Category: Blood Pressure

10 Incredible Health Benefits of Nigella Seeds (Kalonji)

10 Incredible Health Benefits of Nigella Seeds (Kalonji)

Highlights

  • The kalonji, or Nigella seeds, is an interesting spice
  • The tiny black seed comes with a whole lot of health benefits
  • Its known to have anti-carcinogenic properties and keeps heart healthy

The kalonji, or Nigella seeds, is an interesting spice – when used for tempering, it adds a beautiful aroma to the dishes, and a hint of flavor that you can’t quite nail. In India, dry roasted kalonji is used for flavoring curries, dal, stir-fried vegetables, and even savories such as samosa, papdis and kachori among others.

Flavour and aroma aside, the tiny black seed comes with a whole lot of health benefits. It’s loaded with trace elements, vitamins, crystalline nigellone, amino acids, saponin, crude fiber, proteins and fatty acids like linolenic and oleic acids, volatile oils, alkaloids, iron, sodium, potassium and calcium. It keeps your heart healthy, addresses breathing problem, lubricates your joints, and is known to have anti-carcinogenic properties. That’s quite a lot for a seed that size, isn’t it? In fact, if you keep a bottle of kalonji oil at home, you can use them for plenty of things to boost your health and take care of niggling problems. Let’s take a look at some of them:

 

1. Fights Acne

Sweet lime juice and kalonji oil together can fix many skin problems. For every cup of sweet lime juice, you’ll need about half a teaspoon of kalonji oil. Apply the oil twice a day on your face and watch your blemishes and acne disappear. If you keep pure kalonji oil handy, you can use it to treat cracked heels as well.

skin tone

 

2. Keeps a Check on Diabetes

This is probably one of the most known benefits of kalonji. If you already have diabetes, kalonji oil can also help to manage it. Take half a teaspoon of the oil in a cup of black tea every morning, and see the difference in a few weeks.
diabetes

3. Increases Memory and Alleviates Asthma

Ground kalonji seeds with a little bit of honey is known to boost memory. And if you mix this in warm water and drink, it also helps in alleviating breathing trouble (asthma included) in children and adults alike. But you need to do this is for at least 45 days, and avoid cold beverages and food during the period. 

memory

4. Gets Rid of Headaches

One of the most common urban problems in today’s time is headaches. Instead of popping a pill, rub kalonji oil on your forehead, relax, and wait for your headache to disappear. Nothing like natural home remedies!
headache

5. Aids Weight Loss

The warm water, honey, and lemon combination is often recommended for those who are on a diet. Now add a pinch of powdered kalonji seeds to this mix and see how it works. Many health enthusiasts have claimed that kalonji seeds is a miracle ingredient which helps in shedding those extra kilos.weight loss

6. Eases Joint Pain

It’s an old-school treatment; take a handful of kalonji seeds, and heat it well with mustard oil. Once the oil is smoking, take it off the flame and cool it down for a bit. The oil is ready when you can dip the tip of a finger into the oil without feeling uncomfortable. Now use this oil to massage the inflamed joint.
joint pain

7. Controls Blood Pressure

For those who suffer from or have the tendency of high blood pressure can drink half a teaspoon of kalonji oil with warm water to keep hypertension under control. It is of course advised to follow a proper diet along with it.
blood pressure
8. Protects the Kidney
Kidney stones are a common urban problem. It is said that half a teaspoon of kalonji oil had with two teaspoons of honey and warm water can aid in getting rid of kidney pain, stones and infections. But you also need to consult a doctor to get a proper diet.
kidney

9. Makes Teeth Stronger

Did you know that kalonji has been used traditionally to take care of dental trouble such as swelling or bleeding of gums, and weak teeth? Of course you need to see a dentist, but you can also massage your teeth with curd and some kalonji oil twice a day to strengthen your gums.
teeth
 10. Strengthens Immunity
Kalonji oil, honey and warm water have more than one benefit. Apart from the ones already mentioned, it can also help to strengthen your immunity if consumed daily. If you add kalonji oil in boiling water and inhale the fumes, it can also reduce nasal congestion, and help those who suffer from sinusitis problems.
healthy woman

Quick Facts

  • When you’re buying nigella seeds, remember to check the pack carefully; the seeds are jet black and shouldn’t look stale.
  • Storing nigella is important. Always store it in a dry place and make sure it doesn’t come in contact with moisture.
  • Don’t buy large quantities of kalonji. 100 grams can take you a long way, so buy in smaller portions. This will prevent the seed from losing its aroma and benefits by sitting on the shelf for too long.

Disclaimer:

The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. Cymantra  is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Cymantra and Cymantra does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

This Author has found another health benefit of Kalonji Seeds. Suffering from intense heartburn for many years and trying all the standard remedies to no avail, I find that Kalonji seeds boiled and drank as a strong black tea almost alleviates my heartburn. Who’d have thought that this little black seed could provide so much pain relief from a otherwise daily occurrence.

Cymantra Admin

 

Original Article

Priya Chakraborty September 09, 2016

Magnesium deficiency, the signs and the remedy

magnesium-deficiency-effects

 

Signs of magnesium deficiency are everywhere in the United States and Canada, if you know what to look for. Unfortunately, the symptoms are so incredibly common that they constantly slip under the radar! Hardly anyone, especially doctors, notice that the ailments we suffer from on a daily basis are actually magnesium deficiency symptoms… and we’re all paying for it.
Just about every single person you come into contact with – especially those with a health problem, but even those with only minor complaints – are suffering in some way from this nationwide deficiency. Including you!

What Exactly Is Magnesium?

Magnesium is life. It is the 4th most abundant mineral in the body, right next to sulfur (which is JUST as important).

Along with being a mineral, magnesium is also an electrolyte. “Sports drinks” (aka sugar-filled scams) claim to contain electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium because we sweat away these important nutrients during exercise, and their deficiency is what leads to the common problems athletes face, such as muscle cramping! But believe me – electrolytes (especially magnesium) do so much more than treat and prevent muscle cramps.

First off, electrolytes are what allow us to be living, electrical beings. They are responsible for all electrical activity (and thus brain conductivity) in the body. Without electrolytes like magnesium, muscles can’t fire, your heart cannot beat, and your brain doesn’t receive any signals. We need magnesium to stay alive, point blank. As soon as we don’t have enough of it, we start to lose the energy and conductivity that keeps us going. Technically, as soon as we become deficient, we slowly begin to die, getting more aches and pains day by day, feeling worse year after year. I can’t stress it enough… signs of magnesium deficiency are everywhere, if you just look.

Magnesium is a cofactor in over three hundred reactions in the body, necessary for transmission of nerve impulses, temperature regulations, detoxification in the liver, and formation of bones and teeth. However, magnesium shows its true power in cardiovascular health. The Weston A. Price foundation writes, “Magnesium alone can fulfill the role of many common cardiac medications: magnesium inhibits blood clots (like aspirin), thins the blood (like Coumadin), blocks calcium uptake (like calcium channel-blocking durgs such as Procardia) and relaxes blood vessels (like ACE inhibitors such as Vasotec) (Pelton, 2001).”

Nearly EVERYONE has signs of magnesium deficiency but we don’t realize it…

Symptoms include:

  • Constipation
  • High blood pressure (Hypertension)
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Behavioral disturbances
  • Lethargy
  • Impaired memory/thinking
  • Seizures
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Pain
  • Muscle cramps
  • Chronic back pain
  • Headaches
  • Migraines
  • Muscular pain
  • Tendonitis
  • Anger
  • Aggression
  • ADHD
  • Brain fog
  • Tension
  • Anxiety disorders such as OCD

“Similarly, patients with diagnoses of depression, epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, tremor, Parkinsonism, arrhythmias, circulatory disturbances (stroke, cardiac infarction, arteriosclerosis), hypertension, migraine, cluster headache, cramps, neuro-vegetative disorders, abdominal pain, osteoporosis, asthma, stress dependent disorders, tinnitus, ataxia, confusion, preeclampsia, weakness, might also be consequences of the magnesium deficiency syndrome.”

Amazingly, the article referenced above even mentions neuro-vegetative disorders as a possible result of magnesium deficiency. This would include comas. Stress hormone production requires high levels of magnesium and stressful experiences can immediately lead to complete depletion of magnesium stores; could this be a contributing factor to why we see comas after traumatic accidents/injuries? As I mentioned above, magnesium is an electrolyte responsible for brain signals and conductivity. Without magnesium, people in comas may not be able to come to and resume conductivity. Many people with diabetes also fall into diabetic comas. Diabetes is listed as another possible consequence of magnesium deficiency. Could this be a factor in diabetic comas as well? Something to think about and research further!

symptoms-of-magnesium-deficiency

Cravings

Do you crave chocolate? Why, when people are stressed out, do they go for chocolate? Chocolate is one of the highest food sources of magnesium.

Magnesium is associated with so many disorders that Dr. Carolyn Dean of the Nutritional Magnesium Association has devoted an entire book to discussing how she has treated thousands of patients for a wide array of diseases, with magnesium as the primary component. Her book, The Magnesium Miracle, is a must-read if you have any of the magnesium deficiency symptoms above, or any health problems in general – as there is likely a magnesium component to everything. Check out 50 Studies Suggest That Magnesium Deficiency Is Killing Us.

 

Why Don’t Doctors Find Magnesium Deficiencies In Tests?

Unfortunately, conventional medicine has not woken up to the amount of research that has been done on magnesium deficiency.

One of the reasons Western Medicine is so off base with magnesium is how they test it: with blood tests.

Blood tests do not yield ANY information about magnesium… why? Because the body controls the levels of blood magnesium very tightly. If the magnesium in the blood drops just a little bit, you’re going to have a heart attack. It’s that sample. So to prevent this, the body will rob all of its cells, tissues, and bones of magnesium in order to keep the blood levels constant. If you do a blood test for magnesium, the cells could be completely empty while your blood levels remain constant.

What’s worse is that magnesium is not even in your blood. 99% of the magnesium in the body is stored in the cells that get robbed, while a mere 1% of your body’s total magnesium is in the blood. These tests are a complete waste of time, and they’re not educating doctors to this reality.

