Horse Gram - A Nutritious and Miraculous Lentil

It is rightly said that if people want to become healthy, they should incorporate lots of fluids, green veggies, fruits, legumes and whole grains into their daily routine and diet because of their high protein and vitamin contents. Horse gram is one of the lesser known beans and is quite useful as cattle feed. It's also a popular ingredient in Indian cuisine, particularly in Southern India.

Horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) is a healthy and nutritious lentil and is readily available in most stores. It has many names all over the world, which serves as an evidence that it's known and used globally. It's known as cowpea, the Bonnavista bean, the hyacinth bean, kulatha kalai in Sanskrit, the bian dou in Chinese, habbul kulth in Arabic, kuntikali in Bengali, kulthi in Hindi, kollu in South India and gahat/muthira/kulath in other parts of India. It can tremendously help in making our quality of life richer and more fulfilling.

Horse gram is rich in taste and at the same time provides us with many health benefits. 

• It has miraculous properties that can cure kidney and gall bladder stones.
• The horse gram plant exhibits the properties of astringent, diuretic and antioxidant.
• It is prescribed for persons suffering from jaundice or water retention, and as part of a weight loss diet by decreasing the cholesterol levels in the body. It helps to fight obesity
• It is considered helpful for iron deficiencies, and is considered helpful for maintaining body temperature in the winter season; and prevents and cures the arthritis.
• It aids in curing the menstrual problems like irregular periods and heavy bleeding, leucorrhea and bleeding during or after the pregnancy period.
• The high amount of dietary fiber present in it balances the blood pressure and sugar glucose levels.
• Its plant treats the patients who are suffering from weak liver, spleen enlargement and colic with its medicinal properties.
• It has been used by the Ayurveda as a cure for issues such as conjunctivitis, worm removal, rheumatism, and piles.
• Certain tests have also proven that lipids extracted from horse grams are known to heal rats with peptic ulcers.

Soak two or three tablespoons of horse gram overnight in sufficient amount of water, in the following day make it in to paste and consume it for two times a day. You can also drink the soaked water for the added benefits. Add it to your daily diet whether in the form of sprouts, soups or boiled water to watch the results.

Also Read Horse Gram Health Benefits in Weight loss-Diabetes-Low sperm count

By Bharati Bhattacharya Nandi 

What Is Sex Therapy?

Many people have sexual problems, worries, or concerns. A sex therapist is someone who has specialized training to talk comfortably and specifically about those concerns. A sex therapist's certification by AASECT ensures that the therapist has a graduate degree in a counseling related field, many hours of specialized training and supervision in sex therapy, many years of experience, and the highest of ethical standards. A sex therapist will ask a client to describe what particular problem he is struggling with; she may ask detailed questions to get a clear understanding of how, when, and why he may experience a problem. A sex therapist can help the client feel comfortable talking about an area that is often difficult. A client may talk with a sex therapist individually, or with a partner or spouse. The therapist will want to gather a broad understanding of the problem by learning about the client's history and about his relationships. The client's concerns are completely confidential and are treated with sensitivity, concern, and professionalism. After the initial anxiety of meeting with a sex therapist, many people find tremendous relief and reward. Some of the areas sex therapists are trained to help with are lack of desire, orgasmic difficulty, pelvic pain disorders, erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory difficulty, sexually compulsive behaviors, sexual identity problems, or sexually traumatic histories.

Sex therapists recommend these tips to improve your sex life:

- Emphasize the importance of relationship, love, mutual respect, and harmony.

- Expand your capacity for intimacy by taking small steps in being vulnerable.

- Have compassion-no one is perfect.

- Listen and talk about what is important.

- Know how to give.

- Compliment each other's special strengths in front of other people.

- Pay attention.

- Make your goal for sex to make it last and make it fun---not orgasm.

- In long-term attachments, romantic love can be stimulated at anytime by engaging in novel activity.

