The Numerous Health Benefits of Coconuts

One of my all-time favorite fruits is the coconut. The Pacific Islanders believe that it is the cure for all illness, which is why the palm tree (from which coconuts are grown) is known as “The Tree of Life.” Coconut oil is thought to possess healing properties above and beyond that of any other dietary oils.

Eating coconuts are excellent for one’s immunity. They are antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-parasitic, meaning they kill harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Because of that, if you consume coconut in any of its various forms (whether it be raw coconut, coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut butter, etc.), it can help treat some of mankind’s worst and most resilient of illnesses such as influenza, giardia, lice, throat infections, urinary tract infections, tapeworms, herpes, gonorrhea, bronchitis, and numerous other ailments caused by microbials.

Whether you’re eating the meat, drinking the juice, or consuming it as oil, coconuts are a delicious and nutritious source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It has tons of calcium, potassium, and magnesium, as well as plenty of electrolytes. In fact, coconut water is known to have the same electrolyte levels as human plasma, and has even been used for plasma transfusions!

The oil is excellent for keeping one young and beautiful. Its antioxidant properties slow down the aging process by protecting the body from harmful free radicals. I like to put a little bit of coconut oil on my skin every day to keep it nice and smooth, as well as free from dryness. I apply it onto my skin before showering. The hot water opens my pores, allowing the oil to absorb through my skin more efficiently. Just make sure to wipe the bottom of the tub when you’re done, since the coconut oil can be slippery. Coconut oil is also known to treat skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.

It also helps hair to become more healthy and lustrous. My hair has always been a bit on the dry, thin side, so I like to put coconut oil in it. On occasion, I’ll leave the oil in my hair overnight (covering my pillow with a towel so as to not get it oily) and wash it out in the morning. I’m always satisfied to find my hair is moist, radiant, and shiny. It’s a great alternative if you don’t want to use a leave-in conditioner.

Eating coconuts also supports the development of strong, healthy bones and teeth. It does this by improving the body’s ability to absorb calcium and magnesium. It also prevents osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become thin and fragile and lose their density. This makes coconuts a good, healthy alternative for those who are lactose intolerant, but still want to have strong bones and teeth. Those who prefer a vegan diet can benefit from it as a good source of protein and fatty acids.

When coconut oil was first brought to the U.S., there was a lot of negative hype about it because it contains high levels of saturated fat. People were concerned that it increased cholesterol and contributed to heart disease—but this is a myth. It actually lowers cholesterol and reduces the chances of heart disease. This is because its fat content is simply changed into energy, lessening the likelihood of fat buildup in the arteries and heart.

15 health benefits of eating apples

What makes apples so great?

In 2004, USDA scientists investigated over 100 foods to measure their antioxidant 

concentration per serving size.Two apples—Red Delicious and Granny Smith—

ranked 12th and 13th respectively. Antioxidants are disease-fighting compounds.

 Scientists believe these compounds help prevent and repair oxidation damage

 that 

happens during normal cell activity. Apples are also full of a fibre called pectin—a 

medium-sized apple contains about 4 grams of fibre. Pectin is classed as a 

soluble, 

fermentable and viscous fibre, a combination that gives it a huge list of health 

benefits.

1. Get whiter, healthier teeth

An apple won’t replace your toothbrush, but biting and chewing an apple

 stimulates 

the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the 

levels 

of bacteria.

2. Avoid Alzheimer’s

A new study performed on mice shows that drinking apple juice could keep 

Alzheimer’s away and fight the effects of aging on the brain. Mice in the study

 that 

were fed an apple-enhanced diet showed higher levels of the neurotransmitter 

acetylcholine and did better in maze tests than those on a regular diet.

3. Protect against Parkinson’s

Research has shown that people who eat fruits and other high-fibre foods gain a 

certain amount of protection against Parkinson’s, a disease characterized by a 

breakdown of the brain’s dopamine-producing nerve cells. Scientists have linked 

this to the free radical-fighting power of the antioxidants contained therein.