“A serum test for magnesium is actually worse than ineffective, because a test result that is within normal limits lends a false sense of security about the status of the mineral in the body. It also explains why doctors don’t recognize magnesium deficiency; they assume serum magnesium levels are an accurate measure of all the magnesium in the body.” – Dr. Carolyn Dean, The Magnesium Miracle.

 

Why Are We So Deficient?

Here’s the short(ish) version: Number one, we’re being poisoned by our food. Number two, we’re increasingly stressed out. We’re running our engines on high to keep up with life and it’s draining us. Stress hormone production requires high levels of magnesium and stressful experiences lead to depletion of magnesium stores. Number three, we’re eating more sugar than ever. For every molecule of sugar we consume, our bodies use 54 molecules of magnesium to process it. Fourth, low levels in the soil and modern farming techniques deplete stores of magnesium. And lastly, magnesium is depleted by many pharmaceutical drugs and estrogen compounds such as oral contraceptives, antibiotics, cortisone, prednisone, and blood pressure medications (“Drug-induced nutrient depletion handbook,” Pelton, 2001). Diuretics in coffee and tea (caffeine) also raise excretion levels. Oh and by the way – flouride competes for absorption with magnesium!

Nowadays, nearly everyone is magnesium deficient – no test needed. Refined/processed foods are stripped of their mineral, vitamin, and fiber content. These are anti-nutrient foods because they actually steal magnesium in order to be metabolized. When consumed, they demand that we supplement with magnesium or we are destined to break down eventually due to severe deficiency. Like I said, sugar is the worst offender. Every single molecule of sugar you consume drags over 50 times the amount of magnesium out of your body.

Well, what if you eat a healthy diet? Processed products are not the only foods that are devoid of magnesium. In general, magnesium has been depleted from topsoil, diminishing dietary intake across the board while our need for magnesium has increased, due to the high levels of toxic exposure we come across in our daily lives (air, water, plastics, chemicals, the list goes on!). The soil is depleted of magnesium because of the pesticides that are sprayed on all conventionally grown plants and worldwide pollution that affects even the cleanest fields. Pesticides also kill those beneficial bacteria/fungi that are necessary in order for plants to convert soil nutrients into plant nutrients usable by humans.

 

Are You A Cannabis User?

Cannabis has so many positive effects in terms of treating diseases such as epilepsy, cancer, and more (read 1, 2, 3 and cureyourowncancer.org). Trust me, I’ll be the first to tell you I’m all for it – it’s a safe and effective herb with countless therapeutic benefits that the government has been hiding for years. The only way they want you using it is if they’ve patented one of its’ chemical compounds and can sell it to you for a profit.

However, we should also look at what happens to our body on a cellular level if we use cannabis on a daily basis. Would you take parasite cleansing herbs every day for the rest of your life, or even every few days? Probably not. You’d take them when you’re sick or during a monthly cleanse, or else you’d develop some side effects from overuse. We need to remember that cannabis is a powerful herbal medicine and should be treated in such a way.

It turns out that using marijuana tends to deplete the body’s stores of magnesium, with the result that the person feels more on-edge after coming down from the high.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t safe in moderation. It means that over time, if used consistently without proper balance via magnesium replenishment, it can and will cause magnesium deficiency.

 

The Best Ways To Get Magnesium

1. Eat magnesium rich foods grown on organic soil.mag-2Bcollage

2. Take ionic magnesium drops. This is my new favorite method, which I’ve learned from The Magnesium Miracle.

3. Apply magnesium oil to your skin! This is the second best way to raise your levels.

4. Soak in Epsom salt baths. This will provide not only magnesium, but sulfur for your liver as well.

Additional References (not linked in the article)

Oxford Journals – Magnesium Basics: http://ckj.oxfordjournals.org/content/5/Suppl_1/i3.full

Dr. Carolyn Dean, MD: http://drcarolyndean.com/magnesium_miracle/

Source: http://collective-evolution.com

 

by ORGANIC OLIVIA

 

The many Benefits of Watermelon Seeds

take-watermelon-seeds-and-boil-them-the-results-will-shock-you-recipe

We all enjoy consuming watermelon. But, we throw out the tiny seeds without to realize their health advantages.

These seeds consist of nutrients like fatty acids, essential proteins, minerals like magnesium, potassium, manganese, iron, zinc, phosphorus and are full of vitamin B like thiamine, niacin, folate. Also, they offer 600grams of calories.

Watermelon seeds have citrulline substance which acts an antioxidant, which has a positive effect in the case of arteriosclerosis, hypertension, angina and erectile dysfunction, thus promoting the expansion of blood vessels.

These seeds are useful for treating diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. Make a tea from fresh watermelon seeds in order to remove the stones and sand in the kidneys.

Cook, grind or bake them in order to take the maximum advantage of its medicinal properties.

HERE’S THE MAGIC RECIPE:

You need 20-30 watermelon seeds. Grind and boil them for 15minutes in 2l water. Consume this for 2 days and make a pause the third day.

The procedure needs to be repeated for several weeks but is very important to pause every third day.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF WATERMELON SEEDS

  1. Protect heart health

The seeds which are full of magnesium save the heart so it could work normally. Also, they maintain the blood pressure level and enhance the metabolism process. They are amazing to avoid heart diseases and hypertension.

  1. Prevent aging

The seeds have antioxidant content which helps you to avoid aging, strengthen your skin, and keep it healthier and young.

  1. Clean acne

Clean your acne, dirt, and dead skin cells by taking a cotton bud and dipping it in watermelon seed oil. This oil is suitable for every kind of skin and will help you to deal with the aliment of skin.

  1. Strengthen hair

These seeds have high protein and amino acid content which will easily strengthen your hair. Also, roasted watermelon seeds will make your hair shiny because of the copper they contain which produce melanin – a pigment that gives color to your hair.

  1. Treat itchy scalp

Watermelon seed oil has a mild texture which can be absorbed easily. You can use the oil as a moisturizer for dried, itchy scalp.

  1. Prevent hair damage

The seed has essential fatty acids which will help to avoid hair damage.

  1. Blood pressure regulation and coronary heart disease prevention

Arginine will help you to deal with coronary heart disease and will balance the blood pressure. Arginine also helps in preventing narrowing of blood vessels. Tryptophan and lysine are other amino acids which are present in these types of seeds.

  1. Rich source of magnesium for better immune system

The advantages of consuming watermelon seeds make a lot of supply of magnesium which is present in food like wheat, rice, oat and cocoa powder. Pantothenic acid is known as vitamin B5 which is essential for breaking down carbohydrates into energy.

  1. Dietary management of beriberi caused by vitamin B6 deficiency

The deficiency of vitamin B6 can cause a condition referred to as Beriberi. B6 is a complex vitamin B which helps to convert carbohydrate into energy.

  1. Provides essential amino acids

The body needs amino acids as argnine and lysine to perform in the perfect way. The latter is effective for the assimilation of calcium for strengthening the bones and the tissues.

  1. Gives unsaturated healthy fats to the body

80% of the watermelon seeds fats are unsaturated and healthy fats with an addition of omega 3 acids. These seeds are a great source of energy to the body with no additional calories and they will fulfill half of the needed health fats per day.

  1. Hair and nails

The seeds include a good amount of protein which keeps our hair healthy and glossy, and our fingernails long and robust.

  1. Magnesium source

The seeds have a great amount of magnesium which is well for maintaining the functions of the body in a perfect manner. It strikes a balance between the blood pressure levels and helps in the perfect functioning of the heart.

  1. Watermelon seeds can cure edema

Toss a teaspoon of dry and ground watermelon seeds in a teaspoon of honey, and then put it in a ¾ cup of warm water. Mix it well and consume it immediately – 2 times daily. It will help you to control edema problem

  1. Enhances male fertility

Watermelon seeds have lycopene antioxidant which is an excellent and efficient remedial method to boost the male potency levels in men.

  1. Recovery benefits

If you want to properly recover from an illness, utilize watermelon seeds in the diet. Within a couple of days, you will see the effects. Also, for those who have memory issues, the seeds will help to recover and sharp the memory once again.

  1. Treats diabetes

To control diabetes, put a handful of watermelon seeds in 1l water for 45minutes. This is a worthy benefit due to the prevalence of diabetes within the population.

  1. Moisturizes the skin

The watermelon seeds have fatty acids which are a perfect use for soft, supple and moisturized skin. Also, it helps to prevent skin conditions and acne issues.

  1. Keeps the hair black

The seeds have minerals like copper which helps in promoting the creation of melanin in the body liable for providing color to the hair. Also, it offers the color to the skin.

  1. Prevents hair breakage

The watermelon seeds have essential fatty acids which deeply nourish the hair strands. This gives strength to the hair and causes it to be a point that hair breakage is kept at bay. Combine the oil with a carrier oil and massage the scalp once in a week.

Source: Family Health Freedom Network

 

The Healthiest Fruits on the Planet

Fruits are nature’s treat for humans. They are healthy and sweet at the same time! There are very few fruits that can cause side effects that too when consumed in excess. In moderate to little high proportions Fruitsmost of the fruits can serve up a big portion of your daily requirement of Vitamins, minerals and essential fiber. All fruits are different from each other yet all of them pack a punch when it comes to nutrition and their health benefits(1); the most common of them are:
> They carry strong anti-oxidant properties that help them block the free radical damage, strengthen our immune system and prevent or slow the spread of Cancer;
> Fruits have high water content which keeps the body hydrated and restores the lost electrolyte balance owing to heavy exercises;
> Fruits contain a good amount of dietary fiber that aids digestions, prevents constipation, ensures good bowel movement and cleanses colon;
> Most of the fruits are low in fats and the ones that have fats contain good cholesterol known as HDL (high density lipoproteins) which combats and reduces the level of bad cholesterol in the body.
> Fruits are good for bones, teeth and reduce the risk of age related degenerative diseases;
> Fruits regulate blood pressure, lower down cholesterol and are therefore excellent for heart health;
> Fruits are better than any cosmetic product for keeping your facial skin youthful, reducing spots and delaying the ageing and wrinkling;
> Fruits promote healthy hair growth, reduce hair fall and prevent premature greying.
With so many basic benefits, there is no reason one cannot have a platter of seasonal fruits everyday. There is such a huge variety that you are bound to find something that suits your taste.
[Note: All nutritional details are per 100 grams of serving]

Top 45 Fruits Health Benefits And Nutrition Facts

1. Acai Berries

Nutrition Facts: These beautiful blue black berries are high fiber berries and unlike moAcai Berryst of the fruits have a significant amount of healthy fats. Acai berries are made up of 23% Carbohydrates, 71% of fats and 6% proteins.
Fats 71%
Carbohydrates 23%
Protein 6%
Glycemic load 1/100
fiber 2 gms
Vitamin A 15%
Saturated Fat 1.5 gms
Health Benefits: Great for digestion, Keeps you well hydrated, cleanses colon and encourages good fats in the body.
Trivia: Each branch of Acai palm bears 700-900 Acai berries every year! Acai berries must be packed in an air-tight container immediately as they tend to rot incredibly fast on exposure to air.

