Wednesday, April 29, 2009

25 Health Benefits of Lemons



1. Lemon being a citrus fruit, fights against infection. It helps in  
production of White Blood Cells and antibodies in blood which attacks the invading microorganism and prevents infection.  

2. Lemon is an antioxidant which deactivates the free radicals preventing  

many dangerous diseases like stroke, cardiovascular diseases and cancers.  


3. Lemon lowers blood pressure and increases the levels of HDL (good  
cholesterol).  

4. Lemon is found to be anti-carcinogenic which lowers the rates of colon,  
prostate and breast cancer. They prevent faulty metabolism in the cell,  
which can predispose a cell to becoming carcinogenic. Also blocks the  
formation of nitrosamines in the gut.  

5. Lemon juice is said to give a glow to the skin.  

6. A few drops of lemon juice in hot water are believed to clear the  
digestive system and purify liver as well.  

7. The skin of lemon dried under the sun and then ground to make powder  
can be applied to the hair for a few minutes before bath which relieves  
head ache and cools the body.  

8. Applying lemon juice to acne dries the existing ones and prevents from  
getting more.  

9. Lemon juice acts as a natural hair lightner and skin bleach which  
reduces the pigment melanin and prevents the risk of chemical allergic  
reactions which is common with hair dyes and bleaches.  

10. Lemon juice is given to relieve gingivitis, stomatitis, and  
inflammation of the tongue.  

11. Lemon juice is used to prevent common cold.  

12. Lemon juice is given to prevent/treat urinary tract infection and  
gonorrhea.  

13. Lemon juice is applied to the sites of bites and stings of certain  
insects to relieve its poison and pain.  

14. Lemon juice relieves colic pain and gastric problems.  

15. Lemon juice soothes the dry skin when applied with little glycerin.  

16. Lemon juice used for marinating seafood or meat kills bacteria and  
other organisms present in them, thereby prevents many gastro-intestinal  
tract infections.  

17. Lemon juice with a pinch of salt (warm) every morning lowers  
cholesterol levels and brings down your weight.  

18. Lemon juice is the best drink to prevent dehydration and shock in case  
of diarrhea.  

19. Lemon juice can also be used as a mouthwash. It removes plaque, whitens  
the teeth and strengthens the enamel.  

20. A table spoon on thick lemon syrup everyday relieves asthma.  

21. Lemon juice relieves chilblains and itchy skin.  

22. Gargling lemon juice relieves throat infection and also used as a  
treatment for diphtheria.  

23. Lemon juice is an excellent treatment for dandruff and greasy hair.  

24. Lemon juice, applied over the face, removes wrinkles and keeps you young.  

25. Lemon juice helps to prevent and cure osteoarthritis.  


Sunday, April 26, 2009

Walnuts in diet may help elderly improve memory

WASHINGTON: Adding some walnuts to an otherwise healthy diet may help older people improve memory and behavioural skills, according to an animal

model study.Walnuts contain polyphenols and other anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids. Polyphenols are the most abundant group of plant phenolic compounds, known to provide much of the flavour, colour and taste to fruits, vegetables and seeds.

The study was conducted by researchers with the Human Nutrition Research Centre on Ageing (HNRCA) at Tufts University in Boston.

The ageing brain undergoes many changes resulting in altered or impaired neuronal functioning. In aged rodents, these impairments are seen as poor performance on age-sensitive tests of balance, coordination, and "spatial" working memory.

For the study, weight-matched, aged rats were randomly assigned to one of four diet groups. For eight weeks, the rats were fed special chow mixes that contained either two, six or nine percent walnuts - or no walnuts - before undergoing motor and memory tests.

For comparison, the six percent walnut study diet is equivalent to a human eating about seven to to nine walnuts daily. That counts as both a two-ounce equivalent from the "meat and beans group" and two teaspoons toward a daily allowance of dietary oil, said a HNRCA release.

The study found that in aged rats, the diets containing two or six percent walnuts were able to improve age-related motor and cognitive shortfalls, while the nine percent walnut diet also improved memory.

Diet tips that save the planet


Apples and measuring tape/iStockPhoto

Looking to shed a few pounds before the summer? Losing weight is not only great for your health -- it's also good for the environment.

The following suggestions will help reduce your waistline and your impact on the planet.

  • Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and other real foods. High amounts of salt, sugar, and other unhealthy ingredients can hide in packaged foods. In fact, some flavored yogurts can contain more sugar than ice cream, according to Dara O'Rourke at GoodGuide, a database that can help you find healthy and environment-friendly foods. Manufacturing, packaging, and transporting processed foods to the store typically requires a large amount of energy and resources.

  • Stay away from high-fructose corn syrup. It can make you fat and is linked to diabetes. Massive amounts of fertilizers are used to grow corn, and these chemicals are eroding America's soil and polluting the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Choose lean protein such as chicken, eggs, sustainable seafood, and legumes. It's not high in saturated fat and fills you up so you're not looking for your next meal too quickly. Red meat, in particular, takes a huge toll on the environment. Raising livestock is one of the most significant contributors to a long list of environmental problems from climate change to deforestation to water pollution.

  • Replace high-calorie soft drinks with filtered tap water. Obviously, anything you can do to cut calories is a win for your body. How does it benefit the earth? Fewer resources are needed to make bottles and cans and ship them to stores. It also puts less pressure on landfills.

  • Cook your own meals instead of eating out at restaurants. It's harder to control portions when you go out to eat, and you have no control over whether healthy ingredients are used to prepare your meal. Besides, restaurants end up wasting a lot of perfectly good food.

  • Walk and bike more. Exercise is a major component of any healthy weight loss program. You'll burn more calories and less gas by leaving your car at home.

  • Don't deprive yourself. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a little bit of fair-trade dark chocolate. Studies show that the antioxidants present in dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure. Fair-trade cocoa farmers are paid fair wages, which allows them to take good care of their land.  

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.