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)

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.

Prevent Your Arteries Blockage Naturally

Good foods to reduce High blood pressure

Home remedies for preventing vein obstruction

Following foods are very useful to prevent arteries blockage, must try

Olive oil

Only oxidized cholesterol is able to stick to your artery walls and form plaques. Monounsaturated fats present in olive oil when mixed with molecules of bad cholesterol become less likely to be oxidized.

Spinach

Spinach is rich in potassium and folic acids, both of which act as a defense against high blood pressure. Spinach is also rich in lutein, a plant carotenoid which not only protects against age related macular degeneration but also prevents heart attacks by keeping arteries free from cholesterol build up.

Tomatoes

According to a study conducted by Korean researchers, lycopene, a compound present in tomatoes that gives them their color, helps in prevent hardening of the arteries.

Researchers found that women with the highest lycopene levels in their blood had the least stiffness in their arteries.

Fish

A study conducted by researchers at Southampton University found that Omega 3 oils, present in fishes like tuna and salmon, stop the build up of fatty deposits in the arteries. These fatty acids prevent clots from forming and cholesterol from becoming oxidized.

Garlic

Since ancient times garlic has been used to treat heart disease and hypertension. According to a study published in preventive medicine, garlic inhibits coronary artery calcification which serves as a marker for plaque formation.

Oats

Thanks to the soluble fiber in oats, cholesterol doesn’t stand a chance. This fiber attaches itself to cholesterol and carries it right out of your system. Some studies have shown that eating just 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups of cooked oat-bran cereal daily can lower cholesterol levels by almost 20%.

Pomegranates

Pomegranate juice not only appears to prevent hardening of the arteries by reducing blood vessel damage, but may also reverse the progression of this disease. Pomegranate fruit and its juice are high in antioxidant content, which may help fight hardening of the arteries.

Cranberry juice

This juice strains the fat out of arteries. Instead of having fat build up in your blood vessels, this juice boosts your cell’s ability to absorb the fat and use it for production of energy. Drink three glasses of this juice every week to unclog your arteries.

Grapes

Grapes are rich in flavonoids, quercetin, and resveratrol. These flavonoids have been found to prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol that leads to the formation of plaque in artery walls. They also lower the risk of developing blood clots that can lead to heart attacks.

Health Tips | Control High Blood Pressure

Health Tips for Hypertension
Tips to Control your High Blood Pressure

• It is necessary to ensure your blood pressure is less than 140/90 mm Hg. If your systolic pressure (the top number) is over 140, ask your doctor what you can do to lower it.
• Take your high blood pressure medicine, if prescribed, every day. If you have questions, talk to your doctor.
• Use spices and herbs instead of salt to season the food you prepare at home.
• Eat more fruits, vegetables, grains, and low-fat dairy foods.
• Read nutrition labels. Almost all packaged foods contain sodium. Every time you prepare or eat a packaged food, know how much sodium is in one serving.
• Increase your physical activity by different exercises. Do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as walking, most days of the week. You can do 30 minutes in three 10-minute segments.
• Choose foods low in salt and sodium. Most Americans should consume no more than 2.4 grams (2,400 milligrams) of sodium a day. That equals 6 grams, about one teaspoon of table salt a day. For someone with high blood pressure, the doctor may advise less.
• If you are overweight or obese, carrying this extra weight increases your risk of high blood pressure. One way to determine if you need to lose weight is to find out your body mass index or BMI. If your BMI is above the healthy range (i.e., 25 or greater), or if your waist measurement is greater than 35 inches (women) or 40 inches (men) you probably have excess abdominal weight and you may benefit from weight loss especially if you have other risk factors.
• Keep a sodium diary. You may be surprised at how much sodium you consume each day and the diary will help you decide which foods to decrease or eliminate.
• If you consume alcohol, it should be avoided for better results