- Use of antidepressants can reduce sex drive, thereby jeopardizing romantic love. Keep this in mind and use judgement when considering taking an antidepressant. Wellbutrin is the one antidepressant without sexual side effects.

- People who play together stay together. Both sexual play as well as non-sexual play are important. Play creates good feelings. Keeping good feelings going over time is the key to successful, long-term relationships.

- Be present mentally so that you can be absorbed in the moment. For busy people, that may mean taking some time to shift gears, relax, prepare.

-By Patti Hard

Vajikarana Therapy is sex therapy in ayurveda. Know more about  Ayurveda Vajikarana Therapy at 

Causes, Symptoms And Ayurvedic Cure For Impotence

Erectile dysfunction or impotence is a very common and an embarrassing condition faced by millions of men worldwide. In this article we are going to discuss about the causes of impotence and some ayurvedic treatments which can help men who have impotence achieve strong and hard erections.

As we are aware penis is spongy in nature and is made of two chambers namely tunica albuginea which is a membrane surrounding it and other spongy tissues like arteries, veins and fibrous tissues. Urethra is where from urine and semen pass through.

How Do Erections happen

The erections take place due to sensory stimulation, the nerves receive signals from brain and help in contraction and relaxation of muscles as well as control flow of blood into the vacant spaces in the spongy tissues. This process helps the penis expand and achieve an erection. While tunica albuginea helps in trapping the blood to help in longer lasting erections.

When a dis-balance occurs in this process it causes erectile dysfunction or impotence and a man is unable to penetrate into the vagina causing an inability to sire a child.

Causes of Impotence

There are many conditions which can lead to erectile dysfunction but it is mainly caused due to low levels of testosterone in the body. In ayurveda it is mentioned that impotence can be caused due to physical trauma or an injury in the penile area. Other causes include old age; side effects of some medications as well as sometimes sexual abuse can also cause erectile dysfunction.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction

There are some very effective ayurvedic remedies which can help in overcoming the problem of impotence. Let us discuss about some of these remedies.

1. Drink ayurvedic preparations which provide the body proper nourishment and help the penis start functioning normally again.

2. Apply herbal penis massage oils daily which have high aphrodisiac properties. Massaging your penis with these oils helps in strengthening the nerves and improves the flow of blood to the penile area thereby helping in improving the quality of erections.

3. One of the most common causes of impotence is stress and depression. To overcome these problems start practicing yoga and meditation which helps in calming down your mind and thereby help in better performance during sexual activities.

4. Sleep for a minimum of 8 hours daily so that your body recovers fully from the wear and tear it has gone through in the day and feels fresh and active when you are gearing up for sex.

5. Abstain from consuming substances like alcohol or nicotine. It has been noted that people who consume these substances are highly prone to erectile dysfunction problems.

6. If you are unable to achieve an erection wait for 3 to 4 days to indulge in sexual intercourse. This time period will help the body repair itself and your impotence problem might get solved automatically.

Ayurveda Vajikarana Therapy

In ayurveda it is believed that if a person is physically strong he will have less chances of suffering from diseases. Hence men with impotence are advised to increase their physical strength by exercising and following a healthy diet. This helps in improving erection and sperm quality and results in a healthy offspring being born.

Herbal Therapy

There are many herbs mentioned in ayurveda which can help in treating impotence. These herbs help in increasing testosterone levels and improve your overall health conditions hence resulting in an improved sexual life. Some of the popular herbs used to treat erectile dysfunction include shilajit, withania somnifera, tribulus. People in India have been using these remedies for thousands of years to overcome their sexual problems and now its your turn to benefit from the rich science of ayurveda.


By Ajeet Gautam

Ashwagandha or Withania The Indian Ginseng

Ashwagandha to Enhance Immunity and Stamina

Ashwagandha is an indigenous Indian herb, which is popular in the west as the Winter Cherry. The Indian name of the herb literally means 'horse smell' (ashwa = horse, gandha = smell). It is called so because its root smells like horse's urine when wet. Ashwagandha is a small to medium sized herb, growing up to 1.5 meters at a maximum with small green flowers growing in clusters of about 25 in number. This herb is found in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, apart from India.

