Health Benefits and nutritional details of Radish

Radish, the well known part of your salad, is a root crop, pungent or sweet in taste with a lot of juice. Radishes can be white, red, purple or black, long cylindrical or round in shape. They are eaten raw, cooked or pickled. The oil obtained from the seeds of radish is also used. The other parts of radish which are consumed are the leaves, the flowers, the pods and the seeds. The scientific name of radish is Raphanus Sativus which belongs to the Brassicaceae family. Radish is also known as Daiken in some parts of the world.

Radishes are moderately high in Vitamin C and contain properties that appear to be beneficial for symptoms of colds, flu, fever, cough, respiratory problems, and digestive disorders. For digestive problems, put a handful of radish leaves in boiling water, cover, and let sit for about 20 minutes. Strain, add honey to taste and drink as a tea. For colds, flu, and the associated symptoms, grate one radish and mix with honey to taste. Let this mixture stand for 10 hours in a dark place. Take 2 teaspoons three times a day as a cough syrup.

The benefits of radish against certain ailments and on certain body parts are listed below:

Jaundice: Radish is very good for the liver and the stomach and it is a very good detoxifier too, that is, it purifies blood. It is miraculously useful in jaundice as it helps removing bilirubin and also checks its production. It also checks destruction of red blood cells during jaundice by increasing supply of fresh oxygen in the blood. The black radish is more preferred in jaundice. The leaves of radish are also very useful in treatment of jaundice.

Piles: Radish is very rich in roughage, i.e. indigestible carbohydrates. This facilitates digestion, retains water, cures constipation (one of the main causes for piles) and thus gives relief in piles. Being a very good detoxifier, it helps heal up piles fast. Its juice also soothes the digestive and excretory system and this also relieves piles.

Urinary Disorders: Radishes are diurectic in nature, i.e. increase production of urine. Juice of radish also cures inflammation and burning feeling during urinating. It also cleans the kidneys and inhibits infections in kidneys and urinary system. Thus it helps a great deal in curing urinary disorders.

Weight Loss: Radishes are very filling, i.e. fills your stomach and satisfies your hunger easily without giving you many calories, as they are low in digestible carbohydrates, high in roughage and contain a lot of water. It is a very good dietary option for those determined to lose weight.

Cancer: Being a very good detoxifier and rich in vitamin-C, folic and anthocyanins, radish helps cure many types of cancer, particularly those of colon, kidney, intestines, stomach and oral cancer.

Leucoderma: The detoxifying and anti carcinogenic properties of radish make it useful in treatment of Leucoderma. The radish seeds are used in this case. They should be powdered and soaked in vinegar or ginger juice or cows urine and then applied on the white patches. Eating radish also aids treatment of
Leucoderma.

Skin Disorders: Vitamin-C, phosphorus, zinc and some members of vitamin-B complex, which are present in radish, are good for skin. The water in it helps maintaining moisture of the skin. Smashed raw radish is a very good cleanser and serves as a very efficient face pack. Due to its disinfectant properties, radish also helps cure skin disorders, such as drying up, rashes, cracks etc. and also refreshes it.

Kidney Disorders: Being diurectic, cleanser and disinfectant, it helps cure many kidney disorders. Its diurectic properties help wash away the toxins accumulated in the kidneys. Cleansing properties clean kidneys up and lessens accumulation of toxins in the blood, thereby decreasing their concentration in the kidneys. Its disinfectant properties protect the kidneys from any infections too. Thus it is good for overall health of the kidneys.

Insect Bites: It has anti pruritic properties and can be used as an effective treatment for insect bites, stings of bees, hornets, wasps etc. Its juice also reduces pain and swelling and soothes the affected area.

Fever: It brings down the body temperature and relieves inflammation due to fever. Drink radish juice mixed with black salt. Being a good disinfectant, it also fights infections which cause fever, thereby helping cure it.

Respiratory Disorders, Bronchitis and Asthma: Radish is an anti congestive, i.e. it relieves congestion of respiratory system including nose, throat, wind-pipe and lungs, due to cold, infection, allergies and other causes. It is a good disinfectant and also rich in vitamins, which protect respiratory system from infections.

Liver and Gallbladder: Radish is especially beneficial for liver and gallbladder functions. It regulates production and flow of bile and bilirubin, acids, enzymes and removes excess bilirubin from the blood, being a good detoxifier. It also contains enzymes like myrosinase, diastase, amylase and esterase. It protects liver and gallbladder from infections and ulcers and soothes them.

Other Benefits: Apart from above benefits, radish is a good appetizer, mouth and breathe freshener, laxative, regulates metabolism, improves blood circulation, is a good treatment for headache, acidity, constipation, nausea, obesity, sore throat, whooping cough, gastric problems, gallbladder stones, dyspepsia etc.

