Health Benefits of Fish Oil

The health benefits of fish oil include its ability to aid in treatment of heart diseases, high cholesterol, depression, anxiety, AHDH, low immunity, cancer, diabetes, inflammation, arthritis, IBD, AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, eye disorders, macular degeneration and ulcers. It also helps in weight loss, pregnancy, fertility and skin care (particularly for conditions such as psoriasis and acne).

Most of the health benefits of fish oil can be attributed to the presence of omega 3 essential fatty acids like Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Other useful essential fatty acids include Alpha-linolenic acid or ALA and Gamma-linolenic acid or GLA.
While, fish oil is useful for the human body, there is lot of buzz and some hype too around fish oil. The fish oil manufacturers have shown fish oil as a remedy for almost everything. We have covered below the various benefits of fish oil, some of which are based on concrete scientific evidence and some based on mere animal studies. We suggest readers to make a informed decision and not be affected by both pro and anti propoganda about fish oil.
The different types of fish which can be a good source of fish oil are mackerel, rainbow trout, lake trout, halibut, herring, sea bass, sardines, swordfish, oysters, albacore tuna, blue fin tuna, yellow fin tuna, turbot, pilchards, anchovies and salmon. The most common ones among these for obtaining oil are albacore tuna, herring, mackerel, sardines, lake trout and salmon. The quality of fish oil greatly depends on the type of fish used for getting the oil.

Healthy Heart

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), clinical trials have proved that omega 3 is effective in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Fish oil is a good source of omega 3 and therefore, reduces the risk of heart diseases and heart arrhythmias. It also lowers the level of bad cholesterol (LDL), and increases the level of good cholesterol (HDL). Fish oil prevents accumulation of triglycerides and further reduces the levels of excess triglycerides. Preliminary research has also shown that fish oil can be used for preventing atherosclerosis in coronary patients. Thus fish oil is effective in treating heart strokes and regular usage of fish oil can help avoid numerous sudden cardiac deaths. As per American Heart Association, these preliminary findings should be confirmed by detailed research.

Health Benefits of Bananas

Lower Blood Pressure
Studies show that the high amounts of potassium in bananas (over 13% of the RDA) can lower one's blood pressure, which in turn lessens the possibility of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.

Bone Health
Along with lowering blood pressure, potassium prevents the weakening of the body's bones. A high sodium intake, which is typical of many American diets, can cause excessive amount of calcium to be lost through the urine, which threatens not only the strength and general health of the bones, but also negatively affects blood clotting, proper muscle contraction, and normal nervous system function. The potassium found in bananas neutralizes the high amounts of sodium in one's diet, thus allowing for healthy amounts of calcium to remain within the body.

High Nutrient Absorption
The potassium in bananas is not the only means to ensure healthy levels of calcium in the body. Bananas also contain high levels of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) that--along with insulin--promotes calcium absorption. FOS further nourishes healthy bacteria in the colon that manufacture vitamins and digestive enzymes that boost the body's overall ability to absorb nutrients.

 Healthy Digestive Tract Bananas can diminish the uncomfortable effects of diarrhea and constipation. The high amounts of potassium in bananas can restock electrolytes that are easily depleted when suffering from diarrhea -- potassium being an important electrolyte itself. Furthermore, bananas can relieve the body from constipation and help restore regular digestion with pectin, a soluble polysaccharide that helps normalize the digestive tract.

Rugged Gut
Bananas protect the healthy constitution of the stomach in two ways. Firstly, they trigger the production of mucus in the stomach, which provides a protective barrier against stomach acids. Secondly, bananas possess protease inhibitors, a substance that breaks down bacteria in the stomach that cause ulcers. (Moreover, protease inhibitor also obstruct the replication of certain cells and viruses, including HIV.)

Cancer Prevention
A large study by the Internal Journal of Cancer illustrates that the probability of developing kidney cancer is greatly lessened by frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables, though especially bananas. For instance, the probability of developing kidney cancer in female subjects decreased by 50% when eating bananas four to six times a week.

Vitamin B6
One banana has an impressive 34% of the RDA of vitamin B6, which serves many important roles in the body's health. For example, the B6 in bananas acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that helps ward off cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, as well as obesity. B6 also contributes to the maintenance of the lymphoid glands that ensure the production of healthy white blood cells that protect the body from infection. Finally, the vitamin B6 in bananas plays a pivotal part in cell formation and proper nervous system function, making one banana a day a healthy and delicious choice.