The main medical constituent of ashwagandha is somniferine, an alkaloid which is present in all parts of the herb. The oil extracted from its roots is composed of two constituents - a water soluble part and a water insoluble part. The water soluble part contains some sugar, while the water insoluble part contains fatty acids among other vital substances. Besides that, ashwagandha oil is also rich in tannin, glucose, potassium nitrate and several alkaloids.

Ayurveda Health benefits of ashwagandha

The following curative properties of ashwagandha are made use of in Ayurvedic medicine:-

(i) Ashwagandha is best known for its stimulating properties on the libido. It is used as an aphrodisiac in men. For this reason, ashwagandha is also referred to as the Indian ginseng.

(ii) Ashwagandha is a mild hypnotic. It can be used in allaying pains.

(iii) Ashwagandha is effective in treating urinary ailments. It can facilitate easy flow of urine. Also it helps in opening the sweat pores, which make it possible to expel liquid wastes through perspiration.

(iv) Ashwagandha is an antibiotic and an antibacterial agent.

Ashwagandha is indispensable in various constituents of Ayurvedic medicine. The following are some ways in which it is used in treatment of diseases.

(i) Common Cold

Ashwagandha is used in opening up the respiratory tract and treating diseases that originate in the chest cavity. If a person has a common cold, then the powdered root of ashwagandha is taken in quantities of three grams. Decoction of the ashwagandha root is also popularly used. In a similar fashion, the berries and seeds of the ashwagandha are also used for resolving chest complaints.

(ii) Conjunctivitis

The leaves of the ashwagandha are boiled in water and the steam is used to foment the eyes. This relieves the pain and the itchiness of sore eyes.

(iii) Digestive Disorders

Both dyspepsia and loss of appetite can be treated with ashwagandha. For this purpose, the roots of the herb are used. Ashwagandha pacifies the pitta dosha which is responsible for digestion and brings the body to a state of normalcy.

(iv) Insomnia

Due to its hypnotic properties, ashwagandha is prescribed to people who are not able to sleep soundly at nights.

(v) Loss of Libido in Men

Ashwagandha is an aphrodisiac, mostly for men. This is the curative property for which it is renowned all over the world. In order to increase sexual performance of men, Ayurvedic doctors prescribe taking three or four grams of the root with a vehicle like milk or ghee at least half an hour before performing the sexual act. For permanent treatment of these problems, a preparation of ashwagandha is made with sugar, honey, pepper and ghee. This is administered to the person once daily. In addition to increasing libido, ashwagandha can also treat male problems like spermatorrhea and premature ejaculation.

(vi) Rheumatism

Ashwagandha is taken in doses of three grams per day for the treatment of geriatric problems such as rheumatism. The root of the ashwagandha is used for this purpose.

(vii) Skin Problems

Ashwagandha has very effective properties in the treatment of problems of the skin. Its roots and leaves are ground into a paste and applied externally for the treatment of carbuncles, ulcers and swellings. In case of boils and swelling, its leaves are warmed in water and used to foment the affected parts. For bedsores and wounds, ashwagandha leaves are boiled in fat or ghee and applied.

(viii) Sterility in Women

Ashwagandha can treat sterility in women and help them conceive a child. Its roots are powdered and taken in quantities of six grams with milk. This is taken for a week continuously after menstruation.

(ix) Syphilis

Ashwagandha has antibacterial properties, which are made use of in the treatment of syphilis. A paste of its leaves is applied on the syphilitic sores continually. This relieves the itchiness of the sores and treats the disease eventually.

(x) Tuberculosis

In the treatment of tuberculosis, ashwagandha is used in the following manner. A decoction of its root is prepared with pepper and honey. This decoction is used in the treatment of tuberculosis. It is found to be especially beneficial in the treatment of scrofula, which is a painful tuberculosis of the lymph glands that manifests itself in the neck region.

