Wednesday, 3 September 2014

50 HEALTH BENEFITS OF HONEY

Honey is a mixture of sugars and other compounds. With respect to carbohydrates, honey is mainly fructose and glucose making it similar to the synthetically produced inverted sugar syrup, which is approximately 48% fructose, 47% glucose, and 5% sucrose. Honey’s remaining carbohydrates include maltose, sucrose, and other complex carbohydrates.



As with all nutritive sweeteners, honey is mostly sugars and contains only trace amounts of vitamins or minerals. Honey also contains tiny amounts of several compounds thought to function as antioxidants, including chrysin, pinobanksin, vitamin C, catalyses, and Pinocchio. The specific composition of any batch of honey depends on the flowers available to the bees that produced the honey.
Here are best 50 benefits of honey in below…
  • Honey is a wonderful aid to internal cleansing.
  • Honey works well on chapped lips.
  • Honey also works well on acne because it has antibacterial properties
  • Honey may also be good for your skin. It has the ability to attract water. You can use honey instead of alpha hydroxide masks because of its high content of the acid. It is also safe for sensitive skin.
  • Honey is rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, which are wonderful beauty aids that nourish the skin.
  • Honey can cure the problem of ringworm. Ayurvedic healing advises treating ringworm with both turmeric and honey.
  • Honey is good for eyesight. Regular use of honey mixed with the carrot juice helps to improve the eyesight. It should be taken in the early morning.
  • Honey dissolved in equal quantity of warm water is good lotion or eye-bath for the conjunctivitis.
  • A teaspoon of honey per day aid calcium utilization and prevents osteoporosis.
  • Chewing the tops of honey combs for 20 minutes a teaspoon of bee capping; five to six times a day stimulates the immune system. It’s effective for asthma patients.
  • Consuming one teaspoon of honey a day helps lead a long healthy life. The most long-lived people in the world are all regular users of honey. An interesting fact, yet to be explained, is that beekeepers suffer less from cancer and arthritis than any other occupational group worldwide.
  • Based on its rapid healing effects, honey has been used and is still being used in many surgical operations. For example, it has been used as a barrier against tumor implantation in laparoscopic ontological surgery.
  • Honey is a good food preservative. While baking cakes by replacing sugar with honey, they will stay in fresher longer due to natural antibiotics as honey retains moisture.
  • I’ve heard that when honey is processed and administered intravenously it helps fight jaundice, but I’m not sure is it true or not.
  • Ayurveda has been advising honey as a medication for problems of impotence and infertility. A drink of warm milk to which honey is added is believed to increase the sperm count from level zero to fertility level of over 60million sperm count.
  • Pure and unheated honey is a mild sexual stimulant naturally, since it contains numerous substances such as zinc, Vitamin E, etc., which promotes virility and reproductive health. A mixture of honey and grounded garlic taken regularly at bed time is an aphrodisiac that increases sexual stamina and pleasure.
  • Honey is Anti- aging. It contains antioxidants, powerful compounds which fight free radicals and reverse aging.
  • Drinking lemon juice with a spoonful of honey first thing in the morning is an effective anti-cellulite treatment as it helps to increase body metabolism.
  • If you are trying to lose weight, honey can be of great help to you. Honey can help in weight loss when consumed with warm water and lemon juice. Honey has been used as a home remedy in Ayurvedic medicine to help dissolve fat for thousands of years.
  • Researches indicate that Arthritic patients when treated with a mixture of honey and cinnamon regularly in the morning on empty stomach, there was significant relief in pain of the patients.
