Home Remedies for Dark Circles

Eyes are vital and beautiful parts of our body particularly the facial part. It improves the beauty of face and gives it a pleasant personality. Eye bags are the result of fluid retention caused by poor circulation of blood in the body. People, who eat too much salty foods, consume alcohol and don’t take proper sleep, suffer with eye bags disorders. Followings are some effective home remedies for dark circles.

Eat Spinach and Cucumber:
Both are very essential home remedies for bags under eyes. It is medically certified that Vitamin K deficiency in body causes bags under eyes. Spinach is good source of vitamin K and therefore, adequate consumption of this green leafy vegetable gives you effective treatment to eye bags.

In addition, applying pieces of cucumber on the affected eyes skin would bring potential depletion in eye bags.  Potato could also be used as an alternative.

Chocolate may ease Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Research

Dark chocolate is rich in chemicals known to increase signals carried around the brain but this is found to be the first time the confection has been found to ease symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by extreme, persistent fatigue for six months or more with other problems with as muscle pain, headaches and poor memory.

Study Details:
Experts from the University of Hull and the Hull York Medical School tested ten patients with the disease.

The researchers had the volunteers eat 15g of dark chocolate three times a day, for eight weeks and then, later, a type of chocolate with significant less cocoa but which tasted the same.

The study found the symptoms of severe fatigue improved significantly after the volunteers ate the chocolate high in cocoa polyphenols.

Commenting on the results, Professor Steve Atkin said: ‘The significance of the results is particularly surprising because of the small number of subjects in the study. ‘A further study is needed to see what the effects would be on a larger group of people, but this is potentially very encouraging news for those who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome.’

Omega 3s are Vital Fatty Acids

Although the body requires omega 3 fatty acids, it doesn't make them. So you need to get them from foods including fish, some plants or nut oils, the University of Maryland Medical Center says.

The center says there are facts that omega 3s may help people with these health conditions, or people at greater risk of acquiring them:

•   High cholesterol.
•   High blood pressure.
•   Heart disease and stroke.
•   Cancer of the colon, breast or prostate.
•   Diabetes.
•   Rheumatoid arthritis.
•   Lupus.
•   Osteoporosis.
•   Mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
•   Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
•   Macular degeneration of the eye.

Eating Variety of Fruit reduces Lung Cancer Risk

A study has revealed that eating wide variety of fruit and vegetables every day can cut the risk of developing lung cancer by a quarter.

• Eating at least 8 types of fruits and vegetables in a day is more beneficial than eating only four a day.
• Smokers in particular can cut their risk, but it totally depends on the variety they eat and not just the quantity of food, reports express.co.uk.
• Those eating eight or more different types of fruit and vegetables can reduce their chances of developing epidermoid carcinoma of the lung by up to 23 percent.

'Apart from the amount consumed, a varied diet reduces the risk of developing this cancer - above all in smokers,' said Maria Jose Sanchez Perez, the Spanish co-author of the study.

Tomato juice can fight off osteoporosis - Study

Research say two glasses of tomato juice a day strengthens bones and can ward off osteoporosis.

The reason is "Lycopene" present in Tomato, the antioxidant already credited with cutting the risk of prostate cancer in men and protecting against heart disease, reports dailymail.co.uk.

The study details
Around three million people in Britain are affected by Osteoporosis  and researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada asked 60 post-menopausal women, aged 50 to 60, to cut out all tomato products from their diet for a month.

This led to a significant increase in blood levels of N-telopeptide, a chemical released into the bloodstream when bone is being broken down.

Then, for four months, the women were given a daily dose of standard tomato juice containing 15 mg of lycopene, an enriched version with 35 mg of lycopene, lycopene capsules or dummy capsules.

This led to a significant drop in levels of N-telopeptide in women drinking either type of juice or taking the capsules. But there was no benefit in women taking the dummy capsules.

Standard supermarket juice was just as good as the lycopene-enriched one, said researchers.

Tips to Lower your Blood Pressure in 20 Minutes

Watching something funny is the quickest way to lower your blood pressure. Research shows that laughter and humor could help lower systolic blood pressure in just 20 minutes. And if you tickle your funny bone often, you could make your Real Age as much as 8 years younger.

