Is Red Wine Really Good for Your Health?

When word got out about the health benefits of wine, most wine drinkers stopped swirling for a long minute and took notice. It was the mid 90s when story of the "French Paradox" poured from all media sources, and wine drinkers across the world swirled and sipped and rejoiced.

In case you missed it, baffled researchers launched a study of French folk, trying to determine why people with diets so high in cheese fats were not suffering from more heart attacks.

The findings? It's their moderate and steady intake of wine. Long after the discovery that the French were absurdly beating health odds, tons of research in support of wine drinking for good health continued to surface.

First, there were scores of positive studies related solely to the healing powers of resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red grape skins and therefore in red wine. However, now they're finding just as many benefits from white wines. As a matter of fact, winemakers worldwide are even altering their production processes in order to boost the health benefits in white wine. All kinds of new findings still frequently bombard the media today.

Check out some of the most recent studies that boast the health benefits of wine:


source: http://coolhealthtips.blogspot.com/2009/04/is-red-wine-really-good-for-your-health.html

Food as Medicine

HEADACHE? EAT FISH!
Eat plenty of fish -- fish oil helps prevent headaches.
So does ginger, which reduces inflammation and pain.
HAVE FEVER? EAT YOGHURT!
Eat lots of yoghurt before pollen season.
Also-eat honey from your area (local region) daily.


TO PREVENT STROKE DRINK TEA!
Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of tea. (actually, tea suppresses my appetite and keeps the pounds from invading....Green tea is great for our immune system)!

INSOMNIA (CAN'T SLEEP?) HONEY!
Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.

ASTHMA? EAT ONIONS!!!!
Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes.

ARTHRITIS? EAT FISH, TOO!!
Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis. (fish has omega oils, good for our immune system)

UPSET STOMACH? BANANAS - GINGER!!!!!
Bananas will settle an upset stomach.
Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.

BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!!
High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!!!
Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple.

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME? EAT CORNFLAKES!!!!
Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help reduce depression, anxiety and fatigue.

MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS!
Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.

COLDS? EAT GARLIC!
Clear up that stuffy head with garlic. (remember, garlic lowers cholesterol, too.)

COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS!!
A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate your tummy.

BREAST CANCER? EAT Wheat, bran and cabbage
Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES!!!
A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.

ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE ALSO!!!
Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers.

DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES!
Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition. (Bananas are good for this ailment)

CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO!
Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!!!
Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure.
Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure too.

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!!
The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

Kiwi: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fiber. It's Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

Apple: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

Strawberry: Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protects the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals. (Actually, any berry is good for you..they're high in anti-oxidants and they actually keep us young.........blueberries are the best and very versatile in the health field........they get rid of all the free-radicals that invade our bodies)

Orange: Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 - 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon: Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium. (watermelon also has natural substances [natural SPF sources] that keep our skin healthy, protecting our skin from those darn uv rays)


Guava & Papaya: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber which helps prevent constipation.

Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes. (also good for gas and indigestion)

Tomatoes are very good as a preventative measure for men, keeps those prostrate problems from invading their bodies.

SWINE FLU Some usefull Health Tips To Protect Yourself

A swine flu outbreak appears to have killed dozens in Mexico and more cases are showing up in the United States and around the world. Health officials are recommending several steps to prevent the spread of the virus:

Public health emergencies and pandemic disease outbreaks tend to create media frenzies. Reports of swine flu are the latest examples dominating headlines everywhere.

There have been 28 confirmed cases in New York. Read the press release from SU’s Health Services about the threat to the university community.

Here is a list of ten practical steps you can take to prepare and protect yourself and your family.

1) Know the symptoms - Here are some of the symptoms that sound like swine flu - fevers over 100 degrees, body aches, cough, runny nose, and sometimes, nausea and diarrhea. It’s also useful to know if you might have had an exposure - either by recent travel to Mexico, or to the areas of known cases so far in America - California, Texas, New York, Ohio and Kansas. Or you may have been exposed to a sick person who came from those areas. The incubation time for swine flu is believed to be pretty short - 48-72 hours, and the virus seems to spread easily between people. If this sounds like your symptoms, then what do you do?

