Vitamin K Builds Bones Better Than Calcium

Many people immediately turn to calcium in the form ofsupplements or milk in order to boost bone density and prevent osteoporosis. But those sources of calcium are NOT the best way to build bone health. In fact, it’s vitamin K2 that helps boost bone density and prevent osteoporosis even more.

According to recent research*, men and women with the highest intake of vitamin K2 are 65% less likely to suffer a debilitating hip fracture as compared to those with the lowest intake of vitamin K2.

According to recent research**, vitamin K plays a leading role in preventing the following problems commonly associated with aging:

• Osteoporosis and deteriorating bones
• Artery hardening
• Cancer

This latest study on vitamin K2 was led by Professor Bruce Ames Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley, and a Senior Scientist at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI).

Ames hypothesizes that vitamin K2 deficiencies impact the body by the role they play in production of certain proteins. When the body lacks in vitamin K2 these essential functions are compromised. Despite higher functions still being operative, the body responds by accelerating cancers, aging, and neural decay while leaving other critical functions unchanged.

In other words, when the body lacks enough vitamin K2, it goes into emergency modekeeping up only the critical functions needed for immediate survival. The result is that the other vital processes break down leaving the body vulnerable to weak bones, cancers, and artery problems.

According a Tufts University study only 50% of the population gets adequate amounts of vitamin K from their diets. Are you getting enough vitamin K in your diet or is your body silently being depleted, leaving you at higher risk for dangerous disease?

Vitamin K 101

Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin with basically three main types; K, K1, and K2. For the purposes of this discussion we’re speaking of K2. A fat soluble vitamin is one that is absorbed in the intestines along with fat. Fat soluble vitamins are stored in the liver.

Vitamin K plays a vital role in blood clotting as well as bone calcification; both vital body functions for healthy living and disease free aging.

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for adult females is 65 mg and 80 mg for men. For children and infants the RDA is 5 mg.

Common Causes of Vitamin K Deficiencies

Although deficiencies in vitamin K used to be very rare the times have changed. Sadly, as is evident by the Tufts University study, more and more people are becoming deficient in this vitamin too.

Poor diet is one of the factors playing into a vitamin K deficiency (as well as other important vitamin and mineral deficiencies). There are a few common contributors to promoting a deficiency in vitamin K. Are any of these familiar to you?

• Long term use of antibiotics
• Intestinal problems such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease
• Cholesterol lowering pharmaceuticals

Basically since vitamin K is produced by friendly bacteria in the gut, any disruption in the intestines can result in a decreased ability of the body to absorb or produce vitamin K.

This can happen from any problem in the intestines as well as eating foods such as hydrogenated vegetable oils which impact the absorption of vitamin K and the body’s ability to use it.

The disruption of friendly bacteria in the gut from antibiotics, chlorinated & fluoridated water, and fake foods is one reason I recommend almost everyone supplement with a high quality probiotic. I personally use this one.

As with any vitamin, mineral, or other nutrient, fresh, whole foods are the very best source. Along with it you’ll get more nutrients and all your body needs to properly assimilate it.

Food Sources of Vitamin K

The best food sources of vitamin K are leafy green vegetables.

There are other foods that offer vitamin K too:

• Spinach
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Soybeans
• Cow’s milk
• Lettuce
• Asparagus
• Collard greens
• Bok Choy
• Peas
• Parsley
• Green tea
• Lentils
• Split peas

Once again I want to emphasize that eating a variety of these foods in your daily diet is the best way to obtain vitamin K. However if for some reason you can’t consume these or they aren’t enough, consider a high quality vitamin K supplement. Generally speaking a deficiency in vitamin K is usually due to a problem with absorption rather than a lack in the diet.

If you suspect you are vitamin K deficient I urge you to pinpoint the cause and act accordingly.

Symptoms of Vitamin K Deficiency

Symptoms of a vitamin K deficiency can include:

• Easy bruising
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Nosebleeds
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Blood in the urine

People with certain diseases are more likely to be deficient in vitamin K. These include celiac disease, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, and cholestasis to name a few.

Despite the fact that vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin there are no well documented or known toxicity problems. However it is not recommended to take supplements of this vitamin if you are taking anticoagulant drugs.

