Showing posts with label diabetes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diabetes. Show all posts

Wednesday, 4 June 2014

Top Ten Benefits of Aloe Vera

Hello! 

Having seen Aloe Vera Water in many stores and even local newsagents now, I thought it would be really interesting to see the benefits of Aloe Vera. Thats when Kirsty came in contact with me.

 Kristy Jones lives in Liverpool and is an avid writer and blogger. Her areas of interest are food, reviews (Book/Movie), Travel, Fashion, Lifestyle and Fitness. She works as a guest blogger on her chosen areas of interest and currently writes on behalf of European Health Card

Right so here are the health benefits of Aloe Vera and why growing an Aloe Plant this year may not be a bad thing:


 The healing powers and restorative benefits of aloe Vera make it something of a jack-of-all-trades in the health community. The gel inside of the green spikey plant has powers that range from healing burns to supporting bodily functions. Here is a look at ten different uses you have with just one simple plant-

1. It soothes burns- One of aloes most revered qualities, just rub the gel on your sunburn and you'll instantly feel it cool down. It also helps in making it heal faster.

2. It gives you smooth skin, too- If you apply it to an area of your face with acne, the anti-inflammatory properties of aloe will reduce the redness and size of acne.

3. It even helps your skin during an allergic reaction- If you consumed something you are allergic to and are experiencing puffy, red skin, aloe Vera can be applied to reduce the swelling and treat the itchiness. You should still go to a hospital, but aloe Vera will at least reduce the physical symptoms.

4. It can do wonders to reverse the signs of aging- If your body is starting to show the signs of getting older and you want to reduce wrinkles or crow's feet, apply aloe Vera to the areas affected for minor relief. The plant's special ability is so magical that it can actually reduce some of the signs of the aging process.

 5. You can use it in the shower- Aloe Vera makes an excellent body scrub, as you will smell excellent and feel smoother after applying it to your skin. You can also use it in your hair, giving you a silk-like smoothness to it.

6. Give your immune system a boost- Aloe Vera provides a boost for your immune system. Just drink a small amount to give your body a natural enhancement that will keep colds away and also enhance your digestive system.

7. Aloe Vera helps fight mouth problems- If you have gum disease or even something as small as a cut in your mouth, aloe Vera will help in healing those problems and preventing continuous bleeding. It also fights bacteria, giving you a cleaner feel after brushing your teeth.

8. It can help those with diabetes- Aloe Vera or supplements containing aloe Vera are an all-natural alternative to fighting high blood sugar levels in diabetics. After a few months of use, you will notice a significant improvement and will feel excellent.

9. Help fight asthma- If you are feeling short of breath, just boil some aloe Vera leaves in hot water and breathe in the steam. It creates an excellent, all natural smell, and will open up your airways.

10. Fight ear and eye infections- Aloe Vera works great as a general anti-inflammatory and as an anti-irritant. These powers even stretch into infections of the eye or ear, where some applied aloe Vera can reduce the pain and swelling.


A European Health Insurance Card will get you access too many things that can fight the above mentioned ailments, but a simple application of aloe Vera can do wonders as well.
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So, I hope you enjoyed the post by Kirsty, have you used Aloe Vera in your beauty regimen or tried Aloe Vera Water? 


Wednesday, 26 March 2014

Health Benefits of Raisins

Hello!

I know raisins are a very controversial food - some love them and others hate them… I, for one, am definitely do not agree with the latter!
I LOVE raisins and having consuming it a lot recently, I was interested in the health benefits of it - and seeing as you're reading this, I guess you are too - so let's crack on!

Promotes Efficient Absorption of Vitamins, Proteins and Nutrients
This leads to a better immune system which helps fight off disease!

Aids Digestion
Due to the high fibre content of raisins, it helps maintain regular bowl movements (avoid constipation) and therefore toxins and waste materials can be easily passed out of your body. In addition, Raisins are naturally sweet, so the fruit sugars are easy to digest, unlike the processed sugars in many of our foods today! These natural sugars are said to help the spikes or plunges in insulin levels which can be dangerous for diabetes patients (medium Glycemic Index)

Protection against Cavities and Tooth Decay
Due to the 'oleanolic acid' in Raisins, growth of harmful bacteria is prevented. This also reduces risk of gum disease

Source of Calcium
Keep your bones and teeth strong! Due to content of micronutrient 'Boron', calcium absorption is helped, therefore more calcium for your body.

Source of Iron & Copper
Which is necessary for Red Blood Cell Formation

Reduce Body Acidity
Raising are a source of Potassium and Magnesium - this helps reduce body acidity. Potassium is also said to reduce Blood Pressure

Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Bacterial Properties

Source of Antioxidants
Prevents development of Tumours

Vitamins A, C, B6, F, K

Ways to Consume in your Diet...
I love to add raisins to my breakfast. In the picture above, I've topped wholewheat toast with Peanut Butter, Flaxseed (see their benefits here) and Raisins! So yummy, honestly! I love to have this with a bowl of fruit and a chai tea latte! You have to try it! 


