Do Not Leave Out Curd From Your Diet Program

Yogurt or curd, whatever you like to call it is every bit as tasty as it is nutritious. Apart from making you lick your lips, it can also do wonders to your overall health. Here are reasons why you cannot leave curd away from the dining table.

1. Curd has friendly bacteria called lactobacillus acidophilus that is very good for the digestive system. Curd can neutralize toxic substances before they can turn carcinogenic or cancer-causing. Curd helps to fight diarrhea, helps colon health and reduces the risk of colon cancer.

2. The healthy bacteria in curd helps to strengthen the immunity. It increases the power of white blood cells that fights infections.

3. Curd reduces the risk of osteoporosis which affects women. As yogurt is rich in phosphorous, it can be quite helpful in maintaining bone strength.

4. Curd or yogurt is packed with calcium , Vitamin B12, riboflavin and protein. One cup of curd eaten gives you 1/3 of the daily calcium requirement and 10 grams of protein everyday, which is about 20 percent of the daily requirement

5. Yogurt is good for people who want to diet, reduce their weight and get slimmer. It lowers the cholesterol levels in the body helps in weight loss

6. Curd can be easily digested which means it is highly metabolic and does not get stored as fat.

7. Curd is very good to remove the risk of vaginal infections. It removes the yeast colonies from accumulating in the female genitalia.

8. Since yogurt can be easily digested compared to milk, it is even better for people who are lactose intolerant and cannot digest milk.

9. A latest research has shown that curd can be increasingly good for the strength of your gums, root canal and teeth

Also read Health Benefits of Curd and Sugar

By Arunraj V.S.

Top Four Benefits Of Getting A Body Massage

A body massage is a special and comfortable way to have a masseuse work through the whole body. During a session, the client is at liberty to inform the masseuse where he or she thinks requires more attention. It is practised worldwide across all cultures. Most spas or beauty parlours have very unique facilities that offer this service to various clients. Most of these features and facilities are designed to provide peace of mind to an individual. Some of them have the space, furnishings, and furniture such as massage tables to make the stay as comfortable as possible. The type of personnel employed also influence the uniqueness of the spa. Body massages are known to bring about a number of benefits to the human body. These include:

· Improved blood circulation

Through body massage, the blood circulation in the body is improved. This means that oxygen in the blood is well circulated and as a result, various toxins are removed from the body. Without a good flow of oxygen into the body, an individual becomes prone to pain such as headaches and also muscle tension.

· Improve skin tone and skin health

Different oils and creams are usually used during the body massage sessions. For instance the eucalyptus oils and other herbal oils which contain especially the vitamin E supplement. Through these oils, the skin is rejuvenated. This is because the oils aid the skin cells to be revitalised.

· Peace of mind

Another important benefit that body massages give to many people is the peace of mind. Everyone needs peace of mind at some point in their lives. Having peace of mind makes an individual feel good about themselves naturally. Important decisions can be made when you are at peace and in total serenity. Your mind is opened up to a number of things like increased awareness, creativity and development plans.

· Lower stress levels

It is important to reduce stress levels at whatever costs. This is because the health conditions likely to arise as a result of stress are very severe. For instance High blood pressure which is also a very costly condition. Going through body massage sessions will help reduce stress levels and thus is an effective way of managing stress.

It also helps in improving the lifestyle and wellbeing of many people. You should do a lot of research on some of the best places that provide these services to receive this pleasurable experience that is available to all.

By Imma Sila
Also Read Health Benefits of Ksheerabala Oil

Insulin Plant or Gymnema Sylvestre,(Gudmar or Madhunashini) Sugar Metabolism And Diabetes

Gurmar is a common name of Gymnema sylvestre, meaning 'sugar destroyer'. Studies show that Gymnema sylvestre not only reduces the taste of sweetness, but also reduces sugar absorption from the gut into the body.

Gymnema also appears to stimulate the production of insulin by the pancreas. Studies have shown these benefits could help extend life. For example, see: Srivastava Y, et al. Hypoglycemic and Life-prolonging Properties of Gymnema sylvestre Leaf Extract in Diabetic Rats. Isr J Med Sci. Jun1985;21(6):540-42.

Gymnema Sylvestre And Diabetes

Anything which can help the body to produce more of its own insulin is to be welcomed. In studies, Gymnema has been identified as a herb which can certainly assist in the management of diabetes. (Read Best spices for diabetes)

Gymnema has several properties which lends it to helping blood sugar management. It:

- Reduces sugar absorbed from food in the intestines

- Stimulates insulin production

- It appears to build pancreatic beta cells, which produce insulin

- Finally, taking Gymnema drops on the tongue dulls the sense of taste for sweet foods.