If you not sure if you have a deficiency in this crucial vitamin ask your health care practitioner who can order tests to determine for certain if you are deficient. They can also help guide you based on test results in proper supplementation if needed and getting to the root cause of the deficiency.

9 Benefits of a High Protein Diet

Arguably, high protein diets are also low-carbohydrate (or low carb) diets due to the fact that they restrict carbohydrates and place the bulk of nourishment on consuming protein-packed foods for calories and energy.

Perhaps the most well known high-protein diet is Atkins, a diet regimen that takes the bulk of calories from protein (with 20- to 30-percent of calories coming from protein); compared to more traditional diets that recommend 10- to 15-percent of calories come from lean, protein-rich foods, like meat.

As with any diet, you must remember that there are always pros and cons. For example, the long-term consumption of a high protein diet has been linked to heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol, certain types of cancer, calcium deficiency that causes osteoporosis, and kidney stones. However, for this particular article, let’s focus on the nine benefits of a high protein diet…

1. Easy to Follow Diet

Most diets break the bank as far as buying up a bunch of diet-brand or strange foods that you’ve never even heard of and probably won’t like. However, high protein diets stick to what you know with any special type of protein so you can stick to protein-rich foods that you already enjoy so it’s a diet that’s easy to follow.

2. Protein Satiates You for Longer

High protein are often favored by those who like to snack after meals for the simple fact that after eating a protein-heavy meal; you’ll feel full and resist the urge to snack for much longer. And, let’s face it, taking away the desire to gorge yourself on snacks will lower your daily calories consumed and help you lose weight much faster.

3. Faster Weight Loss

Sure, this high protein diet will help you lose weight faster—over the short term. This means you’ll notice drastic weight loss early on, but if you continue to consume a diet made up of mostly protein, eventually your body will store the excess as fat, causing you to gain back that lost weight and contributing to high cholesterol and other health issues.

4. Skin, Hair, and Muscle Repair

As far as glowing skin, luscious locks of hair, and strong muscles, high protein diets can help in those areas as well, due to the fact that protein is an essential building block to cell growth and regeneration—meaning that protein is required to keep your blood circulating, skin regenerating, muscles repairing, and bones strong.

5. Boosts Energy

Protein is a macronutrient, which means the body takes its best energy stores (or nutrients in order to function) from protein. In the end, protein is essential for daily movement, memory, thought, and physical exertion.

6. Heart Health

If you consume a high protein diet, fish will be a common staple that you’ll eat quite frequently throughout the week. Luckily, fish is not only low in fat; it’s jam-packed with omega-3 fatty acids (or heart health fats) that will help lower your cholesterol, promote weight loss, and reduce your chances of developing heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.

7. Less Water Retention

Another plus of cutting carbohydrate intake and focusing on high protein foods is that you’ll banish excess bloat and water weight. However, on the flip side, consuming a diet void of complex carbohydrates means that once you start eating them again, you’ll gain the water weight back quite quickly.

8. Lower Cholesterol with Soy

Many focus on the fact that a high protein diet can attribute to high cholesterol and heart disease. However, if you concentrate on high protein sources that are also plant-based, like soy, you can actually help lose weight as you lower cholesterol. Try incorporating foods such as tofu and faux meat sources made with soy beans into your high protein diet.

9. Foods Are Inexpensive

Inexpensive cuts of lean beef, fish, chicken, soy, tofu, beans, and low fat dairy—really, when you consider the foods common to a high protein diet, the cost is quite comparable, or even less expensive, than most mainstream diets.

10 Flax Seed Benefits and Nutrition Facts (No. 1 is Best)

 Flax seeds have been consumed as food for around 6,000 years and may have very well been the worlds first cultivated superfood!

Flax seed benefits could help you improve digestion, give you clear skin, lower cholesterol, reduce sugar cravings, balance hormones, fight cancer and promote weight loss… and that’s just the beginning!

Flaxseeds, sometimes called linseeds, are small, brown, tan or golden-colored seeds that are the richest sources of a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid, called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in the world!

Another unique fact about flaxseeds is that they rank #1 source of lignans in human diets.  Flaxseeds contain about 7 times as many lignans as the closest runner-up, sesame seeds.

