Understanding Stroke

Brain stroke or acute brain attack, as neurologists would like stroke to be understood by the public at large is an important cause of death and disability worldwide. It is the third most important cause of death and the most common cause of acquired disability.

Broadly speaking, two types of stroke exist. Nearly 80% of strokes are on account of impaired blood supply to the brain, resulting in the death of nerve cells in the affected area. The remaining 20% of strokes are due to bleeding into the brain which damages the brain by releasing toxic substances and by compression and pressure effects on the brain.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a brain stroke range from weakness in one-half of the body, blurred vision, speech impairment and incontinence to loss of balance and difficulties with memory and higher mental function. It is critical that we are aware of the early warning signs and symptoms of stroke and seek treatment at a hospital which is equipped with facilities such as CT scan and MRI, ICU as well as neurological and neurosurgical expertise round the clock. The reason to act fast when a stroke is suspected is because for every second that a brain stroke is untreated, 1.4 million neurons are irreversibly lost, for every hour that passes without treatment, the brain ages 3 years; and a very efficacious clot buster treatment which dissolves the clot that has cut off blood supply to the brain is safe and effective only within the first 4.5 hours after onset of symptoms. The earlier the treatment is started after symptom onset, the more effective and safe it is for the patient.

Quinoa Grain Can Help You Lose Weight

1. High in Fiber

The fiber content in Quinoa is what gets many people interested in eating it. If you have trouble thinking of ways to increase your fiber and have resorted to buying and eating fiber bars or fiber fortified cereals to get the job done, you might be better off getting a supply of Quinoa. It contains a fifth of how much fiber you need each day in every one cup serving. That’s pretty impressive considering that most Quinoa recipes are filled with other foods like black beans that have a good amount of fiber so you can get a substantial portion of your fiber needs met in one meal.

2. Quinoa is a good source of protein and complex carbohydrates.

They will give your body the energy that will help you in your efforts to lose weight. In addition, the quinoa will make you feel satisfied and not feel like you’re living a life of deprivation from hunger, this is another of the properties of quinoa to lose weight.

3. It contains twice the protein of regular cereal grains.

Contains less carbs, more healthy fats, fiber, phosphorus, calcium and is rich in iron.

4. It is the most nutritious of all grains.

And so far has been quite unknown to many properties of quinoa to lose weight, but in their place of origin in South America, region of Bolivia, and by people who have vegetarian meals vegetarian diet free of animal flesh.

5. Minerals that are found in the Quinoa are manganese and copper.

The two minerals are one of the properties of quinoa to lose weight as they work together as an antioxidant and help the body fight free radicals that can cause the body to develop cancer and diseases.

6. It contains no gluten.

Another of the wonderful properties of quinoa diet is their lack of gluten, making it ideal for those with weight loss diets free of gluten, also works very well in the glycemic index diet, or diet for diabetes. Is a complete protein, meaning it contains all essential amino acids your body needs, such as meat, eggs and dairy products. An ideal food for vegetarians.

BENEFITS FROM GREEN COFFEE BEAN

INTRODUCTION

Green Coffee is derived from raw and unroasted seeds or beans from the popular Coffee fruit. The extracts from these rare find of Coffee beans are proven to show miraculous health benefits especially in weight loss. Green Coffee extract is gaining increasing popularity after its effects have been studied and testified by the famous medical practitioner Dr Oz. He says that there are a considerable proportion of antioxidants in Green Coffee beans that tend to melt your fat away leading to optimum health and fitness. It is said that unroasted green coffee beans have high levels of chlorogenic acid resulting in immense health benefits for blood sugar levels, blood pressure, heart diseases, weight loss and others. In the recent Dr Oz study, it has been observed that Green Coffee bean extracts burn fat faster without much physical exercise and diet programs. In this article, let us look into the health benefits offered by this phenomenal pure green coffee beans extract.

