12 Health Benefits of Coconut Water

If you’re from the Philippines, like I am, coconut water isn’t difficult to find. It’s almost around every corner, you can get lots of it for a dollar, and you can have it all year round.

On the other hand, if you’re from a non-tropical country, coconut water can be expensive and difficult to find. However, the advantages of coconut water truly do pay back; and if you are able to find good coconut water that isn’t laced with preservatives, you won’t be sorry.

Coconut water is the liquid that comes from young coconuts. When coconuts are first broken open, the water is collected and sometimes served with shredded coconut meat. Coconut water has been studied and used for many years as a tonic. But does it really work?

So why is coconut water so popular, and what can you get from coconut water? Here are a dozen health benefits of coconut water that you might want to consider as you ponder on getting this cool, delicately flavored drink.

Source – leiflet

1. Coconut water can give you an energy boost – Coconut water contains several essential ions, including sodium and potassium. Both these ions are available in energy drinks, which serve to keep your energy level high. As you sweat, your body’s ion stores are depleted. Coconut water can substitute for low sodium sports drinks drinks, since it has good levels of both these essential ions.

2. Coconut water can control blood pressure – Coconut water might be high in potassium, but it is low in sodium. It can provide your body with essential ions without overloading your body with dangerous amounts of sodium. High sodium levels in the body can lead to hypertension. Coconut water, therefore, can give you ions without playing around with your blood pressure. This, however, is just one way to contain your blood pressure – a whole lifestyle change is still necessary!

3. Coconut water won’t raise blood sugar levels – Have you ever craved sweet drinks on a hot day, only to pull back when you realize that you’ll just build up the sugar in your blood? You don’t need to worry when drinking coconut water: coconut water is low in calories and still quenches your thirst. It has some flavor so it doesn’t taste bland like water, but it isn’t loaded with sugars so that you can end up in a sugar crash hours later.

4. Coconut water might aid in anti-aging! – Coconut water has some enzymes that early tests show might battle the signs of aging. This might be due to the fact that as we grow older, our skin loses some of its moisture and our bodies take longer to assimilate water. Coconut water can help slow this down by encouraging the absorption of water, vitamins, and essential nutrients that can help keep skin – and other organs – moisturized.

5. Coconut water can help stop diarrhea – Coconut water has been used for years as a water substitute in countries that do not have fresh water sources. Coconut water is rich in electrolytes and essential nutrients, and is even better than the universally recommended oral rehydration salts.

6. Coconut water can aid in digestion – Coconut water is also rich in enzymes such as various phosphatases, which can help aid the digestive process.

7. Coconut water can give your immune system a boost – Coconut water is rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium, all of which contribute to a stronger immune system. For instance, your body needs calcium to keep your immune system running. Once calcium stores are depleted, your body could turn to the calcium stored in your bones. Coconut water gives your body a readily-available source of calcium.

8. Coconut water is rich in B-complex vitamins – Your body needs B-complex vitamins in order to replenish cells, keep your immune system running, keep your brain functioning, and healing wounds. You will often need to take a lot of B-complex vitamins, especially if you are active and athletic. Coconut water has B-complex vitamins that can help you take care of this requirement.

9. Coconut water can help relieve you of constipation – Why would you be constipated? For one, your body might lack water, as well as essential ions that will help you release toxins from your body. Coconut water has essential ions and high water content that can help relieve constipation without resulting in diarrhea.

10. Coconut water might help in alleviating skin problems – Coconut water has several vitamins and enzymes which, according to anecdotal evidence, help alleviate skin problems. Some people have reported applying coconut water to their skin to get rid of diseases such as eczema and acne.

11. Coconut water might help in weight loss and management – Sugar could well be your biggest enemy when it comes to weight loss. However, you can still get rehydrated without resorting to sugary drinks by taking coconut water. This way, you give your body a boost of energy to keep exercising without providing it sugar that it might end up storing anyway.

12. Coconut water can lower your core body temperature – What happens when you don’t sweat or cool off? If it’s too hot, your body’s temperature stays warm, preventing it from functioning properly. Coconut water is efficient at cooling your core body temperature. It is as good as water, but if you don’t have water on hand, coconut water will suffice. This way, you don’t “overheat” and you can still function even when it’s deathly hot out!