  • Honey with cinnamon is good for Curing Arthritis, Hair Loss, Toothache, help in Reducing Cholesterol, Curing Colds, Cures Infertility, Upset Stomach, for better Immune System, for Longevity and Weight Loss.
  • Replace your morning jelly for honey. It could help you to decrease your chances of heart disease. Heart patients are also advised to replace white sugar with honey that has natural fructose and glucose.
  • Take honey with your morning breakfast like eating porridge mixed with honey or honey with cereals. The nutrients in honey induce the calming effect on brain.
  • Since it contains no cholesterol it helps in reducing the cholesterol level of a patient suffering from the high cholesterol problem.
  • Honey is nature’s energy booster. A spoon of honey enables you to go for the extra mile. To recharge your battery, there is nothing better than honey.
  • If you have a wound which could be a scratch, cut, scrape, or resulting from surgery, try using honey under the dressing. Due to its natural anti-inflammatory effect, it will help to heal the wounds more quickly. It also has different photochemical chemicals found in plants and different foods that kill viruses, bacteria, and fungus making it a good substitute for wound dressings.
  • Honey may also be effective in the treatment of your ulcers. In Europe, honey has been used internally to help cure ulcers, particularly stomach ulcers.
  • A certain type of bee’s honey can heal leg ulcers.
  • People with excessive gastric acid and hypertrophic gastritis are advised to have warm honey water.
  • Honey diluted in water is helpful with your stomachaches and dehydration.
  • It works to help chronic bad breath.
  • Honey is a great immunity system builder.
  • It activates the immune response by providing glucose for the white blood cells.
  • For people who have frequent migraine attacks, should sip a dessert spoon of honey dissolved in half a glass of warm water at the start of the attack. Repeat after 20 minutes if needed. Its effective as migraine is stress related.
  • When you get a hangover from drinking too much alcohol, combat its effects by applying the honey remedy.
  • Honey is a natural remedy for many ailments.
  • Use of honey in lemon tea can help to alleviate a sore and uncomfortable throat.
  • Honey also help in sleeplessness. If you are unable to sleep? Use the famous Milk and Honey Remedy. Add a teaspoon of honey in a glass of hot milk to calm the soul and induce sleep. Or, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey to a cup of chamomile tea and sip.
  • A teaspoon of honey before bed, aids water retention and calms fears in children.
  • Honey with milk help you to minimize your heartburn woes during pregnancy
  • Honey can be used as a mouthwash. A tablespoon of honey with a cup of warm water can clean teeth and dentures, and kills germs in the mouth.
  • Honey also prevents Acidity. The pH of honey is commonly between 3.2 and 4.5. This relatively acidic pH level prevents the growth of many bacteria.
  • Honey is an excellent ergogenic aid and helps in boosting the performance of athletes.
  • Honey prevent hair loss or baldness.
  • Honey and two cups of warm water can help return the natural shine and will add health to your hair. Have A tablespoon of honey with a tablespoon of olive oil and two tablespoon of water and make it paste and apply it to your hair. It gives shine or luster to your hair.
  •   Honey improves your digestion. Honey’s antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties make it a very good remedy for improving digestion.
  • Honey is Anti-Cancer. It does not cure cancer but one thing can’t be overlooked is – honey possesses carcinogen-preventing and anti-tumor properties.
  • You can also use Honey as a lotion to dry patches of skin on hands, elbows, or other parts. Just mix one teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of olive oil and a 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply it to hands, elbows, heels of your foot and many other parts of the body, and wash off the paste after 15 minutes. Instant relief!
  • Honey improves your intelligence.
  • It rejuvenates your body.

