health
Lemon Health Benefits
Juicy, acidic and flavorful lemons are the widely used citrus fruits in the world. This is the smallest citrus fruit, yet contains several health benefits than pomelo, orange, etc. This fruit belongs to Rutaceae family. Scientifically, it is called as Citrus Limon. This article focuses on the lemon health benefits and nutritional facts.
Nutritional Facts of Lemons:
We all know that lemons are good source of vitamin C. Here is the list of nutrients of nutrients present in 108 grams serving of a fruit.
- Copper – 14%
- Zinc – 1%
- Magnesium – 3%
- Phosphorus – 2%
- Potassium – 4%
- Pantothenic Acid – 3%
- Iron – 4%
- Calcium – 7%
- Niacin – 1%
- Riboflavin – 3%
- Vitamin B6 – 6%
- Thiamin – 4%
- Vitamin C – 139%
- Vitamin A – 1%
Lemon Health Benefits:
Lemon is actually an alkaline food and helps in restoring body balance of people that are used to an acidic diet. Following are the health benefits of lemonade and plain lemon juice:
Skin benefits: As lemon is rich in vitamin C, if you drink lemonade every day it brings glow to your skin. It can be used for treating skin infections, as lemon is an antiseptic. Also, one can use lemon for reducing burning sensation of skin. In order to reduce scars, one must apply it regularly. Also, you can use lemon juice for treating acne.
Excellent antioxidant: Lemon is an excellent antioxidant as it contains vitamin C. These antioxidants act as scavengers against free radicals which cause aging.
Hair care: For hair care, you can mix lemon juice in hot bath water. This helps to get rid of dandruff. Take juice of two lemons and mix them in hot water. Use this water for cleansing scalp and hair. This is a good cleansing agent. It gives shiny texture to the hair.
Dental care: If applied on affected area, lemon juice gives relief from toothache. Massaging with lemon juice on bleeding gums helps to stop bleeding. Are you looking for bad breath remedy? Then you can use lemon juice as mouth wash. Add juice of one lemon in a glass of water and gargle with it. This helps in eliminating bad breath.
Throat infections: As lemon has antibacterial properties, it assists in getting rid of many throat infections. If you are suffering from throat infections, one can drink warm lemon tea or use lemonade for gargling. Vitamin C in lemons helps in hastening the healing process.
Weight loss: In master cleanse lemonade diet lemon is key ingredient. Add honey and lemon juice to hot water and consume it. It greatly reduces weight if you take it on an empty stomach.
Blood purification: Lemonade acts like a blood purifier. It also helps in treating some conditions like cholera and malaria.
High blood pressure: Those suffering from heart related problems can drink lemon water. It contains potassium and thereby aids in treating nausea and hypertension.
Diuretic: Lemon is an excellent diuretic because it flushes out toxins and bacteria from the body. Hence, aids to treat arthritis and rheumatism.
Respiratory problems: Lemonade greatly aids asthmatics because it helps in treating problems associated with respiratory problems.
Lowering fever: Lemon water aids in treating flu and cold, and reduces body temperature as it increases perspiration.
Stomach conditions: Hot water and lemon juice greatly provides relief from several stomach problems. It gives relief from constipation, stomach parasites, nausea, bloating, heartburn, indigestion, etc.
This is all about lemon health benefits. You can get more benefits if you take it with lukewarm water. So, have lemon juice with water every day for better health.
Vitamin C can improve lung function in newborns of smoking women
Washington: Pregnant women who are unable to quit smoking can significantly improve the lung function of their newborns by taking Vitamin C daily.
This is the conclusion of a new study at Oregon Health and Science University Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
“Smoking during pregnancy is known to adversely affect the lung development of the developing baby, causing lifelong decreased lung function and an increased risk of asthma,” said Cindy McEvoy, M.D., M.C.R., neonatologist and associate professor of pediatrics at OHSU Doernbecher Children“s Hospital.
“We found that babies born to pregnant smoking women who took 500 milligrams of Vitamin C daily during their pregnancy had significantly improved pulmonary function tests measured at about 48 hours after delivery,” she stated.
In this pilot study, McEvoy and colleagues randomly assigned 159 pregnant women who were unable to quit smoking to either daily Vitamin C or a placebo starting before 22 weeks gestation through delivery. A group of nonsmoking pregnant women also was studied as a reference group.
The researchers measured the pulmonary function in all newborns at approximately 48 hours of age and found the newborns of smoking women who received Vitamin C supplementation had significantly improved lung function compared with the newborns of smoking women who received a placebo, as measured by standard newborn pulmonary function testing (TPTeF:TE and Crs).
In addition, the scientists found that one particular genetic variant that has been shown to increase the risk of smokers developing cancer and is associated with both a reduced ability to quit smoking and a high likelihood of relapse also seemed to intensify the harmful effects of maternal smoking on babies’ lungs.
