What Eating a Banana and an Avocado Every Day Can Do to Your Body

Both bananas and avocados are powerhouse fruits, containing large amount of vitamins and minerals. They are known for their wide range of health benefits, but not long ago scientists have revealed yet another- their ability to prevent heart attacks.

The study was done at the University of Alabama and published in journal JCI Insight. As a matter of fact, the researchers revealed that eating a banana and an avocado daily protects against heart disease, specifically against atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

In addition, it might also reduce the risk of arterial blockages, which often seek surgery.  The potassium content in these fruits relieves huge part of the burden, the study points out.  The animal study also revealed that it reduces vascular calcification, one of the complications of cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. When you eat foods containing potassium, symptoms like pliable arteries are alleviated, particularly the stiffness seen as precursor to cardiovascular disease.

Calcification and What It Means for Your Arteries

Calcification is an accumulation of calcium in the tissues, organs, or blood vessels.  According to Difference Between:

“Arteriosclerosis is a defect occurring in the artery (blood vessels carrying oxygenated blood) walls. It refers to hardening of the normally flexible walls due to loss of elasticity of the arterial musculature. When young, the arteries are flexible due to the presence of a protein called elastin.

As age advances, there is loss of this elastin causing thickening of the arterial walls. Atherosclerosis is another condition that refers to the deposition of fat plaques and cholesterol globules within the arteries causing narrowing of the lumen of the arteries.”

As the scientists explained,  vascular smooth muscle cells, or VSMCs, lead to vascular calcification in atherosclerosis and  “Arterial stiffness has become an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, representing an important health problem for the nation as a whole.”

This research suggests that vascular calcification could be a more significant contributing factor to aortic stiffening that it was thought earlier. As a matter of fact, a 2009 study is titled  “Vascular calcification: the killer of patients with chronic kidney disease.” It noted:

“Previously considered a passive, unregulated, and degenerative process occurring in the arterial media, vascular calcification has now been demonstrated to be a highly regulated process of osteochondrogenic differentiation of vascular cells.”

Magnesium and Potassium: Interrelationships in Regard to Health

The National Academy of Sciences investigated the role of various nutrients, including magnesium, and observed:

“Magnesium has been called ‘nature’s physiological calcium channel blocker.’ During magnesium depletion, intracellular calcium rises. Since calcium plays an important role in skeletal and smooth muscle contraction, a state of magnesium depletion may result in muscle cramps, hypertension, and coronary and cerebral vasospasms.

Magnesium depletion is found in a number of diseases of cardiovascular and neuromuscular function, in malabsorption syndromes, in diabetes mellitus, in renal wasting syndromes, and in alcoholism.”

Symptoms of low magnesium include irregular heart rhythms, anxiety, eye twitches, unexplained fatigue, and muscle spasms. It has been scientifically shown that problems like osteoporosis and asthma might also occur, along with symptoms that indicated potassium deficiency.

Bananas: An Example of the Adage ‘You Are What You Eat’

Bananas have a robust nutritional profile! When eating this fruit, it is important to watch you sugar intake, as it is packed with sugar ( natural fructose).  But, the potassium content is more than good for you. Here are some of the reasons to choose small banana as a snack option:

• Bananas help balance blood sugar levels as they don’t raise your glycemic index
• Unripe bananas are beneficial for people with insulin sensitivity as they contain 15 to 30 grams of digestive-resistant starch
• Eating bananas helps maintain a healthy blood pressure level
• High-potassium foods like bananas can help lower the risk of developing kidney stones

Avocados: Impressive Nutritional Profile

Avocados provide amazing nutrients which positively affect every part of the body, particularly the arteries and the heart. Some of them include vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and fiber.  To see how much you need to provide you with the optimal amounts. Nutrition Data gives data on the major nutrients one avocado contains and the percentage of daily values:

• Fiber- 54%
• Folate 41%
• Vitamin C-33%
• Vitamin B6-26%
• Vitamin K- 53%
• Magnesium-15%
• Potasisum-28%
• Pantothenic acid-28%

source: http://besthealthyguide.com/

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Have a migraine headache? Place a banana peel on your forehead for an incredible effect

Migraine is an extremely common health problem, affecting 1 in 5 women and 1 in 15 men.  Statistically, over 47 million Americans suffer or have suffered from this debilitating condition. Migraines are described as throbbing sensation which may last from a few hours to a couple of days.  There are three types of migraine:

• Migraine with aura: The specific signs occur right before the attack begins, like seeing flashing lights
• Migraine without aura: The attack begins without any specific signs
• Migraine aura without headache: It is also known as silent migraine, where migraine symptoms do occur, but a headache doesn’t develop

Most people reach for painkillers to alleviate the pain, but a doctor named Fayyaz Ahmed claims that taking painkillers regularly may actually be the cause of many headaches or migraines.  Taking painkillers on a regular basis causes the body to get used to them, and when they wear off you get another migraine attack.  As you can see, this is a vicious cycle, and it seems even impossible to get out of it.