You can buy coconut water straight from your grocery store, or if you’re feeling a bit more generous, you can go take a vacation in a tropical country and drink coconuts straight from the husk! I’d love to invite you to the sunny islands of the Philippines, where coconuts grow all year long, and where we have coconut water every day!

Coconut water might have been used for many years, but it is slowly gaining fame as more researchers study it. Keep watching the news for the latest on coconut water, and you might soon find a miracle tonic sitting on the shelves of the store nearest you!

About the Guest Author – Inez Ponce de Leon is a writer and researcher, and loves to keep herself active through dance. She also loves writing about health and loves to give health advice. Her work focuses on looking critically at health claims, in particular, Healthy Trim reviews and finding the best brain supplements. She loves to belly dance and fuse different styles with traditional steps in the dance; she also teaches belly dance and loves to teach her students how to be active and strong through muscle control and isolation.

10 Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Ancient medicine systems of the world have used herbal products for centuries to cure ailments. In ancient times there was no modern medicine to cure diseases and people relied on plants to find treatment for various health conditions. Herbal treatments were practiced in many ancient civilizations such as Egyptian, Roman, Greek and Indian. They have been around for centuries and are a result of age old wisdom where people trusted nature and sort answers in it for all their health problems. Herbs have now made a comeback, as people realized they are safer on the human body as they are natural products. Natural products have no or little side effects and can be safely used in limited doses to alleviate various health problems. Read more

12 Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

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10 Health Benefits of Nori – Seaweed

Nori is the most commonly used edible seaweed. In fact, you may have had it more often than you realize since it goes by different names depending on what type of cuisine you’re dining on. While nori is what the Japanese call it, this versatile sea vegetable is also known as laver in the British Isles, gim or kim in Korea, and zicai in China.

But no matter what you call it, nori has significant health benefits for just about every part of your body. From eye health to disease prevention, nori seaweed is steadily becoming a global standard as a healthy superfood.

Health Benefits of Nori – Seaweed

Source – sifu_renka

1. Eye Health Benefits of Nori - Some of the best nutrients for healthy eyes are vitamin A, vitamin C, and anti-oxidants. Nori seaweed is loaded with all of these! Vitamin A prevents dry eye syndrome and the development of nightblindness. Regular consumption of vitamin C reduces your risk for cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, two of the most common causes of vision loss around the world according to the World Health Organization.
2. Dental Health Benefits of Nori - Commonly when people want to increase their daily calcium intake for bone and teeth health, they reach for dairy products such as milk and cheese. However, nori is known for its high calcium content, which makes it an excellent alternative source for vegetarians and vegans. Calcium is an essential nutrient you need every day to maintain the strength of teeth and prevent tooth decay from acid-producing oral bacteria. The high concentration of vitamin C in nori keeps gums healthy and prevents periodontal disease.
3. Brain Health Benefits of Nori – Using up to 20% of the body’s daily energy requirements, your brain needs to stay well-fed for healthy functioning and maintaining your energy level overall. What are the best nutrients for brain power? Two of the crucial brain boosters you can get from eating nori include Omega-3 essential fatty acids and complex carbohydrates. Omega-3 fatty acids improve your cognitive abilities by improving memory, increasing alertness, and may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Complex carbs are often referred to as “brain food” because they are the primary source of energy for your brain to function properly.
4. Digestive Health Benefits of Nori – Need more fiber in your diet? Nori contains a large amount of soluble dietary fiber, which dissolves in water and slows down digestion making you feel full longer. A high-fiber diet is important for health because it can regulate your digestive system, help you lose weight, and may help reduce your risk for certain cancers.
5. Bone Health Benefits of Nori - A calcium-rich diet is often recommended by medical professionals since it’s a vital component for sustaining bone health and preventing osteoporosis. But if you’re not getting enough magnesium, then your body isn’t properly absorbing and making use of the calcium you’re consuming. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 57% of the population is not getting enough magnesium from their diet. Packed with calcium and magnesium, nori seaweed is a great source to add more bone-strengthening vitamins and minerals.
6. Skin Health Benefits of Nori – You may have seen seaweed-containing skin care products at the store or body wrap treatments advertised at your local spa. Even though it may not see like it’s something you want slather all over your body, studies have shown that nori has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties making it ideal for cleansing and toning your skin. If you’d rather not use it as a topical treatment, eating nori will give you the same nutrients and benefits for healthy skin as well.
7. Blood Health Benefits of Nori – The advantage for healthy blood you get from eating nori is increasing your daily intake of iron. The importance of iron in blood is to transfer oxygen from our lungs to the various cells that need oxygen to operate and perform activities. Nori is one of the most naturally iron-rich foods you can find.
8. Heart Health Benefits of Nori - Omega-3 essential fatty acids are considered some of the best nutritional elements you can get from your food. With Omega-3 fatty acids, nori helps to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower blood pressure both of which are the leading causes of heart disease. Generally most people get Omega-3 from fish or fortified foods, but vegetarians and vegans can easily enjoy the benefits of nori for optimal health.
9. Muscle Health Benefits of Nori - One third of nori is protein. Protein is a big part of any meal for most people, but some studies warn that the average person may regularly eat more than they need. If you get too much protein, your body stores it as fat. Whether you want to be a body-builder or not, nori is a great source of protein because it’s also very low calorie and low fat. You can build muscle and avoid packing on extra pounds unwanted fat.
10. Disease Prevention Benefits of Nori – Being anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, nori can help reduce the risk for a number of illnesses such as ulcers, some types of cancer, stomach tumors, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Proper nutrition has always been regarded as a way to help prevent the majority of common diseases. Ensuring that you get all the vitamins and minerals you need becomes an easy task with more nutrient-complete foods like nori seaweed in your diet.