“Getting women to quit smoking during pregnancy has to be priority one, but this study provides a way to potentially help the infants born to the 50 percent of women who cannot quit smoking when pregnant,” said McEvoy.
“Vitamin C supplementation may block some of the in-utero effects of smoking on fetal lung development.”
“Our findings are important because improved lung function tests at birth are associated with less wheezing and asthma in childhood.
“Vitamin C is a simple, safe, and inexpensive treatment that may decrease the impact of smoking during pregnancy on the respiratory health of children,” McEvoy said.
The results will be presented at the American Thoracic Society 2012 International Conference in San Francisco.
Source: http://zeenews.india.com
Malaria- What is Malaria ?
24 year old Satish works in a MNC in Delhi. One fine Sunday morning he complained of headache, severe body ache. He also said that he had nausea and vomiting. He could barely rise up from bed. He recorded a temperature of 104 deg F. He was shivering and also feeling cold. He was taken to a doctor and after a battery of investigations diagnosed with malaria.
India corresponds to 70% of malaria in the South East Asian region. Annually India reports two million cases and 1000 deaths. The forested pockets in Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka are areas where the prevalence of the disease is very high. Malaria they say affects 36% of the world’s population; around 2020 million people in 107 countries are affected.
What is malaria?
Malaria is an infectious disease that is caused by plasmodium parasite which infects the red blood cells and is characterized by fever, body ache, chills and sweating. Similar disease has also been described in the holy Vedas. It derives its name from mal aria which means ‘bad air’ in Italian. Of the four species that cause malaria (plasmodium vivax, plasmodium falciparum, plasmodium ovale, plasmodium malariae) plasmodium falciparum is the most serious and can cause serious complications. An individual can be infected with two species at the same time.
How does one get malaria?
The life cycle of malaria is complicated and it involves two hosts- the human being and the mosquito. Once bitten by a female anopheles mosquito, the malarial parasite enters the blood stream. It travels all through his blood stream to reach the liver. In the liver the parasite matures and multiplies. Some of the parasites stay there whereas the other parasites move out from the liver attacking red blood cells. The parasite then multiplies in the red blood cells. In the next 48-72 hours, more parasites are released into the blood. This is the reason why the chills of malaria are generally seen after 48 to 72 hours corresponding to the release of the malarial parasite in the blood.
What are the symptoms of malaria?
After been bitten by an infected mosquito, the disease takes around 14 days to manifest. Common symptoms are fever, chills, vomiting, nausea, body ache, headache, cough and diarrhoea. The cycle of fever and chills usually repeats after 48 hours (this corresponds to the release of parasite from the blood cell). After a few cycles of fever the person also develops anaemia due to breakdown of red blood cells. The spleen which is an organ situated beneath the rib cage on the left side enlarges and is felt in the stomach.
Why is malaria dangerous?
If untreated within 24 hours of the symptoms showing up, it can be a very serious and life threatening disease because of the following complications:
- Severe anaemia caused due to the red blood cells being destroyed.
- Jaundice
- Dehydration
- Cerebral malaria: the infected red blood cells block the vessels in the brain and lead to seizures and coma and eventually death if not treated.
- Very low BP leading to ‘shock’
- Liver failure
- Kidney failure
These symptoms can be more severe in pregnant females, babies and the elderly.
How is malaria diagnosed?
Normally blood is taken from a finger prick at a lab and the parasite is seen within your red blood cells under a microscope. A variety of rapid tests are available that detect the malaria antigen and can diagnose the condition in 10 minutes.
How is malaria treated?
The National Institute of Malaria Research has developed guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of malaria:
- Chloroquine is given to the patient and dose is given depending upon the body weight of the patient. The use of Chloroquine has led to the emergence of many Chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria cases. For such individuals, a drug called Artemisinin is given.
- Avoid giving anti-malarial drugs on an empty stomach. Always give the first dose under observation.
- Give plenty of fluids
- If no improvement occurs within 48 hours, call the doctor.
- Look for any warning signs of dehydration, reduced urine output, bleeding, seizures or coma.
How can malaria be prevented?
- Mosquitos breed in stagnant water – whether it is a nallah near your house, a pond in the neighbourhood or a water puddle near your house from a long time. Get them closed, cleaned up as soon as possible. Even plants in pots, bird baths, fountains etc should not hold stagnant water. The water in the swimming pools needs to be circulated and chlorinated.
- If you store water in the house due to its shortage, close the container.
- Use mosquito screens, nets, fibre glass meshes or magnetic insect repellent screens for your windows if you live in a mosquito-infested area. If possible, avoid the time immediately after dusk to venture out especially so for children. If you need to, wear clothes that cover your body to a large extent. Cover the exposed parts with a mosquito repellent.
