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Top 10 Interesting Nutrition Trivial Facts About Certain Fruits And Vegetables

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Introduction

So you think you are food savvy?  Wait until you read through this article and you will find out a list of factual trivia about certain fruits and vegetables that you never thought existed.  This will help you focus on what food to take in and what not to.  It is true that fruits and vegetables are healthy foods, but if you have an existing medical condition, then you need to be vigilant and informed on what foods you should avoid.

The Top 10 Nutrition Trivial Facts

1. Bananas– Bananas are very rich in sugar.  If you have diabetes mellitus, then, you must definitely not eat this fruit if you have an empty stomach.  Combine bananas with a bit of protein such as meat products in order to balance the insulin response.  In buying bananas, choose the ones with the color green on their tips because they provide better nutrition than the yellow tipped ones.  Banana is not the main source of potassium; consequently, if you are suffering from low potassium level, you need not focus on eating bananas because you can also get potassium from other fruits and vegetables.

2. Tomatoes– Tomatoes are rich in anti-carcinogenic properties such as flavanoids and phytochemicals.  Also, it is also rich in potassium, phosphorus, vitamins A, B-complex, and C.  The vitamin C of tomatoes can be found on the jelly-like substances inside their bodies.  Tomatoes that are vine-ripened contain a lot of vitamin C compared to the ones grown in a hothouse.

 Fruits and vegetables

3. Avocados– Avocados help increase the good cholesterol level of our bodies; and, it is packed in mono-saturated fat that easily converted into energy.  Avocados are rich in potassium; in fact, it has twice as much potassium level than bananas.

4. Pumpkin Seeds– If you are fond of eating roasted pumpkin seeds, then, you must slowly taper your intake because they contain damaged fats that contribute to arterial plaques.

5. Peanuts– Studies have shown that peanuts contain the carcinogenic component aflatoxin.  Contrary to popular beliefs, peanuts are not good to the heart because they are often times high in pesticide chemicals and fungus that can alter the omega 6-to-omega 3 ratio.

6. Onions– Onions may not be pleasing to our taste buds but they are actually good for us because they contain anti-allergy, anti-histamine, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties.  Aside from that, the sulfur compound found in onions help detoxify body toxins.  It is highly advisable to take in onions as raw or steamed because the nutrients get destroyed when the onion has already been exposed to intense heat.  Onions also aid in cellular repair.

7. Parsley– Parsley is known to cleanse the blood.  It also stimulates the optimum bowel movement that is why it aids in the proper digestion.  Studies have shown that parsley contains anti-cancer components.  Just like orange, parsley contains a lot of vitamin C; and, same with spinach, parsley also contains twice as much iron.  Aside from iron and vitamin C, it is also rich in copper and manganese.

8. Broccoli– Broccolis contain calcium in a phase that is better absorbed by the body.  Broccoli is rich in selenium that is known to have anti-cancer and anti-viral properties.

9. Asparagus– Asparagus is packed with glutathione which is essential for liver repair.  Glutathione is also known to be anti-carcinogenic in nature.  Aside from glutathione, asparagus contains rutin that protects small blood vessels from rupturing.  It is also rich in vitamin A, C, E, B-complex, potassium, and zinc.

10. Sweet Potato– Eating too much sweet potato can lead to a bloated stomach and indigestion; thus, it can cause unwanted flatulence.  People with diabetes mellitus should also avoid this root crop because it is very high in sugar level.

Conclusion

It is important that we are aware of the food that we are eating, because foods can make or break us.  This article is very informative and will truly help you in determining which ones are good for you and which are not.

Featured images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source

Alex finished Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics.  She is fond of writing various trivial facts about certain food products to help in the promotion of proper health and nutrition. Read his articles here to know more about healthy and nutritious diet.





Why Parents Should Know Everyhting About First Aid

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Proper knowledge about first aid can be very useful in many different situations. Since accidents don’t happen with prior notices, you need to know how to handle things in an emergency. When you have kids, proper knowledge about first aid becomes even more important. It is important to understand that accidents happen with everyone. However, they happen more frequently with children.

Unfortunately, children are more vulnerable to getting themselves into accidents ranging from broken bones to scraped knees. These accidents are part of everyone’s childhood. Whether you are a parent, teacher or stay around children for some other reasons, you need to know everything about first aid. There are many first aid courses which can offer some good first aid training.

Need to be Prepared

When you take first aid courses, you are always prepared and keep proper supplies on hand. Important things about first aid are always fresh in your mind. If a child gets injured or hurt in any way, you will always be prepared and ready to handle everything confidently. Most people think that learning first aid is only about handling injuries.

However, they overlook an important aspect. Most importantly, first aid training teaches you how to remain calm in difficult situations. Children always look to adults and take inspiration for their own behavior. If a child sees you calm and composed, he/she will be more likely to have the same attitude.