Benefits of Honey and Milk

Milk being a rich source of calcium, lactic acid and vitamins is a good food to start a day. Honey that is rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants is also a good food to start a day. How about starting a day with a combination of these two best foods? It would be wonderful and you will definitely enjoy good health.

Benefits of Honey and milk

Both honey and and milk are excellent for health and thus their combo is amazing for our health. Some of the most popular benefits of honey and milk are:
Enables to enjoy healthy bones: It is essential to include sufficient amounts of calcium in the diet to enjoy healthy bones and to prevent diseases such as osteoporosis that are commonly observed in old age. Milk is a rich source of calcium. However, the calcium taken in diet does not get easily absorbed in to the blood stream. Honey, is found to contain certain compounds that trigger the absorption of calcium in to the blood stream. Hence, honey and milk together help to meet the daily requirements of calcium.
Prevents sleeplessness: As we all know a warm glass of milk before going to bed soothes the body by relieving the day long stress and induces better sleep. Honey is also found to have similar effects. Hence, they together boost the effect and serve as best remedy for insomnia.
benefits of honey and milk




Helps to maintain good health: Honey and milk help in growth of useful bacteria and also improve the process of digestion. Thus, they indirectly help in enjoying perfect health. As a result other metabolic process such as detoxification which involves elimination of harmful toxins ingested with food takes place efficiently. Thus, they protect you from attack of harmful bacteria.
Improves the growth of Bifidobacteria: Milk, yoghurt and other fermented milk products serve as good source of Bifidobacteria. These beneficial bacteria prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and aid in maintaining healthy gastrointestinal tract. Honey containing vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars and antioxidants promotes the growth of Bifidobacteria. Sugars such as fructose and other oligosaccharides present in honey get fermented easily and let the Bifidobacteria in milk survive.
Provides fructooligosaccharides: Honey contains fructooligosaccharides which are chains of fructose sugar molecules linked together. Combining these sugar chains with milk forms a very healthy food. These fructooligosaccharides offer numerous benefits such as growth of beneficial bacteria such as the Bifidobacteria. Growth of these beneficial bacteria offers benefits such as prevention of growth of harmful bacteria, lowering of pH, increases the production of short chain fatty acids and these little scavengers even help in detoxification of harmful toxins present in foods. Other benefits of fructooligosaccharides include lowering of blood cholesterol and sugar levels by preventing their absorption in to blood stream, promoting the growth of cells in the digestive system and thereby promoting the process of digestion preventing constipation.
Promotes the health of skin : Daily consumption of milk helps to get rid of the external dead cells of the skin. Hence, you can enjoy smooth glowing skin. The oligosaccharides present in honey also help in enjoying a soft skin free of wrinkles and age marks. Sugars present in honey absorb moisture and help to maintain the moisture of the skin. It even helps to keep the skin soft and postpones the onset of changes in skin that occur naturally due to aging. The antimicrobial properties of honey and cleansing effect of milk together enhance the health of skin. You can even consider having bath with honey and milk mixed in equal quantities. In fact, the duo is used in a number of spas across the world.
Promotes stamina: Sugars present in honey get absorbed in to the blood and provide instantaneous energy that persists for a long time. Milk containing proteins and carbohydrates serves as a rich source of energy. The proteins and amino acids contained in milk promote the synthesis of enzymes that in turn promote metabolism of various nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Milk and honey pair that is easy to digest and provide the required energy is considered as best food for children and old aged people with poor digestion and appetite.
Anti bacterial in nature: Both milk and honey act against staphylococcus bacteria and prevent their growth. However, the effect is even more powerful when honey and milk are taken together. Combination of these two helps to treat many intestinal disorders such as flatulence, constipation and other intestinal disorders. Their antibacterial action is also found to be effective cure against common cold and cough.
Honey and milk in cooking: Milk and honey are best utilized in the making of sweets. Milk gives the required softness and taste to the dishes while honey serves as a natural sweetener.

Recommendation

Health benefits of honey and milk are amazing. They act as antibacterial agents, energy boosters and skin cleansing agents are must be included foods in the daily diet. As they are very easy to digest they can be taken at any time of the day even before sleep. For best results start your day with this pair. If you are worried of gaining weight have skimmed milk that is free of fat along with honey.

