Category: Lifestyle

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Beauty Benefits Health Lifestyle People

Green Tea – ZEN Mode

Green Tea…

For thousands of years has been used as a medicine, originating in China, but with time, also used throughout Asia. This beverage has multitude of uses and benefits that you may not have been aware of.

Due to its process, green tea has more health benefits attached to it than Black Tea because, black tea processing allows fermentation whereas green tea’s processing avoids the fermentation. As a result, green tea retains more antioxidants and poly-phenols, the substances that make it have many benefits.

Some of these benefits are still being debated, but here is a list of some:

  1. Weight Loss – Green tea helps increase your metabolism. The polyphenol found in green tea intensifies levels of fat oxidation and the rate each body turns food into calories.
  2. Diabetes – Apparently green tea helps regulate glucose levels slowing the sugar rate after eating. This helps prevent spikes of insulin, which usually result into fat storage.
  3. Heart Disease – According to scientists, green tea works on the blood vessels lining, keeping them relaxed and able to withstand changes in blood pressure. It is said to protect against the formation of clots, being these the primary cause of heart attacks.
  4. Cholesterol – Green tea helps you reduce bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol keeping you blood vessels clean and with this preventing other diseases.
  5. Tooth Decay – Recent studies suggest that the chemical antioxidant “catechin” in tea can help you fight bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, dental caries and other dental conditions.
  6. Depression – Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. This substance is thought to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect which will help you fight depression.
  7. Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial – The antioxidant called “catechin” works as a strong antibacterial and antiviral agent which makes it effective for almost everything, from a small cold to cancer.
  8. Skincare – Green tea also helps with wrinkles and the signs of aging because it contains high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory activities. Studies demonstrated that green tea can help reducing sun damage.

However, it should always be used carefully, especially when hepatic failure is present. Even though tea may be good for you, it still contains caffeine, which should be avoided during pregnancy or may become pregnant.

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Beauty Glowing Skin Tips Health Lifestyle People

Strawberry – The power of Antioxidants

Since Summer started this past 20th June, what else could be better then enjoying a bowl of strawberries!? If you’re not yet a fan, you should be. Not only are they summery, juicy and delicious, they are also nutrient-rich and packed with antioxidants. Strawberries also offer a wide range of health benefits, being wrinkle prevention one of them.

Still not convinced? Then here are 10 reasons why you should add more strawberries to your daily life.

  • Boost immunity

According to a Toronto-based dietitian Madeleine Edwards, strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C. Most mammals have the ability to produce vitamin C naturally, apart from Humans, which is why it is so important to incorporate them in your daily life. One serving of strawberries contains 51.5 mg of vitamin C, which means thats around half of your daily requirement. Its also a fast-working antioxidant meaning they become “workable” with our blood after eating the fruit for just a few weeks.

  • Promote eye health

The antioxidant properties in strawberries help prevent cataracts (clouding over the eye lens) which can lead to blindness in older age. Our eyes require alot of vitamin C to protect them from all the exposure to free-radicals from the sun’s UV rays, which can damage the protein in the lens. They also play and important role in strengthening the eye’s cornea and retina

  • Help fight cancer

Vitamin C is one of the antioxidants that can help prevent cancer, considering a healthy immune system is our body’s best friend. But is not all. They got another properties called ellagic acid, lutein and zeathancins which helps to suppress cancer cell growth.

  • Keep wrinkles away

Vitamin C is a vital property to help our body produce collagen, which helps to improve skin’s elasticity and resilience. Since we lose collagen as we age, eating food rich in vitamin C will probably result in a healthier and younger looking skin.

  • Fight bad cholesterol

Strawberries also contain powerful heart boosters. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among Canadian women. Ellagic acid and flavonoids or phytochemicals can provide an antioxidant effect that can benefit heart health in various ways. One way includes counteracting the effect of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL bad cholesterol in the blood which causes plaque to build up in arteries. They also provide anti-inflammatory effects, which is also good for the heart. Adding strawberries to the diet reduced oxidative damage, as well as blood lipids both of which play a role in heart disease and diabetes.

  • Reduce inflammation

Antioxidants and phytochemicals found in strawberries can also help reducing inflammation of the joints, that may cause arthritis and lead to several heart disease. A recent study done by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that women who ate 16 or more strawberries per week have 14% less chances to have elevated levels of C-reactive protein, which makes the inflammation.

  • Regulate blood pressure

They are also rich in potassium, another healthy nutrient that will help regulate blood pressure and may even help to lower high blood pressure, acting like a buffer against the negative effects of sodium. With the impact they have on the reduction of LDL, strawberries become one of the most healthy fruits you can eat.

