Thursday, 27 June 2013

Healthy Skin: Benefits of Papaya for Skin

Enjoy the benefits of papaya for the skin care! Papaya is one of the super fruits and known for its health benefits. Papaya rich with many important vitamins and papain- which is a proteolytic enzyme found in unripe papaya. It’s a great fruit for cardiovascular health and also, very helpful in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). But papaya is well known for its benefits of skin care as well. Vitamins and enzymes of papaya are very good for enhancing skin health and for skin exfoliation. Papaya facial is very good for the skin as it helps to keep your skin soft & radiant.

Papaya is a strong source of antioxidant nutrients. It contains vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. Papaya is a very good source of folate, potassium and dietary fiber.

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Benefits of Papaya for Skin:

Papaya is very useful in several skin disorders and the nutrients of papaya helps skin to remain healthy and young. It’s a very good skin care fruit- given below are some of the benefits of papaya for skin:

  1. Raw papaya juice is excellent to heal skin disorders. It prevents and treats pimples, wart, horn and other skin disorders.
  2. Anti-bacterial properties of papaya help to heal the wound quickly. It can have a good effect to heal skin ulcers and severe burn wounds.
  3. Papaya is a part of many skin care products. It helps to rejuvenate the skin and makes the skin healthy. Nutrients in papaya are very good to give glow on the skin.
  4. Papaya is a good fruit to cure acne. Papaya flesh (ripe or unripe) can be applied to the affected area. It reduces the acne and improves the health of the skin.
  5. Papaya is natural exfoliator.  Vitamin A, Vitamin E and papain are excellent anti-aging nutrients. All of these help to reduce the wrinkles, tighten the skin and remove dead cells.
  6. Antioxidant properties of papaya especially Vitamin C helps to protect skin from sun damage. Papaya juice is very helpful in reducing brown spots due to the long exposure to the sun.
  7. If you use papaya for a longer period of time, it can help to lighten the skin colour. Papain in papaya ( a natural enzyme) helps in skin renewal and cell turnover.
  8. Anti-oxidant rich papaya is a very effective agent for preventing pre-mature aging.
  9. Papaya can also be used to treat cracked heals.
  10. Papaya facial scrub is suitable for all skin types but it is especially good for oily skin. Papaya helps your skin to get more Vitamin C and in this way it promotes the production of collagen. Collagen gives you more healthy and smooth skin.

Papaya contains several unique protein-digesting enzymes including papain and chymopapain. These enzymes have been shown to help lower inflammation and to improve healing from burns. In addition, the antioxidant nutrients found in papaya, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, are also very good at reducing inflammation.

So, those are the interesting facts about benefits of papaya for skin care. Remember, papaya is a natural booster of skin health and it's an important part of skin care regime. Regular use of papaya or papaya rich products can make the skin healthy and beautiful. Use papaya internally & externally to get healthy and glowing skin naturally. 



Monday, 22 April 2013

5 Easy Steps to Avoid & Prevent Wrinkles

You all know that wrinkles are unavoidable they do get us in the end but you can avoid, reduce or prevent wrinkles as long as possible. Wrinkles can happen  due to many reasons including sun damage, bad diet, smoking and dehydration. Wrinkles can be avoided or prevented by following some practical and useful steps. Given below you’ll find out 5 easy steps to prevent and avoid wrinkles.

 

Image courtesy of marin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

First step is to have a daily skin care routine. Of course wrinkles are inevitable but point here is to keep them on bay as long as possible. There are some key things you can do in your daily routine to fight against wrinkles and ageing. Make sure you have a good cleansing routine and also make sure exfoliate couple of time a week to remove all the dead skin cells. Next you need to choose really good anti-ageing serum and moisturiser. Protect your skin from the sun. Remember it is very important for your skin.  The most important thing to fight against skin is UV damage. This is the worst thing for the skin. Always use sunscreen lotion when you are out in the sun even in the winter season.



Second step is to choose anti-ageing products. Around the age thirty your fight against wrinkles really begins. Choose your sunscreen and other anti-ageing products wisely. If you are using sunscreen and anti-ageing products with peptides and antioxidants then you are in the right path. Because these two make best combination. Peptides help reduce collagen production; antioxidants help to fight against the pollution, sun damage and all the negative things that attack the skin.