Tuesday, 2 September 2014

The Health Benefits of Corn

                                     10 Health Benefits of Corn.
Corn has lots of varieties, but mainly it’s divided into field corn, and sweet corn. The latter is more important to humans, as it’s used as food. It’s categorized as a vegetable, and is only different from the field crop by the type of sugar it is made of. Compared to other vegetables, sweet corn is highly caloric, with 86 calories per 100 grams. Those calories come from simple carbohydrates, like sucrose and glucose.
Corn also contains great levels of antioxidants, in the form of beta-carotenes, lutein, and xanthins, and also vitamin A of about 6% of the recommended daily allowance. These components help the human body keep a healthy skin, good eyesight and strong mucus membranes, and also provide protection from cancer on the lungs and oral cavity. It’s also a good source of ferulic acid, which helps slow down the aging process and helps in cancer prevention.
Sweet corn also has a strong quantity of the B-complex group of vitamins, such as pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, and pyridoxine. It’s also a great source of minerals like magnesium, copper, zinc and manganese. Sweet corn doesn’t contain any gluten, so it is safe for patients with celiac diseases.
Sweet corn thrives in the summer season, although in warm climates, it can be cultivated throughout the year. Realistically, fresh corn can be found in markets from June to late August, but frozen corn cobs or kernels are present in markets year-round.
When buying fresh sweet corn, pay attention on the coloration. Kernels should be golden in color, uniformly spread on the cob, and with consistent size, meaning the kernels should shrink down in size near the ends of the cob. Avoid corn with dry looking kernels, which might suggest old stock, thus less juicy flavor.
Use the corn as soon as you brought it home. If it must be stored, it can stay relatively fresh inside a sealed plastic bag, refrigerated or frozen, for up to 2 days (5-6 days frozen). It is not necessary to wash the cobs before use, if they come from organic farms. Non organic products tend to be sprayed with pesticide, and should be dipped in salty water for about 15 minutes. Then, rinse them with running water, and they are ready to be prepared.
The nutritive value for 100 grams of sweet corn is as follows:
  • 86 kcal
  • Dietary fiber: 2.0 grams
  • Protein: 3.27 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 18.70 grams
  • Total fat: 1.35 grams
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Serving suggestions:
  • Very fresh and young corn cobs can be eaten raw, as they are tender right after picking
  • Boiled in salty water, corn cobs are very tasty and are a popular snack
  • Corn cobs can also be grilled, which is the tastiest way to prepare corn
  • The water used for boiling the cobs may also be used in a vegetable stew, along with onions, celery and other vegetables.

Why You Must Drink Water On An Empty Stomach

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:
Water

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.
METHOD OF TREATMENT
1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water
2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute
3.. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours
5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.
6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.
This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.
It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life. Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.

Stress Relieving Nutrients

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The era we live in is filled with pressure, deadlines, tight-schedules and tension. Living within so much exertion, will definitely leave us stressed out. In fact, today stress has become our best friend because it is always there with us!
Relieving stress is easy – listen to music, watch a movie, go for a massage or spa treatment etc. but it is temporary. Relieving stress for a prolonged period seems to be impossible. How much music can you hear, how many movies can you watch or can you spend for spa treatments every day?
The ultimate solution to relieving stress for a long period is to enrich our body with elements that will fight off stress, pressure and anxiety.
Here are the nutrients that will help fight stress:
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin A
  • Zinc
  • Choline
Vitamin E helps in combating stress and also enhances our physical strength to strike back at stressful situations. It works together with selenium in fact and helps us to acquire a positive attitude and develop our brain’s calm contours. You can ensure the increase of vitamin A in your body by eating broccoli, almonds and mangoes and for selenium, have lots of seafood and nuts.
Vitamin A also is an important nutrient for combating stress. We get stressed either for over-pressure or lack of energy. It is in these situations that vitamin A aids in detoxifying our body and ridding it off all toxic elements. Introduce a lot of milk, vegetables like spinach and carrots, fruits like, apricots and eggs in your regular diet, in order to increase the level of vitamin A in your body.
Next up is Zinc. Zinc helps in increasing our ability to resist stress and fight it off too. When we get stressed, our entire body, as well as, mental stamina gets drained out. It is more like a vicious cycle and zinc helps in destroying the viscous cycle once and for all (given that you increase a lot of food items that are enriched with zinc mineral, for example, milk and cheese.)
The final nutrient that will help you in getting relief from stress is Choline. Yes, the name does not sound familiar, unlike other nutrients but choline is equally important. It helps us to enhance our rational thinking prowess. You can find choline in lentils, eggs and tomatoes.
Plan a diet that contains all the above nutrients and create a shield in your body that will protect you from stress, pressure, chaos and mental havoc!