In a small study, participants chose a 20-minute humorous video clip to watch. They also watched 20 minutes of a serious war movie. Then, researchers measured the participants' blood pressure.

Watching funny videos not only lowered people's blood pressure but lowered their cholesterol levels, too. On the other hand, the serious war movie had no effect.

The effect of Laughter on Stress hormones is the reason for lowering blood pressure. When your funny bone is tickled, it reduces levels of stress hormones related to climbing blood pressure. And as an extra added bonus, laughing is good for your immune system, too. Other ways to keep your blood pressure under control includes:

•  Walking
•  Combining music with breathing exercises soothes blood pressure.
•  A cup of tea

Study reveals Garlic may treat Hypertension

An extract of garlic may help to lower blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension, new research suggests.

Scientists at the University of Adelaide recruited 50 patients, all of whom were being treated for persistent high blood pressure. Half of the participants were given daily garlic capsules for 12 weeks, while the other half received a placebo (dummy pill).

The researchers found that, over the course of the study, systolic blood pressure - the pressure exerted when the heart contracts - tended to be lower in patients who were taking garlic extract.

Writing in the journal Maturitas, the study authors concluded: "Our trial suggests that aged garlic extract is superior to placebo in lowering systolic blood pressure, similarly to current first-line medications in patients with treated but uncontrolled hypertension."

But a spokeswoman for the British Heart Foundation said that more research is needed.

Senior cardiac nurse Ellen Mason observed that garlic has featured in medicine for thousands of years.

"This study demonstrated a slight blood pressure reduction after using aged garlic supplements, but it's not significant enough or in a large enough group of people to currently recommend it instead of medicine," Ms Mason pointed out. "So enjoy garlic as part of your diet, but don't stop taking your blood pressure medication," she advised.

Health Benefits of Tomato

Health benefits of tomato have been known to mankind since ages. Tomato is a rich source of antioxidants that have been proven to be effective against many forms of cancer.

• The presence of antioxidants in tomatoes helps in cleansing toxic compounds from the body.
• Lycopene, present in tomatoes, has been known to neutralize free radicals in the body and cut the risk of prostate cancer.
• People who eat raw tomatoes have been found to be at a much lesser risk of developing rectal, colon or stomach cancer.
• It is believed that tomatoes block the effects of nitrosamines and thus, reduce the risk of lung cancer.
• Helps to reduce the risk of heart attack.
• Vitamin K in tomatoes helps to prevent hemorrhages.
• A large consumption of tomato can help improve skin texture and color.
  
• Tomato is a good blood purifier.
  
• If you are suffering from congestion of the liver, having tomatoes will prove to be quite beneficial.
• Protects the liver from cirrhosis and can dissolve gallstones as well.
• Being a natural antiseptic, it helps to protect the body against various common infections.
• The nicotinic acid in tomatoes is credited with reducing blood cholesterol, which in turn helps keep heart diseases at bay.
• When applied topically, tomato pulp can help heal sunburn, wounds and sores.
• Helps body to prevent diarrhea and soothe eye irritation as well.
• Has positive effects in case of ailments like constipation, diabetes, indigestion, intestinal disorders and jaundice.
• Pregnant women, suffering from morning sickness, will benefit from tomato consumption.
• If you are suffering from liver disorders, night blindness, obesity and urinary tract infection, try having tomatoes every day.

Tips to Prevent Food-Borne Illness

The way you shop for groceries can influence your risk of contracting a food borne illness. The American Dietetic Association offers these food-shopping tips:

• Fill up your cart first with non-perishable items, saving dairy, meat and other foods that can spoil for last.
• Prefer fresh produce that's sold in loose pieces, rather than in packages.
• Ensure dairy products aren't past their "sell-by" dates.
• Choose meat, poultry and fish carefully, purchasing only the freshest cuts from a grocer you trust.
• Have your meat, fish and poultry put in bags that are separate from other foods.

Fish Oil confines Brain Damage

According to a new research, the chemicals found in fish oil helps in the prevention of brain damage after a stroke.