Special Ayurvedic Preparations

The following are some Ayurvedic preparations in which ashwagandha is the main ingredient:-

(i) Ashwagandha lehya

Ashwagandha is made into a fine paste known as linctus. This is ashwagandha lehya which is taken for all the diseases that can be cured with the consumption of ashwagandha.

(ii) Ashwagandharishta

Ashwagandharishta is a very valuable extract of ashwagandha with several other herbs such as manjishta, yashti, arjuna, chandana, etc. It is used as a general tonic in several medical problems including debility, digestion problems and psychotic problems like hallucinations.

Precautions

Ashwagandha is a very beneficial herb, but it must never be prescribed to pregnant women. The various chemical constituents of ashwagandha can lead to abortion of the foetus. Though it is used to correct sterility itself, its use must be discontinued as soon as the woman conceives.

Also Read Health Benefits and Uses of ashwagandha


By John Anne

Sesame Oil - An Ideal Oil For Skincare and Beauty

Massage oils, skin creams, facial oils and body oils all require a carrier oil, a neutral-smelling base for essential oils and other healing oils. Many carrier oils are there simply to do the job of providing a platform for the other ingredients. But sesame oil is a carrier oil that brings its own healing and rejuvenating properties.

It is especially helpful for anyone with dry skin. Dry skin requires extra care. It is vulnerable to environmental damage and aging. Wind, sun damage and free radicals all put dry skin under constant stress, and if it is not supported, this can lead to the breakdown of skin structure that we see as "aging." Lines appear, then wrinkles, and even sagging skin. Fortunately, sesame oil is naturally rich in nutrients, particularly vitamins A and E, that provide important building materials to help the body maintain supple skin. You can protect your skin by choosing creams, oils and lotions that contain it.

In addition to nourishing the skin, sesame oil also draws toxins out of the body. Molecules in the oil attract and attach to fat-soluble toxins lodged in the skin and pores, drawing them to the skin's surface where they can be easily washed away with soap and water. So this is an oil for the whole body, not just the face and neck. It can be used as a purifying massage oil for the whole body.

In face creams, or used alone, sesame oil stimulates cell rejuvenation to create firmer, smoother skin. It is packed with vitamin A, a nutrient that repairs skin tissue and improves collagen production, Good collagen production keeps skin looking young by filling in fine lines and preventing the appearance of wrinkles.

Vitamin E is one of the best nutrients for dry skin, and this oil provides a rich, soothing and gentle source of vitamin E for topical use. It blocks free radicals from damaging the skin and helps to rejuvenate damaged skin, again, preventing lines and wrinkles from forming. Skin spots and blemishes can be reduced with vitamin E., which is very helpful when applied directly to the skin. But vitamin E is sticky and uncomfortable to use in an undiluted form. It can be too much to deal with. Fortunately, sesame oil is an ideal source of this vital nutrient. With all its natural vitamin E content, plus vitamin A and other healing and nourishing compounds, this oil makes a major contribution to any skin care product in which it is contained. Plus it can serve as a very serviceable carrier oil. What could be better?

Well, it does get better. You can rub this oil into small cuts, abrasions, and chapped skin, and it will relieve irritation and help to rejuvenate the damage, all the while fighting off fungal and viral infections.

And that is why sesame oil is so popular with manufacturers of natural skin care products. In my view, organic sesame oil is the way to go, ideally with other botanicals infused in it to maximize its healing and rejuvenating effects.

Read Role of Sesame Oil in Boosting Strength of Male Organ


Author:  Gaelle Lehrer Kennedy 

Benefits of Ashwagandha

 

Ashwagandha Latin names is Withania Somniferum and Ashwagandha common name is Indian Ginseng.

