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  Obesity is a condition characterized by excess body weight. Basically, it's the accumulation of fat on the body due to several reasons...

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Antioxidants Naturally Found in Foods


Why do we need to eat foods that are found to be naturally high in antioxidants?

What are antioxidants?
Which foods do we need to eat, in order to naturally fight free radicals?
Scientists have found that the body forms unstable oxygen molecules, called free radicals; every cell produces tens of thousands of them each day. A free radical is basically an atom with an odd number of electrons in its outer ring. Since electrons have a very strong tendency to exist in a paired rather than an unpaired state, free radicals indiscriminately pick up electrons from other atoms, which in turn convert those other atoms into secondary free radicals, thus setting up a chain reaction, which can cause substantial biological damage. This, in short, is bad. There are also many kinds of free radicals, which we are exposed to everyday, for example, pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides.

Antioxidants are thought to neutralise and stabilise these free radicals.
So, which antioxidants are naturally found in which foods?
We have:

Vitamin E: a fat-soluble vitamin found in vegetable oils, nuts, green leafy vegetables, and fortified cereals. Some of the foods containing the highest amounts of vitamin E are wheat germ oil, almonds, sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, hazelnuts, peanuts, spinach, broccoli, kiwi and mango.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant vitamin involved in the metabolism of all cells. It protects vitamin A and essential fatty acids from oxidation in the body cells and prevents breakdown of body tissues.

Vitamin C: Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin present in citrus fruits and juices, cabbage, green peppers, broccoli, spinach, tomato, kale, guava, cantaloupe, kiwi, papaya, and strawberries.
It is important in forming collagen, a protein that gives structure to bones, cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels. Vitamin C also aids in the absorption of iron, and helps maintain capillaries, bones, and teeth.

Beta-carotene: Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A. It is present in liver, egg yolk, milk, butter, spinach, carrots, squash, broccoli, yams, tomato, cantaloupe, peaches, and grains.
Studies have been done on beta-carotene's effectiveness for heart disease, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, fibromyalgia, male infertility, and psoriasis.

Coenzyme Q10: CoQ10 boosts energy, enhances the immune system, and acts as an antioxidant. A growing body of research suggests that coenzyme Q10 may help prevent or treat some of the following conditions: heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and others. Primary dietary sources of CoQ10 include oily fish, organ meats such as liver, spinach, broccoli, peanuts, wheat germ and whole grains.

Selenium: Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential to good health but required only in small amounts. It helps synthesize antibodies; helps synthesize co-enzyme Q10and helps transport ions across cell membranes. The best sources of selenium are Brazil nuts, wheat germ, molasses, sunflower seeds, whole wheat bread and dairy foods.

You should note that there are many other antioxidants naturally found in foods.
You should also note that the best way to take antioxidants is naturally, through fresh, vibrant food.
One more thing; sometimes less is more. Some of these antioxidants are only needed in small amounts, so check into whether you need to take more or not, before you start overdosing on antioxidants!

Author - Ciara Carruthers

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Scratching Your Dry Skin





The problem with dry skin is not just that it is dry. It is not just that it looks dull. It is not just that it can be flaky. One of the main things about dry skin that can drive people crazy is when dry skin becomes itchy.

Some people can have dry skin and never be bothered by any itching their dry skin might bring up. However, there are other people who might scratch, scratch, scratch away and still not feel relief from their dry skin. Having annoyingly itchy skin may occur at any time if you naturally tend to have dry skin. There are other people who experience the worst itch during dry winter months and even moisturizers and creams do not seem to help.

You can experience itchy dry skin just about anywhere on your body. Legs can become annoying when you are at work or school, the top of you head can be embarrassing because dry skin and constant itching can lead to dandruff-like flakes, and itchiness on the face can lead to a less than pleasant look.
 
Yes, it is hard to stop scratching, but the important thing is that you need to learn how to do so.
Even if scratching at a patch of dry skin seems to yield results in the form of dead skin cells flaking off, scratching is doing you no good. Constantly scraping away at your skin with your fingernails will only serve to aggravate your skin further and worsen your condition. For some people with dry skin that happens to be the result of a skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis, scratching can have some very nasty results.

Scratching your dry skin can lead to skin cracking or splitting, which can be very painful and lead to potential infections, giving you yet one more problem to deal with when it comes to your skin.
So if you cannot scratch, what do you do to relieve the itch? First off, if your skin is so dry that it is creating an unbearable itchiness, you need to look into a better moisturizer.

If you do not currently use a moisturizer, you need to get one, pronto. It would be a very good idea to get a moisturizer that is an extra emollient in order to enhance the strength of the moisturizing power, as your skin needs it badly. Avoid moisturizers with fragrance; you want a moisturizer with performance, not one that smells nice (not to say that you should get one that smells disgusting; most moisturizers smell fine even without any extra scents).

There are also products out there meant to help exceptionally dry skin in terms of both moisturizing as well as stopping the itch. You might want to try one of these products if your itchy skin is driving you crazy. If one moisturizer works during several months of the year and suddenly you find it is inadequate during winter months, try switching it up with something more powerful during those times.

You may also want to buy a humidifier to help keep the air in your home a little less dry.
Even if you have dry skin, you do not have to be at the mercy of its itch. Make a note of any products that may worsen your condition instead of making it better and get rid of them right away. By taking a few steps, such as avoiding long, hot showers, and using moisturizers, you can stop the itch and be free from the concern of harming your skin by forever scratching away.


Author -
Louise Forrest

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Testosterone Deficiency - How to Identify ?


Testosterone deficiency, also known as hypogonadism, is a condition in which the testes are unable to produce enough testosterone to fulfill the body's needs. Testosterone deficiency has many possible causes, including genetic abnormalities, injury to the testes, and being on certain medications. Normal aging also may play a role in the decline of male testosterone levels. It is also known as low testosterone.

The testes produce testosterone regulated by a complex chain of signals that begins in the brain. This chain is called the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The hypothalamus secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to the pituitary gland in spurts, which trigger the secretion of leutenizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland. This hormone stimulates the Leydig cells of the testes to produce testosterone. Normally, the testes produce 4-7 milligrams (mg) of testosterone each and every day.

After puberty, testosterone production increases rapidly, and will decrease rapidly after age 50. Recent estimates show that approximately 13 million men in the United States experience testosterone deficiency and less than 10-percent receive treatment for the condition, which is growing in cultural acceptability.

Studies also have shown that some men with obesity, diabetes, or hypertension may be twice as likely to have low testosterone levels, though as stated, low testosterone and testosterone deficiency can be caused by taking certain medications, chemotherapy, infections and other basic causes.

Signs of testosterone deficiency depend on the age of onset and the duration of hormonal deficiency. Congenital testosterone deficiency is usually characterized by underdeveloped genitalia, and sometimes even undeterminable genitalia. Acquired testosterone deficiency that develops near puberty can result in enlargement of breast tissue (gynecomastia), sparse or absent pubic and body hair, and underdeveloped penis, testes, and muscle. Adults may experience diminished libido, erectile dysfunction, muscle weakness, hair loss, depression, and other common mood disorders.

Author Kristy Annely
Also Read 

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