2. Apples

Nutrition Facts: Apples is one of the most popular fruit that is grown worldwide and comeapples from the family of rose. A 100 grams of Apple contains 13.81 grams of carbohydrate with 10.39 grams of Sugar, 3.3 mcg of Fluoride and 85% water.
Fats 3%
Carbohydrates 95%
Protein 2%
Glycemic load 3/100
fiber 2.4 gms
Vitamin C 8%
Phytosterols 12 mg
Water 85.6 g
Health benefits: Highly beneficial for strong teeth and gums, good source for fiber, prevents diabetes especially in women and incidence of gall stones.
Trivia: There are about 10,000 varieties of Apples grown in the world today! A very few people know this that Apples originated in Central Asia and not in the west. A naughty fact about Apple- Tossing an apple at a girl in ancient Greece was meant as a proposal of marriage.

3. Apricots

Nutrition Facts: Apricots come from the species of Prunus Armeniaca and a 100 grams of serving contains
11 grams of Carbohydrates of which 2 grams is Dietary fiber. It is a rich source of ApricotVitamin A (96 mcg), Beta Carotene (1094 mcg) and Vitamin C (10 mg).
Fats 7%
Carbohydrates 83%
Protein 10%
Glycemic load 4/100
fiber 2 gms
Vitamin A 39%
Vitamin C 17%
Potassium 7%
Water 86.4 g
Health Benefits: It is a strong Anti-oxidant which defies tumors and protects from signs of early ageing. Apricots help in regulating bowel movements, maintain  healthy eyes and are great for your hair and skin.
Trivia: Apricots are natives of Asia, from where they spread to Persia, Europe and finally to the US. In Ancient China they were believed to improve the fertility of women.

4. Avocados

Nutrition Facts: Also known as Alligator pear, Avocados are a high energy fruit with 100 grams serving releasing 160 Kcal. It has a very high content of dietary fiber at 6.7 grams and 9.80 monounsaturated fats.Avaocado
It is a rich source of Vitamin B2, B3, B5, b6, B9, C, E and K! You can also derive a healthy composition of trace metals like Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium and Zinc.
Fats 77%
Carbohydrates 19%
Protein 4%
Glycemic load 2/100
fiber 6.7 gms
Vitamin C 17%
Vitamin E 10%
Vitamin K 26%
Vitamin B2 8%
Vitamin B3 9%
Vitamin B6 13%
Folate 20%
Potassium 14%
Magnesium 7%
Copper 9%
Water 73.2 g
Health Benefits: Avocados are great for Cardiovascular Health, promote digestion, protect eyes, prevent and slow down age related degenerative diseases, help in weight loss and protect from free radical damage.
Trivia: They are perfect for people who are Vegan and are allergic to gluten. Avocado trees do not self-polinate, they need other Avocado trees to bear fruits.

5. Banana

Nutrition Facts: Bananas are typically a tropical fruits though they are widely grown across the world today. They are low fat and are made 22 % of carbohydrates.
Bananas are powerhouse of VitaminBanana B6, b5 and Vitamin C. They have a healthy composition of Manganese, Magnesium and Potassium.
Fats 3%
Carbohydrates 93%
Protein 4%
Glycemic load 8/100
fiber 2.6 gms
Vitamin C 15%
Vitamin B6 18%
Potassium 10%
Magnesium 7%
Manganese 13%
Water 74.9 g
Health Benefits: They lower blood pressure, are great for your heart, protect from diabetes, improves mood and helps in treating diarrhea.
Trivia: Bananas are botanically classified as Berries! There are about 1000 varieties of bananas grown across the world and 100 billion of them are consumed annually making them the 4th largest agricultural product.

6. Blackberries

Nutrition Facts: They come from Rosaceae Family and are a rich source of carbohydrates. You can derive significant amount of Vitamin C, Vitamin K and folate from these berries. They are also rich in Manganese and BlackberriesCopper. Apart from these, it also contains Choline in considerable proportions.
Fats 10%
Carbohydrates 79%
Protein 11%
Glycemic load 3/100
fiber 5.3 gms
Vitamin C 35%
Vitamin K 25%
Copper 8%
Manganese 32%
Water 88.1 g
Health Benefits: Blackberries have cancer fighting properties, is great for your skin, keeps up the electrolyte level in the body, acts as astringent, helps in treating dysentry and helps in effective diabetes management.
Trivia: When they are unripe, blackberries have reddish pink color. Many varieties of Blackberries are covered in thorns and they taste best in Jams and relish.

7. Blueberries

Nutrition Facts: These are perennial berries and is grown in Europe, Asian, Africa and North America. These berries are low fat and high fiber fruits with a rich composition of Vitamin C and Vitamin K. blueberriesIt is particularly high in trace metal, Manganese.
Fats 5%
Carbohydrates 91%
Protein 4%
Glycemic load 4/100
fiber 2.4 gms
Vitamin C 16%
Vitamin K 24%
Manganese 17%
Water 84.2 g
Health Benefits: Blueberries are excellent anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory agent, rejuvenates your skin, prevents Cancer, delays and protects from age related degenerative conditions and keeps your bladder in a healthy shape.
Trivia: For Native Americans blueberries are nothing less than divine. They believe that god himself made these berries to feed the children  during famine. During the American Civil war, Blueberries were staple food of troops. Blueberries are amongst the rarest fruits that bear the blue color naturally.

8. Cantaloupe

Nutrition Facts: Also known as Musk melon and honeydew, it is a very fragrant andCantaloupe sweet fruit which originated in Ancient Armenia. Cantaloupe has rich composition of Vitamins like Vitamin A, Beta Carotene and Vitamin C. It contains minerals in moderation but has high concentrate of Manganese.
Fats 5%
Carbohydrates 87%
Protein 8%
Glycemic load 3/100
fiber 0.9 gms
Vitamin A 68%
Vitamin C 61%
Potassium 8%
Water 90.2 g
Health Benefits: Protects lungs health, maintains cardiovascular system, treats insomnia, nurtures pregnancies, rejuvenates skin, keeps the body hydrated and prevents hair loss.
Trivia: Cantaloupe was introduced to America the the great explorer Christopher Columbus. Honey dew, musk melon etc are the different species of same fruit.

9. Cherimoya

Nutrition Facts: Cherimoya is a less known fruit and is considered to have originated in Andes. CherimoyaIt is a high fiber fruit which is rich source of Vitamin B2, B6 and Vitamin C. It contains trace metals and minerals in moderation which makes it a very safe fruit.
Fats 7%
Carbohydrates 86%
Protein 7%
Glycemic load 6/100
fiber 2.3 gms
Vitamin C 19%
Vitamin B6 11%
Potassium 8%
Water 79.4 g
Health Benefits: It is known to for its anti-inflammatory properties, is good for your heart, optimizes immune function, improves bone health and delays appearance of signs of ageing on skin as well as hair.
Trivia: Cherimoya tree is known as Tree of Ice cream; it is all thanks to the creamy and tasty fruit it bears. Cherimoya is a sensitive fruit and gets spoilt really fast because of which it is usually available only locally where it is produced.

10. Cherry

Nutrition Facts: Cherry is a stone fruit from genus Prunus and is popular in its sweet form. CherriesSweet cherries are high energy and high fiber fruits with a very moderate composition of Vitamins and minerals. It mainly consists of Carbohydrates with hardly any fats.
Fats 3%
Carbohydrates 91%
Protein 6%
Glycemic load 5/100
fiber 2.1 gms
Vitamin C 12%
Potassium 6%
Water 82.2 g
Health Benefits: It helps in controlling diabetes, improves the quality of sleep, known to reduce and delay skin ageing, reduce muscle pain, manages arthritis and prevents cancer.
Trivia: Darker the color of cherry, healthier the fruit. Cherry has thousand varieties but only ten are produced commercially. One tree of cherry can produce almost 7000 cherries every year!

11. Choke berry

Nutrition Facts: It is native to North America and belongs to the family of Rosaceaea. ChokeberriesThey come on three colors- Black, Red and sometimes in purple. It is low in calories and high in dietary fiber. Chokeberries have a well balanced composition of Vitamin A, C, E, K and folate. The mineral density of chokeberries mostly include Iron, Calcium, Potassium, Manganese and Zinc.
Fats 6%
Carbohydrates 87%
Protein 7%
Glycemic load 9/100
fiber 17 gms
Vitamin K 37%
Vitamin B6 10%
Potassium 9%
Manganese 10%
Water 61.5 g
Health Benefits: Chokeberries help in controlling blood cholesterol, chronic inflammation, cancer, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, prevent ulcers and maintain liver health.
Trivia: Chokeberries boast of one of the highest concentrate of anti-oxidants in fruits. The term chokeberry comes from the fact that this berry leaves a sensation in the mouth and throat making it feel dry like partial choking!