Ashwagandha belongs to the pepper family and is found in India and Africa. The roots and leaves of ashwagandha are used medicinally. The health applications for ashwagandha in traditional Indian and Ayurvedic medicine are extensive. Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words, Ayu, which means life," and Veda, which means "knowledge." For more than 1,000 years, ashwagandha has been highly prized as a treatment for impotence, stress, infertility and arthritis. The shoots and seeds of the plant are also used in India as food, and to thicken milk. In the West, researchers have focused on isolating the one or two active ingredients in each herb. In the ayurvedic tradition, however, the entire plant is used on the assumption that all the compounds in a plant are meant to work together. Because of it's wide range of activity on many different body systems, ashwagandha has long been reputed to be an overall tonic that can promote health and vitality, much like ginseng. Ashwagandha twigs have been chewed for cleaning teeth, and the smoke of the plant has been inhaled for relief of toothaches.

Uses of Ashwagandha:

Arthritis

Asthma

Bronchitis

Cancer

Candida

Fever

Inflammations

Nausea

Rheumatism

Mental function

Stress

In general, tonics such as Ashwagandha are believed to strengthen and fortify the body so that it is better able to withstand stressful situations. In other words, it helps the body to maintain it's equilibrium, even during difficult times.

Today, ashwagandha is included in many combination formulas to treat a variety of ills. It is being heavily promoted as an aphrodisiac. A natural anti-inflammatory agent, ashwagandha may help to reduce the discomfort associated with arthritis. Ashwagandha is said to be useful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions, ulcers, and scabies when applied topically. Compounds known as withanolides are believed to account for the multiple medicinal applications of ashwagandha. These molecules are steroidal and bear a resemblance, both in their action and appearance, to the active constituents of Asian ginseng, known as ginsenosides. The pharmacological activity of the roots is attributed to the presence of several alkaloids. Many biochemically heterogeneous alkaloids have been reported in the roots. In all, 13 Dragendorffpositive components have been obtained chromatographically. They include cuscohygrine, anahygrine, tropine, pseudotropine, anaferine, and isopelletierine.

By Jacob Wood 

Also Read Benefits of Ashwagandha 

Know the Symptoms of Psoriasis for Immediate Treatment

If you suspect yourself, a member of your family or even a close friend of suffering from psoriasis, it is useful to be able to recognise the symptoms of psoriasis so that you can get the right type of medical treatment that is needed to control the different kinds of psoriasis manifestations that occur.

If you see that someone is suffering from psoriasis, you can examine the affected area and conduct some research on the internet to help them find some remedies that will help to reduce the redness, scaly skin, itching and other, sometimes unsightly symptoms. You may want to ask your doctor or dermatologist for a list of symptoms that the disease has.

 Common indicators of psoriasis are burning and itching sensations that are frequently associated with other skin problems and rashes. A lot of people that suffer from psoriasis get lesions and scaly skin. This can cause the skin to crack and flake due to becoming very dry. Other symptoms to look out for when psoriasis is suspected are red spots that can be seen on certain parts of a person's body, like the elbows, the genital areas, the scalp, and the knees.

Once you are familiar with the symptoms of psoriasis, it is important to consult your doctor or dermatologist to help you or the affected person with this skin condition to get a remedy for the uncomfortable and sometimes painful flare-ups that regularly occur with psoriasis.

Psoriasis treatments vary depending on the type and severity of psoriasis the person is suffering from and the places where the scales and flare-ups are found. An easily treatable type of psoriasis is the kind that is found on the scalp. This type is known as scalp psoriasis. Scalp psoriasis has the same symptoms, lesions and scaly skin that is often found on the kness and elbows. Scalp psoriasis affects sufferers on the sclap itself and around the nape. This form of psoriasis can be treated with ointments and topical creams that are formulated to remove these lesions and flakes. Anti dandruff shampoos can be used to remove the flakes from the person’s hair and other creams and lotions can be used to reduce the itchiness and redness of the lesions themselves.

Guttate psoriasis can be treated at home when the case is not too severe. By keeping the skin moist it will be help to reduce the irritation that a dry skin brings. After bathing it can help to apply a think moisturizer that will trap moisture against the skin and will soothe any burning sensations.

