Benefits of Bananas

Enjoy Healthy Life with Bananas

Health Tips | Benefits of Bananas

• Bananas are a natural antacid, providing relief from acid reflux, heartburn and GERD
• Bananas are high in antioxidants, providing free radicals and protection from chronic disease
• Bananas act as a prebiotic, stimulating the growth of friendly bacteria in the bowel. They also produce digestive enzymes to assist in absorbing nutrients.
• Bananas are the only raw fruit that can be consumed without distress to relieve stomach ulcers by coating the lining of the stomach against corrosive acids
• Bananas help overcome depression due high levels of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin — the happy-mood brain neurotransmitter
• Bananas make you smarter and help with learning by making you more alert. Eat a banana before an exam to benefit from the high levels of potassium.
• Bananas reduce swelling, protect against type II diabetes, aid weight loss, strengthen the nervous system, and help with the production of white blood cells, all due to high levels of vitamin B-6
• Constipated? High fiber in bananas can help normalize bowel motility.
• Control blood sugar and avoid binging between meals by eating a banana
• Counteract calcium loss during urination and build strong bones by supplementing with a banana
• Eat two bananas before a strenuous workout to pack an energy punch and sustain your blood sugar
• Eating a banana between meals helps stabilize blood sugar and reduce nausea from morning sickness
• Eating a banana can lower the body temperature and cool you during a fever or on a hot day
• Eating bananas helps prevent kidney cancer, protects the eyes against macular degeneration and builds strong bones by increasing calcium absorption
• Got the runs? Bananas are soothing to the digestive tract and help restore lost electrolytes after diarrhea.
• High in potassium and low in salt, bananas are officially recognized by the FDA as being able to lower blood pressure, and protect against heart attack and stroke
• Improve your mood and reduce PMS symptoms by eating a banana, which regulates blood sugar and produces stress-relieving relaxation
• Protect against muscle cramps during workouts and night time leg cramps by eating a banana
• Quitting smoking? Bananas contain high levels of B-vitamins as well as potassium and magnesium speed recovery from the effects of withdrawal
• Remove a wart by placing the inside of a piece of banana peel against the wart and taping it in place
• Rich in pectin, bananas aid digestion and gently chelate toxins and heavy metals from the body
• Rub a bug bite or hives with the inside of the banana peel to relieve itching and irritation
• Rub the inside of a banana peel on your leather shoes or handbag and polish with a dry cloth for a quick shine
• Strengthen your blood and relieve anemia with the added iron from bananas
• The natural mood-enhancer tryptophan, helps to relieve Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Best Foods Reduce Belly Fat

Health Tips 

Recommended food for reduce belly fast

• Walnuts: An excellent way to curb cravings or unhealthy sweet treats.
• Oily fish: Experts recommend having oily fish at least twice a week because it contains heart healthy omega 3 fatty acids that counter the effects of cholesterol and provide healthy fats to the body.
• Almonds: Loaded with dietary fiber, vitamin E and vegetable protein.
• Beans and legumes: Often touted as one of the best diet foods, beans and legumes have a low calorie count, contain adequate protein, and have ample dietary fiber.
• Dark chocolate: When consumed in controlled portions it can prevent heart disease, stroke and diabetes. The best benefits are derived from dark chocolate that contains a high percentage of cocoa.
• Berries: These bite-sized juicy fruits are not only chock-full of flavor, but also contain rich quantities of dietary fiber.
• Avocados: Brimming with cholesterol reducing compounds that keep the heart healthy and strong.
• Eggs: Rich in vitamin B12, researchers state that eggs help to metabolize fat efficiently.
• Leafy green vegetables: Apart from being full of vitamins and minerals, leafy green vegetable are also full of dietary fiber which keeps cravings at bay. 
• Peanut butter: This delicious product is often consumed as a snack. The natural, unsweetened variety contains copious amounts of niacin which prevents abdominal bloating and keeps digestion in check. However, since peanut butter can be fattening when consumed excessively, be sure to eat limited quantities. A tablespoon a day should do the trick.

How to Reduce Risk of Heart Attack

Health Tips to reduce risk of Heart Burn

Control your weight

One of the most important things you can do if you have diabetes is maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, talk to a registered dietitian about healthy ways to lose weight.

Keep your blood pressure under control

Since high blood pressure increases the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke, it's good to keep yours in the optimum range: less than 120/80. If you test 120-139/80-89, you have prehypertension and you should make arrangements to see your doctor right away, to discuss lifestyle changes you can make to bring down your reading. If you have high blood pressure, meaning 140/90 or more, your doctor will likely prescribe medication to keep it in check.

Load up on heart-friendly foods.