HIGH PROPORTION OF ANTIOXIDANTS IN GREEN COFFEE BEAN

It is a well-known fact that antioxidants play a key role in enhancing the overall body metabolism leading to weight loss. Antioxidants help prevent the oxidation of other food molecules inhibiting the formation of free radicals in the system. It has been discovered that untreated or raw green coffee beans contain very high levels of chlorogenic acid, which is rich in antioxidants. This acid is excellent for enhancing overall health of the body. It has also been observed that antioxidants help in the prevention of life threatening diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease, and even altitude sicknesses and many more.

ENHANCE METABOLISM PROCESS

Green Coffee Bean extract has the ability to enhance and boost the overall metabolic rate of the human body. Increased metabolic activity has numerous health benefits. The presence of chlorogenic acid boosts metabolism, burning fat and excessive adipose tissue in the body at a faster rate like never before. Surprisingly it has also been discovered that the presence of “kelp” in raw and untreated green coffee bean extracts is a fantastic source of rich vitamins and minerals, which help in keeping the body in good vital condition. Green Coffee bean ideally speeds up metabolism by altering the means in which glucose in blood is absorbed into the body.

HELPS MANAGE DIABETES AND BLOOD PRESSURE LEVELS EFFECTIVELY

The presence of chlorogenic acid in the green coffee bean extract also helps in managing blood sugar levels to a very great extent. It is indeed another major indicator for reducing high blood pressure levels effectively. As it is a known fact that high blood pressure levels lead to unexpected cardiac arrests on has to be cautious in managing their blood pressure on a consistent basis. Regular intake of green coffee bean extract on a consistent basis has proven to lower the blood sugar levels in case of diabetics and also regulate blood pressure levels without medication. So apart from losing weight, this fantastic ingredient helps in managing overall health and prevents chronic diseases and cardio vascular problems.

INHIBITS OVEREATING ERRATIC FOOD PATTERNS

Another seemingly wonderful benefit of indulging in green coffee bean extracts or pills is that it inhibits the need to overeat. Erratic food patterns at irregular timings are one of the prime concerns as to why people put on weight. Green Coffee bean kills the urge to eat often in between meals thus giving scope for the body to burn the excess fat and eliminate the stored up fatty acids and calories in the system.

ENHANCED CONCENTRATION LEVELS

It has also been observed that consuming green coffee bean extract on a regular basis improves or enhances brain activity greatly leading to better concentration and attention span. Increased attention span helps in boosting memory power thereby empowering you with outstanding ability to recall and recollect events, facts, dates and occasions with greater ease. Research shows that coffee beans have the ability to enhance learning abilities and analytic reasoning skills, which are greatly needed for overall success in today’s world. Better cognitive thinking, reasoning, spatial and abstract reasoning are some of the outcomes of consuming green coffee bean extracts on a daily basis.

HELP IN THE LIVER DETOXIFICATION PROCESS

The role of liver in our bodily system in maintaining absolute health cannot be undermined. Liver needs to cleansed and maintained in perfect condition to ensure optimum health. Green Coffee bean extracts help in activating the liver enabling it to purge fats and eliminate harmful acids, chemicals and high level of cholesterols from the body. Green Coffee thus aids in detoxifying the liver so that the human mechanism can function in a healthy fashion. This detoxification process further helps in boosting the metabolic rate of the body keeping it in perfect health condition.

HIGH ENERGY LEVELS WITH REGULAR GREEN COFFEE INTAKE

It has also been observed that regular and daily consumption of untreated green coffee bean extract leads to high energy levels as coffee bean contains caffeine. Caffeine helps in keeping you alert and boosts the energy levels of the bodily system keeping you active and attentive all the while. You will never experience fatigue if you consume Green Coffee every day. Enhanced energy levels have the capacity to make you look much younger than your actual age and you can just make people guessing your actual age!

MAKHANA (LOTUS SEEDS / FOX NUTS)

Phool makhana is the name given to popped lotus seeds used in Indian cooking. The puffed lotus seed has the bitter centre core and the outer membrane are removed, and is puffed, just as popcorn is puffed. It is a very popular food during the fasting. ‘Makhane ki kheer’ is the most popular kheer during fasting.