10 Foods to Eat Everyday for Perfect Skin

Taking care of your skin has never been easy. These days there are tons of beauty products that promise you flawless skin. Achieving that silky smooth and vibrant skin does not only require the use of your regular regimen but also a balanced and nutritious diet. Start eating food that enhances skin health! Check out the list of 10 foods to eat everyday for that perfect skin!

1. Red Bell Peppers

Red-bell-peppers
Red bell peppers are a tasty vegetable that can be enjoyed either cooked or raw. One red bell pepper contains more than 100% of your daily vitamin C needs. It also contains significant amounts of dietary fiber and vitamin B6. Moreover, it is rich in carotenoids that can help prevent wrinkles and increase blood circulation to your skin, helping it look more youthful. Due to their carotenoids, red bell peppers are also great to fight acne.
A red bell pepper is a perfect, low calorie snack that contains about 30 calories and has a really satisfying crunchy bite. Keep slices of red bell peppers in the fridge, so you will always have something healthy and tasty to reach for when you are having a snack attack. The fiber that a bell pepper contains will help you to feel full longer with very little calories. Plus, you will have a flawless skin!

2. Dark Chocolate

Dark-chocolate
This is one of my favorite foods to eat every day for perfect skin! Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids and flavanols that promote glowing skin. The antioxidants in dark chocolate will help reduce roughness in your skin and protect it against sun damage. Moreover, cocoa relaxes arteries, increasing blood circulation that leads to healthier skin.
I usually buy cocoa powder or raw cacao for less fat. And if you like dark chocolate, eat your ounce of dark chocolate every day and make sure you choose at least 80% cacao content in order to avoid milk and added sugars found in a traditional chocolate bar.

3.  Salmon

Salmon
Salmon is an excellent food to fight stress, anxiety, and depression. Salmon also provides most of your daily vitamin D needs. And as you may already know, Vitamin D is responsible for keeping your heart, bones, colon and brain healthy. It also helps prevent colon cancer, anxiety, depression, heart disease and bone disease.
Salmon is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are excellent for fighting inflammation, wrinkles and acne. Its high omega-3 content also helps hydrate your skin from the inside out. Moreover, eating salmon keeps your scalp hydrated and promotes strong, healthy hair.

4. Coconut Oil

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Coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat with about 90 percent of calories as saturated fat. It contains lauric acid, a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent that keeps away viruses, infections, inflammation and acne. Coconut oil is also rich in essential fatty acids and Vitamin E, which are perfect for keeping your skin moist, soft, and wrinkle-free.
I use coconut oil as a body cream and consume 1 tbsp. of raw coconut oil every day. Coconut oil is especially good for your thyroid. Plus, there’s considerable evidence that this oil can help lose weight. So many health benefits, don’t you think?

5. Green Tea

Green-tea
Well, so I know green tea is actually a beverage, but tea leaves come from a plant! Even though I love black tea, I drink green tea every day because I know that it is a great source of antioxidants and a unique amino acid, L-theanine that helps relax your body and lower stress.
When the tea is hot, the bionic brew releases catechins, a kind of antioxidant with proven anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea may also reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure. Drink 3 or more cups of tea every day for better results.

6. Spinach

Spinach
Spinach is a healthy and nutrient-rich food you should certainly include in your everyday diet. You may hatespinach, but it is a wonderful source of iron, folate, chlorophyll, Vitamin E, magnesium, Vitamin A, fiber, plant protein, and Vitamin C. Due to their antioxidant abilities, Vitamins C, E, and A are especially great for your skin.
Spinach contains antioxidants that fight against all types of skin problems. Add it to your everyday diet and see what happens. By eating spinach, you’re just cleaning your skin from the inside out!

