AWESOMENESS OF STRAWBERRY

STRAWBERRY

Strawberries are sweet soft red fruit with a seed-studded surface, developed from a white flower to a flavorful, fleshy receptacle. The receptacle stores achenes, which appear to be seeds but are really small fruits that never develop. Achenes are the true fruits of the strawberry, whereas what is considered the "fruit" is an enlarged flower stem holding these tiny fruits. Therefore, strawberries are considered an accessory, or false fruit. They are also aggregate fruits, forming from more parts than simply the ovary tissue.


MERITS OF STRAWBERRY 
1) Heart disease- Regular consumption of anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids found in berries, can reduce the risk of a heart attack by 32 percent in young and middle-aged women. 

2) Stroke- The antioxidants quercetin, kaempferol, and anthocyanins have all been shown to reduce the formation of harmful blood clots associated with strokes. High potassium intake has also been linked with a reduced risk of stroke.

3) Cancer- The powerful antioxidants in strawberries may work against free radicals, inhibiting tumor growth and decreasing inflammation in the body.

4) Blood pressure- Due to their high potassium content, strawberries are recommended to those with high blood pressure to help negate the effects of sodium in the body. A low potassium intake is just as big a risk factor for developing high blood pressure as a high sodium intake. Also of note, high potassium intake is associated with a 20 percent reduction in the risk of dying from all causes.


5) Constipation- Eating foods that are high in water content and fiber, like strawberries, grapes, watermelon, and cantaloupe can help keep the body hydrated and bowel movements regular.
Fiber is essential for minimizing constipation and adding bulk to the stool.

6) Diabetes- Strawberries might be an excellent choice for people with diabetes.
Strawberries are a low glycemic index food and high in fiber, which helps to regulate blood sugar and keep it stable by avoiding extreme highs and lows.
Strawberries are a smart fruit choice for diabetics, as they have a lower glycemic index (40) than many other fruits.


7) Pregnancy- Strawberries are a great source of folic acid.
Adequate folic acid intake is essential for pregnant women to protect against neural tube defects in infants.


SORRY FOR THIS SHORT POST, PROMISE TO GIVE MORE DETAILS ABOUT IT LATER.

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GUAVA AND ITS ADVANTAGES

What Is A Guava?

Guava is a sweet and delicious fruit cultivated in tropical climates. This seasonal fruit, scientifically known as Psidium guajava, is round or pear-shaped and is light green, yellow or maroon in color when it ripens. It has a white or maroon flesh, depending on its type, and has small hard seeds enveloped in its soft, sweet pulp. The common types of guava include apple guava, yellow-fruited cherry guava, strawberry guava, and red apple guava. It is mostly eaten raw (ripe or semi-ripe) or consumed in the form of juice, jams, and jellies.

Guava’s believed to have originated from Mexico or Central America. It is now very popular in Asian countries and is also increasingly available in American countries, particularly after its health benefits have been revealed.

What makes guava special is that increasing the shelf life of this fruit does not require excessive use of chemicals or pesticides as in the case of grapes, apple, and other “exotic” fruits. It is one of the least chemically treated and sprayed fruits.

Benefits Of Guava For Health
Take a look at Guava health benefits!

1. Rich In Vitamin C
Guava contains Vitamin C and it helps protect cells and lower cancerous damage to them.

2. Lesser Diabetes Risk And Cleaned System
Fiber is important for lowering blood sugar levels. At the same time, it is good for cleansing the digestive system and maintaining free bowel movement. Guavas are rich in fibers. The more your system stays clean, the happier you will be from inside.

3. Eye Health Improvement
Vitamin A or retinol is responsible for good eyesight. Guava is rich in retinol, so if you don’t like carrots, you can try a guava for improving  your eyesight.

4. Folate Content
Guavas contain a mineral known as folate. It helps promote fertility in humans.


5. Regulation Of Blood Pressure Levels
Potassium in guavas helps normalize blood pressure levels. A banana and a guava contain almost the same amount of potassium.


6. Trace Element Copper Enriched
Guavas contain the trace element copper which is very good in maintaining good functioning of the thyroid gland. The improper functioning of the thyroid gland can cause a lot of health problems.


7. Manganese Richness
Guavas are rich in manganese which helps the body to absorb other key nutrients from the food that we eat. When our food gets properly utilized, we get all the key nutrients like biotin, vitamins, etc.

8. Nervous Relaxant
Guava is rich in magnesium which acts as a nervous relaxant. It helps to relax muscles and nerves of the body. So after a hard work out, a guava is certainly what you need to relax your muscles and give your system a nice energy boost.

