is enhanced digestion. The human digestive system is able to completely digest raw foods and this decreases common digestive problems such as acid reflux, acidity, diarrhea, and constipation. Raw foods also help to stabilize stomach acid production and this helps to aid the digestive process and strengthen the digestive system.

Though some raw food diet enthusiasts allow adding a small portion of cooked foods to their diet, most agree that adding even a little bit of cooked food to a raw food diet can alter the balance that the raw foods create in the body.

If there is even a small amount of cooked food in the diet, it can cause the production of acids as well as bile. There are even residual effects of digesting the cooked foods and, therefore, the cooked food diet does not offer respite from gastric problems. It is believed that if you add cooked foods along with raw foods, the resulting acid which is produced, can cause the raw foods to create indigestion. If you do desire to eat cooked food as well, it is best to separate the cooked foods and the raw foods into two separate meals.

Most raw food recipes for a beginner will consist of large portions of fruit. Lunch can consist of a raw food salad recipe and finally have cooked food in the last meal of the day. However, be careful to wash all your raw foods well so that you get rid of any residual pesticides and similar chemicals which may have been used while farming these raw foods. You may also go in for organic raw foods, if they are available.

There are a few additional nutrients that you may have to consume along with your plant and raw food diets. Vitamin B12, copper and zinc are three micronutrients that are not completely provided by a raw food diet. Therefore, to fulfill the dietary requirements of these nutrients, it is best to add nutritional supplements to your diet. It is important to talk to a doctor before you decide on a nutritional supplement.

When it comes to other nutrients, raw foods cater to the needs of the human body and does not hinder the digestion and absorption of food. It is important to ensure that you receive all the nutrients that your body requires on a daily basis. In many cases, people on a raw food diet do not consume an adequate amount of iron rich foods. In addition to this, several plant based foods do not have very high iron bioavailability. This can cause or aggravate conditions like anemia and so it is important to ensure that your diet has an adequate amount of iron-rich foods and you can also include iron supplements.   Before you begin taking these supplements, it is important to check with a medical professional and find out how much of nutrients you really require and then fix the dosage of the supplements accordingly.

Eating raw, though healthy, does not come very easily to most people. Like in any other diet, it is important to start slow with the raw food diet as well. When you start introducing raw foods to your diet, there is a likelihood that your system will react to it.

As explained earlier, raw and cooked foods, when consumed together, can cause indigestion. Therefore in the initial weeks of switching over to the new diet, you will not only experience slight digestive discomfort, but may also experience cravings for cooked food. To make the raw food physiologically more beneficial for you, you can include a little salt in the food as well. Since both fruits and vegetables digest differently in the body, it is best to eat fruits first and vegetables later, in a different meal. So your raw food diet plan should be made accordingly.

Raw food diet weight loss is considered to be one of the safest and healthiest way of losing weight. Since raw foods work on your digestive processes and metabolism, the weight loss caused by a raw food diet is completely natural. Apart from this, the raw food vegan diet is full of natural enzymes which help you lose weight and simultaneously make you healthy as well.

The raw food detox diet is also very beneficial for the body. Raw foods can help in the detoxification of the human body.

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Health Benefits Of Lime

The health benefits of lime include weight loss, skin care, good digestion, relief from constipation, eye care, and treatment of scurvy, piles, peptic ulcer, respiratory disorders, gout, gums, urinary disorders, etc.

The first fruit that comes to our minds when it comes to medicinal uses is perhaps the good old lime. This sour citrus fruit can do what many specialist medicines cannot. Lime, bearing the scientific name Citrus Aurantifolia, is being used for ages for treatment of various ailments.

Lime is consumed throughout the world in sorbets, beverages, refreshing drinks, pickles, jams, jellies, snacks, candies, sugar boiled confectionaries and culinary and the oil extracted from its peel or skin is extensively used in soft drink concentrates, body oils, cosmetics, hair oils, tooth pastes, toilet and beauty soaps, disinfectants, mouth washes, deodorants and innumerable other products. There are many varieties of lime found all over the world, particularly in the tropical and the Mediterranean climates.

