Caffeine Helps to Reduce Brain Cancer Risk

A study has found that, a daily cup of tea or coffee can defend you from brain cancer. People who drink one cup of either hot drink can cut the risk of the disease by a third.

Scientists believe that caffeine may restrict blood flow to the brain and stop the growth of tumors’. The antioxidant properties present in the tea or coffee are supposed to cut the risk of the disease.

Around 4,200 people are diagnosed with a brain tumor each year and about half of them are cases of gliomas- a type of cancer that can be very difficult to treat. Symptoms range from headaches and seizures to blurred vision, drowsiness and even changes in personality, memory or mental ability.

As a part of the story, researchers studied 500,000 men and women over eight years.

The team compared cancer rates among frequent coffee and tea drinkers to volunteers who consumed little or no caffeinated hot drinks.

"A daily cup of either drink reduced the risk by an average of 34 percent"

"These findings are of interest as glioma is the most common type of primary brain tumor and the results from this study were obtained from a very large study population," said Euan Paul, executive director of the British coffee association.

"Other studies recently published have also demonstrated that moderate coffee consumption does not increase the risk of cancer in the breast, kidney, bladder, skin or colon," he added.

Health Benefits of Eating Oats

Oats are considered a “superfood” because of the vast array of essential nutrients that are not only needed by the body but also boost overall health. Oats are a cereal grain that provides complex carbohydrates, B vitamins, fiber, and minerals such as phosphorous, selenium, iron and calcium.

Health and Nutrition Benefits of Eating Oats:

• Oats comprises of one of the best sources of Inositol, which is very important for maintaining blood cholesterol level.
  
• They contain very high levels of calcium, potassium and magnesium, coupled with Vitamin B-complex. All these vitamins and minerals are very essential for the nervous system.
• Cooked oats can help relieve fat from the body, while unrefined oatmeal can reduce stress.
• Because of the high fiber content present in oats, they are said to be helpful in preventing bowel cancer.
• Since oats have lots of fiber, having them regularly can help cure constipation.
• If consumed on a frequent basis, they can help lower the chances of having heart disease.
• Apart from being a good source of protein, oats also provide vitamin E, zinc, copper and iron to the body.
• They have also been proven to act as an effective anti-depressant.
  
• Oats, with more soluble fiber than any other grain, can slow down the digestion process and provide an extended sensation of fullness. This makes them good for people who want to lose weight.
• If you eat regularly, the rise in blood sugar level gets spread over a longer period of time. This helps prevent many of the complications associated with diabetes.
• Oats contain phytochemicals (plant chemicals), which are believed to protect the body from chronic diseases, such as cancer.

Tips to make Healthy Lunch Choices

Many types of regular lunch fare are packed with calories and fat. But there are healthier alternatives that can make a more nutritious lunch.

• Turkey and other low-fat deli meats.
• Whole grain bread (instead of white) spread with mustard or light mayo.
• Vegetables and dip, air-popped popcorn, and trail mix or baked potato chips, in place of fried potato chips.
• Fresh fruit in natural juices, instead of syrup.
• Yogurt or a homemade fruit-filled muffin, in place of packaged cakes or cookies.
• Low-fat milk or water, in place of sodas or sugary fruit drinks.

Health Tip: Drink Orange Juice to Help Undo a Heavy Meal

When you overdo it and down a day's calories in one sitting, your body's inflammatory processes go into overdrive. Drinking orange juice might help you to undo a heavy meal.

In a recent study, people who had eaten a super-sized fast-food breakfast experienced a much milder inflammatory response in their bodies when they drank orange juice with the meal.

High-Calorie Catastrophe:
Whatever you do, don't pair that overindulgence with a soda. When researchers compared the effects that three different beverages had on the way bodies’ process big, inflammation-triggering foods, fatty, sugar water was the worst of the bunch. It seemed to intensify the inflammatory response. Plain water faired somewhere in between orange juice and sugar water. But it has the added benefit of being calorie-free.

The Flavonoid Fix:
The two important flavonoids, naringenin and hesperidin are found in oranges. These powerful antioxidants help tamp down body processes that can damage blood vessels and lay the groundwork for big health problems, like atherosclerosis and heart disease.
Orange juice also helps to:

• Cushion your creaky knees.
• Protect against pounds.

Health Tip: Three Fruits for Great Summer Skin

This summer slather on that SPF every chance you get. But for extra sun protection points, eat plenty of these fruits as well: cherries, nectarines, and watermelon.

These juicy treats not only cool your mouth in warm weather but may safeguard your skin from warm weather, too. Compounds in these fruits may boost your skin's natural resilience against wrinkles and sun damage. Check out the unique protective benefits of this trio of fruits.

• Cherries: By eating a daily handful, you may enjoy fresher, less puffy skin. It's due to the inflammation-fighting anthocyanins and melatonin in cherries. Melatonin may boost UV protection as well as cell growth. Tart cherries tend to be richest in melatonin.

• Nectarines: These smooth-skinned sisters of the peach provide a mini-spa's rich of nutrients that may help correct sun damage from the inside out. They offer skin goodies like lycopene, niacin, copper, lutein and vitamins A, C, and E. The A, C, and E trio also work to control inflammation and free radical damage in both the watery and the fatty layers of skin.
• Watermelon: Nibbling on watermelon wedges has the power to refresh your face as much as your palate, due to the high water and lycopene content. Lycopene helps to protect and preserve connections between skin cells so skin is tighter, smoother, and better able to retain moisture