help in diabetes heart strokes blood-pressure etc.

A healthy lifestyle, moderate but regular exercise and a balanced diet may serve as a key to avoid Diabetes

Diabetes is essentially the body’s inability to deal with sugar in the bloodstream. Diabetes is a disease that strikes more people every year and the increase seems to continue. The body changes most of the food you eat into glucose. The blood takes the glucose to the cells throughout the body. The glucose needs insulin to get into body’s cells. Insulin helps the glucose from food get into body cells. If not controlled, diabetes can lead to blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations and nerve damage. In women, it can cause problem during pregnancy. There are two reasons:

- Either the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to break down the sugar in the body. It is also called Type I diabetes whereby the patient has to inject insulin into his body. It is caused by an auto immune reaction where the body’s defense system attacks the insulin producing cells.
- Insulin being produced is insufficient. It is also called Type II diabetes. It is when the body does not or cannot use the insulin effectively. It is often related to lifestyle and eating pattern.

Diabetes is quite capable to affect all the parts of the body and their functions. Diabetes Mellitus is a disease in which abnormally high levels of sugar in the blood are seen. When the amount of glucose in the blood increases, it triggers the release of the hormone insulin from the pancreas. Insulin stimulates muscle and fat cells to remove glucose from the blood and stimulates the liver to metabolize glucose, causing the blood sugar level to decrease to normal range.

As a result of the steady percolation of sugar rich blood the functioning of nearly all the vital organs is impacted and over time, diabetes begins to dramatically impact and invariably damage the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, eyes and the nervous system. Diabetes is not age dependent. It can affect young as well as old.

A healthy lifestyle, moderate but regular exercise and a balanced diet may serve as a key to avoid a disease.
- Indulge in brisk walking for minimum of 30 minutes, 5 times a week.
- Maintain an ideal body weight.

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Essential Fatty acids, benefits, uses.

Omega 3 is the name given to a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids or essential fatty acids. Omega 3 or the essential fatty acids are vital for the healthy functioning of all organs but they cannot be synthesized by the body.
The main components of Omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid ALA, eicosapentaenoic acid EPA and docosahexaenoic acid DHA.

Dietary sources include :
- Fortified eggs and oils derived from microalgae.
- Dark green, leafy vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed oil and Soya.
- Cold-water fatty fish such as salmon, halibut, sardines, mackerel, herring, anchovies and tuna and fish oils are the best overall source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
- Flaxseeds actually contain higher concentrations.
- Fruit juices and bread or other fortified foods (Kiwifruit, strawberries and Black Raspberry are very good sources in fruits).

Omega 3 fatty acids are the building blocks of our cell membranes and neurological system. They play a crucial role in many functions of the body.

Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

- A brain booster : The majority of the brain is made up of “good” fats knows as fatty acids, and the majority of this “good” fat is Omega-3. It actually increases learning ability, problem-solving skills, focus, memory, and communication between cells.
- Helps to maintain a healthy mental ability.
- It lowers the arthritis symptoms.
- Helps to loose weight.
- Regular consumption of fish oils may help diabetics by lowering their triglycerides and diabetes markers called apoproteins.
- Lubrication of skin arteries and digestive tract.
- Promote an increase in the levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol while also decreasing triglycerides or fatty material.
- Increases Immune System.
- Reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Reduces skin ailments.
- Supplements rich in omega-3 fatty acids lower blood pressure significantly in individuals with hypertension.
- Essential fatty acids have been used to reduce inflammation and promote wound healing in burn victims.
- Reduces colon, prostate, breast cancer risk.
- EPA plus DHA can produce a 45% reduction in serum triglyceride level.

Negative effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

- It could cause more bleeding if somebody is already bruised.
- Gas, bloating and loose bowels may be experienced.
- People allergic to sea food should not take fish supplements.
- Pregnant and nursing women shouldn’t eat more than a single serving of oily fish per week.

Health Benefits of Banana

Bananas are the fruit of a plant of the genus Musa (family Musaceae) , which are cultivated primarily for food, and secondarily for the production of fibers that are used, for example, in the textile industry. they are also cultivated for ornamental purposes.
Bananas have been the all time favorite and perennial fruit for hundreds of years now. It has many curative properties. This fruit is affordable by anyone and is available in plenty in India. All the varieties available are beneficial in their own way.

Health Benefits of Banana :
- Banana is an energy booster.
- Bananas are fruits that are high in fiber, making them an ideal remedy for constipation and an alternative to chemical laxatives.
- Bananas are a natural source of potassium which helps to keep the body fluids and electrolyte balance in body cells and helps in regulating blood pressure.
- Bananas are not only a good source of B vitamins they also contain vitamin C, A.
- Banana is a rich source of iron, thus it is helpful in cases of anemia.
- The skin of the banana is said to help remove warts(cover the warts with the inner skin of banana).
- Banana is also helpful in Stomach ulcer (banana has a natural antacid), Colitis, Digestive disorder, Diarrhea, Constipation (banana is high in fiber), Hemorrhoids.
- Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
- Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood-sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
- Bananas are useful in the treatment of arthritis and gout. A diet of bananas only for three or four days is advisable in these conditions.
- One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey as it calms the stomach.
- Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
- Cooked banana flower eaten with curd is considered an effective medicine for menstrual disorders like painful menstruation and excessive bleeding.
- Bananas are an ideal fruit to be eaten when a person is suffering from ulcers.
- Eating bananas as part of a regular diet can reduce the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%.

Bananas and losing weight :
Bananas may be one of the best fruits to eat when attempting to lose weight. They are full of nutrients for increased energy and vitality. Bananas are also low in calories and fat, plus they have a high water content and potassium levels. A diet high in potassium foods and lower in sodium-loaded processed foods can help reduce water weight.
The daily diet is restricted to six bananas and four glasses of skimmed milk or buttermilk made from skimmed milk for a period of 10 to 15 days. Thereafter green vegetables may be introduced gradually, reducing the intake of bananas from six to four.

Storing Bananas :
Bananas need to be treated with care as they bruise easily. The ideal way to store bananas is to keep them at room temperature. In order to ripen bananas, you can either wrap them in a newspaper or keep them in a brown paper bag. If you store a banana in a fridge it will turn black. However it will still be edible.