For most people, the battle against heart disease should start in the kitchen. By getting about 30 percent of your calories from fat (less than 7 percent from saturated fats), eating five to seven servings of fruits and vegetables every day, and eating plenty of whole grains, you can lower your cholesterol level, protect your arteries, and slash your risk for a heart attack. Some types of fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, may help lower triglycerides and provide other benefits. Talk to your doctor about how to increase your intake of good fats while cutting down on the "bad" fats.

Avoid Smoking

Cigarettes damage the arteries and speed the buildup of cholesterol and plaque, the first step toward a heart attack. In the Nurses' Health Study, just one to 14 cigarettes per day tripled the risk of heart trouble. Other studies have found that smoking at least 25 cigarettes a day may raise the risk 15 times as much. If you're a smoker, quitting RIGHT NOW is the best thing you can do for your heart. Within two years, the threat of the heart attack will drop to the level of a person who has never smoked.

Monitor your cholesterol.

Since too much cholesterol contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries, it's best to keep your total cholesterol level below 200 milligrams per deciliter. Anything between 200 and 240 mg/dL is considered worrisome, and a level over 240 is often a serious threat. The basic goal is also to keep your "good" HDL cholesterol high and your "bad" LDL cholesterol level low.

Make exercise a daily habit.

The lack of exercise is contributing to the obesity epidemic in Americans. Studies indicate that walking two miles a day is optimal for overall health, and those two miles of walking do not have to be done all at once. Exercise does more than burn calories; it also activates genes that are beneficial to health in other ways. Plus, exercise is one of the best treatments for depression and anxiety. However, exercise alone cannot control or reduce your weight – you must also modify your diet.

Reduced Stress

If you're under too much stress or feeling depressed, seek out help from a psychologist or therapist.

Emotional distress is hard on the heart, and professional help can be a true lifesaver. Several studies suggest that depressed people who are otherwise healthy are more likely to develop heart disease than peers who aren't depressed. For example, a 13-year study of 1,500 subjects conducted at Johns Hopkins University found that an episode of depression increased the risk of heart attack more than fourfold. These studies take smoking and other factors into account, providing strong evidence that depression alone may be enough to cut down a once-healthy heart.

Use your common sense

Talk with your physician about the most important steps you need to take to protect your heart. The American Heart Association recommends a checkup every two years, ideally starting at age 20, where your doctor can measure your blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, and pulse. Depending on your particular situation, you should have your cholesterol and glucose tested at least every 5 years. Ask you doctor if you should check it more frequently. If you're 40 or over, the AHA suggests that your doctor measure your risk factors and then calculate your chances of developing cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years. It's also important to seek professional help if you're taking steps that involve some risk (such as beginning an exercise program in middle age) or that are tough to do on your own (like quitting cigarettes).

There are no magic bullets to heart health, so it's good to be wary of those who say there are. Beware of the spectacular claims found on some "health" sites on the Internet: Anyone can post an opinion or claim there without offering proof or documentation. If it's sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Stay informed: Science changes constantly.

The only constant is change. This is especially true in medicine as new techniques and new insights develop constantly. Do not believe every piece of “scientific information” you find in the media or advertisements. An overwhelming number of research studies that make it into scientific publications are poorly designed or yield data that are not representative, e.g., due to a lack of a sufficient number of participants. Keep in mind that many studies are financed or sponsored by individuals or companies with a vested interest in gaining favorable results. The situation can be especially confusing when scientific studies yield different or even contradicting results, and this happens quite often.

Foods to Avoid During Ramadan

Take Healthy Food for Best Performance

Recommended Foods to Eat During the Holy Month of Ramadan

During the month of Ramadan, please avoid the following foods & take their replacements to ensure healthy & enjoyable life with all blessing of Ramadan.

Foods to avoid	Replacement /         Healthy alternative foods
Deep-fried foods, e.g. pakoras, samosas, fried dumplings	Whole grains, e.g. chickpeas (plain, or with potato in yogurt with different Indian spices), samosas baked instead of fried, and boiled dumplings
High-sugar/high-fat foods, e.g. Indian sweets such as Ghulab Jamun, Rasgulla, Balushahi, Baklawa	Milk-based sweets and puddings, e.g. Rasmalai, Barfee
High-fat cooked foods, e.g. parathas, oily curries, greasy pastries	Alternate with chapattis made without oil, and baked or grilled meat and chicken.
Cooking methods to avoid	Replacement / Alternative methods
Deep frying	Shallow frying – usually there is very little difference in taste
Frying	Grilling or baking is healthier and helps retain the taste and original flavor of the food, especially chicken and fish
Curries with excessive oil	Start with measuring the oil used in curry and try to bring the oil content down gradually, e.g. reducing five tablespoons to four. This is a good way of reducing oil without noticing much difference in the taste. A useful tip is to use more onions and tomatoes in the bulk of the curry

Further suggestions:-

Drink sufficient water between Iftar and sleep to avoid dehydration.

