Top 10 Reasons to eat watermelon This Summer

Watermelon is packed with important nutrients like beta-carotene, vitamins A,  B1, B6, and C, potassium, magnesium, biotin, copper, pantothenic acid, and more. It is also a great weight-loss tool since it has an incredibly puny calorie count- only 30 calories in a 100-gram serving. Even the seeds and the rinds have health benefits! This is a truly amazing fruit.

1.Going on a “watermelon fast” can help to cleanse your kidneys of toxins and give your body a chance to kill off unwelcome bacteria. Thus, it is helpful at fighting urinary tract infections that are based in the kidneys. Just eat nothing but watermelon for a full day, and the benefits will accrue.

2.Make watermelon-seed tea to help treat kidney stones. Crush up a tablespoon of watermelon seeds, throw them in the cup, and then pour some boiling water over them. Let it steep and cool off for a few minutes, then enjoy.

3.Drink three glasses of pure, fresh watermelon juice a day. This will help clear excess ammonia out of your liver, which is a good step in a total body detox program. This can also help cleanse your colon and fight edema.

4.Watermelon’s high water and fiber content make it a great cure for constipation. One should not “overdose,” however, since that could result in the opposite problem.

5.Instead of just throwing the rind out, you can rub it on your skin. Nutrients in the rind have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Thus, pimples and skin fungi can be treated with the rind of a watermelon.

6.Studies have found that L-citrulline, an amino acid that watermelon abounds with, can reduce blood pressure, relax arteries, and improve blood circulation.

7.Watermelon’s alkalinity and high water content make it effective at washing out gout-causing uric crystals.

8.Watermelon can have a soothing effect on your stomach. So, if you are suffering with heartburn, eat five or six chunks of this fruit daily. Eating them slowly also seems to help, so just take the time to pick the seeds out in order to slow down the consumption rate.

9.Watermelon is high in Lycopene, a carotenoid that is important to overall cardiovascular health. Lycopene is at its peak levels in watermelon just after the fruit ripens to a white-pink color.

10.Watermelon is a good anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. It is much better to get these benefits naturally, if possible, than with artificial drugs.

With so many health benefits being discovered in regard to watermelon, we have good reason to keep on eating this fruit that we all love to eat anyway. While watermelon is not an “elixir” that magically solves all of your health woes in an instant, it does have the ability to assist with a wide range of health-related problems. Its nutrients serve to keep you going strong and to clear up various issues should they arise.

Incorporating a big dose of watermelon into your diet will prove a wise choice, boosting your body’s overall health level on multiple fronts.

Read More

5 Benefits of Doing Planks Exercise

Planking has become increasingly popular for core strengthening, and for good reason: it works – in large part because it engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously. What are some of the benefits you can expect from adding this exercise to your regular routine?

1. A Toned Belly

Planking will help build your deep inner core muscles that lay the groundwork for that six-pack look. As your abdominal muscles become stronger, your mid-section will tighten.

Keep in mind, however, that in order to really get "six-pack" abs, you have to shed fat. For men that would be a body fat of about 6 percent, and women around 9 percent, in order to achieve that classic six-pack. This is not necessarily healthy.

2. Reduce Back Pain

Planks work for back pain because they strengthen your core, which has the pleasant “side effect” of reducing back pain. They also strengthen your back muscles, especially those in your upper back. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE):2

“Because the plank exercise requires minimal movement while contracting all layers of the abdominal fascia, it is an excellent way to strengthen the core, which, in turn, helps reduce low-back pain.”

3. Flexibility

While building strength, planks also increase flexibility in your posterior muscle groups. The muscles around your shoulders, collarbone, and shoulder blades will expand and stretch (an area that often receives little attention), as will your hamstrings and even the arches of your feet and your toes.

If you do a side plank, you can also stretch out your sides (especially if you extend your arm up over your head in line with your body). To increase the stretching benefits, try a rocking plank – once in basic plank form, rock your body back and forth by moving your toes a few inches either way.

