Amazing Health Benefits of Asparagus

1- Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Benefits ;  anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, asparagus

provides a wide variety of antioxidant nutrients, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin

E, and the minerals zinc, manganese, and selenium. In addition to the antioxidant nutrients

 above, this much-loved vegetable may also contain a valuable amount of the antioxidant

glutathione (GSH). GSH is one of the body's best-studied antioxidants; it consists of three

amino acids — glutamic acid, glycine, and cysteine — combined into one molecule.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients are some of the best risk reducers we know for

common chronic health problems including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. These

nutrients are also special risk reducers in the case of certain cancer as cancer colon , breast

.
2- Digestive Support ; asparagus

is rich in fiber and protein , Both

fiber and protein help

stabilize our digestion and keep

food moving through us at the

desirable rate. (By contrast, too

 much fat can slow down our

digestion rate more than desired,

and too much sugar or simple

starch can speed it up more than desired.

3- Heart Health and Blood Sugar control ; asparagus emerges as an excellent source of folic

acid, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2 as well as a very good source of niacin, choline, vitamin B6,

 and pantothenic acid. Because B vitamins play a key role in the metabolism of sugars and

starches, they are critical for healthy blood sugar management. And because they play a key

role in regulation of homocysteine, they are critical in heart health haswell. (Homocysteine is an

amino acid, and when it reaches excessive levels in our blood, it is a strong risk factor for heart

disease.)

Amazing benefits of Lettuce

Crispy, green/crimson-red colored lettuce is one of the incredible leafy vegetables packed with essential nutrients that benefit health. Indeed, it is among the most sought-after greens, be it in your crunchy, green salads or healthy sandwiches!

Its leaves exude milk like fluid (sap) when cut, and hence their name derived from Latin, lactuca for milk.

1- Lettuce leaves are one of the very low calorie green-vegetables. 100 g fresh greens provide just 15 calories. Nonetheless, they are the store house of many phytonutrients that have health promoting and disease prevention properties.

2- Helps Weight Loss 

Lettuce contains fiber and cellulose. Besides filling you up, fiber improves your digestion. Improving your digestion may not sound like a good thing for losing weight, but it is actually essential for long term weight control.
Fiber also helps remove bile salts from the body. When the body replaces these salts it breaks down cholesterol to do so. This is why lettuce is also good for your heart.

3- Vitamins in lettuce are plentiful. Its fresh leaves are an excellent source of several Vitamin A and beta carotenes. Just 100 g of fresh, raw-lettuce provides 247% of daily vitamin A, and 4443 µg of beta-carotene (Carotenes convert into vitamin A in the body; 2 µg of carotene is considered equivalent to 1 IU of vitamin A). These compounds have antioxidant properties. Vitamin A is required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin, and is also essential for vision. Consumption of natural fruits and vegetables rich in flavonoids helps to protect the body from lung and oral cavity cancers.

4- Fresh leaves contain good amounts folate and vitamin C. Folates are part of co-factors in the enzyme metabolism required for DNA synthesis and therefore, play a vital role in prevention of the neural tube defects in the baby (fetus) during pregnancy.

5- It also contains good amounts of minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are very essential for body metabolism. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells. Iron is essential for red blood cell formation.

Health benefits of onions (fantastic)

*Onions play a major role in prevention of much cancers as colorectal, prostate and gastric cancer .
let us read and enjoy : 

1- Onions are very low in calories (just 40 calories per 100 g) and fats; however, rich in soluble dietary fiber.

2- Phyto-chemical compounds allium and Allyl disulphide in the onions convert into allicin by enzymatic reaction when its modified leaves are distorted (crushing, cutting, etc.). Studies have shown that these compounds have anti-mutagenic (protects from cancers) and anti-diabetic properties (helps lower blood sugar levels in diabetics).

3- Laboratory studies show that allicin reduces cholesterol production by inhibiting the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme in the liver cells. Further, it also found to have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal activities.