Finding it hard to digest the above stuff? Well! I suggest you have some slices of radish. That may help you and enhance your appetite for the health benefits of vegetables and herbs.
source: http://coolhealthtips.blogspot.com/2008/11/health-benefits-and-nutritional-details.html

The EGGPLANT Greatest Health Benefits and Nutritional Information

It is egg-shaped and may be colored a rich black-purple or white, and has a thick skin. Commonly referred to as a vegetable, the eggplant is actually a fruit, and may grow anywhere from two inches to a foot in length. Eggplants are indigenous to Asia and the Amazon Rainforest, as well as other parts of the world.

They grow in a manner much like tomatoes, hanging from the vines of a plant that grows several feet in height. There are many varieties of eggplant, but the Black Magic variety which usually found in the U.S market was found to have three times the amount of antioxidant phenolics as compared to the other varieties. In addition the phenolic acid in eggplant is also responsible for the eggplants slight bitter taste and the browning the results when the flesh is cut.

If you are the health conscious sort, you'll know that eggplants are low in calories and practically fat-free. One cup of eggplant contains a mere 38 calories, it's a perfect diet food if you're thinking of losing weight.
In addition to this nutritional value, eggplant is rich in flavonoids, which are pigments known to enhance certain qualities of the foods in which they naturally occur. Eggplant is also rich in antioxidants, which is helpful in stimulating the immune system and energy levels of the body, as well as keeping the heart healthy.

Eggplants also contain a compound called terpenes, which are known to lower cholesterol.

Health Benefits:

• The skin of eggplant contains a phytonutrient that helps protect the lipids (fats) in brain cell membranes.
• Eggplant is a rich source of phenolic compounds an antioxidant that can help prevent cancer, cholesterol build-up and bacterial and viral infection.
• Eggplant has a high fiber content which can prevent constipation, hemorrhoids, and colitis.
• Eggplant is naturally low in calories and has no fat. A cup has only 38 calories.
• Lowers cholesterol by preventing its absorption in the intestines.
• Eggplant can help in cases of stomach ulcers
• It can help in various nervous conditions.
• Eggplant contains a large amount of water. It is good for balancing diets that are heavy in protein and starches.
  

Nutritive Values: Per 100 gm.

• Vitamin A: 30 I.U.
• Vitamin B: Thiamine .04 mg.
• Riboflavin: .05 mg.
• Niacin: .65 mg.
• Vitamin C: 5 mg.
• Calcium: 15 mg.
• Iron: .4 mg.
• Phosphorus: 37 mg.
• Potassium: 390 mg.
• Fat: .2 gm.
• Carbohydrates: 5.5 gm.
• Protein: 1.1 gm.
• Calories: 24

16 Minimum Time Tips for Maximum Fitness

These 16 strategies will help you get the body you've always wanted:

1. In the beginning, your fitness plan should not be overly aggressive. One of the biggest problems most people encounter when starting a fitness program is rapidly depleted motivation after only a few weeks; this is due to an overly ambitious fitness plan.

Two days per week of 20-minute low-intensity cardiovascular exercise (walking, jogging, biking, swimming) and two days per week of 30-minute light resistance training (using weights or resistance machines) is adequate in the beginning. As you adapt to the lifestyle shift, you can add more days and get improved results. But beware: If you try to do too much too fast, you may end up quitting altogether.

2. If your goal is fat loss, then your cardiovascular exercise should be low intensity. Your heart rate during cardio exercise should not exceed 50 percent to 70 percent of your maximum heart rate. The simple formula for calculating your 100 percent maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age.

If the intensity of your exercise increases your heart rate beyond 70 percent (which can occur very easily if you are in poor shape), you start shifting from using body fat as your energy source to relying on glucose metabolism. Your personal trainer can supply you with a simple heart-rate monitor you can wear during exercise. That way, you always stay in your peak fat-burning range.

3. Don't waste your time working small muscles with isolated movements. If you don't enjoy doing resistance training or are pressed for time, concentrate on working the largest muscle groups with compound resistance movements.

When I see overweight people doing wrist curls or lateral raises, I wonder why. It's generally just a lack of understanding of how their bodies work. Most people want to lose fat and tone and firm their bodies. The way to do that is to use resistance (weights or machines) to train the large muscle groups
Men should be concentrating on legs, chest and back. Women should concentrate more on their legs and back. The best exercises for legs are lunges or squats (your personal trainer will show you the proper form and then monitor you during the exercise) and the leg press. The best chest exercise is the bench press, and the best back exercise is the seated row. All of these are compound movements, which means they incorporate multiple muscle groups.
source: http://coolhealthtips.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html