12. Cranberries

Nutrition Facts: Cranberries grow on dwarf shrubs and are white when unripe. Completely ripe Cranberriescranberries have deep red color and they are high on carbohydrates with very significant amount of dietary fiber but very low in fat composition. It is particularly rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin E. In trace metals, it has high quantity of Manganese.
Fats 2%
Carbohydrates 95%
Protein 3%
Glycemic load 2/100
fiber 4.6 gms
Vitamin C 22%
Vitamin E 6%
Vitamin K 6%
Manganese 18%
Water 87.1 g
Health Benefits: It has strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, keeps your body well hydrated, is great for your facial skin, has anti-cancer properties, protects liver and its juice cures UTI (Urinary Tract Infection).
Trivia: Cranberries are used by Native American as color dye and used stewed cranberries to cure arrow wounds! Thanksgiving in America and Canada is incomplete without serving of this sweet sour tarty berries.

13. Dates

Nutrition Facts: Dates are one of the oldest cultivated edible fruits and are believed to have Datesoriginated somewhere around Iraq. Dates are high energy, dietary fiber and high sugar fruit. But its use as a substitute to sugar is considered far healthier than the artificial Sugar itself. It is a rich source of Vitamin B5 and B6. It is particularly known for its trace metal composition which has Manganese, Magnesium, Potassium and Phosphorus.
Fats 0%
Carbohydrates 98%
Protein 2%
Glycemic load 39/100
fiber 6.7 gms
Vitamin B3 8%
Vitamin B6 12%
Potassium 20%
Magnesium 14%
Manganese 15%
Copper 18%
Water 21.3 g
Health Benefits: It alleviates constipation, prevents Anemia, provides instant energy, is good for heart, controls diarrhea and is generally good for regulating digestion.
Trivia: Dates Palm are national symbols of Arabia and Israel. They have a rare specialty which allows them to be irrigated with Ocean water and need at least 100 days of strong sunshine to flourish in the best way. They are sturdy and very tolerant to nature’s elements.

14. Durian Fruit

Nutrition Facts: This fruit belongs to the Genus Durio and has hard thick and thorny coveringDurian. The fruit itself is soft, creamy, juicy and emits strong odor. This fruit is a high energy and high carbohydrate fruit. It contains significant amount of Vitamin B1, B2, B6, Folate and Vitamin C. It also has a rich composition of trace metals like Manganese, Magnesium and Potassium.
Fats 30%
Carbohydrates 67%
Protein 3%
Glycemic load 10/100
fiber 3.8 gms
Vitamin C 33%
Vitamin B1 25%
Vitamin B2 12%
Vitamin B6 16%
Potassium 12%
Folate 9%
Copper 10%
Magnesium 8%
Manganese 16%
Water 65 g
Health Benefits: It aids digestion, improves blood flow, boosts healthy cholesterol, prevents anemia, improves metabolism and nourishes pregnancy.
Trivia: Durian is not a great fruit if take in excess by those who want to shed weight but is a great addition to a weight loss regimen in limited quantities. The smell of this fruit is hated by a lot of people and is termed as “worst smelling fruit in the World”!

15. Figs

Nutrition Facts: Figs are from the family- Moraceae and genus Ficus. It is a native of FigsMiddle East and Western Asia. Fig is powerhouse of energy and has a high sugar and fiber content. It has a complete composition of Vitamins in form of Vitamin A, B2, B5, B6 and Vitamin K. It also contains a rich combination of trace metals- Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus and Zinc.
Fats 3%
Carbohydrates 94%
Protein 3%
Glycemic load 6/100
fiber 2.9 gms
Vitamin K 6%
Vitamin B6 6%
Potassium 7%
Water 79.1 g
Health Benefits: Figs can provide a lot of energy almost instantly. They are high in antioxidants, cure constipation, prevents gastrointestinal disorders, is good for skin, reduces the risk of Colon cancer and regulates blood pressure.
Trivia: The blossoms of figs are inside the fruit which give rise to so many tiny seeds that are edible and make it crunchy. Earlier Olympic athletes used to eat figs as a part of special diet recommended to them. Half cup of Figs have calcium equal to half glass of milk!

16. Goose Berries

Nutrition Facts: Gooseberries come from the same species as currants i.e Ribes. It is native tGooseberrieso Europe and has bitter sour taste. Goose berries are made up majorly of carbohydrates with high amount of Dietary fiber. It is a very rich source of Vitamin C and Manganese. Other nutrients are in moderate quantities in these berries.
Fats 11%
Carbohydrates 82%
Protein 7%
Glycemic load 2/100
fiber 4.3 gms
Vitamin C 46%
Manganese 7%
Water 87.9 g
Health Benefits: Goose berries enhance digestion, have strong anti-oxidant properties, improve the quality of hair, boost calcium absorption in the body, relieve from menstrual cramps and is very effective in controlling diabetes.
Trivia: If you consume water right after chewing on a gooseberry, it gives it out a sweet aftertaste. These berries are usually consumed in form of chewies, pickles and preserves and are rarely eaten in their natural form.

17. Grapes

Nutrition Facts: Grapes are berries and come from the Genus Vitis. Grapes have high sugarGrapes nutritionand healthy water content. They are a rich source of Vitamin B1, B2, B6 and Vitamin K. It is a safe fruit to consume because the composition of trace metals in this fruit is moderate.
Fats 2%
Carbohydrates 94%
Protein 4%
Glycemic load 6/100
fiber 0.9 gms
Vitamin C 18%
Copper 6%
Water 80.5 g
Health Benefits: They keep you well hydrated, flush toxins from the body, help in managing asthma, prevents heart diseases, reduce fatigue, aids digestion and is good for bone health.
Trivia: Grapes are new to America and were brought here some 300 years ago. About 2.5 pounds of grapes go into making one bottle of wine. Grapes come in green, black , red, yellow and even blue color! Raisins are sun dried grapes.
Know More:  Grapes Health Benefit

18. Grapefruit

Nutrition Facts: Though it has “grape” in its name but grapefruit is not related to them inGrapefruitanyway and look more like oranges. Grapefruits have a rich water content and contain carbohydrates with a high sugar proportions. It has a very high Vitamin C content and rest of Vitamins and minerals are found in smaller quantities.
Fats 3%
Carbohydrates 91%
Protein 6%
Glycemic load 3/100
fiber 1.6 gms
Vitamin A 23%
Vitamin C 52%
Potassium 4%
Water 88.1 g
Health Benefits: Grapefruit is known for its antioxidant properties, keeps you well hydrated, gives radiant skin, reduces risk of stroke, controls high blood pressure, has cancer preventing characteristics and prevents Asthma.
Trivia: Grapefruit actually evolved from another fruit which is native to Indonesia and Malaysia. Grapefruit is made 75% of water and if freshly squeezed juice is frozen immediately then it retains all its goodness for up to a week!

19. Guava

Nutrition Facts: Guava is a tropical fruit and the most common variety is called an Apple guava. Guava nutrition factsGuava is high energy and high sugar fruit with an impressive proportion of dietary fiber. It has the highest amount of Vitamin C, more than oranges! It also contains Vitamin B3, B5, B6 and Folate. It also has a healthy combination of Magnesium, Manganese and Potassium.
Fats 12%
Carbohydrates 75%
Protein 13%
Glycemic load 8/100
fiber 5.4 gms
Vitamin A 12%
Vitamin C 381%
Folate 12%
Potassium 12%
Copper 11%
Water 80.8 g
Health Benefits: It is a very rich anti-oxidant, is good for teeth and gums, is good for digestion, helps in diabetes management, improves vision, nurtures pregnancy and balances electrolyte levels in the body.
Trivia: The leaves of Guava have a toxin which discourages the growth of any other plants near a Guava tree. Guava is used as a popular salad ingredient and in fruit punches all around the world.

20. Jackfruit

Nutrition Facts: Jackfruit comes from Mulberry family and is a native of South and SouthJackfruitEast Asia particularly India. It contains high proportion of Sugar and dietary fiber. It is a rich source of Vitamin B1, B6 and Vitamin C. Amongst the trace metals, it contains high quantities of Magnesium and Potassium.
Fats 3%
Carbohydrates 92%
Protein 5%
Glycemic load 10/100
fiber 1.6 gms
Vitamin C 11%
Vitamin B2 6%
Potassium 9%
Copper 9%
Manganese 10%
Water 73.2 g
Health Benefits: It optimizes immune function, provides instant energy, maintains blood pressure, ensures healthy cardiovascular system, improves digestion, is good for eyesight and slows down the process of ageing.
Trivia: Jackfruit is the largest tree borne fruit and can weigh up to 50 kilos when completely grown up and reach up to a size of one meter! The smell and appearance of Jackfruit is akin to Durian but they are not a related species.

21. Kiwi Fruit

Nutrition Facts: Kiwi is a berry and is native to Northern China with some species originatingKiwi health benefits n nutrition factsfrom India and Siberia as well. Kiwi has a good amount of dietary fiber and is a rich source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B5, Folate and Vitamin E. They contain significant amount of Potassium with other metals in moderate quantities.
Fats 7%
Carbohydrates 87%
Protein 6%
Glycemic load 4/100
fiber 3 gms
Vitamin C 155%
Vitamin K 50%
Potassium 9%
Water 83.1 g
Health Benefits: Kiwi protects from free radical damage, is anti-cancer, alleviates symptoms of Asthma, maintains cardiovascular health, slows down macular degeneration and controls diabetes.
Trivia: Kiwi does not self pollinate and needs one male and female variety to reproduce. The largest producers of Kiwi fruit are New Zealand, Italy and Chile. Kiwi tree produces fruit for over 30 years and can survive for up to 50 years.

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22. Kumquat

Nutrition Facts: Kumquat belongs to the family Rutaceae and resembles oranges closely in Kumquatterms of appearance and taste. Kumquat has a very high fiber content in raw form and is a rich source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B2, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese and Calcium.
Fats 10%
Carbohydrates 81%
Protein 9%
Glycemic load 4/100
fiber 6.5 gms
Vitamin C 73%
Manganese 7%
Water 80.8 g
Health Benefits: Kumquat increase immunity, Protects from cancer, improves Cardiovascular health, protects from Diabetes, is an anti-inflammatory agent, delays ageing, expedites healing and improves bone health.
Trivia: Kumquat has a sweet skin so it can be eaten whole including the skin. The flesh of this fruit is quite sour. They do not belong to citrus family but have their very own genus!