Avoid spicy foods.

Consume sufficient vegetables at meals. Eat fruits at the end of the meal.

Avoid intake of high sugar (table sugar, sucrose) foods through sweets or other forms.

Normal or overweight people should not gain weight. For overweight people Ramadan is an excellent opportunity to lose weight. Underweight or marginally normal weight people are discouraged from losing weight. Analyzing a diet's energy and nutritional component, using food composition tables or computer software, will be useful in planning an appropriate diet.

Avoid caffeine drinks. Caffeine is a diuretic.

It is recommended that everyone engage in some kind of light exercise, such as stretching or walking. It's important to follow good time management practices for prayer and other religious activities, sleep, studies, job, and physical activities or exercise.

Healthy Diet During Ramadan

Health Tips For Ramadan

Intake of a balanced diet is critical to maintain good health, sustain an active lifestyle and attain the full benefits of Ramadan.

Fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan can be good for one's health and personal development. Ramadan fasting is not just about disciplining the body to restrain from eating food and drinking water from predawn until sunset. The eyes, the ears, the tongue, and even the private parts are equally obligated to be restrained if a Muslim wants to gain the total rewards of fasting. Ramadan is also about restraining anger, doing good deeds, exercising personal discipline, and preparing oneself to serve as a good Muslim and a good person during and after Ramadan.

In Ramadan, the health problems can emerge as a result of excess food intake, foods that make the diet unbalanced and insufficient sleep. Ultimately also, such a lifestyle contradicts the essential requirements and spirit of Ramadan.

During Ramadan you need to put extra effort into including foods from all five food groups to ensure variety and a well-balanced diet. These foods include:

Breads, cereals and other grain products

Fruit and vegetables

Milk, cheese and yogurt

Meat, fish and poultry

Fats and sugars (these contain very little nutrients and are high in calories and therefore their intake should be limited).

The most commonly consumed foods by Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) were milk, dates, lamb/mutton and oats. Healthy foods mentioned in the Holy Qur’an are fruit and vegetables, such as olives, onions, cucumber, figs, dates, grapes as well as pulses such as lentils.

Complex carbohydrates are foods that will help release energy slowly during the long hours of fasting and are found in grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millets, semolina, beans, lentils, whole meal flour and basmati rice. Look out for foods labeled Low G.I.

Fibre-rich foods are also digested slowly and include bran, cereals, whole wheat, grains and seeds, potatoes with skin, vegetables such as green beans and almost all fruit, including apricots, prunes and figs.

Foods to avoid are the heavily processed and fast-burning foods that contain refined carbohydrates such as sugar and white flour or fatty food like cakes, biscuits, chocolates and sweets. It may also be worth avoiding the caffeine content in drinks such as tea, coffee and cola (caffeine is a diuretic and stimulates faster water loss through urination).

Best Foods to Boost Immune System

Health Tips

Five Best Foods to Boost Immune System & Healthy Life

Honey

Daily consumption of honey has been found to strengthen the immune system. Its antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties help fight infections from viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

Honey also can improve your digestive system, treat acid reflux, soothe a sore throat, treat a nasty cough, improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity, and heal wounds and scars quickly. Start each day with one teaspoon of honey along with a glass of lukewarm water to enjoy its numerous health benefits.

Garlic

Garlic is one of best immune-boosting foods. It contains powerful antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal properties that help the body ward off and fight infections.

Regular consumption of garlic helps your body fight infections and inflammatory diseases like the common cold, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis. It can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and aid in preventing various types of cancer. To stay healthy, eat one or two raw garlic cloves daily.

Green Tea

Green tea is the best drink known to boost the immune system. It introduces a type of flavonoid called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) into the body that helps fight bacteria and prevent viruses from multiplying.

It also has many powerful antioxidants that help protect against viruses, bacteria and other micro-organisms that can cause health problems. Regular consumption of green tea also will help prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, periodontal disease, and osteoporosis. Enjoy a soothing cup of green tea several times a day. Do not add milk, as it will make the tea less effective for this purpose.

Ginger

This pungent herb has been used for ages to boost the immune system and treat many health problems. Apart from being a strong antioxidant, ginger has antimicrobial, antiseptic, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties.

This herb helps eliminate congestion, ease throat pain, kill cold viruses, combat fever, inhibit pancreatic cancer cell growth, inhibit growth of peptic ulcer disease, promote gastric mobility, decrease chronic pain and lower high cholesterol. Drink one to two cups of ginger tea daily to keep your immune system functioning properly.