Nori can be used in a number of recipes. You can buy them packaged as square sheets, flavored or unflavored, to be used dry or rehydrated as needed. Most people eat nori as a sushi wrap or mixed with oatmeal and bacon to make laverbread, a traditional Welsh breakfast meal. However it can be included as a topping for pasta, in a salad, in soup, or even a simple healthy snack. Be creative and have fun adding nori to your regular diet.

About the guest blogger – Mark Masters is an avid health blogger who writes for Hill Country Eye Center, an ophthalmologist in Austin TX that provides vision care services from eye exams to LASIK surgery. For more information you can find them at Hill Country Eye Center, 12171 West Parmer Lane #201, Cedar Park, TX 78613, Phone: (512) 528-1144.

12 Health Benefits of Black Beans

Black beans adorn many a dish in Latin American cuisine. You can find it in soups, inside your favorite burritos, ensconced in your choice enchiladas, and mixed up with rice.

But did you know that black beans also have a lot of health benefits? Aim for 4-8 cups of cooked black beans (or, for that matter, other legumes) in a week, and you’ll get these advantages.

Health Benefits of Black Beans

Source – johnnystiletto

1. Black beans aid in digestion – Black beans have an indigestible fraction that allow colon-based bacteria to produce acids that aid function in the lower digestive tract. This allows you to pass bowels easily and get rid of toxins.

Many people often think of black beans as gas causing, but recent research has shown that this is not true.

2. They can help prevent cancer – With their ability to expunge toxins, black beans can help prevent cancers that are linked to toxin build-up, such as colon cancer. Colon cancer is linked to an inability of the lower digestive tract to function efficiently in the long term, hence the link of black beans to cancer prevention.

More research is ongoing, especially in breast cancer, although there has still been no conclusive evidence of black beans’ advantages. Still, as research is ongoing, we can expect to find out more about black beans and how they can help.

3. They can give your immune system a boost – Black beans are a rich source of phytonutrients, which give them their rich, dark color. Black beans have anthocyanins, which can help give your immune system a boost by purging you of toxins. Black beans also have antioxidants that can help flush out toxins and get rid of existing free radicals that can damage your body.