4. Improve Your Mood

Virtually every exercise has the potential to give you a mood boost, and planks are no exception. Planks are unique, however, in that they help stretch and ultimately relax muscles groups that often become stiff and tense from prolonged sitting. The tension release that planks provide is uplifting for your spirit.

5. Improve Your Balance and Posture

To do a plank correctly, you must engage your abs to stay upright. Side planks or planks with extensions are particularly beneficial for building balance, as are planks performed on a stability ball. To test and strengthen your balance, try a side plank with a leg raise – get into side plank position, then lift your top leg and hold for one count. Lower it and repeat, then switch sides. In addition, planks work all the muscles you need to maintain proper posture, like your back, chest, shoulders, abs, and neck. If you do planks regularly, you’ll find you’re able to sit or stand up straighter with ease.

HOW TO DO A PLANK

1.Start by getting into a press up position.
2.Bend your elbows and rest your weight on your forearms and not on your hands.
3.Your body should form a straight line from shoulders to ankles.
4.Engage your core by sucking your belly button into your spine.
5.Hold this position for the prescribed time.

Read More

5 Reasons Why You Should do legs Workout

If you train in a commercial gym, you’ve probably noticed most gym go-ers don’t train their legs. You might be the only one using the Power Rack for Squats and maybe you’ve seen guys with a huge upper-body but toothpick legs. Popular excuses: “I run for my legs”, “My legs are too big already”, “Squats hurt my knees”, … Whatever the story, not training your legs is the biggest training mistake you can make. Here are 5 reasons you should train them.


1. More Muscle. You can find studies showing that Squats & Deadlifts increase the release of Growth Hormone & Testosterone more than any other exercise. These are natural muscle building hormones. 

2. Bigger Upper-body. Squats & Deadlifts work your whole body, not just your legs. Quick examples of how they stimulate upper-body growth too: Your arms squeeze the bar hard during heavy Squats & Deadlifts. Your abs work hard at stabilizing the weight during Squats. Your chest muscles tense hard during heavy Deadlifts. If you can’t train your upper-body because of an injury, you can prevent muscle loss in your upper-body by doing heavy Squats & Deadlifts.

3. More Strength. Stronger legs and core muscles will increase your strength on upper-body lifts and thus help upper-body muscle development. Quick examples of how Squats & Deadlifts can cause strength gains on your other lifts: Leg drive matters on the Bench Press. Stronger legs means more leg drive and a bigger bench, and thus bigger muscles. Squats & Deadlifts strengthen your legs & lower back. These muscles help you stay strong during the Overhead Press. 

4. Mental Strength. Here’s the real reason why people don’t train their legs: it’s physically & mentally hard. That’s why doing Squats and Deadlifts will build your mental endurance & character like no other exercise.

5.Running Doesn’t Count! Running, cycling or soccer will never work your legs like Squats & Deadlifts do. Include both exercises in your routine and you’ll see how you’ll get better at sports and how your upper-body will improve.

Read More

Health Benefits Of Ragi

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) also known as Ragi in India is one of the important cereals which occupies the highest area under cultivation among the small millets. The state of Karnataka is the largest producer of ragi in India.

                           

                     

1.Ragi for lowering high cholesterol levels: Ragi contains amino acids Lecithin and Methionine which help in bringing down cholesterol levels by eliminating excess fat from Liver. Finger Millet also contains the amino acid threonine which hinders fat formation in the liver, and helps to bring down the cholesterol levels. The high fiber content of ragi also helps to manage cholesterol problems.


2.Ragi in anemia: Ragi is an excellent plant source of natural Iron. Its consumption helps in Anemia. Vitamin C increases iron absorption. Sprouted ragi develops vitamin C in the process of sprouting, therefore the iron in ragi becomes more bioavailable when consumed as sprouted ragi flour or ragi malt.

3.Ragi for relaxation: One amazing benefit of Ragi is that it helps in relaxing the body naturally. It is found to be beneficial in conditions of anxiety, depression, migraine and insomnia.

4.Ragi for bones: Ragi is the richest source of calcium among plant foods. Calcium along with vitamin D helps to strengthen bones. It is an excellent source of natural calcium for children and aging people. It helps in development of bones in growing children and in maintenance of bone health in adults. Thus Ragi helps to keep bone problems at bay and could reduce risk of fractures too.