Makhana is superior to dry fruits such as almonds, walnut, coconut and cashewnut in term of sugar, protein, ascorbic acid and phenol content.

It is a highly nutritious, fully organic non-cereal food, which is extensively grown in the stagnant water of wetlands, tanks, ponds lakes and ditches.

Nutritive value of Makhana

100 gm makhana contains:

350kcal energy

9.7gm easily digestible protein

77gm carbohydrate

12.8gm moisture

0.1gm fat

90mg phosphorus

1.4mg iron.

Health benefits

• Makhana helps in Cardiac Protection.
• It helps in building action in dysentery, frequent urination.
• Makhana is anti-oxidant.
• It is digestive for all age groups.  Due to its astringent property, it is relieves one from diarrhea and helps improve appetite.
• 25 gram makhana a day means a healthy food/diet for the whole family.
• Lotus seeds benefit the spleen, kidney, and heart. 
• The seed also has calming properties that alleviate restlessness, palpitations, and insomnia.
• It is also rich in calcium.
• Makhana regulates blood pressure, relieves numbness and aching near waist and knees.
• It is suitable for arthritis, impotence and premature ageing.
• They are sweet to neutral in nature. They help to detoxify the spleen, reinforce the kidneys and nourish the blood. 
• It can also treat insomnia, palpitations and irritability.
• It is also recommended for the women during pregnancy and post natal weakness .It is a good galactogogue- very good for strengthening lower back muscles. 

SOME FOOD PREPARATION

The seeds (Makhana/Fox nut) can be eaten raw, cooked roasted or fried.

Makhana can be consumed as dry fruit snacks by roasting. The popped seeds of Makhana can be roasted & sprinkled with spices on it which proves a tastier, hygienic and digestive health snacks.

Homemade roasted makhana can help kids get rid of the junk chips

Makhana Kheer - made of makhana is a tasty n healthy. It can be used in Pudding and other milk based sweets etc.

Dal Makhani & vegetable curries prove delicious when makhana is spread for taste and thickening object.

Makhana raita is very tastier and it is digestive in nature.

Makhana pulav can also be tried.

Benefits of Juicing

There are three main reasons why you will want to consider incorporating vegetable juicing into your optimal health program:

Juicing helps you absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables

This is important because most of us have impaired digestion as a result of making less-than-optimal food choices over many years. This limits your body's ability to absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables. Juicing will help to "pre-digest" them for you, so you will receive most of the nutrition, rather than having it go down the toilet.

Juicing allows you to consume an optimal amount of vegetables in an efficient manner

If you are a carb type, you should eat one pound of raw vegetables per 50 pounds of body weight per day. Some people may find eating that many vegetables difficult, but it can be easily accomplished with a quick glass of vegetable juice.

You can add a wider variety of vegetables in your diet

Many people eat the same vegetable salads every day. This violates the principle of regular food rotation and increases your chance of developing an allergy to a certain food. But with juicing, you can juice a wide variety of vegetables that you may not normally enjoy eating whole.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF OLIVES

Here are some interesting olive health facts

 - Olives eliminate excess cholesterol in the blood. 

 - Olives control blood pressure. 

 - Olives are a source of dietary fibre as an alternative to fruits and vegetables. 

 - Olives are a great source of Vitamin E

 - Olives act as an antioxidant, protecting cells

 - Olives protect cell membranes against diseases like cancer 

 - Olives are a great protection against anaemia 

 - Olives enhances fertility and reproductive system 

 - Olives play an important role in maintaining a healthy immune system, especially during oxidative stress and chronic viral diseases

 - Olives are nutritious and rich in mineral content as sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and iodine

 - Olives provide essential vitamins and amino acids.

 - Olives contain oleic acid, which has beneficial properties to protect the heart. 