Nutritive Values: Per 100 gm.

• Vitamin B: Thiamine .04 mg;
• Riboflavin: trace
• Niacin: .1 mg
• Vitamin C: 27 mg.
• Calcium: 40 mg.
• Iron: 6 mg.
• Phosphorus: 22 mg.
• Fat: .1 gm
• Protein: .8 gm
• Calories: 37
• Nutritive Values: Per 100 gm.

Health Benefits:

• Lime contains by far more vitamin C than the lemon. A glass of warm water with lime juice and a teaspoonful of honey is an ideal remedy for cold and dry cough.
• Lime juice is a pep-up in cases of listlessness and a rundown feeling due to vitamin deficiency.
• The pectin content in fruit pulp is said to be beneficial in lowering blood cholesterol.
• The vitamin C content in lime increases the body’s resistance to disease, aids the healing of wounds and prevents damage to the eyes.
• Vitamin C is also helpful in maintaining the health of the teeth and other bones of the body. It prevents decay and loosening of the teeth, dental caries, toothache, bleeding of the gums and fragility of bones.
• The rind of the fruit also has medicinal properties. It contains a volatile oil which is used in medicine for improving digestion and removing wind
• Lime is considered highly beneficial in the treatment of digestive disorders.

• The lime juice is of great value in constipation, when it is taken first thing in the morning in a glass of warm water.
• The citric acid in limes has an alkaline reaction in the system which can relieve peptic ulcers.
• Few drops of warm lime-juice diluted with water should be instilled in the eyes in case of conjunctivitis. Its regular use with pure rose water in the ratio of 1:4 is helpful in preventing old-age cataract.
• Lime juice diluted in warm water was proven valuable in cystitis. It gives relief to burning sensation and also stops bleeding in cystitis.
• The lime juice is also excellent for weight reduction. Fresh juice’ of a lime mixed in a glassful of water and sweetened with honey should be taken every morning on empty stomach in case of obesity.
• Lime contain limonene, this phytochemical are potent detoxifiers with anti-biotic effect that is protective against bacterial poisoning.
• The potent anti-viral properties in lime can kill cholera bacilli within a very short period of time. Drink one part juice and one part water regularly.
• Lemon peels when rub on dry or scaly skin can restore softness and add moisture to the skin.

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Health Benefits Of Carrot

The health benefits of carrot include reduced cholesterol, prevention from heart attacks, warding off certain cancers and many others. Most of the benefits of carrot can be attributed to its beta carotene and fiber content. This root, which has a scientific name of Daucus Carota, is a good source of antioxidant agents as well. Carrots are rich in vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and potassium.

Both adults and children like carrots because of its crunchy texture and sweet taste. Even though the color of original carrot is orange it grows in other colors including white, yellow, red or purple.

Vitamin and Mineral Content :

• Vitamin A – 12,000 I.U,
• Vitamin B; Thiamine B: .06 mg.
• Riboflavin: .06 mg.
• Niacin: .5 mg.
• Vitamin C: 5 mg.
• Vitamin D, E, G, & K
• Calcium: 39 mg.
• Iron: .8 mg.
• Phosphorus: 37 mg.
• Fat: 0.3 gm
• Carbohydrates: 9.3 gm.
• Protein: 1.2gm.
• Calories: 42

Health Benefits of Carrot:

• Carrot can enhance the quality of breast milk.
• Carrot can improve the appearance of the skin, hair and nails.
• When taken daily it can lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Raw contain beta-carotene, a strong antioxidant that can prevent cancer.
• Carrot juice when taken everyday prevent bodily infections and is claimed to be valuable for the adrenal glands (the small endocrine glands situated above the kidneys).
• Carrot can help improve eyesight.
• Carrot can help increase menstrual flow.
• Carrots can regulate blood sugar.
• Carrot can promote colon health, because carrot is rich in fiber.