7. Seeds

Seeds
Chia seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flax seeds are all great for your skin. Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are both rich in selenium, Vitamin E, magnesium and protein. Selenium and protein keep all wrinkles away, Vitamin E enhances moisture in your skin and magnesium lowers your stress levels. The healthy Omega 3 fatty acids in flax, chia and hemp seeds are perfect for fighting wrinkles and acne. Plus, these seeds are rich in protein.
Just sprinkle seeds right on top of your salad or oatmeal and enjoy the great taste as well as perfect skin. I like to add seeds to a fruit yogurt, I think it tastes even better. I also add raw pumpkin seeds in my oh-so delicious smoothies. And what are your favorite seeds? How do you eat them?

8.  Celery

Celery
Another food to eat daily for perfect skin is celery. Many of us underestimate this veggie, but celery contains Vitamin K that keeps the blood circulation healthy and helps to reduce high blood pressure. This can reduce your stress level, and as you know stress can cause bad skin, migraines and even cancer.
Celery also contains natural sodium, potassium and water, and can help to prevent dehydration. I hope you know that dehydrated skin means dryness, flaking, wrinkles, and even breakouts. Make sure you consume celery every day or at least every other day. If you are counting calories, don’t worry, celery is very low in calories!

9. Papaya
Papaya
Papaya is a wonderful fruit which has a rich history and numerous nutritional benefits. It is very low in calories (only 39 calories per 100 g!) and also contains no cholesterol. So if you are trying to lose weight, consider eating papaya every day to maximize its health benefits.
A great beauty food, papaya is low in fructose and is excellent for digestion! The antioxidant nutrients found in it, including Vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, are great at reducing inflammation and acne. Moreover, Vitamin C may also protect your skin against sun damage.

10. Carrots

Carrots1
Carrots are good not only for your eyes, but also for your skin. They are especially good for clearing up breakouts. Carrots are rich in vitamin A and they help prevent the overproduction of cells in the outer layer of the skin. That’s where excess sebum combines with dead cells and clogs pores.
Another great reason to snack on some carrots is because Vitamin A reduces the development of skin-cancer cells. So make sure you nibble on a half-cup of baby carrots every day for perfect skin. I love carrots and I think they make a great snack.
You don’t have to eat all these foods every day, but even some of them would be great! Be sure to avoid junk foods, too much sugar, trans fats and refined carbs for the best skin possible. Which of these foods do you eat every day? Share your thoughts, please, and thanks for reading!

Infused Waters That You Must Try

Craving for something refreshing? Skip the carbonated 
drinks and vitamin water. Try these instead!

Infused waters. Here are their benefits to help with
 detoxification, energy and hydration. Put as much 
fruit in water as you like and let the water sit for at 
least 30 minutes before drinking.

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1. Green Tea + Mint + Lime
Fat burning, digestion, headaches, congestion and 
breath freshener.
2. Strawberry + Kiwi
Cardiovascular health, immune system protection,
 blood sugar regulation, digestion.
3. Cucumber + Lime + Lemon
Water weight management, bloating, appetite control,
 hydration, digestion
4. Lemon + Lime + Orange
For digestion vitamin C, immune defense, heartburn. 
P.S. Drink this one at room temperature.