4. They can prevent diabetes – Consumption of black beans is also linked to a much lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This might be due to several factors: black beans are rich in antioxidants and can help aged cells grow, and they are rich in fiber that can increase your body’s capacity to absorb nutrients.

Moreover, black beans regulate the level of sugars in the blood, allowing your body’s stores of insulin to work.

5. They can help prevent heart disease – Believe it or not, Brazil actually recognizes black beans as their own unique food group. This comes as no surprise: while cardiovascular diseases are running rampant throughout the world, we need, more than ever, foods that will help keep our hearts healthy. Black beans are linked to this advantage.

6. They can give an energy boost – minus the sugar crash – Black beans have a high level of proteins, which can give your body an energy boost that it will burn slowly. This is in contrast to sugar-based energy foods, which give you a fast-burning energy boost, leading to a sugar crash after.

7. They regulate the balance of sugar in your blood – Black beans actually work both ways: they can allow your body to release sugar as fuel, but in moderate amounts so that you get exactly what you need; they also allow your body to absorb sugar and store it, so that you have exactly what your body needs, no more, no less. This can regulate your endocrine and immune systems, so that your body does not get overloaded by sugar.

8. They lower your blood pressure – Not only will black beans help your heart, they’ll help your veins and arteries as well. Regular consumption of black beans is linked to much lower levels of cholesterol in the blood, lowering your risk of cholesterol accumulations in the walls of your blood vessels. This allows your blood vessels to pump blood efficiently, thereby regulating your blood pressure.

9. They can help maintain your nervous system. – Your nervous system needs folate in order to function properly. Black beans are high in folate.

10. They can help pregnant moms – Folate is also required to support healthy pregnancy, and to encourage brain and spinal cord growth in infants. Because black beans are high in folate, pregnant mothers are encouraged to eat them in moderation.

11. They might prevent impotence – Black beans are high in molybdenum, an element that has been linked to impotence prevention in elderly males. Although evidence has been scant and research is still ongoing, there is much promise that black beans can truly help out.

12. They can aid in breaking down sulfates – Some food additives, such as those in wines and salad dressings, contain sulfites. When people sensitive to sulfites consume them, these people can get headaches. Black beans have molybdenum which can break down these sulfites into easily digestible portions, allowing people to enjoy a wider variety of foods without feeling sick afterward.

You can add black beans to soup, or season them lightly and mix them with a rice dish. You can also add black beans to salads, and even marinate your favorite fish in a mix of black beans, sesame oil, and soy sauce – and then steam it for a flavorful entree.

These are just a few reasons why you should eat black beans, and how black beans can be an integral, delicious part of your diet.

About the Guest Author – Inez Ponce de Leon is a writer and researcher, and loves to keep herself active through dance. She also loves writing about health and loves to give health advice. Her work focuses on looking critically at health claims, in particular, Healthy Trim reviews and gauging the potency of brain supplements. She loves to belly dance and fuse different styles with traditional steps in the dance; she also teaches belly dance and loves to teach her students how to be active and strong through muscle control and isolation.

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Your hands are sweaty. Your eyes are going dry. You’re on the verge of trembling, but you hold it all down. Even your heartbeat is threatening to turn you inside out. But you have to be productive, and you have to finish that project/write that paper/pass that exam.

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12 Health Benefits of Blackberries

Blackberries can be tart or sweet, but they will always be delicious. If you love blackberries, then you’re in luck: Blackberries are high in antioxidants that can help flush out toxins from your body, slow down the cell aging process, and give you overall health. Read more

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10 Health Benefits of Sleep

Most people will make the effort to take vitamins and exercise regularly but sleep is something that is often taken for granted. After all, a person will make the commitment to create a gym routine but it is the rare individual who will establish a well-defined sleep routine.

And this is really too bad, because sleep plays a crucial role in our well-being. The quality of sleep that an individual achieves significantly influences physical and mental performance.

In this article, we discuss ten health benefits of sleep. While some of them may seem fairly obvious, there are a few which are not so well-known.