- Indoor residual spraying with an insecticide is also recommended.
- Insecticide treated bed nets should be used in areas where mosquitos and malaria are rampant.
- If travelling to a malaria-endemic area, chemoprophylaxis is given to travellers. Consult your doctor and discuss your travel.
Eating Almonds can help prevent diabetes
As India grapples with a major public health problem, being home to an estimated 50.8 million diabetic population, the largest in the world, experts say consuming a few almonds daily can help combat the lifestyle disease. ”Eating almonds has a positive effect on reducing low density cholesterol and also improves insulin sensitivity; so it does help in pushing diabetes away,” says Ritesh Gupta, head of clinical operation at Fortis C-Doc Hospital.
“It is a healthy source of fibre, protein and calories and has been found to have a positive effect in reducing bad cholesterol and improved insulin sensitivity,” Gupta told IANS. Diabetes is caused when there is deficiency of insulin hormone, which controls blood sugar levels. Its symptoms include fatigue, excessive thirst and frequent urination. With an estimated 50.8 million people living with the disease, India has the world’s largest population of diabetics in the world, followed by China with 43.2 million, says the World Health Organisation (WHO). The number in India is expected to go up to 87 million – 8.4 percent of the country’s adult population – by 2030.
With India staring at a major public health threat due to diabetes and other lifestyle diseases, almond is now being hailed as the health nut. ”Indians are more prone to lifestyle diseases like diabetes. The increasingly sedentary lifestyle and fast food double up the risk. Almond, which has traditionally been part of our diet, is a high source of nutrition and helps push these diseases away,” says Anoop Misra, director of Diabetes Foundation (India).
“A handful of almonds contains 164 calories and 7 gm of protein, which helps in fighting hunger pangs and helps you control what you eat. Almonds also help growing children in developing strong bones,” he adds. A study done by scholars from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, West Chester University, Pennsylvania, and Loma Linda University of California, all in the US, and published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition also confirms that the nut can control diabetes if consumed regularly.
“A diet consisting of 20 percent of calories as almonds over a 16-week period is effective in improving markers of insulin sensitivity and yields clinically significant improvements in LDL-C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol) in adults with pre-diabetes,” the study said. ”We have made great strides in chronic disease research, from evidence of effective treatment to evidence of effective prevention,” said Michelle Wien, assistant research professor in nutrition at Loma Linda University’s School of Public Health.
She was also the principal investigator for the study, which was conducted at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. ”Low density cholesterol is the cholesterol which blocks the arteries. According to the study, the intake of almonds had a significant effect on reducing the levels, along with improving insulin sensitivity,” said Karen Lapsley, chief scientific officer of the Almond Board of California, which was an associate in the study.
“It’s also very easy to consume, one can have it any time, so it merges well with the hectic lifestyle,” Lapsley said. Gupta, however, adds that indiscreet consumption of almonds alone will not help and it should be seen as a percentage of total calorie intake. ”It is not that one can eat anything and pop five almonds. It has to be seen as a percentage of total calorie intake. The rest of the diet is as important,” he added.
Source: IANS
Sunlight could cuts the risk of heart attack
Forget CPR, aspirin and blood clot busters – treating a heart attack victim could be as simple as exposing them to light.
Doctors say strong light or even just daylight could cut the risk of having a heart attack or suffering permanent damage after having one.
They say that heart attack victims could recover quicker in hospital simply by being exposed to daylight.
The scientists said that daylight exposure inside of the hospital could reduce the damage that is caused by a heart attack
Experts say the answer lies in the body’s clock, or circadian rhythm, that is linked to light and dark.
The circadian clock is regulated by proteins in the brain. But the same proteins are also in the heart.
Heart expert Tobias Eckle, from the University of Colorado, Denver, and colleagues found that one of the proteins link to the body’s clock – called Period 2 – plays a vital role in fending off damage from a heart attack.
During a heart attack, little or no oxygen reaches the heart. Without oxygen, the heart has to switch from its usual fuel – fat – to glucose. Without that change in heart metabolism, cells die and the heart is damaged.
The study showed that the Period 2 protein is vital for that change in fuel, from fat to glucose, and therefore could make heart metabolism more efficient.
The team found that strong daylight activated Period 2 in animals and cut damage from a heart attack.
Professor Eckle said: ‘The study suggests that strong light, or even just daylight, might ease the risk of having a heart attack or suffering damage from one.
‘For patients, this could mean that daylight exposure inside of the hospital could reduce the damage that is caused by a heart attack.’
The research is published in the science journal Nature Medicine.
Future studies will try to understand how light is able to change heart metabolism in humans and how this could be used to treat heart attacks in patients.
The study was published in the April edition of the “Nature Medicine” research journal.
A.C. Graphics 