Yoghurt

       Yoghurt, or yogurt, is probably the most famous probiotic food, and it certainly is one the best foods to eat after taking antibiotics. Milk is transformed into yogurt through a fermentation process that uses live probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. In addition, other lactobacilli as well as bifidobacteria are also sometimes added during or after the culturing process.

      Normally, the probiotic cultures used to make yogurt remain live and active in the final product. However, pasteurization and some other processes designed to prolong yogurt's shelf life may kill off the health promoting probiotic bacteria. In the US, the National Yogurt Association (NYA) has developed a Live & Active Cultures seal to help consumers identify yogurts that contain significant amounts of live and active probiotic bacteria. The seal is voluntary and available to all manufacturers of refrigerated and frozen yogurt whose products contain at least 100 million (10⁸) cultures per gram at the time of manufacture.

If you live in the US and are planning to eat yogurt to restore your intestinal flora after taking antibiotics, it is best to choose products with the Live & Active Cultures seal. Without the seal, there is no unbiased validation of the amount of live cultures present in the yogurt.

Almonds

In an in vitro study funded by the Almond Board of California, a group of scientists found that finely ground almonds significantly increased the levels of certain beneficial gut bacteria. The almond preparation was found to lose its prebiotic effect its fat content was removed, suggesting that the probiotic bacteria only use the lipids in almonds for growth.

 

But there's also another reason why almonds make it to this list of the best foods to eat after antibiotics: A 2010 study found that almonds can help fight off viral infections such as the common cold and flu. After taking antibiotics, you are more prone to new infections as a result of a weakened immune system.

The researchers responsible for this almond study found that naturally occurring chemicals found in almond skins improved the ability of the white blood cells to detect viruses and to boost the body's ability to prevent viruses from replicating. Even after the almonds had been digested in the gut, there was still an increase in the body's ability to fight viruses.

Raw Garlic: Healing Properties and Medicinal Uses

Garlic, especially in its raw form, has been praised for its healing power and medicinal uses since ancient times. It was used for medicinal purposes by the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Romans and Chinese. Today, numerous research studies document the extraordinary benefits of garlic on human health.
The healing properties of garlic are wide and varied, ranging from antioxidant, antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties to cancer-fighting and immune-boosting activity. Due to its healing properties, raw garlic has been used as a medicinal plant to prevent — and in some cases treat or even heal — various health complaints.
Although almost anyone can benefit from eating garlic, those who are looking for a natural way to reduce their risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, asthma attacks, bouts of cold or flu, abdnormal hair loss, or some skin conditions are likely to reap the most health benefits by regularly eating garlic. In this article, we look at the extraordinary healing properties of garlic and describe the most common medicinal uses of this natural "wonder drug".

Anti-Cancer Effects of Raw Garlic

Still not impressed with the healing properties and medicinal uses of garlic? Well, guess what, numerous laboratory tests have also found garlic and garlic extracts to exert strong anti-cancer effects. Also several epidemiologic studies support the idea that garlic — especially raw garlic — can help prevent certain types of cancer. According to a large-scale review of epidemiologic studies, the strongest evidence for anti-cancer effects of raw garlic pertains to stomach and colorectal cancers. This extensive review, which appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2000, analyzed epidemiological studies published on stomach, colon, head and neck, lung, breast and prostate cancers since 1966.
Raw garlic appears to exert its anti-cancer effects through multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of free radical production, activation of enzymes that detoxify carcinogens, and regulation of cell-cycle arrest. In addition, garlic has been shown to induce apoptosis. Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is the body's normal way of getting rid of unneeded or abnormal cells, but cancer cells employ mechanisms that allow them to evade apoptosis so they can grow uncontrollably at the expense of healthy cells and tissues.

Benefits for Insulin Resistant People

Research suggests that a healthy diet rich in garlic may be used successfully as a complementary treatment for insulin resistance, a physiological condition that remains a major medical challenge of the twenty-first century. Insulin resistance has been linked to a number of diseases and conditions including pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, excess body weight (especially around the waistline), adult acne and heart disease. In insulin resistant people, the body's cells are no longer able to effectively respond to the actions of the hormone insulin.
According to a study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology in 2005, the health benefits of garlic for insulin resistant people may be linked to the presence of garlic oil and diallyl trisulfide in garlic. In addition to having wide-ranging healing properties documented in previous studies, these two compounds appear to improve the body's ability to effectively respond to the actions of insulin and thus fight insulin resistance.