9. Healthy Mind
It helps to keep your brain functions positive by maintaining good blood flow and also by infusing it with Vit B3 and Vit B6. Vit B6 is pyridoxine which is good for nerves. It keeps your nerves relaxed.

10. Slows Down Sugar Absorption
Guava can aid weight loss as it effectively prevents or slows down the absorption of sugar in the blood. As you know, sugar is a big problem when you are trying to lose weight. It is this ability that makes this fruit great for diabetics .

11. Rich In Potassium
Guava is high in potassium content. It is important to up your potassium intake when you are trying to lose weight as it helps in increasing muscle mass and burning more fat. One guava contains 688 mg of this mineral; that is 63% more than what you get from a banana!

12. Rich In Fiber
As you know, fiber plays a very important role in weight loss. One guava contains 9 grams of fiber. This nutrient keeps you feeling full for longer, promotes better digestion of food, prevents constipation and also helps in reducing the amount of saturated fat that is absorbed by your body.

13. Cholesterol-Free And Low In Carbs
Another reason that guava is such a great weight loss food is because it is free of cholesterol and very low in digestible carbohydrates . It is one of the best fruits to add to your diet when you want it to be low in carbs. Being cholesterol-free, it protects you from many diseases, including heart disease.

14. Cleanses The Body
With its richness in fiber, guava is an excellent natural body cleanser. This is great when you are trying to shed those unwanted pounds. It helps in flushing toxins out of your body as well as eliminating waste properly. This, in turn, helps you burn more fat.

15. Antibacterial Agent
Guava Juice acts as an antibacterial agent. Guava has a capacity to shrink and contract any open tissues in your body. This has anti-bacterial properties that can flush out the harmful toxins and bacteria from your body.

16. Stomach Problem
Guava Juice is a best way to treat constipation and diarrhea. As per the above mentioned point, guava can shrink and contract any open tissues in the body. This helps to shrink the canals of the active intestine and stabilizes it. Constipation can be cured by the consumption of guava juice, as it is filled with fiber. This is useful to excrete impacted feces. Consume guava juice before the breakfast for best results.

17. Cancer
Guava juice can be a useful remedy to decrease the cancer cell development. One of the most vital nutrients is found in guava, known as Lycopene. This is a powerful antioxidant, which helps your body to get rid of the harmful free radicals that lead to cancer.

18. Flu
Guava juice is proven to be a good remedy to cure Flu. Frequent weather condition change, low immunity can cause air-borne diseases like flu. Flu cases always rise during the rainy season. Flu can easily be cured by your own body’s immune system. Vitamin C is the most essential nutrient that can fight off flu-causing viruses and boost the immune system. Guava juice is the best way to get vitamin C from the natural source.

19. Scurvy
Scurvy is caused due to deficiency of vitamin C. this can be easily cured by drinking guava juice. Guava juice contains high amounts of vitamin C.

20. Dengue Fever
Guava juice is an effective remedy to treat dengue fever. It is recommended to drink the guava juice at least three times in a day for effective results.

21. Toothache
Guava fruit juice is an astringent that can give you instant relief from toothache and mouth and gum sores.

22. Improves Circulation
Guava can improve brain function because it improves circulation in your body. Because it contains high levels of potassium, it helps in regulating blood pressure. It has been reported that this mineral can help in reversing the effects of excessive sodium in the body.

Benefits Of Guava For Skin
Guava has an important role to play in skincare since it is abound in vitamin C, antioxidants and carotene, all of which are beneficial for your skin. Thus, guava pulp is often used in the manufacture of cosmetic care lotions for the face and body. The benefits of guava for skin are as follows.
1. Improves Complexion
Pink guava helps in beautifying your skin, thus enabling it to regain its radiance and freshness. To improve your complexion, you can prepare a simple guava scrub at home. For this purpose, mash some guava flesh with an egg yolk and apply it on your face. Rinse off after 20 minutes with warm water. When used once or twice a week, this scrub will remove dead cells from your skin and lighten your complexion. It will also remove impurities, thus providing your skin a fresh and invigorated feeling.

2. UV Protection
Pink guavas contain twice the amount of lycopene present in tomatoes. Lycopene is an antioxidant that protects your skin from being damaged by UV rays and environmental pollution. A guava provides about 2.9 grams of lycopene.