Another reason to avoid painkillers is the fact that most of them, especially the stronger drugs,  might be highly addictive. Each time you stop taking them, adverse side effects step in, causing you to take even more.  Hence, the best way to treat a migraine and any other pain is to use a more natural approach.

5 Migraine Headache Remedies

1. Feverfew

This plant has been long used as natural remedy as well as an effective preventative measure against migraines.  The recommended daily dose is 250 mgs.  It can be taken as a supplement, but the fresh herb can be made into delicious tea or its leaves eaten fresh.  One of its key compounds called parthenolide helps prevent inflammation and stop the blood vessels in the brain from contracting.

2. Butterbur

Butterbur is obtained from the butterbur plant, a small shrub. It contains substances like isopetasin and petasin, both of which reduce inflammation and help work to produce spasm. It can be taken as powders, capsule, and as an extract.  The recommended daily dosage is 50-100 mg.

3. Ginger

Ginger has been used for culinary purposes for more than 2000 years. It is mostly used to cure upset stomach, diarrhea, and nausea.  It is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory agents known to mankind.  It can be used as powder and added to food or taken in the form of capsule.

4. Basil Oil

Basil oil is obtained from the herb Ocimum basilicum and is mostly used to treat stress, migraines, headaches, nausea, cramps, and vomiting.  You can apply a few drops on the palm and inhale for relief.  Another option is to massage a few drops to your temple. Ultimately, you can use a cold compress by adding a few drops in a bowl of cold water, dip a cloth in the solution, and place it on the forehead.

5. Banana and Ice Compress

According to Mayo Clinic, temperature therapy is a good way to great migraines. You can either apply a cold compress to the forehead or wrap ice in a banana peel and hold on the forehead for 15-20 minutes.  The potassium found in the banana peel combined with ice helps alleviate the sensation of pain.

source: http://besthealthyguide.com

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Banana Ginger Smoothie Recipe To Help You Drop Those Pounds

These days you can come across numerous methods and programs claiming to help you blast fat and shed excess pound in short amounts of time. Most of them include excessive calorie restriction, supplements that cost a little fortune, and pills or techniques that may be highly detrimental to your health.

The good news is that more and more people gradually understand that such short-term solutions are not the answer. When working with patients, many doctors have put stress reduction, balanced exercise, and well-balanced diet in their focus.

The combination of banana and ginger has been shown to be extremely helpful for those trying to lose weight. They offer a wide array of health benefits on their own, and their effects are even more enhanced when combined!

Here you have a great smoothie recipe to get you started!

Banana Ginger Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
• 2 tbsp ground flaxseeds
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• Handful baby spinach
• 12-16 oz. water

Instructions:

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth!

Ingredients Health Benefits

Bananas

According to a team of researchers at a University of Mexico, regular consumption of bananas in obese individuals led to more weight loss when compared to those who didn’t consume this fruit.

Bananas are packed with fiber and pectin, both of which promote toxin elimination and healthy digestion. They are an excellent source of energy as well, which is the reason why they are often used by athletes during a workout or for workout recovery.

Ginger

According to a study conducted at a University in Egypt, regular use of ginger was extremely effective I reducing body weight while regulating cholesterol levels.

Ginger is one of the healthiest spices known to mankind. It is useful for reducing motion sickness, morning sickness, nausea, and other system of indigestion.  It has been shown that some of its constituents help regulate movements of the stomach wall.

Flaxseeds

As found by a study at a medical school in Brazil, men susceptible to cardiovascular disease noted huge benefit from taking 60 grams of flaxseed powder a day.  Those benefits included lowered blood pressure, reduced cholesterol levels, less inflammation, and weight loss.

Flaxseeds are also known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and their fiber, copper, manganese, magnesium, vitamin B1, and omega-3 fats content.  They are extremely beneficial for digestion and have long studied for their ability to prevent and treat cancer.

Blueberries

Blueberries are extremely tasty, nutritious, and also ranked as top fat-fighting food by WebMD. They are packed with fiber, water, and antioxidants which fill you up, reduce cravings, improve digestion, and fight off diseases.

Spinach

According to a recent study by Lund University, thylakoids in spinach are capable of increasing weight loss by 43 percent compared to participants given a placebo. It was also noted that it notably reduced unhealthy cravings.

Bottom Line

When the body is properly nourished and given everything it needs, losing weight becomes quite easy. Instead of exercising more than you can actually handle or counting calories all the time, focus on giving your body nutrient –rich food.


source: http://fitlife.tv

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