Health Benefits of Eating Mushrooms – From Anti-Cancer Effects to Stress Relief

Strong Anti-Cancer Properties

Edible mushrooms can make a great addition to an anti-cancer diet as they contain significant amounts of selenium. one cup of shiitake mushrooms, for example, provides more than half of the recommended daily intake for selenium. Dietary selenium is believed to prevent cancer in two ways: First, this micro-mineral is an important constituent of glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme that helps protect your body's cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Second, selenium may help prevent tumor growth by strengthening the immune system and by inhibiting the development of blood vessels to tumors.
Furthermore, edible mushrooms contain beta-glucans which, according to some human studies, can provide protection against some types of cancer – including breast, skin, stomach and lung cancer. Beta-glucans in mushrooms have been shown to be capable of passing immune cells to the cancerous area and destroying cancer cells. The anti-cancer effects of beta-glucans have also been documented in a number of animal studies.
If you are planning to add wild mushrooms to your anti-cancer diet, make sure the batch you plan to buy comes from a clean area. As mushrooms lack roots, they use their surface cells to absorb nutrition directly from the air. However, if the air is contaminated, also harmful substances may enter mushrooms.

Stress Relief from Mushrooms

One of the lesser known health benefits of eating mushrooms is the ability of mushrooms to provide significant amounts of B vitamins. White button mushrooms and crimini mushrooms, for instance, are supercharged with riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (B3) and pantothenic acid (B5). B vitamins work together and are involved in many bodily functions, including brain and nervous system function. Signs of B vitamin deficiency include unusual stress, anxiety, insecurity, irritability and difficulty concentrating.
The symptoms associated with a vitamin B deficiency can be improved by eating mushrooms and other foods that provide substantial amounts of stress-relieving B vitamins. Keep in mind, however, that for optimal relief from stress and anxiety, you should eat B vitamin containing foods daily as these water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the human body. In addition to eating mushrooms, you can step up your vitamin B intake by adding foods such as wheat germ, whole grains, brewer's yeast and legumes to your diet.

Weight Loss Benefits

In addition to playing an important role in brain and nervous system function, B vitamins are involved in energy metabolism and are essential for normal thyroid function. They help convert dietary fat, protein and carbohydrates into energy, which is why a diet rich in B vitamins is often recommended to people who are looking to get rid of excess body fat. In addition, vitamin B6 – which is abundant in shiitake mushrooms – promotes the absorption of zinc, another important weight loss nutrient.
And if that's still not enough to convince you of the weight loss benefits of mushrooms, consider this: mushrooms are extremely low in calories, contain practically no fat, and provide plenty of vitamin D. Yes, you heard right: mushrooms contain vitamin D. In fact, they are the only natural food source of vitamin D you will find in the produce aisle of your favorite supermarket.
A deficiency of vitamin D has been associated with increased fat accumulation and obesity, and some experts believe that a decrease in vitamin D levels in winter, associated with low levels of sunlight in winter, could in fact be the key trigger for the so-called winter response (increased fat accumulation) in humans.

The Immune-Boosting Shiitake

In Asia, the health benefits of shiitake mushrooms are legendary. In China and India, these nutritional superfoods have been used medicinally for centuries, particularly as a natural remedy for colds and flu. Today, researchers know that lentinans, naturally-occuring polysaccharides particularly concentrated in shiitake mushrooms, are largely responsible for the extraordinary health benefits of these mushrooms. The healing properties of lentinans have been linked to their impeccable ability to stimulate the immune-system, without overpowering it, and to fight viruses that enter the body.

Avocados

Avocados – a Natural Appetite Suppressant

Do you shy away from avocados? Although it is true that avocados are high in calories and fat compared to other fruits, consuming these creamy green fruits in moderation can offer great benefits to people who want to lose weight by suppressing appetite.
Recent research suggests that oleic acid found in avocados (and a few other foods) could help naturally curb appetite and thus contribute to weight loss. A group of scientists from Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in New York found that oleic acid was converted into OEA (oleoylethanolamide) in the small intestines of mice. OEA, which is a type of lipid hormone, activates a brain area that increases the feeling of satiety and fullness. Only unsaturated fats containing oleic acid are believed to control appetite in this way. The findings of this study were published in the October 2008 edition of the journal "Cell Metabolism".
In addition to avocados, oleic acid is found in significant amounts in olive oil and grapeseed oil.