23. Lemon

Nutrition Facts: Lemon is native to Asia and is extremely sour fruit. Lemon has an impressiveLemon amount of Dietary fiber and almost equal amount of Sugar content. It is a rich source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and has rest of the Vitamins and minerals in moderate quantities.
Fats 13%
Carbohydrates 63%
Protein 14%
Glycemic load 3/100
fiber 4.7 gms
Vitamin C 128%
Copper 13%
Water 87.4 g
Health Benefits: It strengthens immunity, protects from common diseases like cold and flu, aids weight loss, regulates ideal blood pressure, improves digestion, alleviates fever, brightens skin tone, restores electrolyte balance and application of skin removes scars and spots gradually.
Trivia: Lemon acts as a natural bleaching agent. The tree is in bloom the entire year and one tree can produce over 200 Kgs of lemons in a year! 5%-6% of lemon is made of Citric acid which makes it very sour and tarty.

24. Loquat Fruit

Nutrition Facts: Loquat belongs to family Rosaceae and is a native to South- Central China. LoquatLoquat is a very safe fruit as the nutritional composition of this fruit is very moderate. It is high in dietary fiber and is rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B6 and Manganese.
Fats 4%
Carbohydrates 93%
Protein 3%
Glycemic load 3/100
fiber 1.7 gms
Vitamin A 31%
Potassium 8%
Water 86.7 g
Health Benefits: Loquat protects from Colon Cancer, improves skin health, maintains blood pressure, increases blood formation, strengthens bones, improves eye sight and protects from Cancer.
Trivia: Loquat is a popular Ornamental plant and bear fragrant flowers. They need sunny days to grow well and are drought tolerant.

25. Lychee

Nutrition Facts: It is the only member of genus Litchi in Soapberry family. This fragrant, juicy lycheeand very sweet fruit is healthy source of Sugar, dietary fiber and is rich in water content. It has high amount of Vitamin C and has other vitamins and minerals in low but complete composition.
Fats 6%
Carbohydrates 90%
Protein 4%
Glycemic load 5/100
fiber 1.3 gms
Vitamin C 119%
Copper 7%
Water 81.8 g
Health Benefits: It strengthens immunity, protects from free radical damage, boosts blood production and purification, optimizes metabolism, great for skin and takes care of your Cardiovascular health.
Trivia: Lychees do not ripe after being harvested. Lychee is also used in perfume and it has a classic combination with Rose perfume and rose flavor.

26. Mango

Nutrition Facts: Mango is supremely tasty fruit which belongs to the genus Mangifera and is aMango native of South and South East Asia. It is high on sugar and dietary fiber. Mango is a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, folate and Vitamin C. The nutrients in form of mineral and trace metals are present in strictly moderate quantities.
Fats 3%
Carbohydrates 94%
Protein 3%
Glycemic load 5/100
fiber 1.8 gms
Vitamin A 15%
Vitamin C 46%
Vitamin B6 7%
Copper 6%
Water 81.7 g
Health Benefits: Mango is rich in anti-oxidants, improves eye health, lowers cholesterol, improves digestion if taken in moderation and boosts immunity.
Trivia: Mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan and Philippines. Mango tree is national tree of Bangladesh. It is a summer fruit and has over thousand varieties. They are close relatives of Cashew and Pistachios!

27. Mangosteen

Nutrition Facts: Mangosteen is evergreen and is believed to have originated in Indonesia. MangosteenIt has significant amount of fiber and is a rich source of Vitamin B9 and has considerable amount of Vitamin B1, B2 and Manganese. Rest of the other nutrients are found in smaller quantities in Mangosteen.
Fats 7%
Carbohydrates 91%
Protein 2%
Glycemic load 5/100
fiber 1.8 gms
Vitamin C 5%
Folate 8%
Manganese 5%
Water 80.9 g
Health Benefits: It is a low calorie fruit which has impressive antioxidant properties, improves blood flow, lowers bad cholesterol in the body, is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal in nature, expedites cell repair and aids weight loss.
Trivia: It is national fruit of Thailand and is known for its amazingly delicious taste. The Mangosteen tree can grow up to 75 feet and it takes about 10 years for the tree to bear its first fruit!

28. Mulberries

Nutrition Facts: Mulberries cover 10-16 species of deciduous trees collectively called Mulberry.Mulberries It is a rich source of Carbohydrates and contains high quantities of Vitamin B2, Vitamin C, Copper and Iron. It also has phytonutrients like beta Carotene and Lutein-zeaxanthin.
Fats 8%
Carbohydrates 81%
Protein 11%
Glycemic load 4/100
fiber 1.7 gms
Vitamin C 61%
Vitamin K 10%
Iron 10%
Water 87.7 g
Health Benefits: It slows down ageing, prevent cancer, treats anemia, controls diabetes, improves cardiovascular health, boosts immunity, promotes hair growth, purifies blood and cures chronic constipation.
Trivia: White Mulberry plants are used in Sericulture which means rearing of silk worms. Black mulberries are known to have the best taste. The largest trees of this species can reach up to 75 feet in height!

29. Olives

Nutrition Facts: Olives come from the family Oleaceae and is widely cultivated for its fruit as Oliveswell as their oil. Olives are high energy and are majorly made up of mono-unsaturated fats which makes them super healthy. They are a powerhouse of Vitamin E and sodium.
Fats 88%
Carbohydrates 10%
Protein 2%
Glycemic load 1/100
fiber 3.3 gms
Vitamin E 19%
Sodium 65%
Copper 6%
Manganese 13%
Water 75.3 g
Health Benefits: Olives control the bad cholesterol in the body, regulate high blood pressure, aid weight loss, delay the onset of degenerative diseases, prevent Anemia and improve fertility in women.
Trivia: 11 pounds of olives need to be pressed to produce 32 ounces of Olive oil. It is one of the healthiest oils in the world. Burning olive oil reduces its goodness significantly, this is why unlike other oils you can add the vegetables for cooking when olive oil is still heating.

30. Orange

Nutrition Facts: Orange belongs to Citrus species and they account for about 70% production Orangesof the fruits of this species. Oranges have a high content of water and an impressive composition of Dietary fiber and Sugar. Oranges are particularly rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, B5 and Folate.
Fats 3%
Carbohydrates 93%
Protein 4%
Glycemic load 8/100
fiber 2.6 gms
Vitamin C 15%
Vitamin B6 18%
Potassium 10%
Magnesium 7%
Manganese 13%
Water 74.9 g
Health Benefits: Oranges are rich in antioxidants, purify blood, fight free radicals, build up the immunity of the body, reduces risk of developing Cancer, boosts heart health and regulates healthy heart function.
Trivia: The color orange is derived from this fruit and the flavor of orange assumes the coveted third place as world favorite after chocolate and Vanilla. In Victorian Britain Oranges were gifted dueing Christmas.

31. Papaya

Nutrition Facts: Papaya is the sole species in the genus Carica and is a native to tropics ofpapayaAmerica. It is a low fat, high carbohydrate and high fiber fruit. It has a high content of Vitamin A, Folate, Vitamin C and Magnesium.
Fats 3%
Carbohydrates 92%
Protein 5%
Glycemic load 2/100
fiber 1.8 gms
Vitamin A 22%
Vitamin C 103%
Folate 10%
Potassium 7%
Water 88.8 g
Health Benefits: Papaya is beneficial in bettering the eyesight and maintaining eye health, lowers cholesterol, aids healthy weight loss, boosts immunity, controls diabetes, improves digestion, reduces menstrual cramps and pain, promotes healthy skin and is good for hair growth.
Trivia: The flowers of Papaya can contain both male and female organs. Papaya leaves are used for treating Malaria and their stems and bark are used for making ropes!

32. Passion Fruit

Nutrition Facts: Passion fruit comes from species of Passion flower which is native ofPassion fruit Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. It is a rich source of Vitamin A, Beta Carotene, Vitamin B2, B3, B6 and Vitamin C. It also contains trace metals like Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium in significant quantities.
Fats 6%
Carbohydrates 86%
Protein 8%
Glycemic load 6/100
fiber 10.4 gms
Vitamin A 25%
Vitamin C 50%
Vitamin B2 8%
Iron 9%
Potassium 10%
Water 72.9 g
Health Benefits: It protects from Cancer, lowers blood pressure, acts as a colon cleanser, improves eye sight, increases hemoglobin, aids digestion, boosts immunity, ensures cardiovascular health and alleviates the symptoms of Asthma.
Trivia: Botanically, Passion fruit is a berry and have four common varieties viz. Yellow, purple, Panama and Banana. Best passion fruits have smooth to slightly wrinkled skin and are heavy for their size.

33. Peaches

Nutrition Facts: Peaches belong to genus Prunus and are native to North West China. It is rich inPeaches dietary fiber and is a healthy source Vitamin B3, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. The mineral and trace metal composition is present in moderate quantities.
Fats 5%
Carbohydrates 87%
Protein 8%
Glycemic load 3/100
fiber 1.5 gms
Vitamin A 8%
Vitamin C 11%
Potassium 5%
Water 88.9 g
Health Benefits: Peach is a perfect snack for weight losing diet, reduces hair loss, acts as natural de-worming agent in the intestines, is a natural diuretic, control diabetes, inhibits tumor growth, strengthens kidney function and improves the quality of sleep.
Trivia: There are about 700 varieties of Peaches available. Peach oil is an excellent moisturizer and ancient Romans used to call them Persian apples. A peach plant can take up to four years to bear the first fruits.

34. Pears

Nutrition Facts: Pears come from genus Pyrus and family Rosaceaea. Pears have a high dietaryPears fiber and sugar content. Pears are a very safe fruit with moderate composition of Vitamins and minerals in them that make up 1-4% of dietary requirement with a 100 grams serving.
Fats 2%
Carbohydrates 96%
Protein 2%
Glycemic load 3/100
fiber 3.1 gms
Vitamin C 7%
Phytosterols 8.0 mg
Water 83.7 g
Health Benefits: Pears have anti-carcinogen agents that make it anti-cancer. It is good for controlling blood pressure, cleanses colon, lends instant energy, is anti-inflammatory, aids faster healing, prevents Osteoporosis, controls blood sugar level and reduces bad cholesterol in the body.
Trivia: About 3000 varieties of pears are grown world wide and China is their largest producer. Pear leaves were smoked in Europe before Tobacco was introduced in the continent. Pear juice is considered to be safe as first juice for infants.