Health Benefits of Sleep

Source – lab2112

Sleep benefit # 1: Longevity – In 2010, a study conducted among women subjects aged 50 to 79 was able to establish a link between the amount of sleep and the incidences of mortality. The data showed that there were more deaths recorded among women who consistently had too little or too much sleep. Too little sleep was defined as less than five hours, while too much sleep was determined to be more than six and a half hours per night.  The researchers admitted that the study fails to prove whether the amount was sleep was an effect or a cause of death, because illnesses and diseases do affect normal sleep patterns and inadequate sleep has been linked to weaker immunity.

Sleep Benefit #2: Memory Functions – Even when you may not be consciously thinking during the day, your brain is busy processing all sorts of data and stimuli being transmitted by your senses. It is only during sleep that your brain gets some relative downtime, and it is during this state of decreased brain activity that your short term memories get consolidated into long-term ones. Thus, any new skill or knowledge that you have acquired is likely to be better remembered ad practiced after a good night’s rest.

Sleep Benefit #3: Enhanced Creativity – After getting some rest, have you ever noticed that you are able to come up with better ideas and solutions? That’s because aside from consolidating memories, sleep also provides your brain with the chance to organize, restructure and reinforce ideas and thoughts, so you can look at things from a fresh perspective. This ability to think outside the box basically translates to inspiration and creativity.

Sleep Benefit #4: Improved Performance – Like a well-tuned machine, your body processes run much more smoothly when you are getting just the right amount of sleep. This is why professional athletes observe strict sleep hygiene during playing seasons.

Sleep Benefit #5: Better Attention and Concentration – Adults may find themselves nodding off when they haven’t gotten their fill of winks but the opposite occurs in children. A sleep-deprived kid is often hyperactive and cranky, and is likely to manifest ADHD-like symptoms. In 2009, a group of pediatric researchers found that children aged 7-8 exhibited hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and impulsive behavior if they got less than eight hours of sleep at night.

Sleep Benefit #6: Weight Management – People who get less than the optimal amount of sleep are more likely to gain weight. Sleep and metabolism are regulated in the same areas of the brain—the hypothalamus. The urges of sleep and appetite seem to be driven by similar hormones. For instance, when you feel sleepy, certain neurotransmitters are released which in turn, increases appetite.

Sleep Benefit #7: Lower stress levels – Sleep has been known to relieve stress, inasmuch as it affects cardiovascular health, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Sleep Benefit #8: Physical responsiveness – Another reason why athletes place prime importance of getting optimal sleep is because our bodies just respond better when well-rested. Reflexes are quicker, and split-second decision making is just easier. Insufficient sleep has been attributed to the majority of vehicular crashes, due to compromised reaction times.

Sleep Benefit #9: Less inflammation – People who sleep less than six hours a night have more inflammatory proteins in their blood compared to those who sleep between seven to eight hours at night. Inflammation has been linked to serious health conditions like stroke, diabetes, arthritis, heart diseases, and premature aging.

Sleep Benefit #10: Better Moods – Good sleep helps you achieve emotional stability, while depression and anxiety are more likely with lack of sleep. Teenagers are especially more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts when they consistently don’t get quality sleep and rest.

As medical research uncovers more conditions that are attributed to insufficient sleep, it becomes more obvious that sleep plays a critical role in the well-being and health maintenance. Sleep hygiene should be taken as seriously as other health practices.

About the Guest Author - Sunny Popali is a professional  at MattressNexDay.co.uk - The uks no 1 mattress brand provide best sleep information. Mattressnextday sells double mattress size, single kid’s mattress, comfortable double mattress and soft memory foam mattress.

12 Health Benefits of Beets

They stain your clothes, they make everything look red, and they aren’t exactly the yummiest thing to have on their own. But have you ever tried them on salads? Have you had them with a few spices, or as part of your main course? You’ll be surprised to find that beets are actually worth a lot and can help you stay healthy!

A lot of people might dismiss them as disgusting, but with good cooking and a good set of spices, you’ll find that beets can be flavorful. Healthful diets have a good amount of beets in them – and this comes as no surprise: the deep, rich red of beets points to its many vitamins and antioxidants, all of which can help boost your health.