Yogurt

To boost your immune system, include yogurt with active cultures in your diet. The strains of ‘good’ bacteria such as Bifidobacterium lactis in yogurt boost the activity of immune system cells to destroy viruses and ‘bad’ bacteria. The friendly bacteria also help the body absorb many essential nutrients.

Eating yogurt on daily basis can reduce the incidence of intestinal infections, fight different types of viral infections, improve digestion, reduce the length of the common cold, and treat dysentery and various types of diarrhea. For maximum benefits, buy yogurt that has “live and active cultures” printed on the label.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes also are an excellent immunity-boosting food. They are full of the antioxidant beta-carotene, which protects against damaging free radicals and improves immune cell function. Plus, they have a high amount of vitamin A, which is required for the normal functioning of the immune system and helps develop resistance to infection.

Sweet potatoes also help regulate blood sugar and lower insulin resistance; combat inflammatory problems like asthma, arthritis, and gout; relieve constipation and prevent colon cancer; protect against emphysema; and prevent strokes and heart attacks. Eat one-half cup of boiled sweet potatoes daily to improve your immune system and stay healthy.

Chicken Soup

A bowl of homemade chicken soup can boost your immune system and increase your chances of beating a viral infection quickly. Chicken soup provides a strong dose of protein, an important nutrient for immune system maintenance.

Plus, it contains B vitamins, calcium, magnesium and zinc, all of which strengthen your immune system. Chicken soup also helps you stay hydrated, which can speed up the healing process if you do get sick. Have chicken soup several times a day when dealing with symptoms of a cold, including a runny nose, nasal congestion and cough.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms have high antioxidant content and are rich in the essential minerals selenium and copper that are important for the immune system. Research has shown that an increase in selenium intake can help improve the immune function.

Mushrooms also nourish and protect the heart and liver and have the ability to help prevent breast and prostate cancer. They are also known to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke. To boost your immune system, opt for shiitake, reishi or maitake mushrooms.

Adding these superfoods to your diet will boost your immune system and help you remain healthy and free of disease.

Oranges

Oranges are rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps boost your immune system. Vitamin C promotes the production of white blood cells, which are key to fighting infections.

Oranges are also a good source of vitamin A, vitamin B9 or folate, and copper that are important for immune functions. Also, they help lower both cholesterol and blood pressure levels. To improve your immune system, drink a glass of fresh orange juice in the morning and one glass later in the day.

Honey and Cinnamon Heal Cancer

Health Tips of Daar Cheeni & Shehad

Use Honey with Cinnamon to reduce weight, improve digestion & heal cancer

Treating Cancer

Like many other claims, this is unproven scientifically. It may prove helpful in reducing the chances of cancer by eliminating free radicals. Some people have even reported to have treated breast and colon cancers by using honey and cinnamon.

Bloating, Gas and Acid Reflux

It helps protect the stomach wall by coating it. By cleaning the system of bad bacteria, it helps to heal any infection thereby helping to treat symptoms of bloating, gas and acid reflux.

Weight Loss

There is huge anecdotal evidence that honey and cinnamon works to reduce weight. When taken together, the solution burns the fat faster. It also regulates eating habits by eliminating food cravings.

Helping Digestion

It cleanses the colon by eliminating the toxins. It helps promote good bacteria in the colon resulting in better digestion.

Good for Heart

Healthy diet, active lifestyle and moderate exercise are great ways to maintain a healthy heart. Taking a drink of cinnamon and honey on a regular basis can prevent heart diseases by clearing the clogged arteries.

Cholesterol maintain

Regular intake of honey in small amount mixed with ground cinnamon lowers bad cholesterol. It lowers blood pressure and clears the clogs in arteries. Replacing other fat intake with extra virgin olive oil works like a tonic reducing bad cholesterol.

 Treating Excessive Flatulence

There are conflicting reports from users regarding the treatment of flatulence using the cinnamon-honey combination. Some people report increase in wind while others swear by it. Depending upon the individual’s physical health, it may work for some and not for others. Give it a try by eating one tablespoon of honey before each meal and sprinkling one teaspoon of cinnamon on the food to enjoy its perfect taste and reap its true benefits.

Indigestion problems

Sprinkle a small amount of the herb on one teaspoon of honey and eat before meals. It helps digest even the heaviest of meals.

This may be taken either in drink form for internal health benefits or use the paste for external applications. It is simple and easy. Honey and cinnamon can also taking by adding it your fruit juice, smoothie, ice cream, yoghurt, coffee, bread, cereals etc.