9 Simple Ways To Reduce Your Risk of Kidney Disease

kidneys

Kidney 

The kidneys are bean-shaped organs that serve several essential regulatory roles in vertebrate animals. They remove excess organic molecules (e.g., glucose) and it is by this action that their best-known function is performed: the removal of waste products of metabolism (e.g., urea, though 90% of this is reabsorbed along the nephron.) They are essential in the urinary system and also servehomeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and regulation of blood pressure(via maintaining salt and water balance). They serve the body as a natural filter of the blood, and remove water soluble wastes, which are diverted to the urinary bladder. In producing urine, the kidneys excrete wastes such as urea and ammonium, and they are also responsible for the reabsorption of water, glucose, and amino acids. The kidneys also produce hormones including calcitriol,erythropoietin, and the enzyme renin, the latter of which indirectly acts on the kidney in negative feedback.
Located at the rear of the abdominal cavity in the retroperitoneum, the kidneys receive blood from the paired renal arteries, and drain into the paired renal veins. Each kidney excretes urine into a ureter, itself a paired structure that empties into the urinary bladder.
Renal physiology is the study of kidney function, while nephrology is the medical specialty concerned with kidney diseases. Diseases of the kidney are diverse, but individuals with kidney disease frequently display characteristic clinical features. Common clinical conditions involving the kidney include the nephritic and nephrotic syndromes, renal cysts, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, urinary tract infection, nephrolithiasis, and urinary tract obstruction.[1] Various cancers of the kidney exist; the most common adult renal cancer is renal cell carcinoma. Cancers, cysts, and some other renal conditions can be managed with removal of the kidney, or nephrectomy. When renal function, measured by glomerular filtration rate, is persistently poor, dialysis and kidney transplantation may be treatment options. Although they are not normally harmful, kidney stones can be painful, and repeated, chronic formation of stones can scar the kidneys. The removal of kidney stones involves ultrasound treatment to break up the stones into smaller pieces, which are then passed through the urinary tract. One common symptom of kidney stones is a sharp to disabling pain in the medial/lateral segments of the lower back or groin. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidney
9 Simple Ways To Reduce Your Risk of Kidney Disease
  1. * Eat healthier foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and lean cuts of meat
  2. * Stay fit by exercising regularly
  3. * Maintain your blood sugar level and keep it under control
  4. * Regularly check your blood pressure and try keeping it low
  5. * Lower your salt intake and drink lots of water so that the kidneys will be flushed
  6. * Quit smoking
  7. * Limit our consumption of over the counter pills, try natural remedies
  8. * Have your doctor check your kidney functions regularly
  9. * If you have a family history of kidney disease then you should have regular kidney checks.

Are These 10 Trendy Health Foods Worth The Hype?

We are all raving about healthy food and very quick to jump into new forms of diet to achieve a new lifestyle called healthy living. And while these trendy and buzz-worthy health foods like acai, spirulina and wheatgrass are all getting the attention, it is but fitting to stop and think why they are healthy — and whether it’s worth shelling out the extra cash for them.
Here are the reasons why, what they are exactly, why we eat them and whether they’re actually worth the hype, according to Keri Gans, R.D., author of “The Small Change Diet,”
Acai Berries
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They’re hard to pronounce, so they must be good for you, right? Sure, acai (pronounced ah-sah-YEE) berries — which are usually found in a processed form, such as a powder, or found in yogurts or smoothies — are a boon to health because of their high levels of antioxidants. But … so are other berries. “Blueberries and raspberries are also high in antioxidants,” Gans notes. So sure, go ahead and try out products with acai berries if you want to, but local berries — especially when in season — are probably a cheaper and more readily accessible way of obtaining antioxidants. (It’s also important to note that any claims about acai berries having special weight loss powers have not been backed up by research.)
Bottom line: Acai berries are a good source of antioxidants, but you’d be just as well off buying regular berries/berry products.
Wheatgrass
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If you’ve ever stepped foot in a juice or smoothie shop, you’ve probably seen the option to add a shot of wheatgrass to your concoction. Wheatgrass is a young grass from the wheat family, and is typically seen in capsule or liquid form. And while it’s certainly packed with nutrients — it’s got iron, calcium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E — it doesn’t really provide anything that special that other vegetables can’t also provide, Gans says. “It’s not going to cause any harm to do a shot of wheatgrass, but is it going to do much more than just having a healthy snack?” she explains. “It is good for you, and it is nutrient-packed,” but you could also just opt to put in a handful of spinach or kale into your smoothie.
Bottom line: Wheatgrass does have health benefits, but other veggies could probably provide you with similar ones.
Chia Seeds
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Chia seeds are tiny, edible seeds that are packed with big benefits — in fact, just 1 tablespoon has 5 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. They also don’t have much of a taste — which makes them a great way to amp up the nutrients of of a salad, smoothie or a bowl of oatmeal, Gans says. They can also help keep you full because they’re such a good source of fiber.
Bottom line: Chia seeds are a good way to sneak some extra fiber and protein into your dishes.

