Posts Tagged ‘Foods’

What are benefits of Vitamin C during cold or viral?

What is vitamin C?
Vitamin C is an important vitamin and antioxidant that the body uses to keep you strong and healthy. Vitamin C is used in
- the maintenance of bones,
- muscle,
- blood vessels.
- the formation of collagen
- helps the body absorb iron

Vitamin C is found naturally in:
- vegetables
- oranges
- other citrus fruits.

This key vitamin is also available as a natural dietary supplement in the form of vitamin C pills and vitamin C chew able tablets.

Vitamin C and Common Cold
- The common cold is caused by several strains of viruses which includes the rhinovirus and the coronavirus.
- However, vitamin C does not prevent the common cold or decrease the severity of symptoms.
- In the 1970s, Linus Pauling argued that vitamin C could significantly decrease the incidence of the common cold.
- Vitamin C for the common cold is such a widely accepted treatment.
- We seek it in fortified juices, cough drops, and tea.
- Vitamin C was first touted for the common cold in the 1970s.

Other facts found are
- The average adult who suffers with a cold for 12 days a year would still suffer for 11 days a year if that person took a high dose of vitamin C every day during that year.
- For the average child who suffers about 28 days of cold illness a year, taking daily high-dose vitamin C would still mean 24 days of cold illness.
- When vitamin C was tested for treatment of colds in 7 separate studies, vitamin C was no more effective than placebo at shortening the duration of cold symptoms.

A prospective, controlled study focuses on:
- 715 students in a technical training facility found that vitamin C in mega doses administered before or after the appearance of cold and flu symptoms relieved and prevented the symptoms in the test population compared with the control group.
- More than 30 clinical trials with over 10,000 participants have examined the effects of taking daily vitamin C in doses up to 2 g/day.
- A review of Cochrane, PubMed, Natural Standard, and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine databases found that regular vitamin C intake may reduce the duration of cold symptoms in both adults and children.
- It does not decrease the severity of cold symptoms.
- However, in a subgroup of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers training in the Arctic doses ranging from 250 mg/day to 1 g/day decreased the incidence of colds by 50%.
- Researchers concluded that vitamin C does not prevent or treat the common cold.
- It is better to consume natural foods such as red peppers, oranges, strawberries and grapefruit.
- It is acceptable to consume vitamin C from a supplement and still maintain adequate intake levels.

Daily Dosage
- The recommended daily allowance for vitamin C in the United States is 75 mg per day for women and 90 mg per day for men
- Taking doses above the RDA may have healthful benefits.
- Typically 70-90% of vitamin C is absorbed in the body but when taken in doses higher than 1 g, absorption decreases to 75%
- Further, it decreases to merely 16% after a 12 g dose.
- Popular vitamin C supplementation products, such as Airborne or Emergen-C, contain much higher doses of vitamins than necessary.

Overdose of vitamin C
- Taking vitamin C supplements in the recommended amounts is safe.
- The RDA or recommended daily allowance is 90 mg for men and 75 mg for women.
- High doses of vitamin C (greater than 2000 milligrams per day for adults) may cause kidney stones, nausea and diarrhea.

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What are ten best foods for flat abs?

If you really want a sleek, sexy middle, you have got to tweak your diet. All of the best waist-whittling foods contain fiber to banish bloat, antioxidants to boost the abs routine effectiveness and protein to help maintain a healthy metabolism.
Almonds
- These delicious and versatile nuts contain protein and fiber and vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant.
- These also contain magnesium, a mineral your body must have in order to produce energy, build and maintain muscle tissue and regulate blood sugar.
- Almonds have an ability to block calories.
- One should have around 23 almonds in a day with approximately 160 calories.

Eggs
- Eggs have a balance of essential amino acids.
- The protein and fat in the egg may be contributing to the feeling of satiety.
- One should have one egg a day, unless you have high blood cholestrol.

Beans
- Beans are incredibly versatile.
- Beans are a great source of antioxidant, fiber and protein.
- Snack on dry roasted channa, drop a handful of steamed moong sprouts or cooked chowli into soups. A half cup cooked beans contains about 12-140 calories and 7-14 grams of protein.

Apples
- Apples contain quercetin, a compound shown to help fight certain cancers, reduce cholesterol damage and promote healthy lungs.
- Study have found that individuals who have consumed three apples or pears a day for three months lost more weight as compared to others.
- A large apple contains 5gms of fiber but it is also 85% water whch helps you feel full.
- One should have one or two apples a day.