Next step is face massage. In addition to your anti-ageing skincare you need to do facial massage. Because it really helps your skin glow; also, helps skin regeneration, circulation and drainage. It is important you follow good face massage regimen to get the desired result.

Fourth step is about diet. Think about what you are eating. If you can increase your intake of oily fish you can actually get much more essential fats and omegas into your body. Fish like salmon, tuna or herring- these are great for the skin. Also in addition to that you can also increase your intake of antioxidants. Eat more antioxidants rich foods like spinach, blueberries and richly coloured foods because these foods are usually high in antioxidants.

According to the studies, certain health promoting agents of soy play vital role in promoting skin health. Research shows eating soy or soy products may help to heal sun damage and improve the skin’s structure and firmness. So, it’s a very effective anti-wrinkle food.


Lastly, the step five is all about your lifestyle. Think about your lifestyle. Lead life that is good for skin and overall health. Like smoking, it is really bad for the skin. It decreases the level of Vitamin C in the skin. It also causes lines and wrinkles. Think about alcohol as it is very ageing and dehydrating on the skin. Pollution, as you know damage skin so use antioxidants rich products to protect the skin. Protect yourself from the sun and use sunscreen on a daily basis. 

Those are the 5 easy steps to avoid and prevent wrinkles. If you follow above mentioned steps you will be able to get rid of wrinkles quickly & effectively. If you use anti-wrinkle cream be sure that contains Hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid helps to keep the skin hydrated, fresh and wrinkle free.

Tuesday, 2 April 2013

10 Best Health Foods - Healthy Diet Plan


What are the best health foods? There are many foods which can be considered as health foods. These foods help us to keep a healthy body and prevents from several diseases. If you add these healthy foods into your diet then would do a great favour to your body. Health foods are those which are highly rich in various nutrients. Nutrients that are good for all the parts of the body and especially vital for heart health and other chronic diseases.  Quality nutrients are also necessary for the physiological health because they can keep the mind stress free & protect from mental diseases. But the list of the health foods can be very long as it's not about only handful of foods. There are many natural foods that come under health foods and we should consume them in a right way. In this article though, we'll talk about 10 foods- which are generally considered very healthy & very popular as well. So, find out 10 best health foods below.


Best Health Foods
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Fruits and vegetables are two important parts of a healthy diet. They are high in conventional nutrients, low in calories and contain many unconventional nutrients as well. But in addition to that there many other foods which are extremely healthy and an important part of health diet. These foods are whole grains, nuts & seeds, herbs and animal foods. All of this comes under best health foods list and you must add them into your health diet to get benefited. 



10 Best Health Foods:


Apples: Apples are extremely popular, easily available and highly rich with nutrients. They are a great antioxidant fruit, wonderful source of Vitamin C & fiber. The great thing about is that they contain some outstanding unconventional nutrients such as quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin. Apples also provide catechins (especially epicatechin), anthocyanins , chlorogenic acid and phloridizin. These are great health-supportive polyphenol nutrients which are responsible for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory health benefits.

Special Benefits- Apples are especially great for cardiovascular health. They are very effective in lowering triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels.

Broccoli: It is one of the best foods for health. Broccoli is a strong source of many vitamins such as Vitamin A, C, K and B vitamins. Broccoli provides several nutrients including manganese, fiber, tryptophan, potassium, calcium and selenium. Broccoli is also concentrated in phytonutrients as well. It contains glucosinolates which is a type of phytonutrient and known for cancer preventive benefits. Health benefits of broccoli are including antioxidant benefits and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Special Benefits: The strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and pro-detoxification components in broccoli make it a great food for cancer prevention. Broccoli can also solve Vitamin D deficiency problem.

Chicken: Chicken is a great source of animal protein. It also contains very good amounts of B vitamins (B3 & B6), tryptophan, selenium, phosphorous and choline. Chicken is known for providing health benefits such as anti-cancer, anti-Alzheimer's and protection from loss of bone.  It’s a very good energy enhancing food as well.

Special Benefits: Vitamin B6 content helps protect arteries from homocysteine damage and reduce the risk of heart disease. Use Skinless chicken to make it a low fat food.

Brown Rice: It contains very good amounts of fiber, manganese, selenium, magnesium and tryptophan. Brown rice also contains certain amounts of B vitamins. This healthy food is known for lowering cholesterol levels, reducing metabolic syndrome and keeping the nervous system healthy. It is an anti-cancer food as well.