Stunning Flaxseed Nutrition Facts

When you look at the nutritional benefits of flax seeds, there are many things that will catch your attention.

A  1 ounce (3 tbsp) serving of flaxseeds contains:

• Omega-3 (ALA) 6,338mg
• Fiber 8g
• Protein 6g
• Vitamin B1 31% RDA
• Manganese 35% RDA
• Magnesium 30% RDA
• Phosphorus 19% RDA
• Selenium 10% RDA
• Also, flaxseeds contain a good amount of vitamin B6, Iron, potassium, copper and zinc.

This flax seed nutrition profile makes it easy to see why it’s one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet.

10 Medicinal Benefits of Flax Seeds

1. High in Fiber, but Low in Carbs

One of the most extraordinary benefits of flax seeds is that they contain high levels of mucilage gum content.  Mucilage is a gel-forming fiber that is water soluble and has incredible benefits on the intestinal tract.

The mucilage can keep food in the stomach from emptying too quickly into the small intestine which can increase nutrient absorption.

Also, flax is extremely high in both soluble and insoluble fiber which can support colon detoxification, fat loss and reduce sugar cravings.

You should aim to consume 30-40 g of high fiber foods daily.

2. Healthy Skin and Hair

If you want healthier skin, hair and nails then consider adding 2 tbsp of flax seeds to your smoothie or 1 tbsp of flax seed oil to your daily routine.

The ALA fats in flax seeds benefits the skin and hair by providing essential fats as well as b-vitamins which can help reduce dryness and flakiness. It can also improve symptoms of acne, rosacea, and eczema. This also applies to eye health as flax can reduce dry eye syndrome.

Flax seed oil is another great option since it has an even higher concentration of healthy fats. You can take 1-2 tbsp internally to hydrate skin and hair.  It can also be mixed with essential oils and used as a natural skin moisturizer.

3. Weight Loss

A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that flaxseeds and walnuts may improve obesity and support weight loss.

Since flax is full of healthy fats and fiber, it will help you feel satisfied longer so you will eat fewer calories overall which may lead to weight loss. ALA fats may also help reduce inflammation.

This is important for weight loss in that an inflamed body will tend to hold on to excess weight. Add a couple of teaspoons of ground flaxseed to soups, salads, or smoothies as part of your weight loss plan.

4. Lower Cholesterol

The journal of Nutrition and Metabolism found that adding flax seeds into your diet can naturally reduce cholesterol levels.

The soluble fiber content of flax seeds trap fat and cholesterol in the digestive system so that it unable to be absorbed. Soluble fiber also traps bile, which is made from cholesterol in the gallbladder.

The bile is then excreted through the digestive system, forcing the body to make more, using up excess cholesterol in the blood and lowering cholesterol overall.

5. Flaxseeds are Gluten-Free

Using flax is a great way to naturally replace gluten-containing grains which are inflammatory where flax is anti-inflammatory.  So, flax seeds are great for those who have Celiac disease or have a gluten-sensitivity. They may also be a good alternative to omega-3 fats in fish for people with a seafood allergy.

Another great aspect of flax being gluten-free is that it can be used as a grain-free option in cooking.  I will often use it along with coconut flour in baking at home.

6. Flaxseeds are High in Antioxidants (Lignans)

Amongst its other incredible nutrition facts, flax seeds are also packed with antioxidants. Lignans are unique fiber-related polyphenols that provide us with antioxidant benefits for anti-aging, hormone balance and cellular health.

Polyphenols support the growth of probiotics in the gut and may also help eliminate yeast and candida in the body.

Lignans are also known for their anti-viral and antibacterial properties, therefore consuming flax regularly may help reduce the number or severity of colds and flus.

7. Digestive Health

Maybe the biggest flax seed benefits come from it’s ability to promote digestive health. The ALA in flax can help protect the lining of the digestive tract and maintain GI health. It has been shown to be beneficial for people suffering from Crohn’s disease or other digestive ailments, as it can help reduce gut inflammation.

You can also take 1-3 tbsp of flax seed oil with 8 oz of carrot juice to help naturally relieve constipation.

Flax is also very high in soluble and insoluble fiber which can also improve digestive health and is one of the highest magnesium foods in the world.