4. Curb all sorts of cancers

Scientists from the American Association for Cancer Research, among others, 

agree that the consumption of flavonol-rich apples could help reduce your risk of 

developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 per cent. Researchers at Cornell 

University have identified several compounds—triterpenoids—in apple peel that 

have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and 

breast. 

Their earlier research found that extracts from whole apples can reduce the 

number 

and size of mammary tumours in rats. Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute in 

the U.S. has recommended a high fibre intake to reduce the risk of colorectal 

cancer.

5. Decrease your risk of diabetes

• Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to 
• develop type 2 diabetes than those who don’t eat apples. Apples are loaded with
•  soluble fibre, the key to blunting blood sugar swings.

6. Reduce cholesterol

The soluble fibre found in apples binds with fats in the intestine, which translates 

intolower cholesterol levels and a healthier you.

7. Get a healthier heart

An extensive body of research has linked high soluble fibre intake with a slower 

buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries. The phenolic compound found 

in apple skins also prevents the cholesterol that gets into your system from 

solidifying on your artery walls. When plaque builds inside your arteries, it 

reduces 

blood flow to your heart, leading to coronary artery disease.

8. Prevent gallstones

Gallstones form when there’s too much cholesterol in your bile for it to remain as a 

liquid, so it solidifies. They are particularly prevalent in the obese. To prevent 

gallstones, doctors recommend a diet high in fibre to help you control your 

weight 

and cholesterol levels.

9. Beat diarrhea and constipation

Whether you can’t go to the bathroom or you just can’t stop, fibre found in apples 

can help. Fibre can either pull water out of your colon to keep things moving 

along 

when you’re backed up, or absorb excess water from your stool to slow your 

bowels down.

10. Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by constipation, diarrhea, and 

abdominal 

pain and bloating. To control these symptoms doctors recommend staying away 

from dairy and fatty foods while including a high intake of fibre in your diet.

11. Avert hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are a swollen vein in the anal canal and while not life threatening, 

these veins can be very painful. They are caused by too much pressure in the 

pelvic

 and rectal areas. Part and parcel with controlling constipation, fibre can prevent 

you from straining too much when going to the bathroom and thereby help 

alleviate

 hemorrhoids.

12. Control your weight

Many health problems are associated with being overweight, among them heart 

disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. To

 manage 

your weight and improve your overall health, doctors recommend a diet rich in 

fibre. Foods high in fibre will fill you up without costing you too many calories.

13. Detoxify your liver

We’re constantly consuming toxins, whether it is from drinks or food, and your 

liver 

is responsible for clearing these toxins out of your body. Many doctors are 

skeptical of fad detox diets, saying they have the potential to do more harm than 

good. Luckily, one of the best—and easiest—things you can eat to help detoxify 

your liver is fruits—like apples.

14. Boost your immune system

Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. Recent studies have found 

thatquercetin can help boost and fortify your immune system, especially when 

you're stressed out.

15. Prevent cataracts

Though past studies have been divided on the issue, recent long-term studies

 suggest that people who have a diet rich in fruits that contain antioxidants—like 

apples—are 10 to 15 per cent less likely to develop cataracts.

22 Amazing Benefits And Uses Of Bitter Melon/Bitter Gourd For Skin, Hair And Health

Confused with the name? More commonly bitter gourd in hindi is known as “Karela”. This vegetable is called as Bitter Gourd, Bitter Melon and Bitter Squash in english. First thing that comes to my mind seeing it is the bitterness in the name. They are dark or light green in colour depending on the region where they are grown. Though they taste very bitter, they are filled with many beneficial antioxidants and essential vitamins.

Bitter melon can be consumed in various ways like drinking its juice, pickle or using 

them in recipes.

BITTER MELON BENEFITS:

Let us quickly look at some of the most well known health benefits of Bitter Melon:

1. Respiratory disorders:

Fresh pods are an excellent remedy for curing respiratory problems like asthma, cold, 

cough, etc.

2. Liver tonic:

Drink one glass of Bitter Melon juice daily to heal liver problems. 

Keep consuming this continuously for a week to see results.

3. Immune system:

Boil bitter melon leaves or fruits in water and consume it every day to fight against infections.

 This also helps to build your immunity.

4. Acne:

Consuming Bitter Melon can help to get rid of acne, blemishes and deep skin infections.

