5 Healthy Snacks That Fight Heart Disease

If you are on a heart-healthy diet, you might be a little nervous about snacking in between meals. The good news is that you do not have to worry if you are noshing on these healthy snacks, all of which have been chosen specifically with heart health in mind. Below of 5 of these between-meal goodies that you can enjoy without worry.
Apples
An apple a day really can keep the heart doctor away! Packed with antioxidants like quercetin, apples can help reduce your risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiac issues that can come about due to free radical damage. The pectin in apples is specific kind of fiber known to help lower LDL cholesterol levels, and apart from all this apples are rich in vitamins and minerals as well. Apples also have strong anti-inflammatory properties which are associated with overall good cardiac health.
Garbanzo Beans
The main ingredient in hummus (which is a great snack paired with raw vegetables for when you’re on the go), garbanzo beans are also high in dietary fiber which can lower cholesterol levels as well as being a rich source of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, both of which are linked to improved cardiac health. In a recent study of 10,000 men and women, regular consumption of legumes like garbanzo beans lead to a 22% less risk of cardiac disease.
Almonds
Almonds are also a convenient snack and extremely healthy for you; as a matter of fact, a recent study showed that regular consumption of almonds helped to lower risk for coronary heart disease by 37%. The magnesium in almonds helps to lower blood pressure while the monounsaturated fats improve the cholesterol ratio. They are high in fiber as well.
Blueberries
Blueberries are an incredibly rich source of Vitamin C and E as well as manganese, all of which are needed to maintain healthy cardiac function. Daily consumption of blueberries has been associated with lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and decreased risk for oxidative damage to the heart; these wonder berries also help clean the arteries of clogging plaque, reducing risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Dark Chocolate
Seriously, this is heart healthy, too! Dark chocolate contains a high percentage of cocoa, which is an incredibly rich source of flavonoids. Flavonoids are plant-based phytochemicals which have been shown to help prevent the clogging of arteries and has also shown to help decrease blood pressure. It also helps to curb your craving for sweets so you will not snack on other, less healthy options.
So don’t feel guilty about snack on these beauties. Not only are the food mentioned above delicious and filling, they are actually good for your heart and will make snacking into a healthy habit that fits well into your heart-conscious lifestyle.

Read More

5 Effective Remedies to Get Rid of Head Lice Naturally

Head lice are parasitic wingless creepy crawlies that live on scalps and can be difficult to eliminate. It is estimated that 6 to 12 million kids in the U.S. get head lice each year, head lice infection is a common occurrence but school going children get particularly affected by this problem.

5 Effective Remedies to Get Rid of Head Lice Naturally

Olive Oil
Applying olive oil will make your hair silk and wet. So that it’s made easier for you to comb your hair. It helps in suffocating the lice and will kill the lice but not that much effective for nits.
-Take the olive oil into your hands
-Apply this oil thoroughly to your hair before going to bed
-Put a shower cap or towel while you go for sleep
-Leave it for overnight
-Next day, early in the morning, comb your hair as the tiny parasites will fall down
-Then wash your hair completely with an herbal shampoo
-Repeating the process regularly will gives better results to get rid of the lice problem.
Onion
Onions contain sulfur, which is purported to kill head lice. Following is how you can use onion to get rid of head lice:
-Take six regular sized onions and throw them in the blender to make a smooth paste.
-Put the paste on a sieve and extract the juice.
-Massage the scalp with this juice and protect the area with a shower cap for about two hours.
-Shampoo the hair, dry it with a hair dryer and then use a nit comb as described in all the other treatments.
Salt
Salt has the property of desiccation, which is used to eradicate head lice.
-Mix salt and vinegar by taking it in equal quantities
-Pour this solution in an empty spray bottle
-Now spray this solution gently onto your hair so that it becomes wet
-Cover your hair by putting a shower cap over it for about 2 hours
-Rinse it off completely and apply conditioner to it
-To get best results, repeat it for once in every three days.
Sesame Seed Oil
Sesame seed oil can help to solve this problem as it has high in antibacterial, antifungal and have natural insecticide properties, which helps to cure the problem of head lice.
-First of all, Rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar
-Allow it to dry for few minutes
-Now mix all the above mentioned ingredients (except apple cider vinegar)
-Apply this solution on your hair & scalp
-Take a shower cap or towel to cover your hair for overnight
-Next day morning, comb your hair thoroughly to remove the dead lice
-Go for shampoo as usually
-Daily repeat the process for at least one or two weeks
Lemon Juice
The highly acidic nature of lemon juice can be used to treat head lice as well. Following is how you can use it to quickly treat and eliminate head lice:
-Take four large garlic cloves and mash them into a fine paste using a pestle and mortar.
-Add one tablespoon of lemon juice to it and mix the paste thoroughly.
-Massage the scalp using this paste and then leave it covered with a thick towel for about thirty minutes.
-Shampoo the hair and then use a nit comb.
Sources:
http://www.enkivillage.com/home-remedies-for-lice.html
http://homeremediesforlife.com/head-lice/
http://www.beyonddisease.com/home-remedies-to-get-rid-of-head-lice
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15637580