5.Ragi for diabetics: Regular consumption of finger millet is known to reduce the risk of diabetes mellitus and gastrointestinal tract disorders and these properties are attributed to its high polyphenol and dietary fiber content. According to research Finger Millet based diets help diabetics as they contain higher amounts of fiber over other cereals and millets. Diets based on whole finger millet have a lower glycemic response i.e. lower ability to increase blood sugar level. This has been attributed to presence of certain factors in ragi flour which lower digestibility and absorption of starch.

Read More

Why An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Do you really know what makes an apple so special? Why is it that we never hear an orange or a banana a day keeps the doctor away?

                          

1-Apples contains Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps greatly your immune system. A lot of people who lack Vitamin C in their diet have poor healing, bruise easily and have bleeding gums.

2-Prevent Heart Diseases. The reason it can prevent both coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease is because apples are rich in flavonoid. Flavonoids are also known for their antioxidant effects.

3-Low in calories. A regular size apple has between 70-100 calories. Eating an apple when craving for candy or chocolate can make the desire disappear since apple in itself contains sugar, but gives you only ¼ of the calories.

4-Prevent Cancers. Notice the plural. We all know that cancer comes in several forms and in different places. Apples target multiple cancers such as colon cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer in women.

5-Apples contain phenols, which have a double effect on cholesterol. It reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. They prevent LDL cholesterol from turning into oxidized LDL, a very dangerous form of bad cholesterol which can be deadly.

6-Prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay is an infection that seriously damages the structure of your teeth, which is caused primarily because of bacteria. The juice of the apples has properties that can kill up to 80% of bacteria. So there you have it, an apple a day also keeps the dentist away!

7-Healthier Lungs. A research at the University of Nottingham Research shows that people who eat 5 apples or more per week has lower respiratory problems, including asthma.

Read More

9 Benefits Of honey

Honey is a sweet liquid produced by honeybees from the nectar they gather from flowers via the complicated process of regurgitation and evaporation. Honey is made up of glucose, fructose, and minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphate, sodium, chlorine, potassium, magnesium. It is also fairly rich in vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6.

1. Boosts Energy

Honey can instantly boost your energy level. Due to the natural sugars in honey, it provides a healthy source of calories and energy whenever the body needs them most.

It easily fights fatigue and solves the problem of low energy. At the same time, honey satisfies the body’s innate craving for something sweet. This means you can have honey without worrying about putting on extra weight. Next time you feel the urge to eat something sweet, simply have a tablespoon of raw, organic honey.

2. Reduces Muscle Fatigue

Athletes often suffer from muscle fatigue, which can impact their performance level. But the problem can be solved easily with honey.

Honey can boost athletes’ performance and endurance levels and reduce muscle fatigue. This is due to the perfect combination of glucose and fructose in honey. Glucose is absorbed instantly by the body and provides immediate energy, while fructose is absorbed more slowly, providing sustained energy to the body.

3. Regulates Blood Sugar

Honey is sweet, but those who suffer from diabetes can enjoy it without a problem. In fact, honey can help regulate blood sugar levels due to the combination of fructose and glucose. Some types of honeys have a low hypoglycemic index. This means when such honey is consumed, it will not spike your blood sugar level fast.

Those suffering from Type 1 diabetes should eat one tablespoon of honey daily. At the same time, the minerals,vitamins and antioxidant properties in honey are highly beneficial.  Plus, as it is sweeter, you are likely to use a lesser amount of honey than sugar.

4. Treats Coughs

Several studies have found that honey is a far more effective remedy for coughs compared to many over-the-counter cough medicines. Honey has strong antibacterial properties that help soothe sore throats and kill the bacteria that cause the infection.

To get quick relief from coughing, mix one tablespoon of honey with some fresh-squeezed lemon juice and drink this solution at regular intervals. You can also mix honey, lemon juice and a pinch of salt in a glass of lukewarm water and use it to gargle. For cough treatment, it is recommended to use buckwheat honey over other types of honey.