A study at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center under Dr. Nicolas Bazan documents that presence of docosahexaenoic acid in fish oil helps in protecting brain tissue.

By means of animal test subjects, researchers could examine the influence of DHA on the brain in the next 6 hours, after it suffered from a stroke. After receiving the substance once every hour, repeated five times, the destruction of brain tissue of the test subjects could be reduced by 59%. Additional swellings could also be reduced.

The long-term effects of the DHA intake led to the repairing of parts of the already affected brain tissue within a week.

The findings that appeared in the Translational Stroke Research are very vital as the new discovery will help in lowering mortality rate with strokes.
The research can also be helpful in reducing recovery time from strokes, even when treatment is delayed by up to five hours.

High Heels increase Chances of Fatal Injuries - Study

Women who put on high heels are more prone to injuries, a study has found.

Thousands of women have hurt themselves because of their shoes. Many had gone to such extreme lengths to wear stylish shoes that they were taken to hospital after twisting an ankle or tearing a tendon, reports express.co.uk.

Some have fallen flat on their face because of their heels, with many damaging their teeth or breaking a wrist.

A poll of 3,000 women, aged 18-65, found that they also suffered broken ankles and twisted knees due to high heels. More than a third has had to be helped or even carried home because of poorly fitting shoes. And 61% have spent a whole evening sitting down due to uncomfortable shoes.

Around 80% have bought a trendy pair despite knowing they do not fit. Only 2% of the women polled by Hotter Shoes revealed never wearing heels.

The study says that nearly 60% women are ready to continue wearing high heels despite suffering pain. For them a compliment about their shoes was more rewarding than the pain associated with that.

Lisa McCarten, of comfort shoe specialist Hotter Shoes, said: "Women buy shoes that look good, and worry about the pain later."

Beetroot juice improves brain health - Study

A new study has shown that drinking beetroot juice can increase blood flow to the brain in older adults, potentially halting the progresses of dementia.

“There have been several studies showing that drinking beet juice can lower blood pressure, but we wanted to show that drinking beet juice also increases perfusion, or blood flow, to the brain,” said Daniel Kim-Shapiro, director of Wake Forest University’s Translational Science Center.

“There are areas in the brain that become poorly perfused as you age, and that’s believed to be associated with dementia and poor cognition,” Shapiro said.

High concentrations of nitrates are found in beets, as well as in celery, cabbage and other leafy green vegetables like spinach and lettuce, report the journal Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry.

When you eat high-nitrate foods, ‘good bacteria’ in the mouth turn nitrate into nitrite, according to a Wake Forest statement.

Research has found that nitrites can help open up the blood vessels in the body, increasing blood and oxygen flow.

In the study, researchers looked at how dietary nitrates affected a group of adults aged 70 and above.

The MRIs showed that after eating a high-nitrate diet for four days, blood flow to the white matter of the frontal lobes increased. This area is commonly associated with degeneration that leads to dementia and other cognitive conditions.

Almonds can stave off infections - Study

Eating almonds regularly can help you stave off viral infections like the flu and common cold.

A new study has shown that naturally occurring chemicals found in the skin of the nut boost the immune system's response to such infections. Researchers found almond skins improved the ability of the white blood cells to detect viruses while also increasing the body's ability to prevent viruses from replicating and spreading inside the body, according to the journal Immunology Letters.

They discovered that even after the almonds had been digested, the immune system was more poised to act against viruses, reports the Telegraph.

Researchers found that almond skin extracts were effective against even Herpes Simplex Virus 2, which can cause cold sores. The virus is notoriously difficult to treat due to its ability to evade the immune system.

The scientists, based at the Institute of Food Research in Norwich, Britain and the Policlinico Universitario in Messina, Italy, said their findings suggest that the nuts can increase the immune system's ability to fight off a wide range of viruses, including those that cause flu and the common cold.

They said they, however, still have to carry out research on how many almonds must be eaten to obtain a beneficial effect.

It was likely that eating almonds regularly could help protect people from becoming infected with viruses in the first place, while it could also help those already infected to fight off their illness.