Special Benefits: It’s a high fiber and energetic food and a great weight loss food.

Basil: The highly fragrant, bright green leaves of basil herb contain many therapeutic properties. Basil is famous for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It is an excellent source of Vitamin A, C & K, dietary fiber, manganese, magnesium, and potassium. Basil is a very good herb for the heart as it reduces the risk of development of atherosclerosis.

Special Benefits: The unique arrays of active constituents called flavonoids found in basil provide protection at the cellular level. Basil also reduces unwanted bacterial growth.




Peanuts: Highly rich in folate, niacin, copper, protein and manganese. Peanuts provide high amount of monounsaturated fats, and a flavonoids called Resveratrol.  These nuts are a good source of folic acid, phytosterols and phytic acid as well. Peanuts provide health benefits including anti-cancer, weight loss, gallstones prevention and anti-Alzheimer's benefits.

Spreads and oils provide essential fats but these are only needed in very small amounts. Choose low fat and reduced fat spreads andoils such as rapeseed or olive oil (monunsaturated) instead of hard margarine, lard or butter. All oils contain some amount of calories, so measure out the oil, don’t just pour it onto the pan.
Special Benefits: Peanuts are a wonder food for the heart. It lowers the risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease significantly.

Avocados: The avocados are rich source of monounsaturated fats for heart health and also they are rich in fiber, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, folate and potassium. Avocados are strong source of some carotenoid antioxidants including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin. Avocados regulate blood sugar levels and provide anti-inflammatory benefits.

Special Benefits: It’s a great food for the heart. Avocados can promote heart health quite effectively.

Carrots: Carrots offer many health benefits such as heart health benefits, anti-cancer benefits and eye health benefits. This vegetable is known for its antioxidant properties and a powerhouse of many nutrients including fiber, molybdenum, folate, potassium and various vitamins. Carrots contain several phytonutrients as well.

Special Benefits: Carrots protect against high blood cholesterol and heart disease.

Tuna: Tuna can make an outstanding contribution to your health diet. It is an important source of omega-3 fats, B vitamins, potassium and selenium. Tuna fish contains nutrients which are extremely healthy for the heart. It provides both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Special Benefits: Both EPA and DHA are critical omega-3 fatty acids are found in tuna responsible for regulation of the body's inflammatory system and prevention of excessive inflammation.

Chickpeas: Chickpeas or Garbanzo beans are an excellent low cost source of protein, a very good source of folate, iron, fiber, tryptophan and manganese. Chickpeas are considered as one of the best health foods because they are responsible for many health benefits including heart health benefits, blood sugar benefits, weight loss benefits and digestion benefits. Chickpeas are highly rich in many antioxidant phytonutrients and a wonderful food for the health conscious people.

Special Benefits: Chickpeas are especially very helpful for controlling blood sugar levels. Fiber and protein provide crucial boost for blood sugar regulation. These are excellent heart food as well.

Above mentioned foods are 10 best health foods but there are many foods that can join this list very easily. We'll talk about those foods later in some other article. Remember, healthy foods are those that contain high amounts of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and have major positive impact on our health. Last but not the least, most health foods contain anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which are great for keeping us healthy. 



Thursday, 28 March 2013

Best Herbs to Lose Weight: Natural Weight Loss Remedies

There are many ways to lose weight naturally and one of them is to change your weight loss diet plan. Although, only changing in diet plan is not enough to lose weight as you need to do several other things to get back in shape, but by changing your weight loss diet you can certainly boost you weight loss plan. By adding herbs to your weight loss diet you can do a big favour to your weight loss program. Many herbs are very well known for helping body's natural abilities to lose weight. That's why herbal remedies for weight loss are very popular and considered very effective as well. In this article we'll find out some of the best herbs for weight loss or best herbs to lose weight.

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According to the experts, herbs have the ability to boost your metabolism and burn excessive fats. Herbs are powerful and they are responsible for many health promoting activities. With age your metabolic rate and energy levels drop, and losing weight becomes little difficult for you. In this situation, by boosting your body's natural abilities to lose weight, herbs play a major role in your weight loss plan.  It is always a good idea to use herbs rather than herbal supplements for losing weight because some of the herbal supplements are dangerous and unsafe for the health. Given below is a list of best herbs to lose weight, adding them into your weight loss diet plan can be very helpful for your weight loss program.