Quinoa
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Quinoa may be known as an “ancient grain,” but it’s technically a seed. And it’s probably one of those healthy foods you’ve heard buzz about in the last few years — but is it actually worth the hype? Gans calls it a “great addition to an already hopefully varied diet.” It’s high in protein — it’s actually a “complete protein,” with all nine essential amino acids — and also contains fiber and iron.
Bottom line: Quinoa is a great way to get protein.
Spirulina
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Spirulina is a dark green algae that is most commonly found in dried powdered form. It’s very high in protein — making it an option for vegans who have fewer protein options available to them, Gans says. An ounce of dried spirulina gives about 15 grams of protein, which is around the amount in two jumbo eggs. And spirulina also has beta carotene — an antioxidant — and iron. But for those who eat animal products, you can likely get all these nutrients through cheaper, more readily accessible foods. “So if you’re eating a well-balanced diet, do you need to start spending money and running to the health food store to buy spirulina? I don’t necessarily think so,” Gans says. Instead of adding spirulina powder to a smoothie, you could instead add milk or yogurt to get the protein.
Bottom line: Spirulina is a good way to get protein particularly if you’re a vegan. But if you’re not a vegan, there are other more accessible ways to get protein.
Nutritional Yeast
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Nutritional yeast is often fortified with vitamin B12, which is a vitamin that many vegans are deficient in because they don’t eat animal products. So just like spirulina, nutritional yeast is a great way of getting B12 — but there’s not really a reason for a consumer of animal products to seek it out if they’re getting B12 from other sources, Gans says. Because of its cheese-like taste, some people sprinkle it on foods in place of cheese — which Gans says is completely fine, if you want to get creative culinarily.
Bottom line: Nutritional yeast is a good way to get vitamin B12 particularly if you’re a vegan. But if you’re not a vegan, there are other more accessible ways to get vitamin B12.
Wheat Germ
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Wheat germ is the inner-most layer of wheat. It’s high in fiber, and also has monounsaturated fats and protein. It can be added to foods like oatmeal or salad, or used as a breading for meat. Basically, wheat germ is “another hidden way to add nutrients to something in areas where most people are lacking,” Gans said.
Bottom line: Wheat germ is a way to add extra fiber to your dishes.
Tempeh
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Tempeh is similar to tofu in that both are made from soybeans. However, tempeh is made from cooked soybeans that have been fermented, that are then put into a mold. It’s mostly sold prepackaged in stores, and flavors or spices are added to it. Tempeh is high in protein — providing around 18 grams of it for a 3.5-ounce portion, which is comparable to protein provided by chicken. Tempeh is a good option for people wanting to go meatless — even if not full-time, but just one day a week — since it can be used in place of meat in many dishes, Gans says.
Bottom line: Tempeh is a good meat alternative for people looking to eat a plant-based diet. 
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Flaxseed, also known as linseed, is another great way to sneak extra nutrients into your smoothies, cereal or baked goods. It’s high in fiber, and also contains omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Like chia, it doesn’t really have much flavor. But unlike chia, it needs to be ground up in order for the body to digest it fully.
Bottom line: Flaxseed is an excellent way to add extra fiber, protein and omega-3s to your dishes.
Seitan
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Seitan is made of wheat gluten, which is the main protein of wheat, and is often used as a meat replacement in dishes. It’s — not surprisingly — high in protein. However, unlike tempeh or tofu which are also commonly used as meat replacements, it actually has a similar texture and flavor to meat. It doesn’t have much flavor on its own, so keep in mind that commercially prepared versions of seitan may be high in sodium or other extra ingredients. Gans notes that seitan is another good meat alternative if you’re looking to go meatless or more plant-based, or just wanting to get creative with your protein sources — just keep in mind how it’s prepared. “Just because it’s seitan, if it’s a fried version, thats not making it any healthier,” she says.
Bottom line: Seitan is a good meat alternative for people looking to eat a plant-based diet; just beware of hidden ingredients added to it to give it flavor.