35. Persimmon Fruits

Nutrition Facts: Persimmon belongs to genus Diospyros and is botanically classified as aPersimmonberry. It is a high carbohydrate ingredient with a lot of dietary fiber and is low on fats. Persimmon fruit is a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C. It is particularly loaded with Manganese.
Fats 2%
Carbohydrates 95%
Protein 3%
Glycemic load 5/100
fiber 3.6 gms
Vitamin A 33%
Vitamin C 13%
Magnesium 7%
Manganese 18%
Water 80.3 g
Health Benefits: Persimmon fruit promotes weight loss, protects eye sight, nourishes eyes, improves digestion, fights cancer, delays ageing, boosts immune function and is great for cardiovascular health.
Trivia: The cream colored flowers of Persimmon are female whereas pink are male! Persimmons have astringent properties and the unripe one can leave a dry trail in your mouth like acid.

36. Pineapple

Nutrition Facts: Pineapple is a tropical fruit and finds its origin in area between Brazil and PineappleParaguay. It is a rich source of dietary fiber along with Vitamin B1, B6 and Vitamin C. It also boasts of high concentrates of trace metal- Manganese.
Fats 2%
Carbohydrates 94%
Protein 4%
Glycemic load 3/100
fiber 1.4 gms
Vitamin C 80%
Vitamin B6 6%
Copper 6%
Manganese 46%
Water 86 g
Health Benefits: Pineapples strengthen immunity and thus build better body defenses. They slow down degenerative diseases particularly Macular degeneration, ensure healthy gums, has anti-cancer properties, aids digestion, regulates blood pressure, keeps your body hydrated and is very effective against acne.
Trivia: Pineapples hardly ripen after harvesting and a single pineapple takes almost three years to fully mature! Pineapple leaves are used to produce the textile fiber Pina which is widely used in weaving cloth for formal clothing in Philipines.

37. Plums

Nutrition Facts: Plums come from genus Prunus and are a high sugar and high fiber fruit. PlumsThey contain water, Vitamin C and Vitamin K in considerable quantities whereas other vitamins, minerals and trace metals are present in moderation.
Health Benefits: Plums restore lost electrolyte balance, relieve from constipation, good for eye sight, have anti-cancer capabilities, lower cholesterol levels, acts as laxatives, lowers blood glucose levels and detoxifies the body.
Trivia: Only those Plum trees that bear white flower produce plum fruit whereas the other species which is laden with pink flowers is essentially a flowering plant. Plum seeds have a chemical compound which turns into Cyanide in the human body!

38. Pomegranate

Nutrition Facts: Believed to have originated somewhere in the area of present day Iran. PomegrenateThey are very rich in dietary fiber and provide your body with important Vitamins like Vitamin B5, Folate, Vitamin C and Vitamin K. They also contain considerable quantities of Manganese, Phosphorus and Potassium.
Fats 12%
Carbohydrates 81%
Protein 7%
Glycemic load 6/100
fiber 4 gms
Vitamin C 17%
Vitamin K 21%
Folate 10%
Potassium 7%
Copper 8%
Water 77.9 g
Health Benefits: Pomegranates lower high blood pressure, Protect from heart diseases, reduce the risk of developing cancer, boosts immunity, hydrates your body, lowers anxiety and stress and keeps plaque from building on your teeth.
Trivia: The term pomegranate is from latin and means “Apple of many seeds”. One fully grown and matured pomegranate contains over hundred of edible seeds. They can be stored in refrigerator for up to two months without going bad.

39. Quince Fruit

Nutrition Facts: It is the sole member of genus Cydonia and are a powerhouse of Vitamin C. Quince fruitThey have healthy amount of Dietary fiber and hardly any fats. In trace metals, Iron and Potassium are found in considerable quantity whereas other nutrients are present in lower to moderate concentrates.
Fats 1%
Carbohydrates 97%
Protein 2%
Glycemic load 4/100
fiber 1.9 gms
Vitamin C 25%
Potassium 6%
Water 83.8 g
Health Benefits: Quince are known for their antioxidant properties, aid weight loss, control bad breath, is anti-bacterial, fights cancer, strengthens immune system, protects from free radical damage and is good for blood purification.
Trivia: Quince look like Golden apples and cannot be eaten in their raw form because of their extreme astringent quality. They are natives of Middle East. Quince just like Apples, oxidize very fast on exposure to air.

40. Raspberry

Nutrition Facts: Raspberries are from genus Rubus and belong to Rose Family. Raspberries Raspberryare high energy fruits with very high concentrate of Dietary fiber. It has a rich composition of Vitamins and are specifically high in Vitamin B5, Vitamin C and Vitamin K. It contains Manganese in high levels and other metals in moderation.
Fats 10%
Carbohydrates 82%
Protein 8%
Glycemic load 2/100
fiber 6.5 gms
Vitamin C 44%
Vitamin K 10%
Manganese 34%
Water 85.7 g
Health Benefits: Raspberries increase immunity, slow down ageing, protects from Cancer, arrests the growth of tumors, maintains eye health, control inflammation and helps in Diabetes management.
Trivia: There are over 200 varieties of Raspberries but only two are grown. Raspberries are more adapted to colder climates but a few varieties tend to grow in tropical climate as well.

41. Sapodilla

Nutrition Facts: Sapodilla is a sturdy evergreen growth native to Mexico, Central America andSapodilla Caribbean. They contain very high amount of Dietary fiber and are rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin B5. Trace metals and minerals are present in moderate quantity with the highest being Iron.
Fats 11%
Carbohydrates 87%
Protein 2%
Glycemic load 4/100
fiber 5.3 gms
Vitamin C 24%
Potassium 6%
Water 78 g
Health Benefits: They make for high energy fruits, are anti-inflammatory in nature, boost blood production, boost metabolism, protect from cancer causing toxins, cures digestion related disorders especially acid reflux, good for your skin and helps in treating diarrhea.
Trivia: A naturally growing Sapodilla can grow up to 100 feet! They are sturdy and can stand salt water and need a lot of sunshine. They can grow even without regular watering.

42. Star Fruit

Nutrition Facts: Star fruit is native to South East Asian countries and is also known as Carambola. StarfruitThey are known for their high fiber content, Vitamin C and Vitamin B5. All trace metals and mineral are present in low composition in this fruit.
Fats 9%
Carbohydrates 80%
Protein 11%
Glycemic load 6/100
fiber 2.8 gms
Vitamin C 57%
Copper 7%
Water 91.4 g
Health Benefits: It optimizes immune function, allays inflammation, has anti-cancer properties, aids healthy weight loss regimen, maintains blood pressure, Protects your heart, improves iron absorption, aids digestion and boost milk production in lactating mothers.
Trivia: Starfruit needs warm humid climate for best growth. They germinate throughout the year but need only 5-7 days in summers whereas take almost 12-18 days to germinate in the winter season.

43. Strawberry

Nutrition Facts: Strawberry is a hybrid species of genus Fragaria and botanically does notStrawberriesbelong to the Berry classification. Strawberries are rich in Carbohydrates, folate, Vitamin C and trace metal Manganese. It has a high water content and is moderately composed fruit as far as other vitamins and minerals are concerned.
Fats 8%
Carbohydrates 85%
Protein 7%
Glycemic load 2/100
fiber 2 gms
Vitamin C 98%
Folate 6%
Manganese 19%
Water 90.9 g
Health Benefits: Strawberries are great for your skin, Boosts memory, help in digestion, lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases, reduce inflammation, good for your eyes and promote strong immune function.
Trivia: The tiny seeds appearing on strawberry skin are actually a type of Dry fruits and contain their own seeds! Strawberries do not ripe after being plucked. They are known to increase libido and are considered natural aphrodisiac.

44. Tangerine

Nutrition Facts: Tangerine is a variety of Citrus fruit and looks closely like an Orange. TangerineIt is a high energy and high sugar fruit which is a rich source of Vitamin B1, B6 and Vitamin C. The trace metals are moderately contained in this fruit with richer concentrates of Calcium and Potassium.
Fats 5%
Carbohydrates 90%
Protein 5%
Glycemic load 4/100
fiber 1.8 gms
Vitamin A 14%
Vitamin C 44%
Potassium 5%
Water 85.2 g
Health Benefits: Tangerine is anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, heals wounds faster, restrict cholesterol absorption, improves digestion, is good for skin, boosts bone health, slows down ageing, gives a brighter skin and delays hair greying.
Trivia: Tangerine have intensive cleansing properties and are extremely beneficial for removing toxins from the body. Mandarins are highly respected in China and have been termed after the imperial officials of the Chinese royal court.

45. Watermelon

Nutrition Facts: Watermelon is a Vine fruit with origins in Southern Africa. They are very rich in Watermelonwater content and are a high sugar fruit. It is a very safe fruit for Children and adults alike as it contains all vitamins and minerals but in moderation. The only vitamin they have in substantial quantity is Vitamin C which is a water soluble Vitamin.
Fats 4%
Carbohydrates 89%
Protein 7%
Glycemic load 2/100
fiber 0.4 gms
Vitamin A 11%
Vitamin C 13%
Water 91.5 g
Health Benefits: Watermelon is excellent for your heart, improves bone health, shaves off the fats, boosts immunity function, expedites cell repair and soothes muscles.
Trivia: Watermelons have a lot of seeds inside but there are hybrids created some 50 years back to give out seedless melons. Watermelon has 92% water, one of the highest percentages in any fruit.

Worried About Clogged Arteries? Drink This!

arteries_clogging-1The future of cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment will not be found in your medicine cabinet, rather in your kitchen cupboard or in your back yard growing on a tree.

Pomegranate Found To Prevent Coronary Artery Disease Progression

A new study published in the journal Atherosclerosis confirms that pomegranate extract may prevent and/or reverse the primary pathology associated with cardiac mortality: the progressive thickening of the coronary arteries caused by the accumulation of fatty materials known as atherosclerosis.