In addition, Allicin also decreases blood vessel stiffness by releasing nitric oxide (NO) and thereby bring a reduction in the total blood pressure. Further, it blocks platelet-clot formation, and has fibrinolytic action in the blood vessels. Altogether, it helps decrease in overall risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral vascular diseases (PVD), and stroke.

4- Onions are rich source of chromium, the trace mineral that helps tissue cells respond appropriately to insulin levels in the blood. It thus helps facilitate insulin action and control sugar levels in diabetes.

5- They are an also good source of antioxidant flavonoid quercetin, which is found to have anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic functions. 

6-They are also good in antioxidant vitamin, vitamin-C and mineral manganese. Manganese is required as a co-factor for anti-oxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. In addition, isothiocyanate anti-oxidants in them help provide relief from cold and flu by exerting anti-inflammatory actions.

7- Onions are also good in B-complex group of vitamins like pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folates and thiamin. Pyridoxine or vitamin B-6 helps keep up GABA levels in the brain, which works against neurotic conditions.

8-  Consumption of onions may prevent gastric ulcers by scavenging free radicals and by preventing growth of the ulcer-forming microorganism, Heliobacter pylori.

9- The potency of the onion as a blood thinner and platelet inhibitor

Sciatica Pain - The Cause and Cure

The nerve that runs right from the lower back to the foot is called the sciatica nerve. It is the longest nerve found in the human body. Any kind of damage to this nerve can cause all kinds of pain and irritation in the feet, legs and buttock region of the body. This is called sciatica pain.

Causes of Sciatica

The most common cause of sciatica is a slipped disc. This slipped disc presses against the nerve and causes a lot of issues. Luckily, it is not very dangerous and usually does not lead to major problems like paralysis or a spinal injury. However, it can cause chronic pain and a lot of irritation.

Other causes of sciatica include:

• Arthritis and pinched nerves: The symptoms often start in the lower back region and then it goes down to the legs. Numbness also occurs in some cases.

• Spinal Stenosis: This occurs when the nerve channel narrows. This narrowing may lead to compression of the vertebral canal or the spinal cord. This problem is usually experienced by people who do a lot of manual work.

• Spondylolisthesis: This problem occurs when a vertebra is cracked, leading to it slipping over the vertebra below. Spondylolisthesis is often caused in people who have a weak posture or weak muscles in the abdomen.

• Piriformis: Piriformis occurs when these muscles touch or irritate the sciatica nerve. This problem commonly occurs in professional runners and women.

How to Cure Sciatica

Very often, sciatica simply gets healed over time. So the symptoms may last for a few months and then start to decrease and slowly disappear. However, recent studies have shown that in order to get rid of sciatica faster, exercise can help a lot. Ideally, start with some light exercise like a walk in the morning or evening. Once you can handle this without too much pain, try to graduate to running or swimming.

When a person suffers from sciatica, it is absolutely essential to stretch properly all the time. Also keep a check on your posture and visit a professional to get assistance on how to stretch properly so that you keep your muscles and nerves flexible.

If the symptoms are too much to handle, you can also look for pain relief medicines. However, get these from a professional medical practitioner and do not medicate yourself. Mild cases of sciatica can be managed with pain relievers like ibuprofen and aspirin. Amitriptyline, dothiepin and similar medicines are also prescribed in certain cases.

In cases where the pain is very severe, spinal injections may be given to the patient. However, it is essential to remember that all these drugs could have slight side effects like an upset stomach, vomiting or nausea so it is necessary to have them only when necessary.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Juanita_Swindell

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The magic benefits of garlic

Benefits of garlic for cancer  :

For years and years conducted research on the effect of garlic on its resistance to cancer, however, and after scrutiny sure to conclusively that garlic works to improve the immune system and thus prevents cancer research has shown may be conducted on humans and animals alike that garlic has had a significant impact on slowing the growth of cells cancer and posed, and therefore protects against cancer of the esophagus, stomach and colon because of sulfur contained in garlic.