2) Don’t panic - If you have a cold or flu, and the media is full of details about a potentially lethal pandemic, it’s hard to not imagine the worst. Once the announcement of confirmed cases of swine flu at St. Francis Preparatory School in New York hit the news, local hospitals were swamped with concerned people. Not only is this difficult for the healthcare system, it can also be potentially dangerous for everyone - all those people gathered in one place can help spread potential infection even more, including to hospitalized patients who are particularly vulnerable.

3) Call or go? - If you have symptoms and possible risks that sound like swine flu, call your doctor or local public health clinic before going in. You may be asked to go to a specific place to be tested, or you may be asked to stay home as long as you are able to breathe well. Anyone, however, who is rapidly getting worse, or having difficulty breathing, needs to be seen urgently by a doctor.

4) Contain the illness - First, take care of yourself - rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take over-the-counter medications to help with fevers, aches and pains, and stomach symptoms. Do not, however, give cough or cold medicines to children under two years of age - those medications are contraindicated. Some people with respiratory illnesses feel much better with a humidifier. If you have asthma, emphysema or other lung-affecting diseases, you need to be sure to take your regularly prescribed medicine, and watch closely for worsening symptoms, including difficulty breathing. If you live alone, be sure you check in with family or friends by phone each day. They’ll want to know how you’re doing, and it’s good to have someone helping you keep watch on your symptoms. Second, take steps to contain the spread - if you live with others, practice careful hand-washing, bypass the hugs and kisses of well-wishers, and do not share telephone handsets or computers. Be especially careful to always cough into the elbow of your arm (yes! the elbow, not your hand!). Dispose of your snotty tissues yourself, to protect others. People with swine flu are believed to shed the virus for 4-5 days, but young children can spread virus for as long as 10 days - so stay home until you feel well.

5) Protection works - if you feel fine, is there anything you can do to protect yourself and limit the potential spread of the virus? Influenza is spread by coughing and sneezing (droplet transmission). Influenza is also spread by touching a surface that’s been contaminated, then touching your own face/mouth/nose (fomite transmission). The question of whether or not “close contact” spreads the virus (e.g. being in the same air space - called airborne transmission) has not been completely answered by existing research. Also unanswered is the question - if it is spread that way, then how-close-is-close? No one knows. So, given all that, what can you do? First, handwashing works. Wash, wash and wash again. Invest in some hand sanitizer for the whole family. A bottle for everyone! Use hand sanitizer for those bus and subway rides where thousands of hands touch the same strap and rail. Alcohol-based diaper wipes can be used for shared telephones, keyboards, and work-out equipment. If you get on a plane, wipe down the armrests, tray-tables and entertainment console. If you work in a place - like a cafe - where it’s not possible to wipe down the cash register between each person’s use, then do not touch your face while you work. Don’t touch your face at all until you’ve washed your hands first. Teachers at schools can be especially helpful by reminding kids to handwash, cover coughs, and sneezes, and by eliminating shared hand-held items (like hall passes) that could be replaced with individual slips of paper. Teachers and administrators play an especially important role by supporting families who keep their kids out of school because of illness.

6) What about a mask? - The data shows that masks do work - as long as there is a tight seal about the mouth and nose. That means the floppy blue pleated mask you sometimes see hanging below a person’s nose isn’t doing a thing for anyone. And, if you’re a guy, a beard is probably stopping any mask anywhere from ever working for you. Expert panels and pandemic review boards, in general, do not recommend masks despite saying they work, both because masks often aren’t properly fitted, and because masks in public are not “widely accepted.” If you’re exposed to people who cough on you, and you are able to wear a mask, be sure to pinch the metal strip across your nose down snug, and tighten the straps so the mask touches skin around all the edges. And shave that beard.

7) Eat the pork (if you want) - Swine flu gets its name because pigs can get the infection and spread it to each other - as well as to humans. This latest virus contains pieces that indicate it evolved from swine flu virus, and can now spread from person to person. Swine flu is not spread by properly prepared and cooked pork products. So if you want to eat pork, you can.