Berries
- Berries are loaded with fiber.
- Berries are also high in antioxidants which not only protect your body from chronic diseases but may also help you to get more results from your workouts.
- One should have half a cup daily or about 30 calories. Do not limit yourself to amla, jamuns and strawberries, add tart star gooseberries, mulberries and black currants.

Leafy Greens
- They have cancer preventing carotenoids.
- They are low in calorie.
- Most leafy greens are also a good source of calcium, as essential ingredient for muscle contraction.
- One should eat three servings daily. Leafy greens include spinach, broccli,amaranth (lobia), drumstick, methi.

Yogurt
- The pro-biotic bacteria in most yogurts help keep your digestive system healthy which translates into a lower incidence of gas, bloating and constipation which can keep your tummy flat.
- One should have one to three cups of fat free or low fat yogurt. Choose unsweetened yogurt. Add a handful of fresh chopped fruit for flavor and extra fiber.

Veggie Soup
- Soups are an easy way to get your vegetables.
- One should have at least one cup of low calorie, low sodium vegetable soup every day.

Fish
- Sea food especially fatty fish like sardine, tuna and mackerel is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.
- These uber healthy fats may help promote fat burning by making your metabolism more efficient.
- Seafood is an excellent source of ab-friendly protein.
- One should have 100gm serving of fish per week.

Millet
- Millets can be used in many dishes in place of wheat or rice.
- They are rich in proteins, minerals and B vitamins.
- Millets make a tasty light breakfast cereal, work well in rotis, give extra body to soups or stews, and used raw, add delightful crunchy texture to breads and muffins.
- One should have at least one half cup serving per day.

Dysentery – Causes, Symptoms, Natural Home Remedies and Prevention

Dysentery affects the large intestine. The infection is caused by two organisms, protozoa and bacilli. When caused by the former, the condition is generally known as amoebic dysentery, and when caused by the latter, it is known as bacillary dysentery. Bowels and intestine gets inf lammed which causes pain in the stomach with blood appearing in the feces. It can be fatal if too much dehydration takes place.
In dysentery, there is blood and mucous in small frequent stools. In acute case, your stool becomes very watery and quite frequently.

Causes of Dysentery

- germ infection in the colon.
- over spiced food and fatty foods.
- unsanitary conditions, chill.
- intestinal disorders.
- lowered vigor.
- fatigue and weakness.

Symptoms of Dysentery

Symptoms of dysentery depends upon it being acute or chronic. In case of acute dysentery, the symptoms include:
- pain in the abdomen and diarrhea.
- yellowish white mucous.
- sometimes, blood from intestinal ulcers is passed with stools.
- feeling a constant desire to evacuate
In case of chronic dysentery, there are after-effects of acute attacks. In severe cases, temperature may rise to 40 degree Celsius to 40.6 degree Celsius.

Natural Home Remedies for Dysentery

- Increase you intake of water, juices or buttermilk till acute symptoms resides.
- Make a paste of curry leaves and cumin seeds; consume this paste with a glass of boiled water.
- Boil 2 teaspoons of coriander in a cup of water and drink.
- Take an infusion from lemon on empty stomach. This will provide relief from infusion.
- Consumption of curd is very much recommended during this condition.
- Guava helps in reducing frequent stool passage.
- Boil raw papaya in water and then consume it, this helps in immediate stoppage of loose motions.
- Dried skin of pomegranate can also be used for the treatment of dysentery. mix this with milk and consume daily to cure dysentery.
- Wood apple is very useful in treating dysentery.
- Castor oil can be consumed to remove unpleasant substances from the body.
- Fenugreek seeds mixed with yogurt and consume for about 2-3 times a day for treating dysentery.
- Take a clove of garlic 4 times a day when dysentery occurs. It will clear out within few days.
- Add pieces of onion into a bowl of curd. Take this twice a day to cure dysentery quickly.
- Take some tender curry leaves and pound them to a pulp. Then add some honey in it. Take a teaspoonful of the mixture 2 times a day.

Foods to be eaten during diarrhea or dysentery

Yogurt (Yoghurt, Curd), buttermilk, mint, apple, pomegranate, papaya, banana, carrot, potato, etc. Children can also be given these foods.

Foods to be avoided during diarrhea or dysentery

Fruit juices, apricots, peas, pears, peaches, plums, prunes, etc.