Pustular psoriasis is generally seen in adults. Pustular psoriasis is characterized by white pustules (blisters of non infectious pus) surrounded by red skin. The pus consists of white blood cells and is not an infection, nor is it contagious. It may be localized to certain areas of the body–for example, the feet and hands or it can be generalized, covering most of the body. It tends to go in a cycle, reddening of the skin followed by scaling and the formation of pustules.

Psoriasis can become very unsightly and can cover a large area of the body which may become very stressful and uncomfortable for the sufferer. Over the years there has been a lot of research conducted on psoriasis so if you suffer from the disease make sure you contact your doctor or dermatologist as they may be able to give you some medication that will help treat the symptoms of psoriasis. Do your best to reduce stress as this is a major cause of a lot of psoriasis outbreaks.

Author :NIGEL MASKERY

Also Read  10 top Tea Tree Oil for Psoriasis on Scalp, Nail, Legs, Hands, Feet and Body

Top Recommended Psoriasis Home Remedies - Get Rid of Psoriasis Naturally!

Until now, doctors and researcher has yet discover the real cause of psoriasis, and the 100% effective psoriasis treatment to get rid of psoriasis once and for all. Psoriasis most common symptoms includes having red, dry scaly patches on your skin, and often will cause white hues patches on your top first layer of your skin. It is very embarrassing to walk around socializing with friends as your skin will have an unpleasant look as your kin will have silvery-white appearance.

The real cause of psoriasis is still unknown, however, what the researchers and doctors found out is, symptoms of psoriasis occur when your skin cells begin to be more active than normal rate. As a result, those more active cells can't shed normally, resulting a build-up skin that leads to scaly and think rash on your epidermis layer. Suspect triggers of psoriasis include unstable weather condition, family history of psoriasis, reaction/allergy to certain medicine/drug, alcohol etc.

Home Remedies for Psoriasis

Hot Epsom salt bath has been proven by doctors on its value in treatment of psoriasis. Applying olive oil or lotion after Epsom salt bath will be better as lotion will keep your skin moisturizes. Do make sure that your skin is keep moisturize at all time, and avoid traveling to places with uncertain weather as too hot or too cold will cause the air humidity level to drop.

Please enjoy more sunlight, as research proves that UV ray from the sunlight is the best cure for psoriasis. There is a psoriasis treatment that doctor used for psoriasis treatment, which is prescribe artificial ultraviolet light. A less expensive alternative is to simply get more sunlight! Exposure to the sun can enhance the production of Vitamin D, which has been found to be effective at treating psoriasis.

Diet is also very important in improving psoriasis condition, having more organic food and home grown vegetables will improve your health also. One of the best vegetable that is recommended by doctors is bitter gourd. Take a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice daily, and if you don't like the bitter taste, mixed with a teaspoon of lime juice will be better.

There is a lot of psoriasis treatment available in the market with lots of chemical substance either to apply on your skin or tablets for medication. Personally I would recommend simple and natural psoriasis home remedies to cure/relief your psoriasis symptoms and get rid of psoriasis permanently!

By Thurman Johnson  |  

Also Read  7 Best Ayurvedic Oils for Psoriasis ( For body and Scalp )

Consult drsavithasuri@gmail.com for free for ayurvedic psoriasis remedy

The Best Psoriasis Home Remedies

It is a challenge to treat psoriasis because it is unpredictable and recurring. There is no exact cure to totally free the person from the disease. However, there are available treatments like topical agents and pills that specifically target the symptoms of the disease. These symptoms usually include thick patches of skin which is a result of the over production of skin cells. These patches sometimes appear white or silvery for some individuals while others can have reddish patches. Aside from taking drugs, there are also known psoriasis home remedies and lifestyle measures to help relieve the person from the common symptoms of the disease.

1. The use of seawater has been long proven effective to clean the skin and detoxify the body. It can also provide therapeutic effects to people with psoriasis. Sea salt bath is recommended for people with skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema. There are also available salt bath that you can use everyday together with other psoriasis home remedies.