Cardiovascular Benefits :

fabulous reduction in ischemic heart diseases and anginal attacks, it decreases the level of triglyceride and total cholesterol.Garlic may help reduce this and may also protect the heart from the damaging effects of free oxygen radicals. The sulphur-containing compounds of garlic also prevent our blood vessels from becoming blocked and slow the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The anti-clotting properties  help prevent clots from forming inside the blood vessels.

Reduce blood pressure :

Angiotensin II is a protein that helps our blood vessels contract thereby increasing the blood pressure. Allicin in garlic blocks the activity of angiotensin II and helps in reducing blood pressure. The polysulphides present in garlic are converted into a gas called hydrogen sulphide by the red blood cells. Hydrogen sulphide dilates our blood vessels and helps control blood pressure.

Diabetes :

Garlic increases insulin release and regulates blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Antibacterial and Antiviral :

Garlic is most well-known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. They help control bacterial, viral, fungal, yeast and worm infections. Fresh garlic is thought to play a role in preventing food poisoning by killing bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella enteritidis, etc.

Reduce weight :

Many researchers believe that obesity is a state of long-term low-grade inflammation. According to recent research, garlic may help to regulate the formation of fat cells in our body. Pre-adipocytes are converted into fat cells (adipocytes) through inflammatory system activity. The anti-inflammatory property of 1, 2-DT (1, 2-vinylmation) found in garlic may help inhibit this conversion. This may help prevent weight gain.

Health benefits of drinking water

• water is life

1. Relieves Fatigue
If you often feel tired, there is a high chance that it could be due to inadequate consumption of water which makes the body function less efficiently. In fact, fatigue is one of the first signs of dehydration.

2. Lose weight:
 Drinking water helps you lose weight because it flushes down the by-products of fat breakdown. Drinking water reduces hunger, it’s an effective appetite suppressant so you’ll eat less. Plus, water has zero calories.

3.  Improves Mood

Research indicates that mild dehydration (even one or two percent lower hydration level of hydration than optimal) can negatively affect your mood and ability to think.

4. Natural Remedy for Headache: 
Helps to relieve headache and back pains due to dehydration. Although many reasons contribute to headache, dehydration is the common one.

5. Flushes Out Toxins
Water is an excellent detoxifier as it helps flush out toxins from your body and get rid of waste primarily through sweat and urine.

It also promotes kidney function and reduces kidney stones by diluting the salts and minerals in urine that cause kidney stones.

6. Reduce the Risk of Cancer:
 Related to the digestive system, some studies show that drinking a healthy amount of water may reduce the risks of bladder cancer and colon cancer. Water dilutes the concentration of cancer-causing agents in the urine and shortens the time in which they are in contact with bladder lining.

Dexamethazone for osteoartheritis

Corticosteroids are used in musculoskeletal diseases, and offer patient relief. Injections of

corticosteroids are recommended for management of osteoarthritis (OA).

Dexamethasone is a potent synthetic member of the glucocorticoid class of steroid drugs that has 

anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. It is 25 times more potent than cortisol in its

glucocorticoid effect, while having minimum mineralocorticoid effect.

 Dexamethasone significantly decreased synovial expression of interleukin-1β and collagen I, and a

trend to decrease synovial matrix metalloproteinase3 expression. There were also significantly lower

 levels of interleukin-1β protein with dexamethasone treatment. Dexamethasone significantly

decreased fat pad expression of matrix metalloproteinase13, basic fibroblast growth factor, and

interleukin8, and a trend to decrease matrix metalloproteinase3 and transforming growth factorβ 

expression. Dexamethasone decreased joint inflammation and joint tissue degradation and was

chondroprotective in osteoartheritis.

Dexamethazone not only used for osteoartheritis, but also  used to treat many inflammatory and

autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and bronchospasm.Idiopathic thrombocytopenic

purpura, decreased numbers of platelets due to an immune problem, responds to 40 mg daily for four

days; it may be administered in 14-day cycles. it also used in patient with cancer for

augmentation  the antiemetic effect of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, such as ondansetron.

 and  maturation of the fetus' lungs in preterm labor and other many indications