8) Getting sick - stay home! - In our go-go-go culture and these severe economic times, it can be very hard to call a boss and cancel a day’s work. Perhaps even more so if there’s a big meeting and your third grader feels “crummy” but doesn’t (yet) look sick. Now, however, is the time to pay attention to symptoms - and if you or your loved ones are feeling like there’s a flu coming on, stay home.

9) Stockpile? - The public health department recommends that each home have two weeks of supplies, in case we must stay home - either for illness or to help contain transmission. That means two weeks of food for everyone in your home, two weeks of all medications (both over-the-counter and prescription), and, if you’re like most people, two weeks of books and DVDs.

10) Stay in? - If there is an outbreak in your community, but you’re feeling healthy, it can be a very difficult decision whether or not to stay home from vital activities like work. Luckily public health officials are acting on the latest reports, so keep an eye on the news for announcements like closures of schools. However, if you’re in an area of potential transmission, now is probably a good time to postpone some completely discretionary activities that involve large crowds, like going to the movies or the mall. Decisions are much harder when the activity is both not-exactly-required and not-discretionary - like going to church, for example, or community events like your school’s Open House. Right now, it’s too early for any of us to be a Swine Flu Shut-In, but you may want to have your hand sanitizer constantly with you for the next few weeks.

Refered From : http://www.docgurley.com/2009/04/26/swine-flu-ten-tips-for-me-and-you/ SWINE FLU Some usefull Health Tips To Protect Yourself

Laughter Therapy : What Happens When We Laugh?

We change physiologically when we laugh. We stretch muscles throughout our face and body, our pulse and blood pressure go up, and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues.

People who believe in the benefits of laughter say it can be like a mild workout — and may offer some of the same advantages as a workout.

"The effects of laughter and exercise are very similar," says Wilson. "Combining laughter and movement, like waving your arms, is a great way to boost your heart rate."

One pioneer in laughter research, William Fry, claimed it took 10 minutes on a rowing machine for his heart rate to reach the level it would after just one minute of hearty laughter.

And laughter appears to burn calories, too. Maciej Buchowski, a researcher from Vanderbilt University, conducted a small study in which he measured the amount of calories expended in laughing. It turned out that 10-15 minutes of laughter burned 50 calories.

While the results are intriguing, don’t be too hasty in ditching that treadmill. One piece of chocolate has about 50 calories; at the rate of 50 calories per hour, losing one pound would require about 12 hours of concentrated laughter!

Laughter's Effects on the Body

In the last few decades, researchers have studied laughter's effects on the body and turned up some potentially interesting information on how it affects us:

Blood flow. Researchers at the University of Maryland studied the effects on blood vessels when people were shown either comedies or dramas. After the screening, the blood vessels of the group who watched the comedy behaved normally — expanding and contracting easily. But the blood vessels in people who watched the drama tended to tense up, restricting blood flow.

Immune response. Increased stress is associated with decreased immune system response, says Provine. Some studies have shown that the ability to use humor may raise the level of infection-fighting antibodies in the body and boost the levels of immune cells, as well.

Blood sugar levels. One study of 19 people with diabetes looked at the effects of laughter on blood sugar levels. After eating, the group attended a tedious lecture. On the next day, the group ate the same meal and then watched a comedy. After the comedy, the group had lower blood sugar levels than they did after the lecture.

Olive Oil Information and Health benefits

Olive oil benefits have long been made known many years ago. The use of olive oil is an old practice that continues to exist in the present day. In fact, even medical studies have linked significant findings to olive oil benefits.

One of the main olive oil benefits is the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.Studies conducted revealed that this is owed to the fact that this nation prefers to use olive oil to animal fat-based oils. Thus they experience more of the benefits of olive oil.