3. Anti-ageing Properties
Guava is a rich source of vitamins A, B, C and potassium which are good antioxidants and detoxifiers. They fight free radicals, thus keeping your skin glowing and free from premature signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines. Besides, lycopene protects the healthy cells from toxins that accumulate in the body due to metabolism and environmental pollution. These toxins also cause premature aging by damaging the DNA in charge of growth and development.

4. Natural Skin Toner
The high concentration of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in guava helps in keeping your skin toned, fresh and wrinkle free. Guava is effective in enhancing skin texture, tightening the loosened skin and reviving the lost elasticity of the skin. The astringent qualities of guavas keep your skin free from blemishes, acne, wrinkles and pimples. Washing your face with the decoction of immature guava fruit and its leaves beautifies your skin.

5. Treatment Of Acne And Dark Spots
If you are suffering from acne and dark spots, you can take some guava leaves and mash them to make a smooth paste. Clean your face and apply it on the acne and dark spots. Doing this daily will heal your acne.

6. Skin Hydration
Proper hydration is vital for healthy skin. Water plays an important role in keeping your skin hydrated. Thus, it is recommended to have 8 glasses of water in a day. Guava is an excellent source of water with 81% of the fruit comprising of water. In this way, it plays an important role in skin hydration.

7. Treatment Of Skin Problems
A guava provides more than twice the recommended daily value of vitamin C which is excellent for skin healing as it contributes to generation of collagen, the substance that imparts firmness to the skin. Besides, it provides about 1.4 micro-grams of vitamin K which is 2% of the recommended daily value. This vitamin improves blood coagulation, impairment of which causes skin redness and irritation. This makes it beneficial in treating dark circles, spider veins, rosacea, acne irritation, and splotchiness of skin.

8. Treatment Of Blackheads And Skin Itchiness
In case of blackheads, you can blend the leaves of the guava fruit with little water and apply it as a scrub on your nose to remove blackheads. Guava leaves can also rid you of skin itchiness as they contain allergy blocking compounds.

Benefits Of Guava For Hair
Guava is a powerhouse of nutrients including Vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, copper, manganese, fiber, flavonoids and other phytochemicals. Thus, it is beneficial for healthy hair growth and maintenance.

1. Combats Hair Loss
Being extremely rich in vitamin C, guava is one of those fruits that promote healthy hair growth. It also helps in combating hair loss problems.


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CARROT AND ITS BENEFITS

MEANING OF CARROT

Carrots are one of the most widely used and enjoyed vegetables in the world, partly because they grow relatively easily and are very versatile in a number of dishes and cultural cuisines. They are scientifically classified as Daucus  carota  and categorized as a root vegetable. Carrots come in different colors such as orange, purple, white, yellow, and red. The taproot of the carrot is the part of the vegetable most commonly eaten, although the greens are still beneficial in salads and other forms.

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT PEEL A CARROT
The peels contain about half of the antioxidants (known as phenolic compounds) in carrots, so you should try washing them thoroughly instead of peeling. However, if you're shredding carrots to eat later, removing the outer layer may help maintain color and increase shelf life.

Health Benefits of Carrots

1.  Improves vision
There’s some truth in the old wisdom that carrots are good for your eyes. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is transformed in the retina, to rhodopsin, a purple pigment necessary for night vision.

Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. A study found that people who eat large amounts of beta-carotene had a 40 percent lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed little.

2.  Helps prevent cancer
Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer.

Falcarinol is a natural pesticide produced by the carrot that protects its roots from fungal diseases. Carrots are one of the only common sources of this compound. A study showed 1/3 lower cancer risk by carrot-eating rats.

3.  Slows down aging 
The high level of beta-carotene in carrots acts as an antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism. It help slows down the aging of cells.


4.  Promotes healthier skin 
Vitamin A and antioxidants protect the skin from sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation, blemishes and uneven skin tone.

5.  Helps prevent infection 
Carrots are known by herbalists to prevent infection. They can be used on cuts—shredded raw or boiled and mashed.

6.  Promotes healthier skin (from the outside) 
Carrots are used as an inexpensive and very convenient facial mask. Just mix grated carrot with a bit of honey. See the full recipe here: carrot face mask.

7.  Prevents heart disease
Studies show that diets high in carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Carrots have not only beta-carotene but also alpha-carotene and lutein.

The regular consumption of carrots also reduces cholesterol levels because the soluble fibers in carrots bind with bile acids.

8.  Cleanses the body 
Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out the toxins from the body. It reduces the bile and fat in the liver. The fiber present in carrots helps clean out the colon and hasten waste movement.