Two tablespoons of flaxseeds contains about 5 g of fiber or 1/4 of the RDA. The fiber found in flaxseeds provides food for friendly bacteria in your colon that can help cleanse waste from your system.

8. Flax Seeds for Cancer

Flax seed benefits have been proven time and time again and even including fighting breast, prostate, ovarian and colon cancer.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Cancer Research discovered that consuming flax seeds may decrease the risk of breast cancer. The three lignans found in flaxseeds can be converted by intestinal bacteria into enterolactone  and enterodiol which naturally balance hormones which may be the reason flax seeds reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Another study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that the lignans in flaxseeds may also reduce the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer.

9. High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

We hear a lot about the health benefits of fish oil or omega-3 fats. Fish oil contains EPA and DHA, two omega-3 fats that are critical for optimal health. Although flaxseeds do not contain EPA or DHA, they do contain ALA, another type of omega-3 fat.

A study published in Nutrition Reviews has shown that approximately 20% of ALA can be converted into EPA, but only .5% of ALA is converted into DHA. Also, surprisingly gender may play a big role in conversion where young women had a 2.5-fold greater rate than men.

Regardless of conversion, ALA is still considered a healthy fat and should be included in a balanced diet.

10. Menopausal Symptoms

The lignans in the flax have been shown to have benefits for menopausal women. It can be used as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy because lignans do have estrogenic properties.

These properties may also help reduce the risk of osteoporosis. It can even help menstruating women by helping maintain cycle regularity.

To experience the flax seed benefits for your hormones include 1-2 tbsp of flax meal in a breakfast smoothie along with 1 tbsp of flax seed oil.

How to Use Flax Seeds

There are many great ways to add these super seeds into your diet including adding them to homemade muffins, breads and cookies.

One of the most common questions about baking with flax seeds is, does baking have any effect on omega-3 fatty acid?

According to many studies, you can bake flax seeds at 300F for 3 hours and the omega-3’s (ALA) in flax seeds remained stable.

Tips for including flaxseed in your diet include:

• Add 1-3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed to a morning smoothie
• Mix a tablespoon in with yogurt and raw honey
• Bake ground flaxseeds into muffins, cookies and breads
• Add to homemade sprouted granola
• Can be mixed with water and used as an egg substitute

Flax Seeds vs. Flax Meal vs. Sprouted Flax

Flaxseeds are best consumed ground as our bodies cannot access the nutrients if they are eaten whole and they will pass through undigested.

You can grind the flax in a coffee grinder, this is best done immediately before eating them so they do not spend much time exposed to air or you can buy them pre-ground.

However the very best way to experience flax seed benefits is to consume them in theirsprouted form. Soaking flax seeds and then sprouting them eliminates phytic acid and may greatly increase mineral absorption.

Like other sources of fiber including chia seeds and hemp seeds, make sure to take them with plenty of water or other fluids.

10 Amazing Health Benefits Of Jaggery (Gur)

How many of you have seen your grandparents and parents eating jaggery after lunch or dinner! Do you know why do they eat it and recommend it to others as well? There are a number of reasons behind it. There are innumerable health benefits of jaggery. It is not just a raw sweet or sweetening agent but also a wonderful remedy for many diseases.

Jaggery is a great remedy for anemia, asthma, joint pains and menstrual pains. It also aids in digestion, purifies blood and keeps the skin away from problems such as acnes and pimples. It is a great energy booster as it provides us lots of energy. If you feel drained at any point of the day, a piece of jaggery with water can do wonders for you.

Some people don't like because of its raw appearance. It's yellowish, dark brown color and solid or gooey texture might be very unappealing, but its health benefits are great. If you don't like it in its raw form, you can have jaggery laddoos. These laddoos are made up of lots of dry fruits like almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts and jaggery. It is a great way to gain its health benefits while satisfying your taste buds and eyes as well.

Purifies Blood 

Jaggery is a wonderful sweet that not only tastes delicious but also purifies the blood. It acts as a cleansing agent for our blood and purifies it. You simply have to add it to your diet and have its benefits.Good for Digestion 

As jaggery has natural cleansing properties, it also helps get rid of digestion problems. If you eat a piece of jaggery every day with water or milk, your body will be free from all toxins.