Best Herbs to Lose Weight: 

  1. Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a great herb for boosting your metabolism and stabilizing burning and digestion of fat. It is also very good for reducing LDL cholesterol and controlling blood sugar levels. Cinnamon is one of the best herbs for weight loss.
  2. Ginseng: It's a plant tuber that is known for various medical properties. Ginseng, especially Panax ginseng provides strong weight loss benefits. You can add ginseng to your weight loss plan as this will boost energy levels and speed metabolism. This herb will make you more energetic and that’ll help you to do physical activities or exercise regularly.
  3. Hoodia: This herb helps reduce cravings and allows you to cut calories without feelings of deprivation. So, for this ability to reduce the appetite, hoodia is considered a very effective herb for weight loss.
  4. Dandelion: Dandelion is very nutritious with lots of fiber and beta carotene. It promotes the digestion of fats and oils and gives relief from digestive problems. Dandelion tea is a great herbal drink for weight loss.
  5. Ginger: Ginger is known for anti-inflammatory properties and it's wonderful for improving metabolism. It also reduces the rates of gastric secretions. Ginger and ginger tea improve metabolism and that helps burning the fat. 
  6. Turmeric: It is known for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. Turmeric contains a polyphenol called curcumin, which is responsible for weight loss. Curcumin inhibits the growth of fat tissues thus aids in weight loss.
  7. Cumin: Like Ginseng, Cumin also helps to boost the energy levels and improves digestion process. Cumin herb is a very important entry to this list of weight loss herbs. Cumin seeds contain fat burning properties and they improve the absorption of nutrients by the body. Cumin is certainly one of the best herbs to lose weight.
  8. Fennel: A Fennel seed improve digestive health and in this way promotes weight loss. It is a very effective herb for weight loss.
  9. Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne pepper is one the best natural weight loss remedies. According to the experts, cayenne pepper helps to burn calories and also suppresses the appetite. It is also a very good herb for lowering blood fat levels.
  10. Damiana: This is a shrub especially found in Mexico and rest of the South America. The leaves of this shrub are known for medicinal properties. Damiana promotes internal cleansing, improves digestive system and thus helps in weight loss.

A good weight loss diet should be including yoga and reduction of sweet, sour, salty, oily and greasy foods. Lots of herbs in the diet are important for good digestion because the herbs trigger the digestion process. You must eat more green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits, avoid the red meat and eat skinless white turkey or chicken breast meat instead.


In addition, green tea leaves extracts or green tea is an excellent herbal drink for losing weight. Green tea improves body's metabolism and helps immensely in burning the fat. 
Above mentioned herbs are extremely helpful to lose weight. These herbs are easily available and you can add them into your diet without much effort. These herbs are considered as best herbs to lose weight because they will control your appetite, improve your metabolism, clean up your digestion and in this way help you to lose weight. So, eat more of these herbs and make your weight loss plan a success.

Caution: Before you go for the weight loss program, be sure why you have the weight loss problem. Consult your doctor if necessary then choose the herbs according to your personal condition and needs.

Thursday, 7 March 2013

Natural Ingredients for Skin Care – How to Get a Glowing and Healthy Skin Naturally

Natural ingredients for skin give your skin a healthy boost and help to keep skin glowing. Nature has given us many resources for enhancing our beauty and overall health. We only need to identify those resources to get benefited by them. Skin- as you know the largest organ of the body, and you should keep your skin healthy for a healthy life. You must remember that to get a healthy skin, it needs to be cared for on the surface and from within, through proper care of your whole body. So, if you want your skin to glow or a glowing skin you have to feed your body with proper nutrients and also caress your skin with natural ingredients. That is why homemade herbal cosmetics have an edge over commercial products.
Image courtesy of twobee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



Glowing skin needs certain types of nutrients those you’ll find in natural ingredients. To maintain a healthy skin and glowing skin you need to provide lots of antioxidants to the body. Vitamin A, C and E are particularly very good for fighting free radical damage. Also, Alpha Hydroxy Acids or AHAs play significant role to remove dead skin cells and improve the performance of the antioxidants. Other important natural compounds that enhance the skin health are including Hyaluronic Acid, Tannin, Coenzyme Q10, Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) and Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE). Now, let’s find out best natural ingredients for skin care and how they enhance the health of your skin.