Some benefits from Gymnema have been reported for Type 1 diabetes, but most research has been done on Type 2 diabetes - the 'maturity onset' type.

For example, in a study lead by K Baskaran in 1990, Gymnema sylvestre was given to 22 patients with Type 2 diabetes for 18 months to supplement their anti-diabetic medication. Most patients showed a distinct reduction of blood sugar levels by several measures. In addition, 5 of the 22 were able to discontinue their conventional drugs altogether! The inference was made that Gymnema appeared to be regenerating or repairing the pancreatic beta cells which produce insulin. Support for this view was drawn from the fact that blood insulin levels rose after Gymnema supplementation.

K, Kizar-Ahamath B, Shanmugasundaram MR, Shanmugasundaram ERB. Antidiabetic effect of leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1990;30(3):295-300.

Healthnotes, a reliable science based herbal assessment website says of Gymnema sylvestre:

"Gymnema sylvestre has been used in India for the treatment of diabetes for over 2,000 years.... The hypoglycaemic (blood sugar-lowering) action of gymnema sylvestre leaves was first documented in the late 1920s. This action is attributed to members of a family of substances called gymnemic acids. Gymnema sylvestre leaves raise insulin levels, according to research in healthy volunteers."

Gymnema is a remarkable herb which can be a huge benefit both to those who truly want to cut down their consumption of sweet foods and those with blood sugar issues. Of course, if on medication you should consult your doctor before taking Gymnema: but if you have 'blood sugar lows' and are not on medication, try Gymnema.

The main treatment for low blood sugar involves a change of diet and getting more exercise: but if you do these things, Gymnema drops are a great help to have in your pocket, and Gymnema capsules can, with benefit, be taken 3 times a day for 3-6 months to help you achieve good improvements.

 Also Read AYURVEDA HEALTH BENEFITS OF GUDMAR – MADHUNASHINI -GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE


By Max Hill

Health Benefits of Carrots for Cholesterol, Weight Loss and Diabetes

The health benefits of carrots do not only help our eyes but also help in cancer prevention, avoiding heart attacks and they lower your bad cholesterol. We eat carrots not just for the health benefits but also because they taste very good whether they are cooked or raw.

Carrots contain beta-carotene which becomes vitamin A after it is in your body and this helps improve your vision. The vitamin A will form a purple pigment called rhodopsin which is what your eyes need to be able to see in a dim light. If you do not get enough of this vitamin you could end up suffering from night blindness. Carrots also got their color and their name from beta-carotene.

The nutritional benefits of beta-carotene are the fact they are an anti-oxidant that fights the free radicals that can cause cancer, macular degeneration, and heart disease. Beta-carotene sometimes will deter cancers of the stomach, uterus, and cervix. There has been research done recently suggesting people who consume five or more carrots on a weekly basis are less likely to have a stroke than those who do not. Carrots have another anti-oxidant called alpha-carotene and a study showed men with high amounts of this anti-oxidant have a less chance of contracting lung cancer.

If you cook carrots slightly, you pull out the beta-carotene from the fiber which permits our bodies to absorb it easier. If you eat about a half-cup a day you will receive more beta-carotene than the daily recommended dosage. When you buy carrots with the tops still attached they must be removed before storage, if you do not the tops will swallow up all the vitamins. Your body can absorb the nutrients of carrot juice by adding them to a favorite blend of juice.

One carrot will give you all the vitamin A you will need for a day. The sugar that is contained in carrots turns into blood sugar quickly but the amount is very low and that is why diabetics (Read Diabetes home remedies) can still have them. They are the richest source of beta-carotene, which contributes to a lower risk for diabetes. Carrots health benefits is a great protection against cataracts and macular degeneration. Their soluble fiber is quite rich and helps lower levels of cholesterol.

The health benefits of raw carrots are they contain more vitamin C than cooked. The benefits of cooked carrots are the release of more beta-carotene. Either way you eat them will help benefit your body. The raw carrots can be placed in your salad and the cooked on your dinner plate and you will receive the benefits of both.

The high fiber content in carrots is very important if you want to lose weight. Fiber is not digestible and it just passes through with other food affixed to it. It will not stop the digestive system from trying; it simply produces more enzymes to break it down. This helps to speed up you metabolism. They are low in calories and fat, and high in nutrients which also include potassium. Carrot nutrients help the body perform smoothly and therefore burn calories.

Also Read Are Carrots Good For Losing Weight ?

By Barbara Volkov