5. Heals Wounds and Cuts

Honey has natural antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. These properties help clean wounds and cuts. Also, honey can keep wounds and cuts free from infection, reduce odor and pus, lessen pain and promote speedy healing.

After gently cleaning the wound or cut with lukewarm water and mild soap, apply a layer of honey on the affected area and cover the area fully with a bandage. Change the bandage every 24 hours. Honey is an excellent option for those who are allergic to topical antibiotics.

7. Beats Insomnia

Many people have trouble sleeping. Honey is a simple solution for this problem. Honey is a fat-digesting carbohydrate that stimulates the release of insulin and allows tryptophan to enter the brain easily.

Tryptophan is the compound that makes us sleepy. Simply have a glass of warm milk with honey before going to bed. Both honey and milk are tryptophan-containing foods.

8. Good for Skin

Due to its antimicrobial and antifungal properties, honey is the ultimate ingredient to use for healthy and glowing skin. For blemishes, apply a little bit of honey directly on the affected area before going to bed. This will give the skin all night to absorb the honey’s medicinal properties.

Wash it off the next morning with lukewarm water. Follow this simple remedy for several days and soon you will have clear and glowing skin. Honey can also be used to treat other skin conditions like eczema, ringworm and psoriasis. Honey can also reduce skin inflammation and relieve dryness.

9. Reduces Weight

Honey contains vitamins, minerals and amino acids. All these elements work together to promote fat and cholesterol metabolism, which in turn helps maintain body weight and prevents obesity.

It has been found that drinking a glass of lukewarm water with honey and lemon juice on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning, is one of the simplest ways to lose weight. Doing this helps with detoxification, cleansing the liver, removing toxins, and flushing fat out of the body.

Read More

Check 10 health benefits of coconut oil

Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can be classified as a “superfood.”

Its unique combination of fatty acids can have profound positive effects on health.

This includes fat loss, better brain function and various other amazing benefits.

Here are the top 10 health benefits of coconut oil that have been experimentally confirmed in human studies.

1. Coconut Oil Contains a Unique Combination of Fatty Acids With Powerful Medicinal Properties

Coconut oil has been demonized in the past because it contains saturated fat. In fact, coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat known to man, with almost 90% of the fatty acids in it being saturated.

However, new data is showing that saturated fats are harmless. Many massive studies that include hundreds of thousands of people prove that the whole “artery-clogging” idea was a myth (2).

Additionally, coconut oil doesn’t contain your average run-of-the-mill saturated fats like you would find in cheese or steak.

No, they contain so-called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) – which are fatty acids of a medium length.

Most of the fatty acids in the diet are long-chain fatty acids, but the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are metabolized differently.

They go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source energy or turned into so-called ketone bodies, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.

2. Populations That Eat a LOT of Coconut Are Among The Healthiest People on The Planet.

Coconut is kind of an “exotic” food in the Western world, primarily consumed by health conscious people.

However, in some parts of the world, coconut is a dietary staple that people have thrived on for many generations.

The best example of such a population is the Tokelauans, which live in the South Pacific.

They eat over 60% of their calories from coconuts and are the biggest consumers of saturated fat in the world.

These people are in excellent health, with no evidence of heart disease.

Another example of a population that eats a lot of coconut and remains in excellent health is the Kitavans.

3. Coconut Oil Can Increase Your Energy Expenditure, Helping You Burn More Fat. 

Obesity is currently one of the biggest health problems in the world.

While some people think obesity is only a matter of calories, others (myself included) believe that the sources of those calories are critical too.

It is a fact that different foods affect our bodies and hormones in different ways. In this regard, a calorie is NOT a calorie.

The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut oil can increase energy expenditure compared to the same amount of calories from longer chain fats.

One study found that 15-30 grams of MCTs per day increased 24 hour energy expenditure by 5%, totalling about 120 calories per day.

4. The Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil Can Kill Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi, Helping to Stave Off Infections.

Running Away From Pathogens

Almost 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil is the 12-carbon Lauric Acid.

When coconut oil is enzymatically digested, it also forms a monoglyceride called monolaurin.