Given below is the list of widely used and most effective Natural Ingredients for Skin Care:
  • Almond Oil: Almond oil is a hundred percent natural ingredient for skin care and it is made from ripe kernel of the fruit. Almond oil is rich in Vitamin A, E & D, also highly rich in linoleic and oleic acids. Almond oil is an excellent skin lubricant and a great natural ingredient for glowing skin. This natural oil is used in various beauty products such as creams, lotions, massage oil and facial cleansers. Almond oil contains anti-aging properties; it inhibits skin blemishes and enhances the health of your skin. It is a very effective oil for getting youthful complexion and glowing skin. So, Almond oil is one of the best natural ingredients for skin care.
  • Castor Oil: Castor oil is one of the most effective natural oils and it is known for strong medicinal properties. It is an excellent oil for making the skin smooth and glowing. It is the most important ingredient for anti-aging cream. Castor oil provides protection from UV rays as well. It works very well as a natural sun screen. Castor oil is particularly very effective in dry conditions. It’s a natural medicine for cure acne as well.
  • Honey: Medicinal properties of honey not only improve the skin health externally but also they keep the skin healthy internally. Regular intake of honey improves haemoglobin level and blood circulation. It also helps to purify the blood. These activities are essential for having glowing and healthy skin. In addition, honey contains alpha hydroxy acids which are very helpful for increasing elasticity of the skin and removing dead cells from the skin. Honey can make the skin soft and silky. Not to forget- honey contains strong anti-septic properties which reduces skin blemishes significantly.
  • Cocoa Butter: Cocoa butter is a natural product that is used for lubricating and protecting the skin. It is also used to cure skin blemishes. Cocoa butter is an excellent emollient, highly rich in Vitamin E and very effective for dry skin. Many beauty soaps and creams are made of cocoa butter. It is one of those inexpensive but highly effective natural ingredients for skin care.
  • Turmeric: Turmeric contains antioxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-allergic properties. It is a great natural ingredient to get glowing and fair skin. Turmeric enhances the colour and complexion of the skin. It reduces the traces of pigmentation, maintains healthy elasticity of the skin and balances a good skin tone. Turmeric reduces facial hair growth and makes the skin soft & smooth.

The application of fresh orange juice has also been found to be valuable for a glowing complexion. Properly cleaned fingers should be dipped in pure orange juice and applied liberally over face, chin, neck and forehead regularly.



  • Papaya: If you use papaya it will help you to reduce the effect of stress and strain of the skin. It is a strong antioxidant fruit and also rich with exfoliative agents. Raw papaya juice is excellent for curing skin infections, pimples and other skin blemishes. Papaya is a fantastic natural ingredient for skin care as it promotes healthy complexion and lightens the skin as well. Papaya enhances the skin health on both ways - internally and externally.
  • Nutgrass: Nutgrass is also known as coco grass and Cyperus rotundus. It is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. Nutgrass roots are often used in herbal cosmetics. This natural ingredient maintains the lustre and the smoothness of the skin. Nutgrass is also used to treat various skin diseases. It has anti-aging properties and skin lightening properties. It also moisturizes the skin and makes it smooth & soft. Nutgrass is a very important natural ingredient for skin care regime.
Above mentioned ingredients are probably the best natural ingredients for skin care. They are easily available and very effective for skin health. Always use natural skin care products to keep your skin healthy. Eat a lot of high fiber foods and drink plenty of water. It is important to note exfoliation and detoxification, both are equally important for maintaining a healthy skin.


Friday, 1 March 2013

Best Detoxification Foods - Best Natural Detoxifiers


Detoxification is all about cleansing the body. It's a natural process of eliminating toxins through the colon and liver. Detoxification of the body is absolutely important to keep the digestive system efficient and the body healthy & disease free. So, this process of internal cleansing or detoxification of body is vital for a healthy life. But to keep this natural cleansing process going perfectly we need to have a good detox diet. Excess toxins in the body are very harmful as it can lead to various health problems and diseases. Pollution, pesticides, smoking, alcohol and other harmful agents that we consume from our foods or take from environment destroy the balance of our digestive system and impact negatively on overall health.


According to the experts, toxic overload contributes to serious health problems including neurological disorders, inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, it is important to have a good detox diet which will boost the internal cleansing process and help body to function properly. So, what are the best foods for detox or what is the best detox diet? 