  Bitter melon is useful in treating blood disorders like blood boils, scabies, itching, psoriasis,

 ring-worm and other fungal diseases. The free radicals in it are also useful for anti ageing.

Consume juice of bitter melon mixed with lemon on an empty stomach daily for 6 months 

or till you get the required results.

5. Diabetes:

Bitter melon juice benefits to overcome type 2 diabetes. It has been a part of the Chinese

 and Indian ancient medicine for a long time but only recent research has proven that it is

 no folk lore. Type 2 diabetes is caused partially due to the inability of a cell to absorb the

 sugar in the blood due to insufficient insulin or due development of resistance to insulin.

 In both cases, the cells are unable to absorb the sugar due to the ineffectiveness of insulin 

produced. The absorption of sugar occurs due to the activation of AMP-activated protein 

kinase in the cells. Bitter gourd activated these kinases due to which the absorption of

 sugar increases. And hence aids in bringing diabetes in control.

Green juice for diabetics: cucumbers, green apples, bitter melon, celery, ½ green capsicum

 (bell pepper). Bitter melon contains certain chemicals that are like insulin which help to 

reduce blood sugar levels.

6. Constipation:

Bitter melon helps in easy digestion as it contains fibre properties. The food is digested and

 waste is thrown out of the body which helps in curing indigestion and constipation problems.

7. Kidney and bladder:

Bitter melon helps to maintain healthy liver and bladder. It is also useful in curing kidney 

stones.

8. Heart disease:

Bitter melon is very good for the heart in many ways. They help to reduce the bad 

cholesterol levels which clog the arterial walls and thereby reduce the chances of heart 

attacks. Also it is known to lower blood sugar levels that help in maintaining good heart health.

 9. Cancer:

Bitter Melon can prevent cancer cells from multiplying.

10. Weight loss:

Bitter Melon contains antioxidants, which help to flush out your system. 

This improves your metabolism and digestive systems thus helping you lose weight quickly.

The two other major factors that aid in weight loss is the calorie control and filling 

components. Calorie control happens as such because vegetables are low on calories 

which allows you to consume more quantities of them. Filling component in this vegetable 

is water. We know that water is a universal suppressant of hunger. And the pods of this

 vegetable contain on the whole 80-85% water.

SKIN BENEFITS FOR BITTER MELON:

The appearance of your skin is largely determined by what you put inside your body.

 In other words, getting proper nutrition is a pre requisite for healthy and damage free skin.

 Being a natural blood purifier, bitter gourd helps in improving the appearance of your skin.

It provides the following benefits to your skin:

11. Prevents Skin Problems:

Regular consumption of bitter gourd helps in keeping your skin glowing and free from

 blemishes. It also helps prevent acne thanks to its blood purifying properties.

12. Skin Infections:

Bitter melon benefits in treating skin diseases or skin infections, eczema and psoriasis. 

Regular consumption of bitter gourd juice helps in improving psoriasis condition as well 

as other fungal infections like ring worm and athletes foot.

13. Anti-ageing:

Bitter gourd contains vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant. By fighting and eliminating 

the harmful free radicals, it helps to prevent wrinkles by slowing down the ageing process.

 It also protects the skin from damage by Sun’s ultraviolet rays.

14. Healing Qualities:

Bitter gourd helps in controlling blood flow and clotting, causing wounds to heal faster,

 preventing further infections.

HAIR BENEFITS OF BITTER MELON:

Bitter gourd is a great home remedy for your hair. Besides being beneficial for your

 skin and health, bitter gourd juice is also effective in treating hair problems and promoting

 longevity. It is beneficial for your hair in the following ways:

15. Shiny Hair:

To impart a natural shine to your hair, you can mix a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice with 

yoghurt and apply on your hair. Wash off after sometime. This will make your hair shiny 

and beautiful.

16. Dandruff:

Dandruff is a common problem and is mostly caused due to the consumption of unhealthy

 food and exposure to pollution. To ward off dandruff, you can prepare a hair pack by

 mixing bitter gourd juice and cumin seeds. Regular usage of this pack will rid you of 

dandruff within a month.