How do these vitamins and antioxidants change your body for the better? Find out with these top reasons:

Health Benefits of Beets

Source – muyyum

1. They can satisfy your hunger without loading you with fats – Beets have no saturated or trans fats, and are extremely low calorie, but they can be filling. You can eat sweet beets, which, by the way, taste great – and not feel hungry afterward. You can keep meeting those sugar cravings without guilt!

Moreover, beets are inexpensive. This means that you can still meet a sugar craving without spending on sweets or even fried foods! And because beets don’t have a particular season in which they thrive, you can have them all year and they’ll still taste great – and help your body, too.

2. They can give you a boost of energy – Beets are high in unprocessed carbohydrates. True, you can also eat processed foods and get a big dose of fuel, but you’ll also be loading yourself with preservatives. Beets can give you a lot of energy and they can provide you with a boost without making you feel sluggish afterward.

3. They can aid in digestion – Beets are high in fiber, which can help you digest your food better. A good dose of fiber can help you get rid of toxins from your body. Fiber can also help your body absorb nutrients properly.

4. They can give you an immune system boost – Beets are high in minerals and vitamins C and A, as well as B complex vitamins. These are essential vitamins that will help keep your body safe from various infectious agents, not just by assisting your immune system, but by providing you with vitamins that protect cells as well.

5. They can hasten the production and regeneration of cells – Beets are high in folic acid, which can help maintain your cells and aid in their regeneration. Folic acid is needed for cells that require a boost of healing, such as those damaged in an accident. Folic acid is also important for nursing moms, and moms-to-be.

6. They can keep cancer from occurring or spreading – Studies have shown that the high mineral and antioxidant content of beets can help guard against cancer. Colon cancer has been shown to be quite susceptible to antioxidants. These studies, however, are in their early stages, but they nevertheless show that antioxidant-rich beets hold a lot of promise!

7. They can help you fight heart disease – Beets are low in calories and fat, can kill hunger pangs, and have a lot of vitamins. These can help prevent heart disease by preventing you from eating high-fat, high-sodium snacks, and keep your body healthy. They have also been found to lower blood pressure.

8. Beet leaves can help your breath stay fresh – Believe it or not, even beet leaves have their own therapeutic properties! Beet leaves have long been used to counter bad breath. So chew away, just in case you don’t have tic-tacs handy.

9. Beets can help cleanse your body – Thanks to a main antioxidant, Betacyanin, beets can cleanse your body. Antioxidants can help you flush out toxins from your body, strengthening your body’s ability to fight diseases – and giving a much needed boost to your overworked liver and gall bladder!

10. They’re useful as anti-aging agents! – Because beets hasten and encourage the growth of new, healthy cells, beets have promise in the anti-aging department. They have been used to treat wrinkled skin. They are also used in many different diets in order to cleanse the body of toxins that can hasten cell aging. Beets give your body the chance to regenerate cells, hastening healing inside and out.

11. They can help clean your skin – Moreover, beets, with their antioxidants and healing properties, can be used to treat skin diseases such as abscesses, acne, and even boils. Some doctors have used beets for ages for this purpose.

12. They can keep your eyes healthy – Because beets are rich in carotenoids and Vitamin A, they can help prevent macular degeneration and other diseases of aging that affect your eyes.

You can eat beets raw, either with your salad, or chilled in the fridge. you can boil them, saute them, or steam roast them. You can even put them in the juicer, add carrots, apple juice, and other fruits, and have a fruit smoothy that is both nutritious and delicious.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try Borscht, a vegetable soup from Europe that is made of beets. Look for recipes online, and you’ll soon be enjoying a bowl of hearty soup.

These are just a few ways that beets can make you healthy. With even more research, we’ll find more great uses and more health contributions for this wonder root crop!

About the Guest Author – Inez Ponce de Leon is a writer and researcher, and loves to keep herself active through dance. She also loves writing about health and loves to give health advice. Her work focuses on looking critically at health claims, in particular, Healthy Trim reviews and gauging the potency of brain supplements. She loves to belly dance and fuse different styles with traditional steps in the dance; she also teaches belly dance and loves to teach her students how to be active and strong through muscle control and isolation.

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