Other beneficial health effects are:

• Prevent heart diseases: In a study meant to reveal therapeutic value of carrots researchers at the Wolfson Gastrointestinal Laboratory in Edinburgh, Scotland revealed that cholesterol level reduces by 11 percent if seven ounces of raw carrots a day is taken for thee weeks. High cholesterol is a major factor for heart disease. Since regular consumption of carrots reduces cholesterol level it is good to prevent heart related problems. A group of Swedish scientists discovered that root vegetables can reduce the chances of having a heart attack. A study conducted at the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research in Italy found that those who ate more carrots had one third the risk of heart attack as compared with those who ate fewer carrots.
• Prevent cancer: Beta-carotene consumption has been linked to reduced risk of several cancers, notably lung cancer. British researchers discovered that increasing beta-carotene consumption from 1.7 to 2.7 milligrams a day reduced lung cancer risk more than 40 percent. The average carrot contains about three milligrams of Beta-carotene. In a study, researchers found that eating fiber rich carrots reduce the risk of colon cancer by as much as 24 percent. Another study shows that women who ate raw carrots were five to eight times less likely to develop breast cancer than women who did not eat carrots.
• Macular degeneration: This is a common eye disease of elderly. It impairs the macula. Researches found that people who ate the most Beta-carotene had a forty percent lower risk of macular degeneration compared with those who consumed the least.
• Improves eyesight: Deficiency of vitamin A can cause some difficulty seeing in dim light. Since carrot is rich in vitamin A it is good for improving eyesight.
• Stroke: A carrot a day reduces stroke risk by 68 percent. Many studies have strengthened the “carrot effect” on brain. Studies conducted on stroke patients revealed that those with highest levels of Beta carotene have the best survival rate.
• Diabetes: Carrot is good for blood sugar regulation because of the presence of carotenoids in carrot. Carotenoids inversely affect insulin resistance and thus lower blood sugar.
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Ginger

Ginger is a perennial plant, distinguished by the white and yellowish-greenish flowers it produces, as well as its thick and long twisting rhizoid (stem). The ginger plant is known to have originated in China, however it has since then been cultivated in many other countries, including: India, South West Asia, West Africa and the Caribbean. The plant is famous for its concentrated, spicy aroma, which can be attributed to the fact that it is composed of up to 3% natural essential oils.

The rhizoid is the part of the plant which is generally sold and used today. It has been made widely available for eating and for the use of flavoring foods. It is also ground up and processed into all sorts of powders, tinctures, crystals, tonics and flavorings and then marketed in health food stores.

Below  have listed the top 10 health benefits attributed to this multi functional root:

• Ginger has carminative properties (anti spasmic) and can be used to calm in upset stomach, providing relief for the relief of bloating and gas.
• The intake of ginger helps stimulate the secretion of mucus, quieting your cough and soothing any scratchiness I your throat.
• Ginger has been proven (in multiple studies) to treat feelings of nausea, particularly in the form of seasickness, morning sickness, motion sickness and as a side effect of chemotherapy.
• Ginger contains anti viral, anti toxic, and anti fungal properties, and is used for the prevention of and treatment against the common cold.
• Ginger acts as an antihistamine and aids in the treatment of allergies.
• Ginger displays anti inflammatory properties and can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and various other muscular disorders. The chemical components of the root are instrumental in inhibiting the biosynthesis of prostaglandins which are responsible for causing inflammation. Thus the root has proven to be a highly effective form of treatment, in some cases, even more so than the NSAID’s that are traditionally prescribed.
• Ginger contains special enzymes responsible for catalyzing the proteins in your food, thus aiding in digestion and the prevention of cramps. The ancient Greeks used to eat ginger after a large meal in order to ease the digestion process.
• Due to its promotion of mucus secretion, ginger protects against the development of ulcers, unwanted holes in the lining of your stomach.
• Ginger has proven to help lower your cholesterol levels and prevent the formation of blood clots.
• Ginger is often used to settle an upset stomach or treat severe stomach ailments such as dyspepsia or colic. It is frequently used today in developing countries to treat diarrhea.

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