Cools your Stomach

Having a medium sized piece of jaggery with water every day is wonderful for your body and stomach. Especially during summers, it cools down your stomach and whole body temperature.

Prevents Anemia 

It is a great remedy for women suffering from anemia. Jaggery is a rich source of iron and if women add it to their daily diet, it helps them get rid of anemia. It is a must eat for all women, especially teenagers and pregnant women.

Good for Skin 

Jaggery is great for your skin also. It makes your skin healthy and charming. If you have acne and pimples on your skin, eat jiggery every day. You will definitely see them going away and get a lovely and flawless skin.


Cures Cough and Cold 

It is an age-old remedy to cure dry cough and cold. If you don't like eating Jaggery in its raw form, you can try jaggery laddoos, which are made with sesame seeds and jaggery. They are very good in taste.

Provides Instant Energy 

When you are extremely tired and exhausted, have jaggery. It is an instant energy provider. The best thing about jaggery is that it is digested and absorbed gradually which in turn doesn't raise blood sugar level immediately.


Prevents Asthma.

Jaggery is, often, recommended to Asthma patients as it is a great remedy to cure asthma. It has such properties which regulates body temperature which is very good for Asthma patients. It also has anti-allergy properties.


Reduces Joint Pains 

If you are suffering from joint pains, eat jaggery, it is wonderful for you. Eat jaggery with a piece of ginger every day, it will definitely help you get rid of joint pains. Jaggery is good for migraine patients also.


Cures Menstrual Pain 

Many girls bear acute pain during their menstrual cycle. If you also have this problem, eat jaggery. It helps relieve premenstrual pain. You should have it at least once daily.

20 Amazing Benefits Of Tamarind For Skin, Hair And Health

Tangy, yet sweet, imli aka tamarind is unarguably a palate pleasing fruit. No wonder it has carved a special place for itself in the Indian kitchens, in the form of chutneys, digestive candies, pickles, and more. However, the uses of this deep and brown colored pulpy fruit, goes beyond just being a kitchen staple. It can be used to rejuvenate and revamp your skin and hair. Packed with assorted vitamins, such as Vitamin C, antioxidants including carotene, minerals, such as magnesium and potassium, this mushy fruit can easily makes its way into your daily skincare regimen

Skin Benefits of Tamarind:

Wondering what would be the effects of applying tamarind topically to your skin? Nothing, but pure beauty! Read on to know in depth about the benefits tamarind has in store for the skin:

1. Lightens Your Skin:

The pulp of tamarind can be used to lighten the skin tone. Just soak 30 grams of this fruit in 150 ml hot water for 10 minutes. Extract the pulp. Mix ½ a teaspoon turmeric powder to this extract. Apply evenly on cleansed skin and leave for 15 minutes. Wash off with tepid water to reveal a fairer and more radiant skin. This pack is ideal for oily skin and can be used by 3 times a week for a glowing skin.

2. Natural Skin Exfoliating Agent:

Tamarind is a wonderful source of alpha hydroxyl acids. AHA, as it is commonly referred to, is one of the major ingredients in various leading exfoliating creams available in the market. These ingredients possess the potential to eliminate the dirt and impurities that lie deep inside the skin, unclogging the clogged skin pores.

Mix one teaspoon tamarind extract with one teaspoon rock salt and 1 tbsp milk cream or yogurt. While milk cream is ideal for dry skin, yogurt works well for oily skin. Mix all the ingredients well. Apply the mixture evenly on your face and using your finger, massage in gentle, circular motions for 5 to 7 minutes to eliminate the dead cells and reveal a clean and clear skin.

3. Innate Skin Bleaching Properties:

Give your skin natural bleach effects with pure and natural tamarind extract. Mix one teaspoon of tamarind extract with one teaspoon each of lemon and honey. Apply this mixture on your face and wash off after 15 minutes for a visibly lighter skin.

4. Natural Remedy For Cellulite:

Are you in search of a good, yet affordable exfoliating agent to eliminate cellulite from your body? Then tamarind could be your answer. Mix 2 teaspoon of fresh tamarind extract with 1 teaspoon each of sugar and lemon juice and half a teaspoon baking soda. Mix the ingredients well. Apply on the skin and using a brush, scrub gently in circular motions. This one will lessen the visibility of cellulite. Make sure you do it before you get your skin waxed as it could otherwise cause blisters. This remedy is just for people with oily skin.