Helps in Life Threatening Situations

At times, proper knowledge about first aid can be the difference between life and death situations. When you are around children, you need to understand how to handle life threatening situations. For instance, many homes have swimming pools these days. Children are easily drawn to swimming pools. Unfortunately, there may be some serious accidents in pools.

Besides supervising children when they are in pools, it is also necessary to know everything about first aid. If you know what to do when a child gets hurt while swimming, you could be a lifesaver. With first aid being the difference between life and death, it is crucial for you to take proper first aid training.

Helps Treat Sports Related Injuries

A child is always involved with one sport or another. Thus, sports related injuries are common for children. If a child is injured while playing on the field, you have two choices. You can either sit on the sidelines and watch everyone get panicked or you can put your first aid training to use and keep a minor incident from turning into a major injury.
Whether it’s your own child or someone else’s, first aid courses teach you about remaining calm, cool and collected. They also teach you how to calm others down, while applying necessary bandages and ointments. Another benefit of first aid training is that you will always know when a trip to a hospital is needed and when it isn’t.

In order to stay safe, basic knowledge about medical procedures is important. First aid courses help you learn everything about handling injuries and make sure you are always safe.

Robert is a passionate blogger and works as a first aid instructor in Australia.

Fight Wrinkles by Eating Protein

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Most people are terrified of getting wrinkles as they age. Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce the chances that your skin will wrinkle. You can slow the aging process and stop your skin from wrinkling by simply making sure you get enough protein in your diet.


Here are some things you need to be aware of to make sure you eat enough protein and slow the aging process.

Why Does Skin Wrinkles as You Age?

Your skin is filled long strings of fine fibers known as collagen. Collagen fibers give thickness to your skin. As you get older, those fibers begin to break down. This causes your skin to become thinner, which makes it more prone to wrinkling.

This is discouraging to people as they age, but you can reduce the number of wrinkles that appear on your skin by keeping your collagen from degrading.

How Do You Protect Your Collagen?

Collagen and the elastic tissue in your skin are made of organic proteins. People who have protein deficiencies are much more likely to have skin problems.

You can keep them strong and healthy by making sure you get enough protein in your diet. This will ensure your skin doesn’t thin as quickly as you age and will be less likely to wrinkle.

There are a number of foods that will provide you with the proteins you need to keep your skin strong, vibrant and healthy. Here are some foods that you may want to incorporate into your diet:

  • Fish. Fish contains a number of proteins that you can incorporate into your diet. In addition, it is a rich source of Omega 3. Salmon is one of the best types of fish you can eat if you are trying to fight wrinkles.
  • Lamb. Lamb is also a good source of protein. In addition, it is a rich source of vitamins that provide moisture to your skin.
  • Nuts. Nuts are one of the best sources of protein you can find. The proteins in brazil nuts have been found to be particularly effective at reducing wrinkles.

Any food that is rich in protein can enhance the health of your skin and reduce wrinkling. The American Academy of Dermatology said there are a variety of benefits in eating more proteins to fight wrinkling. In addition to strengthening the proteins in collagen, foods that are high in protein also tend to be rich sources of other key nutrients such as Vitamin E.

Consider eating more foods and supplements that have high levels of proteins to help your skin maintain your elasticity. You can delay or even reverse some of the effects of aging by maintaining a protein rich diet.

Kalen writes about the best protein shake for bestwhey-protein.org.

Do You Recognise The 3 Early Warning Signs of Ageing Skin?

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The word that all women fear…ageing.  We hate it.

When we notice our first signs of ageing, be it the first wrinkle or the first strand of grey hair, it can be a knock to our confidence. It is a sudden feeling of distance from the attractiveness of youth.

So let’s have a look at those first and most common signs of ageing skin and find a way to fight them!

Crow’s Feet

A common early indicator of aging skin is ‘crow’s feet’. Those annoying little wrinkly imprints that appear along the outside corners of your eyes telling you that you’re getting older.


Crow’s Feet are a signal that your skin is now loosing elasticity. Skin contains elastic fibres that enable skin to snap back into place, and a protective protein called collagen.

Considered one of the nicer signs of ageing, crow’s feet are often called a person’s smile marks and signal a happy life. However crow’s feet can be caused by many factors other than laughter; smoking, sun exposure, not drinking enough water and sleep, to name a few.

To slow down oncoming crow’s feet you can make some simple changes to your diet to help improve your skins elasticity. Swap stodgy foods for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and protein. Include fruits high in antioxidants like strawberries and cranberries.

 

Dry, dull looking skin

With time your skin loses its ability to exfoliate effectively. If exfoliating is not a part of your skin care routine it can leave your skin feeling dry, irritated and dull.