Image courtesy of Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

But before that find out the symptoms indicate that you need to detox your body and also know what a good detox diet can do for you.

Symptoms of Excess Toxins in the Body –

Excess toxins in the body are responsible for many health problems such as digestive problems, constipation, lack of weight loss, bad breath, skin problems, joint pain, headaches and fatigue.

Benefits of Detoxification –

Best detox foods and good detox diet can protect body from toxins and enhance body’s overall functions. Detoxification of the body improves skin health and minimizes anti-aging effects, cleans the eye, promotes weight loss, helps in digestion and increases the productivity.
Detoxification of the body or cleansing of the body is essential for liver, kidney and blood purification. So make sure you eat foods that detox your body and make you healthier.

Best Foods for Detox - The Best Detox Foods to Cleanse Your Body

There are many foods that can help you to detoxify your body. To detox your body you need foods rich especially in antioxidants and fiber. Given below is a list of best foods for detox which are rich in natural cleansing properties. You should include them in your diet plan to get rid of extra toxins of the body.

  • Apple: Apple is rich in fiber, folate, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Also, provides calcium, iron, potassium and phosphorous. Apple is one of the best foods for detox. Conventional nutrients and flavonoids in apple help you to detoxify the body. Apple detox diet is very famous and it is considered very effective as well.
  • Lemon: Lemon and lemon water play crucial role in cleansing the toxins of the body. Lemon helps to produce the bile necessary to properly digest food. Drinking lemon water in the morning on empty stomach boosts the detoxification process of your body.
  • Beetroots: Beetroot is another very effective food for detox. It contains important phytochemicals and other nutrients which are essential for cleansing blood and liver. In addition, beetroot fights infections and maintains good acid-alkaline balance (pH) which is necessary for detoxification.
  • Garlic: Garlic is undoubtedly one of the best foods for detox. The high sulfur content in garlic helps tremendously in the detoxification process. Also, garlic contains anti-bacteria, anti-viral and anti- septic properties, which are very helpful to clear out toxins from the body.
  • Ginger: Just like garlic, ginger is a very effective detox food. This herb helps to get rid of free radicals and protects body from harmful agents. Ginger tea is a wonderful herbal drink that can help you to get rid of toxins and chemicals.
  • Green Tea: Anti-oxidant properties and catechins in green tea improve the liver function and remove waste from the body. Other herbal teas which are part of best detox diet are including cardamom tea, dandelion tea, rosemary tea and peppermint tea.
  • Green Leafy Vegetables: Dark green leafy vegetables kale, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens and collards are strong sources of antioxidant properties. They help to alkalize the blood and strengthen the digestive tract. These vegetables are very important for the detoxification of the body.




  • Fiber and Vitamin C Fruits: Fruits rich in fiber and Vitamin C are essential for detox diet. Citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes are highly responsible for detoxifying the body. Other fruits that are part of best detox diet including berries, papaya, kiwi fruits, melons, peaches and red grapes. Cucumber is also a great fruit for detoxification.
  • Cabbage: Cabbage is good for your liver and it helps significantly in detoxification process. Like cabbage- cauliflower and broccoli are also good for cleansing the body.
  • Seeds and Nuts: Nuts & seeds such as almond, walnuts, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and sunflower seeds are very good foods for detox.
  • Whole Grain Products: Quinoa, millet, buckwheat and oats are great for detoxifying the body. These foods are rich in antioxidant and dietary fiber and that’s why they provide strong detoxification support to the body.
  • Omega 3 Fatty Acids Oils: Olive oil, flaxseed oil, hemp oil, chia oil and coconut oil are excellent for internal cleansing of the body. These omega 3 fatty acids rich oils are definitely a part of best detoxification foods.
  • Water: Drink plenty of water. Drinking two or more liters of water per day helps to cleanse kidney and liver. A sufficient amount of water is also needed for good digestive system. Water detoxifies your body, boosts your metabolism, clears skin and helps you to lose weight. Always use purified or filtered water.
  • Other Detox Foods: Other foods which are safely part of the best detoxification foods /diet are sea vegetables, legumes, fish like salmon & mackerel, honey, cherries green beans and coconut water.