5. Natural Skin Hydrating And Toning Properties:

A bowl of boiled and cooled tamarind water can be used as a natural skin toning and moisturizing agent. Just add 15 grams of tamarind to boiling hot water and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons of green tea to the water and simmer for another 5 minutes. Strain both the liquids and mix well. This can be used as a natural skin toning and hydrating agent. All you have to do is allow the mixture to cool and apply.

6. Natural Anti-aging Agent:

Tamarind is packed with various acids, antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins that combat the free radicals. These free radicals can cause premature aging. Apply a pack made with gram flour, tamarind extract, semolina, and honey, on a regular basis, to prevent these damages and give your skin that radiant and youthful look.

7. Removes Dark Circles Around The Neck:

The dark shades on the neck are common in women than men. While many of us resort to bleaching agents as instant solutions, here is one natural ingredient which could have longer lasting effects. Mix in 1 teaspoon tamarind concentrate with 1 tsp honey and 1 tsp rose water. Apply this on the neck and leave for about 20 minutes. Wash off with rose water or warm water. Doing this for a period of time could help in eliminating the darkness completely.

8. For Blemish-Free Skin:

Packed with AHA, tamarind is an established anti-blemish agent. It is also known to act as a natural remedy for pigmentation. Just apply freshly prepared tamarind juice on the face to ease the blemishes and pigmentation and reveal a clear skin.

9. Cure For Inflammatory Skin Conditions:

The Vitamin C, A, and other antioxidants present in tamarind enables it to act as a natural cure for various inflammatory skin conditions, including pimples and acne. Just mix tamarind extract with turmeric powder and fresh yogurt. Apply this pack on your face and allow it to dry. Wash off with warm water and apply a good moisturizer exclusive for oily skin. This will not only combat the skin eruptions, but also ensure that your skin gets a glow.

Hair Benefits of Tamarind:

10. Prevents Hair Loss:

Tamarind is known to strengthen hair and prevent hair loss. Soak a lemon sized ball of tamarind in water for 10 minutes. Extract the liquid and massage it all over your scalp and hair. Dip a towel in warm water and squeeze out the extra water. Use this hot towel to cover your hair and scalp. Leave as such for half an hour. Rinse off thoroughly with a good shampoo followed by a conditioner. This can be repeated twice a week to prevent hair loss.

Health Benefits of Tamarind:

Let us now discuss how regular usage of tamarind is beneficial as it contains various nutrients in different proportions that are desired by the body. The tamarind benefits are as follows.

11. Antiseptic:

Tamarind is used as an antiseptic to heal wounds and to prevent infections from spreading in the body.

12. Bilious disorders:

Tamarind is an effective cure for bilious disorders. it plays an indirect yet very important role in controlling the cholesterol levels in the body. Dietary fibres in tamarind binds to bile salts formed from cholesterol and decrease its re-absorption. This helps excrete bad cholesterol and keeps your heart healthy.

13. Malaria:

Tamarind mixes well in herbal tea and is used for treating malaria fever.

14. Jaundice:

A decoction of tamarind leaves is used in preparing medicinal solutions for curing jaundice and ulcers.

15. Inflammation:

Inflammation is a very serious skin care problem and also affects a few internal organs of the body that can cause a great deal of discomfort and even pain for some. Tamarind is a good medicine for treating inflammation of the skin.

16. Cancer:

Tamarind is a good source of antioxidants and helps in curbing the growth of cancerous products in the body by preventing free radicals from being formed which conduct unwanted reactions in the body.

17. Eye drops, stomach worms, sore throat:

Tamarind when mixed with other solutions makes an effective treatment for eye cleansing and for relieving stomach worms. Sore throats are also cured by such solutions.

18. Laxative:

Tamarind pulp is used as a mild laxative. This impacts the sluggishness of the bowels and a few spoonfuls of the pulp can improve bowel movements considerably.

19. Piles:

Tamarind juice, extracted from its flowers is used in the treatment of piles.

20. Blood purification:

Tamarind in general participates in the purification of blood, and hence including it in daily meals is extremely beneficial.