Even if you moisturise and use the best face creams, they won’t do their job properly if you have a build up of dead skin cells on the surface of your skin.

Your daily skin routine should start with cleansing. It’s essential to make sure that you removed all your make-up before going to bed the night before. By cleansing your face in the morning, you are getting rid of any leftover traces of dirt. Make sure that you exfoliate regularly and use a rich, hydrating moisturiser in order to keep your skin moist and healthy looking. To push back ageing a few more years and reduce wrinkles, look for creams containing either glycolic acid or tretinoin (Retin-A). These will promote the formation of smoother skin.

Also never underestimate the power that just 30 minutes of daily exercise can have on your skin. It can help induce deeper sleeping patterns which makes you skin looks fresher.

Age spots

Age spots are brown blemishes that appear on your face because of exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. They were once incorrectly believed to be caused by liver problems, and so are also widely known as liver spots.

From age of 40 your skin looses the ability to regenerate from sun exposure, hence age spots are very common for middle-aged people.

The best thing you can do to prevent ageing spots is to protect yourself from the sun. Make sure you use a good quality sun screen when out and about in strong sun. And even on less sunny days you can wear UV protection moisturiser or foundation.

There is a wide spectrum of creams that can help you to fade the age spots. You can also try glycolic acid treatment or if you need something more powerful and effective, or you could arrange an appointment with your dermatologist to ask about a glycolic acid peel.

So start today! Be nice to your body, take care of your skin, keep it hydrated and start treating your body like a temple and you will quickly see great results and will feel better and healthier every day!

Attached Images:

Eliza writes for Lenstore, an online contact lens retailer that sells top brands such as Acuvue moist.

The Truth About Ticks and Why You Should Protect Your Kids From These Bloodsuckers

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Ticks are pests that plague animals, especially pets, like dogs. We don’t usually think that ticks can bite or harm our children. But ticks are actually pretty harmful. Infected bugs can carry and transmit grave illnesses, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Because ticks suck blood, they could easily obtain infected blood from other sources and transmit this while feeding on an uninfected animal or human. There are some species of ticks that also cause tick paralysis. This condition is not brought about by a harmful virus passed on by a tick. A tick can cause the paralysis because of a certain toxin that it injects as it bites and sucks blood. Luckily, the paralysis is not permanent; but it could last for a few days. Healthy individuals recover quickly. The most at risk are young children.

What to Do When Your Child Is Bitten

When you see a creature that has attached itself to a person’s skin, the image can definitely make your skin crawl. On top of that, the tick does not just bite; it sucks blood. Generally, ticks can bite on any exposed skin. Ticks that cause paralysis are usually those that have attached themselves on the back of the neck.

In case you see a tick on your child’s skin, do not panic. There are several ways to remove the tick. Here are two ways to remove ticks on the skin.

1. Use tweezers or forceps.

Get a pair of firm tweezers or curved forceps. Grip the tick firmly, and then, slowly but steadily pull it off. If you yank or twist, you’ll most likely leave its mouth part embedded in the skin. Furthermore, do not use your bare hands because it’s unsanitary, and you won’t be able to grasp the tiny critter properly as well. In case there are tick parts left on the skin, you can seek assistance from your pediatrician. He can give you instructions regarding removal.

2. Smother the tick with liquid detergent.

Another way is to use liquid detergent to remove an attached tick. First, immerse a cotton ball in liquid detergent. Then, place the cotton ball on the tick. Do not pull or twist. Let the liquid soap smother the tick. After a while, the tick suffocates and then it will release its hold on the skin. If you use this technique, you won’t have to worry about leaving mouth parts on the skin.

After removing ticks, make sure that you dispose of them properly. One way to do this is by preparing a jar or bottle with some alcohol or water in it. Simply drop the ticks inside. The creatures will drown in the liquid. Dispose of the water by flushing it in the toilet.

What about Antibiotic Treatment?

You can put a small amount of antibiotic cream on the site of the bite. But be sure to watch out for infection. In case there’s redness or swelling, consult a doctor. Also, doctors usually do not recommend a full course of antibiotic therapy for kids that have been bitten by ticks. However, if they suspect that a tick may have transferred a virus or disease, they could conduct further tests and also prescribe apt medication.

In order to make sure that the tick that bit your child wasn’t infectious, keep the dead tick in a jar and have this tested. By doing so, you’ll know if the tick was carrying dangerous microorganisms or not. You’ll have peace of mind if you know for sure.

Claire Brent is a freelance writer who regularly writes about common household pests and how to get rid of them using natural methods. She also blogs for Preventive Pest, a dependable pest control company that can take care of various kinds of nasty and damaging creatures.

photo by: Ernst Vikne

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