9.  Protects teeth and gums
It’s all in the crunch! Carrots clean your teeth and mouth. They scrape off plaque and food particles just like toothbrushes or toothpaste. Carrots stimulate gums and trigger a lot of saliva, which, being alkaline, balances out the acid-forming, cavity-forming bacteria. The minerals in carrots prevent tooth damage.

10.  Prevents stroke
From all the above benefits it’s no surprise that in a Harvard University study, people who ate five or more carrots a week were less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or less.

How To Eat Carrots

The nutrients in carrots are tightly encased in protein sacs that have to be broken by heat (cooking) or mechanical action (grinding, juicing, proper chewing).

Cooking the carrots in fat or oils, pureeing or juicing them increases the availability of carotenoids by 600 percent.

Fats also help the absorption of carotenoids into the blood by 1,000 percent, as carotenoids are fat soluble, so pour a little olive oil on top!





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WHY DO YOU NEED FITNESS AND EXERCISE?

WHAT IS FITNESS?
Fitness means being able to perform physical activity. It also means having the energy and strength to feel as good as possible. Getting more fit, even a little bit, can improve your health.

WHAT IS EXERCISE?
Exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons, including increasing growth and development, preventing aging, strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, and also enjoyment. Frequent and regular physical exercise boosts the immune system and helps prevent certain "diseases of affluence" such as coronary heart disease,

Exercise and physical activity fall into four basic categories endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. Most people tend to focus on one activity or type of exercise and think they're doing enough. Each type is different, though. Doing them all will give you more benefits. Mixing it up also helps to reduce boredom and cut your risk of injury.

Though we’ve described each type separately, some activities fit into more than one category. For example, many endurance activities also build strength. Strength exercises also help improve balance.

Endurance
Endurance, or aerobic, activities increase your breathing and heart rate. They keep your heart, lungs, and circulatory system healthy and improve your overall fitness. Building your endurance makes it easier to carry out many of your everyday activities.

Brisk walking or jogging
Yard work (mowing, raking, digging)
Dancing

Strength
Strength exercises make your muscles stronger. They may help you stay independent and carry out everyday activities, such as climbing stairs and carrying groceries. These exercises also are called "strength training" or "resistance training."

Lifting weights
Using a resistance band
Using your own body weight

Balance
Balance exercises help prevent falls, a common problem in older adults. Many lower-body strength exercises also will improve your balance.

Standing on one foot
Heel-to-toe walk
Tai Chi

Flexibility
Flexibility exercises stretch your muscles and can help your body stay limber. Being flexible gives you more freedom of movement for other exercises as well as for your everyday activities.

Shoulder and upper arm stretch
Calf stretch
Yoga

IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE

1. Exercise increases your energy level. Exercising delivers oxygen and nutrients to your whole body helping it to work more efficiently and boost your endurance.
2. Exercise and other physical activities are often great opportunities to socialize. Going to the playground, joining a sports team or going to the local recreation center are all great ways to meet new people.
3. Being physically active will keep you healthy. Research says that engaging in 30 minutes of exercise a day is all you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
4. Exercise makes you happier! Physical activity releases chemicals in your brain called endorphins that are known to make you feel happier and more relaxed.
5. Regular physical activity has been proven to help prevent a wide variety of health problems.
6. Exercise can be fun! Often times exercise can be a part of some your favorite daily activities, such as walking the dog, going to the playground, or riding your bike.
7. Exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight.
8. Exercise is good for your heart! It helps maintain a healthy blood pressure and improves circulation.
9. Regular physical activity helps you sleep better. When you are active during the day, you typically fall asleep easier and stay asleep longer.
10. Exercise is good for your mind, body, and soul.

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BANANA, ITS BENEFIT AND ITS USES

BANANA

Bananas are high in potassium and contain good levels of protein and dietary fiber.Bananas are rich in a mineral called potassium. This mineral is important as it helps maintain fluid levels in the body and regulates the movement of nutrients and waste products in and out of cells.
Potassium also helps muscles to contract and nerve cells to respond. It keeps the heart beating regularly and can reduce the effect of sodium on blood pressure.
Potassium may reduce the risk of kidney stones forming as people age. In turn, healthy kidneys make sure that the right amount of potassium is kept in the body.

It is a common feature in breakfast menus, and it is definitely with good reason. It provides you instant energy to kick-start your day, and is said to be very good for the stomach. Most natural home remedies in India circling around an upset stomach, call for using bananas as a remedy along with a few other ingredients. A single piece of banana is said to contain only 90 calories, which also makes it a great (and healthy) snack to munch on rather than sugar loaded goodies or deep-fried treats. Carry one in your tiff-in bag, and you will be thanking your stars whenever a sudden hunger pang grips you.