Mice with a genetic susceptibility towards spontaneous coronary artery blockages were given pomegranate extract via their drinking water for two weeks, beginning at three weeks of age. Despite the fact that pomegranate treatment actually increased cholesterol levels associated with very low density lipoprotein-sized particles, the treatment both reduced the size of the atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic sinus (the dilated opening above the aortic valve) and reduced the proportion of coronary arteries with occlusive atherosclerotic plaques.

 

Remarkably, the researchers also found that pomegranate extract treatment resulted in the following beneficial effects:

  • -Reduced levels of oxidative stress
  • -Reduced monocytie chemotactic protein-1, a chemical messenger (chemokine) associated with inflammatory processes within the arteries.
  • -Reduced lipid accumulation in the heart muscle
  • -Reduced macrophage infiltration in the heart muscle
  • -Reduced levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and fibrosis in the myocardium
  • -Reduced cardiac enlargement
  • -Reduced ECG abnormalities

 

How can something as benign and commonplace as a fruit extract reverse so many aspects of coronary artery disease, simultaneously, as evidenced by the study above?  The answer may lie in the fact that our ancestors co-evolved with certain foods (fruits in particular) for so long that a lack of adequate quantities of these foods may directly result in deteriorating organ function.  Indeed, two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling argued that vitamin C deficiency is a fundamental cause of cardiovascular disease, owing to the fact that our hominid primate ancestors once had year-round access to fruits, and as a result lost the ability to synthesize it.  [see Linus Pauling vitamin C lecture on GreenMedTV]

 

pomegranate_heart_disease

Discussion

This study adds to the already extant body of clinical research indicating that pomegranate can help unclog your arteries.  For instance, back in 2004, the journal Clinical Nutrition published the results of a three year clinical trial in an Israeli population, finding that the daily consumption of pomegranate juice reversed carotid artery stenosis by up to 29% within 1 year.  Remarkably, the blockages in the control group increased 9%, indicating that pomegranate’s artery unblocking effects were even greater than at first apparent.

 

Pomegranate’s value in cardiovascular disease is quite broad, as evidenced by the following experimentally confirmed properties:

    • Anti-inflammatory: Like many chronic degenerative diseases, inflammation plays a significant role in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis. There are five studies on GreenMedInfo.com indicating pomegranate’santi-inflammatory properties.

 

    • Blood-Pressure Lowering: Pomegranate juice has natural angiotensin converting enzyme inhibiting properties, and is a nitric oxide enhancer, two well-known pathways for reducing blood pressure.  Finally, pomegranate extract rich in punicalagin has been found reduce the adverse effects of perturbed stress on arterial segments exposed to disturbed flow.

 

    • Anti-Infective: Plaque buildup in the arteries often involves secondary viral and bacterial infection, including hepatitis C and Chlamydia pneumonia. Pomegranate has a broad range of anti-bacterial and anti-viralproperties.

 

  • Antioxidant: One of the ways in which blood lipids become heart disease-promoting (atherogenic) is through oxidation. LDL, for instance, may be technically ‘elevated’ but harmless as long as it does not readily oxidize. Pomegranate has been found to reduce the oxidative stress in the blood, as measured by serum paraoxonase levels.  One study in mice found this decrease in oxidative stress was associated with 44% reduction in the size of atherosclerotic lesions.

Source: GreenMedInfo

by Sayer Ji

The Many Uses of the Mighty Moringa Tree

The Many Uses of the Mighty Moringa Tree - Fresh Moringa

Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing tree native to South Asia and now found throughout the tropics. Its leaves have been used as part of traditional medicine for centuries, and the Ayurvedic system of medicine associates it with the cure or prevention of about 300 diseases.1

Moringa, sometimes described as the “miracle tree,” “drumstick tree,” or “horseradish tree,” has small, rounded leaves that are packed with an incredible amount of nutrition: protein, calcium, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium… you name it, moringa’s got it. No wonder it’s been used medicinally (and as a food source) for at least 4,000 years.2

The fact that moringa grows rapidly and easily makes it especially appealing for impoverished areas, and it’s been used successfully for boosting nutritional intake in Malawi, Senegal, and India. In these areas, moringa may be the most nutritious food locally available, and it can be harvested year-round.3

Personally, I grew a moringa tree for two years and I can attest to the fact that it grows like a weed. For those living in third-world countries, it may very well prove to be a valuable source of nutrition. However I don’t recommend planting one in your backyard for health purposes as the leaves are very small and it is a timely and exceedingly tedious task to harvest the leaves from the stem to eat them. You’ll likely find, as I did, that growing one is more trouble than it’s worth.

That being said, there is no denying that moringa offers an impressive nutritional profile that makes it appealing once it is harvested. You can get the benefits of moringa using fresh moringa leaves, powdered moringa, or cold-pressed moringa oil.

6 Reasons Why Moringa Is Being Hailed as a Superfood

1. A Rich Nutritional Profile

Moringa leaves are loaded with vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, and more. One hundred grams of dry moringa leaf contains:4

  • 9 times the protein of yogurt
  • 10 times the vitamin A of carrots
  • 15 times the potassium of bananas
  • 17 times the calcium of milk
  • 12 times the vitamin C of oranges
  • 25 times the iron of spinach

2. Antioxidants Galore

Moringa leaves are rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid. The latter, chlorogenic acid, has been shown to slow cells’ absorption of sugar and animal studies have found it to lower blood sugar levels. As noted in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention:5

“The leaves of the Moringa oleifera tree have been reported to demonstrate antioxidant activity due to its high amount of polyphenols.

Moringa oleifera extracts of both mature and tender leaves exhibit strong antioxidant activity against free radicals, prevent oxidative damage to major biomolecules, and give significant protection against oxidative damage.”

Further, in a study of women taking 1.5 teaspoons of moringa leaf powder daily for three months, blood levels of antioxidants increased significantly.6

3. Lower Blood Sugar Levels

The Many Uses of the Mighty Moringa Tree - Moringa LeafMoringa appears to have anti-diabetic effects,7 likely due to beneficial plant compounds contained in the leaves, including isothiocyanates. One study found women who took seven grams of moringa leaf powder daily for three months reduced their fasting blood sugar levels by 13.5 percent.8

Separate research revealed that adding 50 grams of moringa leaves to a meal reduced the rise in blood sugar by 21 percent among diabetic patients.9

4. Reduce Inflammation

The isothiocyanates, flavonoids, and phenolic acids in moringa leaves, pods, and seeds also have anti-inflammatory properties. According to the Epoch Times:10

The tree’s strong anti-inflammatory action is traditionally used to treat stomach ulcers. Moringa oil (sometimes called Ben oil) has been shown to protect the liver from chronic inflammation. The oil is unique in that, unlike most vegetable oils, moringa resists rancidity.

This quality makes it a good preservative for foods that can spoil quickly. This sweet oil is used for both frying or in a salad dressing. It is also used topically to treat antifungal problems, arthritis, and is an excellent skin moisturizer.”

5. Maintain Healthy Cholesterol Levels

Moringa also has cholesterol-lowering properties, and one animal study found its effects were comparable to those of the cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin.11 As noted in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology:12

“Moringa oleifera is used in Thai traditional medicine as cardiotonic. Recent studies demonstrated its hypocholesterolemic effect.

… In hypercholesterol-fed rabbits, at 12 weeks of treatment, it significantly (P<0.05) lowered the cholesterol levels and reduced the atherosclerotic plaque formation to about 50 and 86%, respectively. These effects were at degrees comparable to those of simvastatin.

… The results indicate that this plant possesses antioxidant, hypolipidaemic, and antiatherosclerotic activities, and has therapeutic potential for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.”

6. Protect Against Arsenic Toxicity

The leaves and seeds of moringa may protect against some of the effects of arsenic toxicity, which is especially important in light of news that common staple foods, such as rice, may be contaminated.13 Contamination of ground water by arsenic has also become a cause of global public health concern, and one study revealed: 14

“Co-administration of M. oleifera [moringa] seed powder (250 and 500 mg/kg, orally) with arsenic significantly increased the activities of SOD [superoxide dismutase], catalase, and GPx with elevation in reduced GSH level in tissues (liver, kidney, and brain).

These changes were accompanied by approximately 57%, 64%, and 17% decrease in blood ROS [reactive oxygen species], liver metallothionein (MT), and lipid peroxidation respectively in animal co-administered with M. oleifera and arsenic.

Another interesting observation has been the reduced uptake of arsenic in soft tissues (55% in blood, 65% in liver, 54% in kidneys, and 34% in brain) following administration of M. oleifera seed powder (particularly at the dose of 500 mg/kg).

It can thus be concluded from the present study that concomitant administration of M. oleifera seed powder with arsenic could significantly protect animals from oxidative stress and in reducing tissue arsenic concentration. Administration of M. oleifera seed powder thus could also be beneficial during chelation therapy…”

Moringa Leaves May Even Purify Water… and More

From a digestive standpoint, moringa is high in fiber that, as the Epoch Times put it, “works like a mop in your intestines… to clean up any of that extra grunge left over from a greasy diet.”15 Also noteworthy are its isothiocyanates, which have anti-bacterial properties that may help to rid your body of H. pylori, a bacteria implicated in gastritis, ulcers, and gastric cancer. Moringa seeds have even been found to work better for water purification than many of the conventional synthetic materials in use today.

According to Uppsala University:16

“A protein in the seeds binds to impurities causing them to aggregate so that the clusters can be separated from the water. The study… published in the journal Colloids and Surfaces A takes a step towards optimization of the water purification process.17

Researchers in Uppsala together with colleagues from Lund as well as Namibia, Botswana, France, and the USA have studied the microscopic structure of aggregates formed with the protein.

The results show that the clusters of material (flocs) that are produced with the protein are much more tightly packed than those formed with conventional flocculating agents. This is better for water purification as such flocs are more easily separated.”

There is speculation that moringa’s ability to attach itself to harmful materials may also happen in the body, making moringa a potential detoxification tool.

How to Use Moringa

The Many Uses of the Mighty Moringa Tree - Moringa PowderIf you have access to a moringa tree, you can use the fresh leaves in your meals; they have a flavor similar to a radish. Toss them like a salad, blend them into smoothies, or steam them like spinach. Another option is to use moringa powder, either in supplement form or added to smoothies, soups, and other foods for extra nutrition. Moringa powder has a distinctive “green” flavor, so you may want to start out slowly when adding it to your meals.