One of the best ways to increase your metabolic activity is to simply use your body. Daily exercise has innumerable benefits including building lean muscle mass which helps you burn more calories at rest. Consider jumping on a mini trampoline for 3-5 minutes a day to give a boost to your health and vitality. Sweating also releases toxins. 

Foods to be avoided during Detox –

  • Eggs
  • Butter
  • Mayonnaise
  • Alcohol
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Soy Products
  • Salt
  • Chocolate
  • Fizzy drinks
  • Ice Cream
  • Artificial Sweetener
  • Foods Contain Wheat
  • Milk and Milk Products
Above mentioned detoxifying foods are considered best detoxification foods. Add them to your detox diet to get rid of harmful toxins from your body. Also, take time when you eat and chew food well.

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Cashew Nuts Benefits for Heart Health

Find out What are the Cashew Nuts Benefits for Heart Health! Cashew nuts are very good in taste and one of the most popular in between snacks. The tree of the cashew belongs to the Anacardiaceae family and mostly grown in tropical climates. Cashew nuts are actually the kidney-shaped seeds of the fruits (cashew apples) of cashew tree.


Cashew Nuts Nutrition - 

Cashews are excellent source of copper. They are also rich in magnesium, tryptophan and phosphorous. Cashews are a very good source of monounsaturated fats as well. Cashew nuts contain heart health promoting monounsaturated fats like oleic and palmitoleic acids. They also contain certain amounts of antioxidant flavonoid – zeaxanthin. Cashew nuts provide l-arginine – an amino acid, which improves the health of the artery walls and overall heart condition.



In addition, cashew nuts are rich in various vitamins which contribute significantly to heart health.

Vitamins in Cashew nuts are:
  • Pantothenic Acid or Vitamin B5
  • Pyridoxine or Vitamin B6
  • Thiamin or Vitamin B1
  • Riboflavin or Vitamin B2
  • Vitamin E

Calories in Cashew Nuts

Cashew nuts are high in calories. A hundred grams of cashew nuts provide nearly 580 calories.

Cashew Nuts Benefits for Heart Health

  • The two great things about cashew nuts are they are rich in heart healthy monounsaturated fats and they have lower fat content than any other nuts. Three-fourth of their fat is unsaturated fatty acids which are highly rich in heart healthy oleic acid. Oleic acid is a colourless oily liquid, also a major fatty acid in olive oil and canola oil. Oleic acid is very good for lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and reduces the chances of heart attacks and arteriosclerosis.
  • Monounsaturated fats in cashew nuts can lower the levels of triglyceride. As you know triglyceride is associated with the increased chances of developing heart disease. Nuts are normally high in antioxidants and cashews are no exception. High antioxidant content in cashew nuts makes them a good cardio protective food. So, cashews have the ability to reduce the chances of developing cardiovascular and coronary heart diseases. It is a good idea to eat cashew nuts in moderation daily to get the cardiovascular benefits.
  • Cashews are rich in magnesium and copper. Copper is very important to keep the right cholesterol levels. Inadequate amounts of copper can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Lack of copper in the body can lead to irregular heartbeat. Magnesium is helpful in controlling high blood pressure levels. Magnesium also helps in preventing heart attacks. 
  • Cashew nuts are very important for reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. High antioxidant contents in cashew nuts play important role in cutting down the risk of developing coronary heart disease. According to the medical experts, a handful of cashew nuts 4 times a weak can reduce the risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease significantly.
  • Cashew Nuts contain l-arginine, an amino acid that helps keep blood flowing smoothly through the blood vessels. It can slow the formation of blood clots and reduce the clogging of arteries.
  • Soluble fiber in cashew nuts is quite useful for promoting heart health. It helps to reduce the cholesterol levels in the blood stream.

The best way to eat cashew nuts is in their natural, un-blanched state but you can also choose to eat them lightly toasted without any added oils. To obtain maximum heart health benefits from cashew nuts eat them four or five times a week.


Additional Note: Walnuts are possible most healthy nuts for the heart. In addition, Almonds, Peanuts and Hazelnuts are considered very effective in the prevention of heart disease and for promoting heart health.

Caution: Cashews contain significant amount of oxalates which can cause health problems to the people untreated kidney or gallbladder problems. Therefore, they should avoid eating cashew nuts or should consult doctor before including cashews into their diet.

Add cashew nuts in to your eating plan and get wonderful cashew nuts benefits for heart health!


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