TAKE VITAMIN B TO LOWER WORK STRESS

Taking more Vitamin B, found in meat, beans and wholegrains, seems to significantly lower work-related stress. These were the findings of a three-month trial, conducted by Con Stough, professor at Swimburne University of Technology, where participants were given a course of either high dose vitamin B supplements or a placebo. "By lowering stress, we also lower the risk of health problems such as cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety," Stough was quoted as saying by the journal Human Psychopharmacology. Researchers assessed 60 participants against factors such as personality, work demands, mood, anxiety and strain and then re-evaluated them at 30 and 90 days, said Stough, according to a Swimburne statement. "At the end of the three-month period, those in the Vitamin B group reported much lower levels of work stress than they did at the beginning of the trial," Stough said. "On the other hand, those in the placebo group showed no significant change," he added. "Vitamin B, which is found in whole unprocessed foods such as meat, beans and wholegrains, is integral to the synthesis of neurotransmitters critical to psychological wellbeing," he said. "But the reality is that many people don’t get enough Vitamin B from their diet, so they are turning to vitamin supplementation," added Stough.

VITAMIN E PREVENTS MUSCLE WASTING, REPAIRS CELLS

Vitamin E is rubbed on the skin to reduce signs of ageing and is consumed by runners to improve endurance. But scientists now have found how the powerful antioxidant helps repair tears in the plasma membrane. Daily activities such as eating and exercise can tear the plasma membrane and a new research by Georgia Health Sciences University shows that vitamin E is essential to repair, the journal Nature Communications reported. Without repair of muscle cells, for example, muscles eventually waste away and die in a process similar to what occurs in muscular dystrophy, said a university statement. Muscle weakness is a common complaint in diabetes, another condition associated with inadequate plasma membrane repair. "Without any special effort we consume vitamin E every day and we don`t even know what it does in our bodies," said Paul McNeil, Georgia`s cell biologist and study co-author. Century-old animal studies linked vitamin E deficiency to muscle problems but how that happens remained a mystery until now, McNeil said. According to him, lack of membrane repair causing muscle wasting and death prompted him to look at vitamin E. Vitamin E appears to aid repair in several ways. As an antioxidant, it helps eliminate destructive byproducts from the body`s use of oxygen that impede repair. Because it`s lipid-soluble, vitamin E can actually insert itself into the membrane to prevent free radicals from attacking. It also can help keep phospholipids, a major membrane component, compliant so they repair better after a tear.

HEALING POWERS OF LEMONS!!!

If you’re not getting fresh lemons into your diet, you may want to reconsider after reading the many health benefits of lemons, lemon juice, pith (the white part), or zest (skin).

Here are 13 amazing healing powers of lemons:

1. Bowel-Cleansing: The bitter taste of lemon gives these fruit the ability to increase peristalsis–a pumping-motion in the bowels–which helps to eliminate waste from the bowels and improve regularity.  Add the juice of one lemon to warm water and drink first thing in the morning.

2. Cancer: Lemons contain 22 anti-cancer compounds, including limonene-a naturally-occurring oil that slows or halts the growth of cancer tumors in animals.  Lemons also contain a substance called flavonol glycosides which stop cell division in cancer cells.

3. Colds and Flu: Lemons are rich in vitamin C and flavonoids that work in conjunction for a serious punch against infection.

4. Liver: Fresh lemon juice added to a large glass of water in the morning is a great liver detoxifier.

5. Nutrition: Lemons contain vitamin C, citric acid, flavonoids, B-complex vitamins, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and fiber.

6. Balances Body Chemistry: While lemons are acidic they interact with the body’s metabolism to have an alkalizing effect on the bodily fluids helping to restore balance to the body’s pH.

BLACK TEA MAY MANAGE TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

Now-a-days, suffering from blood pressure is a very common problem. The ratio of suffering people increases across the world in alarming rate. To some extent high blood pressure is a silent killer. So, if you are suffering from blood pressure, you can drink at least three cups of black tea daily which may help you lower your pressure, scientists have claimed. Researchers at the University of Western Australia found that people who drank three cups of black tea a day managed to lower their blood pressure (BP) levels by an average of two to three points. That may not sound like much, but even small reductions in BP levels can have a major impact on the prevalence of high blood pressure (hypertension) and risk of heart disease, the researchers said. “At a population level, the observed differences in BP would be associated with a 10 per cent reduction in the prevalence of hypertension and a seven per cent to 10 per cent reduction in the risk of heart disease and stroke,” study author Jonathan Hodgson was quoted.

THE MIRACLE OF GREEN TEA

Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years. Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

FOODS THAT FIGHT CHOLESTEROL

Oats:

Dietary fibre plays an important role in maintaining our health and protecting us against many diseases like diabetes, heart disease. Oats, oat bran, and oatmeal contain a specific type of fibre known as beta-glucan. It is a soluble fibre that helps in decreasing LDL (bad cholesterol). One of the special things about the way oats work unlike other fibres is that it lowers only bad cholesterol while levels of good cholesterol (HDL) remain unchanged. This means an even better ratio between total cholesterol and HDL, ensuring increased protection against heart disease. Oatmeal is the only wholegrain food recognised by the FDA to lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, thereby allows its claim as a heart protective ingredient in food labels. Studies also show that in individuals with high cholesterol (above 220 mg/dl), consuming just 3 grams of soluble oat fibre per day (an amount found in a bowl of oatmeal) typically lowers total cholesterol.

Soyabean:

Soy protein protects against various heart diseases and hypercholesterolemia as it decreases LDL (bad cholesterol) significantly, increases HDL (good cholesterol) and prevents oxidation of bad cholesterol to prevent oxidation in blood vessels.

FOODS FOR WHITENING TEETH NATURALLY

Teeth-whitening products aren`t cheap, which is why I loved learning about the foods that can polish and scrub your teeth and get rid of stains naturally. USA Today had the scoop on the foods, according to dental experts, that can scrub away stains and keep them sparkling white. The so-called "toothbrush foods" are as follows:

1. Apples and celery: Crunchy fruits and veggies are great for clearing away plaque and polishing the teeth and gums. They also increase saliva productions which can protect your oral health, say experts.

2. Strawberries: Think of them as nature`s teeth polishers. Strawberries produce an enzyme called malic acid, which is said to keep teeth white, according to a spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry.

3. Cheese: Good news for cheese lovers! Your favorite white cheddar, and other cheeses, contain a type of lactic acid that helps zap tooth decay.

APRICOT FOR BRIGHT EYE

Nutrients in apricots can help protect the heart and eyes, as well as provide the disease-fighting effects of fiber. The high beta-carotene content of apricots makes them important heart health foods. Apricots contain nutrients such as vitamin A that promote good vision. Vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant, quenches free radical damage to cells and tissues. Free radical damage can injure the eyes lenses. The degenerative effect of free radicals, or oxidative stress, may lead to cataracts or damage the blood supply to the eyes and cause macular degeneration. Researchers who studied over 50,000 registered nurses found that women who had the highest vitamin A intake reduced their risk of developing cataracts by nearly 40%. Apricots are a good source of fiber, which has a wealth of benefits. These include preventing constipation and digestive conditions such as diverticulosis. A healthy, whole-foods diet should include apricots as a delicious way to add to your fiber intake of the body.