2. Another important fact about psoriasis that people need to consider is that it directly affects the joints. To avoid inflammation of the joints, there are gentle and non-impactive exercises that can help improve the strength and the range of motion of the joints. Taking care of the joints can help prevent the debilitating effects of psoriatic arthritis. Tai chi and swimming are the best forms of exercises for people with psoriasis. For patients who already have psoriatic arthritis, they can use ice packs on the inflamed area to reduce the swelling and at the same time improve the range of the joint. It is also best to regularly take calcium supplements and Vitamin D.

3. There are some diet programs that are suggested for people with psoriasis to follow. But the truth is, there is still no found link between any specific diet program and psoriasis treatment. But, people with psoriasis need to stay healthy and avoid any food that may trigger allergy which can further aggravate the condition. However, climate is found to have direct effect on patients. The symptoms tend to lessen in a warm and stable climate.

4. Aside from topical agents that people use to improve the texture of the skin, the nails should also have the equal attention. Fingernails and toenails are also often affected by psoriasis. Some nails slowly detach from the nail bed and causes the fungi to come in. Regularly file the nails properly. Trimming the nails can also prevent scratching especially when sleeping. To prevent damaging the nails further, it is best to moisturize the thickened toenails. It is also best to wear comfortable shoes that fit well to eliminate friction on the toenails.

5. Regular removal of dead skin that has piled up should also be done to prevent excessive build-up. To remove the scales, you can use a softening agent like salicylic acid. After each bath, the dead skin will soften and it will be easier to remove them by simply rubbing with clean cloth. This should be done carefully so as not to damage the underlying skin. After bathing apply olive oil mixed with Vaseline to lubricate the skin.

Author Clint B

Also Read   How to Use Castor Oil in Psoriasis ?

Peanut Butter Facts - Some Surprising Information About Peanut Butter

 There are many interesting facts about peanut butter and discovering them could provide us with a thorough understanding of the different benefits, uses, and finer points of this fascinating food spread.

Before we move on to discuss peanut butter as a general culinary term, let us define first its core meaning by defining peanut and butter. Peanuts are identified mostly as nuts in food type sense but they are actually legumes like beans in the technical sense. That's right. What we think of as nuts are not actually nuts at all, but beans! Peanuts are naturally free of cholesterol. While the latter one, which is butter, is normally categorized under dairy products but in this case it's actually called a butter because of the spread's creamy and sticky texture when it is processed.

The health benefits of this nutty spread are numerous. Indeed, it is now becoming recognized as one of the heart healthy foods. It helps prevent the risk of cancer, coronary heart diseases, cardiovascular diseases, gallstones, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol levels. It consists of different nutrients which is an excellent source of magnesium, potassium, and phosphorous. The spread also contains Vitamins (B3 & E), best source of dietary fiber, protein, arginine, and folate. It has also "resveratrol" an anti-oxidant which helps eliminate carcinogens of all kinds.

There's also quite a bit of trivia to hear about. It has been used widely in many households these days. Most of all Americans are recognized as the leading consumers and it is the leading use of peanuts in their country. For every year, American citizens spend approximately $ 800 million on their peanut butter. On the other hand, in order to make 15,000 sandwiches, you need to have half an acre of peanuts to produce enough spread. It is also recognized by most countries that November is the Peanut Butter Lovers Month. Another surprising fact is that most of men prefer to eat chunky butters while children and women opt for creamy or smooth butters, together with over sixty percent of peanut butter consumers. In America the people of the West Coast prefer to eat the chunky spread while their neighbors over on the East Coast prefer to eat smooth or creamy varieties. Most bizarrely there is even a medical term for a person who becomes hysterical or has a fear whenever the peanut butter sticks to the upper portion of their mouth, it is called "arachibutyrophobia".

Also Read  Ayurveda Health Benefits of Peanuts or Groundnut

By Jayne Fairclough