  • Boost fibre

Fibre is a necessity for healthy digestion, and strawberries naturally contain about 2 g per serving. Problems that can arise from lack of fibre include constipation and diverticulitis an inflammation of the intestines which affects approximately 50 percent of people over 60. Fibre can also aid in fighting type 2 diabetes.

  • Aid in weight management

Sometimes, maintaining a healthy weight can be one of the hardest things to do. But don’t you fear! Strawberries are here to help. Our weight can be one of the best defenses against type 2 diabetes, not to mention it is good for you overall. They are naturally low in calories, fat-free and low in both sodium and sugar. The total amount of sugars are fairly low with 4 grams per serving and the amount of carbohydrates is equivalent to half a slice of bread. If you eat around 1.5 cups, you will have a snack with less the 100 calories!

  • Promote pre-natal health

Strawberries provide Folate (B-vitamin) recommended for pregnant woman or trying to conceive. Meaning you can get around 21mcg per serving by eating strawberries. Folate is necessary in the early stages of pregnancy in order to help develop the baby’s brain, skull and spinal cord. The folic acid will also prevent certain birth defects, such as spina bifida (condition where the spine does not develop properly, leaving a gap in the spine).

However, even if strawberries sound like a “miracle” fruit, you must be careful which ones to buy and where to buy. Strawberries are more likely to contain pesticides than any other type of food. Test samples in Britain showed that all strawberries selling contained traces of at least one pesticide. Reports have been found that 2.2% of the british strawberries were above the legal limit. You might want to give that punnet of strawberries a good wash before you tuck in – or better still, go organic.

Have you ever tried any skincare with strawberry? Check out our Amazing White illuminating Serum which help to enhance skin elasticity with a whitening and moisturizing effect. In addition, strawberries have purifying results making the skin look fresh and smooth.

 

 

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Lifestyle People

Olive Oil: Taste & Health

Your Health Your Choice

We’ve often been puzzled why some recipes specifically call for vegetable oil while others call for olive oil.

Olive oil is simply extracted cold from the olives and has a reputation for being the “healthy oil” since its rich in:

  • Monounsaturated fats (can help reduce bad cholesterol levels in your blood which can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. They also provide nutrients to help develop and maintain your body’s cells. Oils rich in monounsaturated fats also contribute vitamin E to the diet).
  • Antioxidants (powerful substances, which mostly come from the fresh fruits and vegetables we eat, prohibit (and in some cases even prevent), the oxidation of other molecules in the body. The benefits of antioxidants are very important to good health, because if free radicals are left unchallenged, they can cause a wide range of illnesses and chronic diseases.

Good olive oils also have a pleasant flavour and aroma that compliment many dishes. However, olive oil has a relatively low smoke point (325-375°F/165-190°C), making it less ideal for cooking methods requiring high heat like pan-searing and high-heat stir fries.

Vegetable oil is extracted from seeds like the rapeseed (canola oil) soybean (soybean oil), corn, sunflower, safflower, which requires chemical processes that will allow them to be extracted and so it can have a higher smoke point, better for high-temperature cooking.

OilSmoke Point
Safflower510°F/265°C
Rice Bran490°F/260°C
Soybean450°F/230°C
Peanut450°F/230°C
Corn450°F/230°C
Sunflower440°F/225°C
Canola400°F/205°C
Grapeseed390°F/195°C

These chemical processes are known for being bad for your health. It’s certainly nothing like the simple processes used to make other popular fats/oils, like butter, olive oil or coconut oil.

The mere fact that it is exposed to high heat should turn you away from this oil. It is high in polyunsaturated fats (Omega-3 and omega-6 can help reduce bad cholesterol levels in your blood which can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke), which are very sensitive to high heat and easily become oxidized (rancid).

A toxic solvent called hexane is used to extract the oil from the seeds. Trace amounts of hexane have sometimes been found in cooking oils.

During this highly unnatural manufacturing process, some of the oil becomes damaged. You just can’t tell because the oil is also deodorized, which removes the smell.

One study analysed canola and soybean oils found on store shelves in the U.S. They found that 0.56% to 4.2% of the fatty acids in them were toxic trans fats (raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and can mainly be found in processed food, because oils with trans fats can be used many times in commercial fryers).

Till today, only three EU Member States adopted legislation to restrict industrially produced trans fats in the food chain, being Denmark the first one, followed afterwards by Austria and Hungary.

In summary: Even though they are both high in calories, olive oil has more natural ones then vegetable oil. And being healthier, means more price. As a tip to help you save money, you can always use any olive oil that comes in jar with olives, tomatoes, artichokes, etc. as a great salad dressing or storage it in jars for a short period of time.