10 Foods to Improve Sperm Count and Quality

Getting pregnant is not always as easy as we think it should be.  One common problem is a low sperm count, but the good news is that there are foods that are not only super tasty, but super good for sperm.  

The best part?  Some of these foods are also aphrodisiacs... so if you've gotten a little bored with getting it on to get preggo, whip up a menu based on these sexy foods.

Asparagus - That little green vegetable that gets so much flack for what it does to the smell of your urine actually has some fantastic powers over sperm.  The ridiculously high amount of Vitamin C prevents sperm from oxidizing, and it protects the cells of the testicles.  Additionally, Vitamin C decreases free radicals so your man’s body can focus on producing sperm instead of fighting off disease.

Avocado - Summer is the perfect time to pick up some yummy avocados for guacamole… and a hot night at home.  Packed with vitamin E, vitamin B6, and folic acid, avocados boost sperm motility and give it the strength to penetrate an egg.

Bananas - Upon reading that this fruit can help your guy out, we had some giggly flashbacks to Drew Barrymore putting a condom on a banana in Never Been Kissed.  Phallic shape aside, there are some awesome things going on in bananas to help increase sperm count.  Bananas have a rare enzyme in them called Bromelain, which has been shown to regulate sex hormones.  There’s also a good amount of vitamin B1, vitamin A, and vitamin C which will help increase his stamina and boost his body’s ability to make sperm.

Beef - This was a little surprising to us given that doctors are constantly saying to lay off red meat if you want a healthy heart.  Lean beef, though, is a fantastic source of zinc.  A little research on the Dr. Oz site told us that zinc has protective properties that keep free radicals from getting at your man’s little swimmers.  In fact, zinc goes even further to prevent testosterone from converting to estrogen, which is the culprit of a low sex drive.

Dark Chocolate - There’s no sexier food to bring into the bedroom than dark chocolate, but now, it’s not just the seductive taste you’ll want it for.  Dark chocolate contains L-Arginine HCL, an amino acid related to the arginine in walnuts.  It also doubles your guy’s sperm count and semen volume.  Men who eat a little dark chocolate everyday have also noted that they have stronger and more intense orgasms.  BONUS: it does that for you, too.  *wink*

Garlic - Along the same lines as ginseng, garlic possesses the power to increase blood flow.  The chemical allicin not only helps keep plaque from building up in the arteries, it also improves the flow of blood to the genitals and boosts the strength and endurance of the sperm.  Garlic also contains selenium and vitamin B6 to prevent sperm damage and regulate hormones.

Ginseng - Dr. Oz recommends ginseng for guys who are dealing with less than impressive bedroom scenarios, but a little more online research tells us that men in Asia have been supplementing ginseng into their diets for centuries because it improves virility.  In fact, ginseng increases libido, sexual performance, and aids in blood flow to the testicles.  In a study at Southern Illinois University, 45 men with erectile dysfunction were put on a ginseng regimen, and at 16 weeks, 60% of those men reported having stronger erections.

Oysters - The fact that oysters are an aphrodisiac was first presented to me in the form of Sex in the City.  The process of feeding to each other and sucking down the slimy little things really gets people going.  Did you know they also have sperm count increasing benefits?  A good portion of a sperm cell is composed of zinc, which oysters are relatively high in.  Eating oysters can not only increase sperm production but it can aid in the repair of damaged sperm.

Pomegranate - This is the most super of all super foods.  It seems like it can truly cure whatever ails you from the common cold to low sperm count.  Because of the intense cocktail of antioxidants in pomegranates, the juice can lower a chemical in the blood called malondialidehyde.  That chemical destroys sperm, so drinking pomegranate juice is like putting a super hero cape on all those sperm so they can destroy the evil free radicals and get to the egg just in time.

Walnuts - In high school, we were given a comparison between the size of a walnut and a testicle.  Strangely enough, size is not the only link between them.  Walnuts contain arganine, which helps the testicles to increase sperm production and also aids in semen volume increase.  It also contains Omega-3 fatty acids which improve the blood flow to the penis.  These nuts also have twice the antioxidant power over other nuts so they do a great job of protecting the little guys, too.  BONUS: eating 7 walnuts a day lowers cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.