Benefits of Banana

1. High Fiber Content

Banana is loaded with fiber, both soluble and insoluble. The soluble fiber has the tendency to slow down digestion and keep you feeling full for a longer time. Which is why bananas are often included in a breakfast meal so that you can start about your day without having to worry about the next meal.

2. Heart Health

High fiber foods are said to be good for the heart. According to a study done by University of Leeds in UK, increasing consumption of fiber-rich foods such as bananas can lower risk of both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD).

3. Ease in Digestion

According to scientist, banana has a sweet and sour taste. The sweet taste is said to bring about a sense of heaviness but the sour taste is known to stimulate Agni (the digestive juices), thereby supporting digestion and helping in building up metabolism.

4. Powerhouse of Nutrients

Banana is a heavyweight when it comes to nutrition. It is loaded with essential vitamin sand minerals such as potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, folate, niacin, riboflavin, and B6. These all contribute to the proper functioning of the body and keeping you healthy.

5. High Source of Potassium

The high content of potassium in bananas makes it a super fruit. This mineral is known for its numerous health benefiting properties - it helps in regulating heartbeat, blood pressure, and keeps the brain alert.

6. Blood Pressure

It is a known fact that salt is the evil when it comes to high blood pressure. Bananas have low salt content and high potassium content, and these properties contribute to making it ideal for those undergoing this condition.

7. Helps Fight Anaemia

Due to the high iron content in bananas, they are good for those suffering from anaemia. Anaemia is a condition where there is a decrease in the number of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood. This leads to fatigue, shortness of breath, and paleness.

USES OF BANANA PEEL

The banana peel, like coffee grounds, tea leaves, and orange peels has a lot of beneficial qualities that’ll make you think twice the next time you toss it in the trash. We’ve gathered 20 of the best banana peel uses for you to try:

1) Shoe Polish: Did you know banana peels (on the inside) make a great shoe polish? Just rub it around your shoe and then buff it with a white cloth.

2) Teeth Whitener: Rub the inside of your banana peel on your teeth to whiten them. Apparently, the manganese, magnesium and potassium helps whiten the enamel of your teeth.

3) Wart Cure: It only takes 1-2 weeks to remove a wart with a banana peel.

4) Itch Soother: Banana peels can help relieve bug bites and poison ivy. It won’t remove the oils that cause the itching but it’ll soothe the bite or rash altogether.

5) Monkey Party: Have a Curious George party and put 30 peels on your deck for the kids to slip around on!

6) Silverware Polish: Blend banana peel with water and use on your silver to take the polish off with a soft cloth.

7) Meat tenderizer: Add a banana peel to your next roast and it’ll add just enough moisture to ensure that roast doesn’t get too dry.

8) Splinter Removal: Banana peels help ease splinters out of your skin. Place banana peel on a splinter with athletic tape for a while and then try to ease the splinter out.

9) Aphid Control: Aphids don’t like banana peels. If you bury some around your roses or other plants aphids love (like cauliflower), you’ll deter them from coming around. Or, try this garlic/banana peel spray for aphids.

10) Rose Food: Here are a few great recipes for feeding your roses with banana peels that are rich in calcium and magnesium, as well as many other trace minerals that your flowers love.

11) Bruise Patrol: Banana peels on the inside, if rubbed on a bruise, will aid in making it disappear.

12) Compost: Banana peels break down pretty quickly and add wonderful nutrients to your soil. Throw them in your compost!

13) Acne: Banana peels rubbed on your acne will help in the acne curing process.

14) Dry Skin Cure: If you have psoriasis, try rubbing the inside of a banana peel on your affected areas twice a day and you’ll see the dry scaly skin dissipate.

15) Banana Boat Campfire Dessert: This recipe will please all who are sitting around the campfire.

16) Hemorrhoid  Cure: Yup, you guessed it. As with acne, banana peels help cure hemorrhoids.

17) Banana Peel Message: Leave a message for your child on their banana peel by pricking out letters with a toothpick, the skin will bruise and there will be a dark brown message for your sweetie by lunchtime.

18) Tomato Plant Fertilizer: Wrap a banana peel around your tomato starts when you plant them in the garden and they’ll enjoy the nutrients from the peel as they grow throughout the summer.

19) Banana Peel Steamed Pork and Rice: Try this recipe out for size.

20) Anti Depressant: Researchers have found that drinking boiled banana peel water (or juicing the peel) can ease depression.

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