You can also use organic, cold-pressed moringa oil (or ben oil), although it’s expensive (about 15 times more than olive oil).18 As mentioned, while I don’t necessarily recommend planting a moringa tree in your backyard (a rapid-growing tree can grow to 15 to 30 feet in just a few years), you may want to give the leaves or powder a try if you come across some at your local health food market. As reported by ethnobotanist Chris Kilham, this is one plant food that displays not just one or two but numerous potential healing powers:19

“Virtually all parts of the plant are used to treat inflammation, infectious disorders, and various problems of the cardiovascular and digestive organs, while improving liver function and enhancing milk flow in nursing mothers. The uses of moringa are well documented in both the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of traditional medicine, among the most ancient healing systems in the world.

Moringa is rich in a variety of health-enhancing compounds, including moringine, moringinine, the potent antioxidants quercetin, kaempferol, rhamnetin, and various polyphenols. The leaves seem to be getting the most market attention, notably for their use in reducing high blood pressure, eliminating water weight, and lowering cholesterol.

Studies show that moringa leaves possess anti-tumor and anti-cancer activities, due in part to a compound called niaziminin. Preliminary experimentation also shows activity against the Epstein-Barr virus. Compounds in the leaf appear to help regulate thyroid function, especially in cases of over-active thyroid. Further research points to anti-viral activity in cases of Herpes simplex 1.”

19th September 2015

By Dr. Joseph Mercola

Guest Writer for Wake Up World

 

The Health Benefits of Bananas

Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes. But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

 

DEPRESSION
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. PMS: Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

 

ANEMIA

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

 

BLOOD PRESSURE:

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

 

BRAIN POWER

200 students at a Twickenham school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

 

CONSTIPATION

High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

 

HANGOVERS

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

 

HEARTBURN

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

 

MORNING SICKNESS

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

 

MOSQUITO BITES:

Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

 

NERVES

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

 

ULCERS

The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

 

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Many other cultures see bananas as a ‘cooling’ fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has FOUR TIMES the protein, TWICE the carbohydrate, THREE TIMES the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, ‘A BANANA a day keeps the doctor away!’

Source: Natureknows.org

Probiotics: Everything You Need to Know

probiotics

Did you know that the bacteria in your body outnumber your body’s cells 10 to 1?

It’s true, and most of them reside in your gut.

But there really is no need to panic, most bacteria are quite harmless.

Having the right bacteria in there has even been linked to numerous health benefits (1).

This includes weight loss, improved digestion, enhanced immune function, better skin and a reduced risk of many diseases (2).

This leads us to the topic at hand, probiotics.

Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain these friendly bacteria, and are supposed to help colonize our guts with health-boosting microorganisms.

The importance of this can not be overstated.

Taking care of your gut, and the friendly bacteria that reside there, may be one of the single most important things you can do for your health.

What Are Probiotics?

According to the official definition, probiotics are “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host” (3).

Probiotics are usually bacteria, but there is also a type of yeast that can function as a probiotic.

You can get probiotics from supplements, as well as foods that are prepared by bacterial fermentation.

Probiotic foods include yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi and others.

Probiotics should not be confused with prebiotics (note the “e”), which are dietary fibers that help feed the friendly bacteria that are already in the gut (4).

There are actually dozens of different probiotic bacteria that have been shown to have health benefits.

The most common groups include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Then there are many different species within each group, and each species has many strains.

Interestingly, different probiotics seem to work for different health conditions. Therefore, choosing the right type (or types) of probiotic is essential.

Many probiotic supplements combine different species together in the same supplement. These are known as broad-spectrum probiotics, or multi-probiotics.

Keep in mind that this is a new but rapidly expanding area of research.

Although the evidence is promising, it is not conclusively proven that probiotics help with all the health conditions mentioned in this article (5).

Bottom Line: Probiotics are live microorganisms that cause health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. There are many different types, and you can get them from foods or supplements.

The Importance of Microorganisms in The Gut

The complex community of microorganisms in your gut is called the gut flora (6).

Your gut actually contains hundreds of different types of microorganisms, with some numbers going as high as 1000.

This includes bacteria, yeasts and viruses. The great majority is bacteria.

Most of the gut flora is found in the colon, or large intestine, the last part of the digestive tract.

The metabolic activities of the gut flora actually resemble those of an organ. For this reason, some scientists refer to the gut flora as the “forgotten organ” (7).

The gut flora actually performs many functions that are important for health. It manufactures vitamins, including vitamin K and some of the B vitamins (8).

It also turns fibers into short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, propionate and acetate, which feed the gut wall and perform many metabolic functions (9, 10).

They also stimulate the immune system, and regulate the integrity of the gut. This can help prevent unwanted substances from “leaking” into the body and provoking an immune response (11, 12, 13, 14).

However, not all organisms in the gut are friendly. Some are good, others are bad.

The gut flora is actually highly sensitive to modern insults, and studies show that an “unbalanced” gut flora is linked to numerous diseases (15, 16).

This includes obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, colorectal cancer, Alzheimer’s, depression and many, many more (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23).

Probiotics (and prebiotic fibers) can help correct this balance, making sure that our “forgotten organ” is functioning optimally (24).

Bottom Line: Your gut flora consists of hundreds of different types of microorganisms. Probiotics help your gut flora perform optimally.

Probiotics and Digestive Health

Probiotics have been studied most in regard to digestive health (25).

The strongest evidence has to do with antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

When people take antibiotics, especially for long periods of time, they often suffer from diarrhea for a long time after the infection has been eradicated.

This is because the antibiotics kill many of the natural bacteria in the gut, which shifts the balance and allows the “bad” bacteria to thrive.

Dozens of studies have provided strong evidence that probiotic supplements can help cure antibiotic-associated diarrhea (26, 27, 28).

Probiotics have also been shown to be beneficial against irritable bowel syndrome, a very common digestive disorder. They can help reduce gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and other symptoms (29, 30, 31).

Some studies also show that probiotics may be beneficial against inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (32).

Probiotics may also be useful against Helicobacter pylori infections, the main driver of ulcers and stomach cancer (33, 34, 35, 36).

If you currently have digestive problems that you can’t seem to get rid of, then perhaps a probiotic supplement is something you should consider.

Bottom Line: Probiotics have been shown to be effective against various digestive problems. This includes antibiotic-associated diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome.

Probiotics and Weight Loss

Obese individuals have different gut bacteria than lean people (37, 38).

Animal studies have also shown that fecal transplants from lean animals can make obese animals lose weight (39, 40).

For this reason, many scientists now believe that our gut bacteria are important in determining body fatness (41, 42).

Although this needs to be studied a lot more, some probiotic strains have been shown to help with fat loss (43).

The most impressive study on this was published in 2013. It was a study of 210 individuals with central obesity (lots of belly fat).

In this study, taking the probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri caused people to lose 8.5% of their belly fat mass over a period of 12 weeks (44).

When they stopped taking the probiotic, they gained the belly fat back within 4 weeks.

There is also some evidence that Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis can help with weight loss and obesity prevention (45).

However, this needs to be studied more before any recommendations can be made.

There are also some animal studies showing that other probiotic strains could even lead to weight gain, not loss (46).

Bottom Line: There is some evidence that the probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri can help people lose belly fat. This needs to be studied a lot more.

Other Health Benefits of Probiotics

Getting into all the incredible benefits of probiotics is beyond the scope of this article.

However, there are a few that are definitely worth highlighting here:

  • Inflammation: Probiotics have been shown to reduce systemic inflammation, a leading driver of many diseases (47).
  • Depression and anxiety: The probiotic strains Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum have been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in people with clinical depression (48, 49).
  • Blood cholesterol: Several probiotics have been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol levels (50, 51).
  • Blood pressure: Probiotics have also been shown to cause modest reductions in blood pressure (52, 53).
  • Immune function: Several different probiotic strains can enhance immune function and lead to reduced risk of infections, including the common cold (54, 55).
  • Skin health: There is some evidence that probiotics can be useful for acne, rosacea and eczema, as well as other skin disorders (56, 57, 58, 59).

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Probiotics have been studied, and shown to be beneficial, for a wide range of other health problems.

Bottom Line: Probiotics have been shown to have numerous health benefits. They may reduce depression and anxiety, improve heart health and enhance immune function, to name a few.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Probiotics are generally well tolerated and considered safe for most people.

However, in the first few days, you may experience side effects related to digestion. This includes gas and mild abdominal discomfort (60).

After this initial adaptation period is over, your digestion should be better than it was before.

Probiotics can be dangerous, and even lead to infections, in people with compromised immune systems. This includes people with HIV, AIDS and several other health conditions (61).

If you have a medical condition, definitely consult with your doctor before taking a probiotic supplement.

Bottom Line: Probiotic supplements may cause digestive symptoms, but this should subside within a few days. They may be dangerous for people with certain medical conditions.

What Are The Best Probiotic Supplements?

There are hundreds of different probiotic supplements available.

If you have a health problem and you want to try a probiotic for that purpose, then it is very important that you choose the right strain.

I recommend looking around on Amazon at the different options available. There you can see which strains the supplements contain.

Make sure to buy probiotics from a reputable manufacturer. Dietary supplements are not regulated, so many of these products may not contain what the labels say they do.

According to one study, it is best to take probiotics either right before, or with, a meal that contains some fat (62).

Beyond that, make sure to follow the instructions on the packaging. Keep in mind that some products need to be refrigerated.

Take Home Message

Maintaining a healthy gut goes way beyond just taking a probiotic supplement.

What you do from day to day is just as important.

All sorts of lifestyle factors, especially the foods you eat, have been shown to affect the gut bacteria (63).

Living a healthy lifestyle, getting good sleep, and eating real food with lots of fiber is the key.

In many cases, probiotic foods and supplement can be helpful as well.

I recently started taking a probiotic supplement myself (this one here).

It has significantly improved my digestion, and I feel that my energy levels and thinking have improved as well.

I now consider probiotics to be an essential component of my own personal health strategy.

Contributor – Kris Gunnars