17. Split Ends:

If you are troubled by split ends, you can apply raw bitter gourd juice to your split ends

 and then comb gently. This should be done twice a week to get rid of split ends.

18. Dry and Itchy Scalp:

To combat dryness of scalp, you can rub a fresh piece of bitter gourd on it and massage

 your scalp in a circular motion. Then rinse off with clear water. To combat itchiness, 

you can prepare a hair pack by mixing bitter gourd juice with either avocado or banana 

and apply it on your scalp. This should be used at least once a week to get rid of itchy scalp.

19. Hair Loss:

Bitter gourd juice helps in reducing hair-fall naturally. All you need to do is mix bitter 

gourd juice with a dash of sugar and use this paste on your hair to get good results.

20. Rough and Tangled Hair:

If you have rough and tangled hair, you can pour a cup of bitter gourd juice and allow

 it to soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse off your hair. This will help smoothen your 

hair texture and make it soft and shiny.

21. Grey Hair:

Bitter gourd can also treat premature greying of hair. You can apply freshly squeezed 

bitter gourd juice on your grey strands. Doing this once in every ten days will reduce 

grey hair growth.

22. Oily Hair:

Increased intake of oily food can cause the accumulation of excess oil in your hair.

 If you have oily hair, you should first limit the consumption of oily food. You can apply a

 mixture of bitter gourd juice and apple cider vinegar to remove excess oil from your hair.

Bitter Gourd: Nutritional Value:

The numerous health, skin and hair benefits of bitter melon can be attributed to its

 nutritional value. It has a wide array of vitamins and minerals such as 

vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin C, calcium, potassium, zinc, iron, copper and

 phosphorus. The chart given below shows the nutritional value of bitter gourd.

See the table below for in depth analysis of nutrients:Bitter melon (Momordica charantia), fresh, raw, Nutritive value per 100 g
Principle	Nutrient Value	Percentage of RDA
Energy	17 Kcal	<1%
Carbohydrates	3.70 g	3%
Protein	1.00 g	2%
Total Fat	0.17 g	0.5%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Dietary Fiber	2.80 g	7%
Vitamins
Folates	72 µg	18%
Niacin	0.400 mg	2.5%
Pantothenic acid	0.212 mg	4%
Pyridoxine	0.043 mg	3%
Riboflavin	0.040 mg	3%
Thiamin	0.040 mg	3.5%
Vitamin A	471 IU	16%
Vitamin C	84 mg	140%
Electrolytes
Sodium	5 mg	<1%
Potassium	296 mg	6%
Minerals
Calcium	19 mg	2%
Copper	0.034 mg	4%
Iron	0.43 mg	5%
Magnesium	17 mg	4%
Manganese	0.089 mg	4%
Zinc	0.80 mg	7%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-ß	190 µg	–
Carotene-α	185 µg
Lutein-zeaxanthin	170 µg	–

• Calories: Bitter gourd is quite low in calories with a 100 gram serving providing just 17
•  calories.
• Vitamin C: Bitter gourd is an excellent source of vitamin C with 100 grams of raw pod,
•  providing 84 mg of this vitamin which is equivalent to 140% of Recommended Daily 
• Intake (RDI).
• Folates: Fresh pods are a good source of folates. 100 grams of fresh pods provide
•  72 µg of folate which is equivalent to 18% of RDI.
• B-vitamins: It is also a good source of B-vitamins like niacin or Vitamin B3,
•  pantothenic acid or Vitamin B5 and pyridoxine or Vitamin B6.

SOME IMPORTANT TIPS:

1. Always wash Bitter Melon thoroughly under running water.

2. Use fresh Bitter Melon for best results.

3. Always choose bitter gourds that are fresh, bright, deep green in colour.

4. Don’t consume more than 2 bitter melons a day

4. The Bitter Melon leaves should be kept in a cool, dry, dark place. They stay fresh in

 refrigerator up to a week.

5. Marinade with salt to reduce bitterness.

6. Pregnant women should be careful while consuming this vegetable. The laxative 

component of the vegetable may lead to premature contraction, vaginal bleeding

 and miscarriages. Do consult your doctor once.