Read More

Home Remedies for Fever

 

Fever can be described as a natural response by the body to fight off viruses and bacteria that cause infections. Harmful bacteria and viruses can thrive at the regular body temperature (98.6ºF), but a fever can greatly weaken the germs and severely limit their ability to reproduce. A fever also helps burn away toxins and stimulates the immune system.

CAUSES OF FEVER

A fever isn’t a separate illness. Fever or a high temperature, as stated earlier is usually a normal response to an infection as the body fights it off. A part of the brain called the hypothalamus may decide to regulate the body’s temperature to a higher level.
The common causes of fever are:

• Colds and flu
• Gastroenteritis stomach bugs
• Infections of the ear, lung, skin, throat, bladder or kidney
• Inflammatory conditions
• Side effects of drugs
• Cancer
• Routine vaccinations.
• Blood clot or pulmonary embolism
• Autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease
• Hormone disorders such as hyperthyroidism
• Illegal drugs that increase heat production such as amphetamines and cocaine
• Infections abroad, such as malaria

THE SYMPTOMS OF FEVER

A fever is a high temperature when the body’s temperature rises above 37.5C (99.5F). The normal body temperature is between 36C-37C (96.8F-98.6F)

HOME REMEDIES FOR FEVER

Bathing with Lukewarm water

This is an effective home remedy for fever. When you have fever, take a bath in lukewarm water. This temperature will feel plenty cool when you have a fever , and the bath should help bring your body temperature down .
Don’t ever try to bring a fever down rapidly by plunging yourself into cold water; that tactic sends blood rushing to internal organs, which is how your body defends itself from cold. Your interior actually warms up instead of cooling down.

YARROW TEA as fever home remedy

Make a cup of yarrow tea, this special kind of herb helps open your pores and help you to sweat.Simply put a tablespoon of the herb in a cup of freshly boiled water for 10 minutes, let it cool drink a cup or two until you start to sweat.

DRINK PLENTY WATER

Fever, especially when it is accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea, can lead to fluid loss and an electrolyte imbalance, so it’s important to keep drinking. Cool water is best, but unsweetened juices are okay if that’s what tastes good.
Drink 8 to 12 glasses of water a day or enough to make your urine pale. Water helps hydrate the body and flush out toxins.
Getting a child to drink plenty of water is sometimes difficult, so try Popsicles or flavored ices that are made primarily of water.

EGG WHITES

Egg whites can be used to reduce the high body temperature during a fever. Egg white works like a cool gel that can absorb heat. Within half an hour, egg white can draw the fever from the head to the feet (where it can do not much damage to your body).
Break two or three eggs and separate the yolk. Beat the egg white for a minute. Soak a paper towel or a thin handkerchief in the egg white. Place the soaked cloth on the soles of the feet.
Wear socks to keep the egg white-soaked cloth in place. When the cloths dry out and become warm, replace them with new ones.
Continue the process until the fever is well reduced

MINT

This is one of the home remedies to cure fever naturally, boil a handful of mint leaves in two cups of water along with one-half teaspoon each of black pepper powder and long pepper powder and one teaspoon of ginger powder. Boil until the water gets reduced to half. Strain, and divide the solution into three equal doses. Drink it three times daily until you recover completely.

ELDERFLOWER

This herb also helps you sweat, and very good for various other problems associated with flu and colds such as overproduction of mucus.
To make elderflower tea , mix two teaspoons of the herb in a cup of boiled water and let it steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the elder flower and drink three times a day as long as the fever continues.

ORANGE JUICE

Orange juice and other fruit juices that are rich in vitamin C are good choices, since the vitamin C assists your immune system in fighting off infection.

PAWPAW LEAVES AND LEMON GRASS

These are one of the best home remedies for fever. Boil both yellow and brown leaves of pawpaw with lemon grass. Drink this herb till you are relieved.

 

Read More