Also, to a bowl of Shredded wheat, I like to add raisins - and if I feel like some peanut butter, I add that too, and occasionally some flaxseeds! Do you see a trend, here? haha!

Also, if you like raisins and shredded wheat, try raisin wheats as a snack or as breakfast - as shown in this post!

I hope you found out more about raisins, decide to maybe consume some and gain from their benefits! So, tell me, do you love/hate raisins?! 


source: 1 // 2 // 3  

Wednesday, 19 February 2014

Health Benefits of Flaxseed

Hello!

It's been a long time since I've done one of these, and since I had this on my peanut butter toast this morning, I was wandering why exactly these little Flaxseeds were actually meant to be so good for you, and to my surprise, there are more health benefits than I had thought! 

If you don't know what Flaxseeds are, they are basically seed like sunflower seeds, chia seeds etc. They are also called Linseeds, which is what they're called in England.

Flaxseeds are getting more and more well known recently and many people add them to many different meals and snacks… but what is the big deal about these teeny tiny seeds?

- Very High Fibre Content, hence lowering bad cholesterol, stabilise blood sugar, help proper functioning of intestines.

- Source of Antioxidants, these are also very good and also helps to balance female hormones

- Has healthy Omega-3 Fatty Acids, this reducing inflammation, prevents heart disease, arthritis, asthma, diabetes and some cancers - by blocking enzymes that are involved in hormone metabolism and interfering with the growth and spread of tumour cells

- Also a source of B Vitamins, Magnesium and Manganese

Some call it the 'most powerful plant foods on the planet', and clearly these benefits are the reason why!  However, be aware that Flaxseed Oil doesn't contain the fibre nor phytochemicals (antioxidants) of the whole flax seed. In addition the benefits of the flax is easily damaged by heat and oxidations, so be aware to store in a dark, dry place.

You can eat them sprinkled on yogurt, on cereal, porridge, shakes, cereal bars, juice, baking (flaxseed muffins), pb toast like I did or even find them in seeded bread!

Have you tried Flaxseed? If so, what do you eat them with/on? 
sources: image, info, info

Friday, 16 August 2013

Weekly Roundup #3

Hello!

Welcome to the THIRD of the series of Weekly Roundup, where I roundup my week for YOU. Does that remind you of all of the lawyer shows out there when they say 'We'll fight for YOU.' anyway...

This week was quite eventful in the kitchen for me... I made a bunch of things I had never made before such as Chili Con Carne, Cheese and Onion Pasties and.... *drumroll*
GRANOLA! I really like oatmeal/porridge but in the summer I tend not to lean towards it but more towards the cold cereals, granola includes a range of dried fruit, nuts and seeds as well as cooked oats. The way I made this was by layering oats and some nuts and seeds in the oven and 'stirring'/mixing it around every couple of minutes until the oats turned a golden brown. I then added some honey and let to cool. It turned out quite nicely, but next time I think I'll add the honey first. I actually received the idea from the Sorted Food boys, who are so fun to watch on YouTube! This granola included pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, dry dates, raisins and cashews - a range of vitamins and minerals which is great for your body. As well as that, there were no added sugars other than the natural sweetness of honey - unlike shop bought granola, this is very healthy for you. If you would like a full post on this, let me know!

Speaking of health benefits, I was scrolling through my twitter feed and found this image:
Image from HERE
It lists the benefits of certain types of teas! I LOVE chai tea lattes - which is Black Tea with spices - I had no idea that it is great for those with diabetes! This may seem a little weird but I am SO interested in diabetes, production of insulin and all that, although nobody in my immediate family is diabetic, other than my uncle, who I don't see everyday. Come to think of it, he does drink black tea 3-4 times a day, hmm, maybe that's why! Anyway, I have been having my chai tea latte fix almost everyday this week, maybe I should have feautred that in this weeks roundup! Oh well, maybe next time? If you haven't tried Chai tea latte, you should! Honestly, you will not regret it! It also has a range of health benefits from various spices as well as the black tea base itself. I've heard the Starbucks Chai Tea Latte with soy milk is good!

Finally this is me with a face mask on.
I haven't done a face mask in a VERY long time, and oddly enough, I decided to do one at 2am in the morning. Basically we went to a party and I came home at 2am but wasn't sleepy. So when I went to do my usual face routine, instead of putting on my moisturiser, I put on this face mask and left it on while I read my book. It was quite relaxing yet very odd of me to do so at that time of day - well, night. Anyway, it was fun! haha!

Well, that was my weekly roundup - don't forget to check out last weeks roundup featuring cute animals, moustaches and yummy food/treats!

Keep blooming, berries!
xoxo, BerryBloomXO

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