 - Olives contain polyphenols, a natural chemical that reduce oxidative stress in the brain. So by eating a daily serving of olives helps improve your memory by up to 25%. 

 Just one cup of olives is a great source of iron – 4.4mg.

 - Eating olives can improve the appearance of wrinkles by 20% since they contain oleic acid, which keeps skin soft and healthy.

 - By eating just 10 olives before a meal, you can reduce your appetite by up to 20%. This is because the monounsaturated fatty acids contained in olives slow down the digestion process and stimulate the hormone cholecystokinin, a hormone that sends messages of fullness to the brain. 

* They are nutritious and rich in mineral content as sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and iodine.

Boost Your Brain....

Eating well is good for your mental as well as your physical health. Most of us are anxious about our physical appearance and therefore concentrate on exercise to tone the body and home remedies to take care of our skin and hair.

But the brain is one of the most important organs of the body that governs memory, attention, vision, speech and decision but we hardly seem to take any care about it. There are selected foods that can help in nourishing the brain and protect it from free radical damage, while brain exercises can help in enhancing brain power in an effective manner.

Choose Whole Grains

Replace simple carbohydrates like white rice and white flour with complex carbohydrates such as whole grains that have a low glycemic index which take time to break down thus, providing a constant controlled release of glucose into the bloodstream that keeps the brain alert and enhances concentration and memory. Opt for whole wheat breads, wheat bran, brown pasta and brown rice.

Eat oily fish

Good sources include linseed (flaxseed) oil, soya bean oil, pumpkin seeds, walnut oil and soya beans.  Oily fish contains EPA and DHA in a ready-made form, which enables the body to use it easily. The main sources of oily fish include salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines, pilchards and kippers.

Avocadoes

Avocadoes are equally effective to improve brain health as blueberries. The benefits of avocadoes for health are well known and it is also helpful in boosting brain functions by improving blood flow to the brain, and better blood flow means and healthier brain with improved cognitive abilities.

Eat more tomatoes

There is good evidence to suggest that lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes, could help protect against the kind of free radical damage to cells which occurs in the development of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's.

Get a blackcurrant boost

Vitamin C has long been thought to have the power to increase mental agility. One of the best sources of this vital vitamin is blackcurrants.

Bet on broccoli

Broccoli is a great source of vitamin K, which is known to enhance cognitive function and improve brainpower.

Peas and Beans

Beans and peas are yet another source of complex carbohydrates that is economical and easily available and helps in promoting a healthy brain. Being rich in soluble and insoluble fibers, the beans take time to break down and be digested, thus providing a steady slow supply of glucose in the blood stream that is carried to the brain for its optimum functions. In addition, beans are a rich source of folate, a B vitamin integral to brain functions and improving memory.

Green Tea

The health benefits of green tea need no new emphasis. A few cups of this nourishing brew supplies load of antioxidants, especially catechines to the body that protects the cells against the harm caused by free radicals and oxidative stress and also promotes blood flow throughout the body. So, include 3 to 4 cups of green tea to your daily diet, replace soda and flavored drinks with delicious and refreshing iced tea for a healthy and fit body in the long run.

Go nuts

Good intake of vitamin E might help to prevent cognitive decline, particularly in the elders. Nuts are a great source of vitamin E along with leafy green vegetables, asparagus, olives, seeds, eggs, brown rice and whole grains.

Apart from food…..

Before looking into the foods that help in improving brain power, here are a few easy tips that can do a lot to enhance memory and concentration.

Daily exercise is the best way to expand brain health because it increases blood supply to the brain and promotes healthy neurons.

Getting 7 to 8 hours of soothing sleep also helps in enhancing brain functions because it helps in regenerating the brain and its functions.

Improving digestive health by including more prebiotics and probiotics in the diet also has a positive effect on brain health because the gut is closely related to the brain.

Challenging the mind with brain exercise such as playing chess, solving cross words or puzzles helps improve the capacity of complex reasoning and decision making.