Thanks so much reading this post. If you liked this post, you might like Struggle! Drinking 8 Glasses of Water A Day , Hay Fever and Sweets accelerate skin aging.

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Lifestyle People

Hay Fever

Everyone can suffer from hey fever in life.

Who’s affected

Hay fever is a common allergic condition that affects up to 10 million people in England, according to the NHS. The number of sufferers is expected to rise to 30 million by 2035 due to an increase in air pollution and pollen counts soaring.

Research found that hay fever usually begins in childhood or during the teenage year, and it’s more common in boys than girls.  In fact, you can get hay fever at any age. Studies show that a lot of adults will develop this allergy in their 30s, 40s and 50s.  Half a million new “middle-aged” cases are predicted in the next decade, according to the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit.  Therefore, everyone can develop hay fever in life.

If you have a family history of allergies, particular asthma or eczema, you are more likely to suffer hay fever.

How’s affected

Hay fever doesn’t be a serious threat to your health, but it can affect your quality of life.

Pollen is a fine powder released by plant during their reproductive cycle.  As pollen contains proteins that triggers your body an allergic reaction, causes your immune system produces histamine into your blood stream, to protect your body against infection. This histamine causes the nose, eyes, throat and airways to become swollen, irritated and inflamed.

Different types of pollen are released throughout the year in England.

Birch: Second week of March to first week of June (peaks last week of March to mid-May).

Plane: Mid-March to mid-May (peaks last week of April to second week in May).

Oilseed rape: Last week in March to mid-July (peaks mid-May to end of June).

Oak: First week of April to mid-June (peaks end of April to first week in June).

Grass: First week of May to second week of September (peaks first week in June to last week in July).

Nettle: Beginning of May to end of September (peaks last week of June to first week in August).

Mould: Early autumn and late spring. Symptoms are worse inside than outside.

If you suffer allergies all year round, you may allergic to dust, especially notable in winter when the central heating is turned on. Symptoms are worse indoors.

Here is the pollen forecast by Met Office which is up to 5-day ahead.

What’s solution

There’s no cure for hay fever, but most people can relieve symptoms with treatment, at least to a certain extent.

You can relieve symptoms by taking “antihistamines”, which can help to prevent an allergic reaction from occurring and “corticosteroids”, which help to reduce inflammation and swelling.

However, new research has concluded that people regularly taking popular drugs for hay fever and other allergies, did worse in cognitive tests and showed signs of loss of brain cells and connections. Therefore, it suggested there may be a link to dementia.

The most effective way to control hay fever would be to avoid exposure to pollen.  You may prefer to take home remedies and boost our immune system.

Home remedies

  • Close doors and windows during pollen season.
  • Don’t hang laundry outside — pollen can stick to sheets and towels.
  • Use an allergy-grade filter in your home ventilation system and change it regularly.
  • Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning, when pollen counts are highest.
  • Stay indoors on dry, windy days.
  • Use a dehumidifier to reduce indoor humidity and mould.
  • Avoid mowing the lawn or raking leaves.
  • Wear a dust mask when cleaning house or gardening.
  • Use allergy-proof covers on mattresses, box springs and pillows.
  • Wash sheets and blankets in water heated to at least 130 F (54 C).
  • Vacuum carpets weekly with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a small-particle or HEPA filter.
  • Spray insecticide designed to kill dust mites (acaricides) and approved for indoor use on carpets, furniture and bedding.
  • Consider removing carpeting, especially where you sleep, if you’re highly sensitive to dust mites.
  • Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting in your eyes.
  • Take a shower and changing clothes after being outdoor to remove the pollen on your body and hair.
  • Apply a small amount of Vaseline to the nasal openings to trap pollen grains.

Strengthen Immune System

Vitamins

Take Vitamin C which is another form of antihistamine’

Take Vitamin E which is an immune booster as well as an antioxidant, so protects you from free radicals like pollution.

Honey

Honey can desensitise your body to other pollens and reduce hay fever symptoms.

Carotenoids

This naturally occurring pigment can be found in foods such as carrots, apricots, pumpkin, sweet potato and spinach and acts as a powerful antioxidant to help reduce inflammation and fortify your immune system.

Fish

Omega fatty acids contained in fish are important for a healthy immune system. The first phase of an immune reaction is an inflammatory reaction – and fish oil is an anti-inflammatory. Not only that, it’s a great booster for your immune system.

Nuts

A great source of magnesium and Vitamin E.  Magnesium helps increase lung function and may protect against wheezing.  Vitamin E is an immune booster and an antioxidant.

Apples, Oranges, Berries and Grapes

Natural source of Vitamin C and antioxidants which reduces inflammation in the body and protects against allergy symptoms.

Do you suffer from hay fever? Tell us your hay fever experiences.