The skin is the most visible example of olive oil benefits to the human body. Olive oil contains essential vitamins that are helpful in delaying the aging process. The healthy fatty acids present in olive oil promote soft and suppler skin, which is an important component of beauty. So, now you have discovered another vital beauty secret that is proven to be safe and effective


Benefits & Uses Of Olive Oil
Super Food For Heart
Olive oil is highly beneficial in preventing heart diseases and keeping the heart healthy. It is rich in mono-saturated fats, antioxidants, and vitamin E. It helps in lowering the blood pressure significantly and decreases the risk of heart attack as well. In addition, it helps in preventing the blood clots from reaching certain levels and thus reduces the chance of their becoming delinquent.

To Lower Blood Cholesterol Levels The monounsaturated fatty acids in olive oil help lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels without affecting HDL ("good") cholesterol or triglyceride levels. To lower your cholesterol at least 15 percent of your daily calories should come from monounsaturated fatty acids. Whenever possible use olive oil in place of butter or other vegetable oils in cooking, in preparing dressings for salads or vegetables and in making sandwiches.

Inhibits Growth Of Cancer
Some studies have shown that the growth of breast, colon, bowel, and skin cancer can be significantly reduced with regular use of olive oil. Oleic acid, one of the main monosaturated fats present in olive oil, has the ability to cripple the cancer gene and thus, prevent cancer growth.
Olive oil for constipation In the morning, take 1 teaspoon of olive oil mixed with lemon juice on an empty stomach. Or try an enema made from 5 ounces of olive oil in 20 ounces of boiling water, cooled to lukewarm.

Helps Maintain Lower Weight
Some fatty acids found in olive oil can curb hunger cravings. You can substitute olive oil for other vegetable oils, as the effect of fats in the former is far less cumulative. In addition, it promotes healthy metabolism and forces the body to burn off calories at a faster rate. So, if you are planning to lose weight and maintain a healthy body, olive oil would prove to be quite useful.
Anti Aging Remedy
The anti-inflammatory properties of olive oil help slow down the aging process of cells, on the inside as well as outside. It helps give the skin a stunning glow and also reduces the wrinkles. You can use the oil in your salad dressing, cook your food in it and even apply it on your skin directly.
Excellent Beauty Product
Olive oil does wonder to your skin, giving it a natural glow and shine. In fact, it plays an important part in increasing the overall beauty of a person. It is used in several beauty and cosmetic products. You can use it as scrub, cleanser, and moisturizer. It can be applied to the hair, to give shine, increase volume, reduce dandruff and control hair fall. Incorporate it in your lifestyle and see the magic yourself.
Blood Sugar Controller
Olive oil contains the highest amount of mono-saturated fats, compared with any other oil and helps in stabilizing the level of blood sugar. The oil also proves to be a great source of vanadium, a lesser-known mineral that is also helpful in controlling the blood sugar level in the human body.
Lessens Severity Of Asthma & Arthritis
Olive oil is a very good anti-inflammatory agent and the mono-saturated fats present in it prove helpful in decreasing any inflammation in the body. Thus, the oil proves helpful in lessening the severity of asthma and arthritis.

To Treat Ear Complaints To clear stopped-up ears, put a few drops of lukewarm olive oil in the affected ear. Lie for 5 minutes on the opposite side, then turn over, so that the olive oil can flow out again. (Do not put any liquid in your ear if you think you may have a perforated eardrum!) For earaches, soak a cotton pad in olive oil, then add 5 drops of lavender oil. Place it loosely in your outer ear until the pain abates.
Studies have shown that people who consumed 25 milliliters (mL) - about 2 tablespoons - of virgin olive oil daily for 1 week showed less oxidation of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenols, in the blood.

Build Strong Fingernails To help build strong fingernails and soften cuticles, soak your nails each night in a mixture of 3 parts lukewarm olive oil to 1 part freshly-squeezed lemon juice. Put on cloth gloves and let the oil penetrate overnight. Your nails will gradually become more resistant to breaking and chipping.

But while all types of olive oil are sources of monounsaturated fat, EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil, from the first pressing of the olives, contains higher levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and phenols, because it is less processed.