Both lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungi.

For example, these substances have been shown to kill the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus (a very dangerous pathogen) and the yeast Candida Albicans, a common source of yeast infections in humans.

5. Coconut Oil Can Kill Your Hunger, Making You Eat Less Without Even Trying Man Drinking From Coconut.

One interesting feature of coconut oil is that it can reduce your hunger.

This may be related to the way the fatty acids in it are metabolized, because ketone bodies can have an appetite reducing effect.

In one study, varying amounts of medium and long chain triglycerides were fed to 6 healthy men.

The men eating the most MCTs ate 256 fewer calories per day, on average.

Another study in 14 healthy men discovered that those who ate the most MCTs at breakfast ate significantly fewer calories at lunch.

These studies were small and only done for a short period of time. If this effect were to persist over the long term, it could have a dramatic influence on body weight over a period of several years.

6. The Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil Are Turned into Ketones, Which Can Reduce Seizures Open Coconut.

A so-called ketogenic (very low carb, very high fat) diet is currrently being studied to treat various disorders.

The best known therapeutic application of this diet is treating drug-resistant epilepsy in children.

This diet involves eating very little carbohydrates and large amounts of fat, leading to greatly increased concentrations of ketone bodies in the blood.

For some reason, this diet can dramatically reduce the rate of seizures in epileptic children, even those who haven’t had success with multiple different types of drugs.

Because the MCTs in coconut oil get shipped to the liver and turned into ketone bodies, they are often used in epileptic patients to induce ketosis while allowing for a bit more carbs in the diet.

7. Coconut Oil Can Improve Blood Cholesterol Levels and May Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease Cracked Coconut.

Coconut oil is loaded with saturated fats, which actually do not harm the blood lipid profile like previously thought.

Saturated fats raise HDL (the good) cholesterol and change the LDL cholesterol to a benign subtype.

In one study in 40 women, coconut oil reduced Total and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL compared to soybean oil.

8. Coconut Oil Can Protect Hair Against Damage, Moisturize Skin and Function as Sunscreen Cracked Coconut With Peels.

Coconut oil can serve various purposes that have nothing to do with eating it.

Many people are using it for cosmetic purposes and to improve the health and appearance of their skin and hair.

Studies on individuals with dry skin show that coconut oil can improve the moisture and lipid content of the skin.

Coconut oil can also be very protective against hair damage and one study shows effectiveness as sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Another application is using it like mouthwash in a process called oil pulling, which can kill some of the harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath.

9. The Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil Can Boost Brain Function in Alzheimer’s Patients Doctor With Thumbs Up.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide and occurs primarily in elderly individuals.

In Alzheimer’s patients, there appears to be a reduced ability to use glucose for energy in certain parts of the brain.

Ketone bodies can supply energy for the brain and researchers have speculated that ketones can provide an alternative energy source for these malfunctioning cells and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

In one 2006 study, consumption of medium chain triglycerides led to immediate improvement in brain function in patients with milder forms of Alzheimer’s.

10. Coconut Oil Can Help You Lose Fat, Especially The Dangerous Fat in Your Abdominal Cavity A man who needs to lose weight.

Given that coconut oil can reduce appetite and increase fat burning, it makes sense that it can also help you lose weight.

Coconut oil appears to be especially effective in reducing abdominal fat, which lodges in the abdominal cavity and around organs.

This is the most dangerous fat of all and is highly associated with many Western diseases.

Waist circumference is easily measured and is a great marker for the amount of fat in the abdominal cavity.

A study in 40 women with abdominal obesity, supplementing with 30 mL (1 ounce) of coconut oil per day lead to a significant reduction in both BMI and waist circumference in a period of 12 weeks. 

Another study in 20 obese males noted a reduction in waist circumference of 2.86 cm (1.1 inches) after 4 weeks of 30 mL (1 ounce) of coconut oil per day.

This number may not seem too impressive on the surface, but be aware that these people aren’t adding exercise or restricting calories. They’re losing significant amounts of abdominal fat simply by adding coconut oil to their diet.

Read More