HEALTH BENETIFS OF WATER MELON

What is Watermelon?

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.), family Cucurbitaceae) is a vine-like (scrambler and trailer) flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind (exocarp) and fleshy center (mesocarp and endocarp “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon”

Health Benefits of Water Melon

Watermelon is not only delicious, but extremely healthy, as well.

·    In fact, most melons are rich in potassium, a nutrient that may help

o  control blood pressure,

o  Possibly prevent strokes and

o  regulate heart beat

·    Melons are also rich in vitamin C, one arm of the now-famous disease-fighting antioxidant trio. Another arm that’s well represented is beta-carotene. Beta-carotene and vitamin C are capable of

o  preventing heart disease,

o  cancer, and

o  Other chronic conditions. No matter which way you cut them, when it comes to nutrition, melons are superb and number one.

·    Watermelon is a valuable source of lycopene, one of the carotenoids that have actually been studied in humans. Lycopene is helpful in reducing the

o  risk of prostate, breast, and endometrial cancers and

o  as well as lung and colon cancer.

·    Do you know that melons are rich in Vitamin A, B and C.?

·    It is an ideal health drink because it is 92 per cent water, and does not contain any fat or cholesterol. It also fills you up fast because of its water content. So have it along with your barbeque or grills as watermelons will prevent you from overeating.

·    What’s more, they are low in calories and very nutritious.

The beautiful pink color of watermelon, due to beta-carotene, is a powerful ally against many types of cancer, particularly colon cancer. Lycopene, a carotenoid found in abundance in watermelon provides additional cancer fighting health benefits.

The high water content of watermelon is part of what gives it fat burning benefits, helping to make your metabolism work more efficiently. With a healthy amount of fiber and protein, your body will still work harder simply processing watermelon.

One of the main health benefits of watermelon is its status as a powerful antioxidant, found in vitamins A and C, which helps to neutralize free radicals than can lead to inflammation, general sickness and chronic illnesses such as stroke and heart attack.

Whether you coose watermelons for their good and rich health benefits or simply for their good rich flavor, they can be an excellent snack.Watermelon is not only delicious, but extremely healthy, as well.

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF MORINGA

Moringa oleifera is the scientific name for the Moringa tree. It has been known as the “miraculous tree” for centuries in certain Asia , African and Caribbean countries. It is has been known to aid in the treatment of over 300 diseases and chronic conditions. Moringa is estimated to have over 90 nutrients and also about 46 types of antioxidants, with no known side effects.

That plant Moringa oleifera is a comes with numerous benefits especially in the treatment of human and animal health. Every part of Moringa oleifera, including the seeds and roots, are very useful in tackling many diseases.

World Health Organisation (WHO) undertook a  scientific researches on Moringa plant, and has come to a conclusion that it is extremely nutritional and medicinal. 

COMPARISM

·    Contains greater potassium count than bananas,

·    Contains larger amount of zinc than bananas

·    Contains more Vitamin C than oranges

·    Enrich in Vitamin A – Moringa contains four times more Vitamin A and beta-carotene than carrots;

·    Has greater amounts of iron than spinach

·    have higher calcium content than milk;

·    Delivers essential amino acids as compare to other fruits

Health Benefits of Moringa

·    Aids in muscle recovery and sustained overall health.

·    Builds immune system.

·    Can reduce risk of stroke and kidney disorders, and improve muscle strength and metabolism.

·    Effective in the treatment of anemia and low energy levels.

·    Helps prevent blindness

·    Helps prevent osteoporosis and other bone diseases.

Effective for Preventing and Treatment of

·    Diabetes

·    High cholesterol

·    AIDS and other immune-system diseases

·    Obesity

·    Bacterial conditions

·    Liver and kidney disorders

o  Poor digestion

·    Moringa flowers

o  Flower juice improves the quality and flow of mothers’ milk when breast feeding.

o  Flower juice is useful for urinary problems as it encourages urination.

·    Moringa pods

o  If eaten raw, pods act as a de-wormer and treat liver and spleen problems and pains of the joints.

o  Due to high protein and fibre content, they can play a useful part in treating malnutrition and diarrhoea.

·    Moringa seeds: Its seeds are used for their antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties to treat

o  arthritis,

o  rheumatism,

o  gout,

o  cramp,

o  sexually transmitted diseases and

o  boils.

·    Roasted seeds and oil can encourage urination.

·    They can also be used as a relaxant for epilepsy.

·    With all the junk food eaten these days, many people face problems of high cholesterol. Moringa helps in balancing the cholesterol levels in the body.

·    Essential Amino acids are also found in moringa.

·    Moringa is also said to balance sugar levels, hence it is helpful in the fight against diabetes.

·    The body's natural defense mechanism increases with the consumption of moringa in the daily diet pattern. Since it is an immunity-stimulant, it is prescribed for AIDS afflicted patients. Less immunity is rampant in many provinces in Africa, especially people who do not have access to nutritious food and medicines.

·    Moringa leaves can be consumed to stimulate metabolism.

·    It is also said to have digestive powers.

·    It is a nutrition booster and is known to promote a feeling of well-being in people.

·    If you are looking for non-sugar based energy, then moringa leaves is the answer. Thus, it will also help in the weight loss process.

·    The cell structure of the body is stimulated by the moringa leaves.

·    It is especially useful for lactating mothers. The consumption of moringa has shown dramatic increase in the quantity of breast milk.

·    It is also famous for its anti-bacterial properties.

·    The paste of the moringa leaves is said to beautify the skin and is hence applied by women regularly.

·    It protects the liver and kidneys.

·    It can also be used as a water purifier.

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THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF MANGO FRUIT

Mango is a tropical tree cultivated in many regions of India and now distributed wide across the world in many continents. The scientific name of mango is Mangifera indica. Usually, the fruits grow at the end of a long, string like stem, with sometimes more than one fruit to a stem. Mangoes are so delicious and tempt us to eat as much as possible. Mangoes are seasonal fruit and are sometimes available mainly during hot seasons.

This tasty fruit mango can be found with many health benefits which many people are not very much aware of. This article wants to introduce you to several amazing health benefits of mangoes.

What are the health benefits of Mangoes?

·    Prevents Cancer: Recent research has shown that the antioxidant compounds in mango fruit is notable of protecting against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. These compounds include

o  astragalin

o  fisetin

o  gallic acid

o  isoquercitrin

o  methylgallat

o  quercetin

o  And as well as the abundant enzymes.

·    Healthy Eye: One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25.00%  of the needed daily value of vitamin A, which can be very excellent in promoting good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes is found in mango.

·    Lowers Cholesterol:  It contains a lot of fiber, pectin and vitamin C which help to minimize serum cholesterol levels, specifically LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein)

·    Clears the Skin: Mangoes clear clogged pores and eliminate pimples and can be used both internally and externally for the skin to enhance its radiant nature.

·    Improved Sex: Every mango is enriched with Vitamin E and research has shown that it increases sex drive when taken.

·    Alkalizes the Whole Body: The following acids found in mango fruits help to maintain the alkali reserve of the human body.

o  artaric acid,

o  malic acid and

o  a trace of citric acid

·    Helps in Diabetes: There is an amount of insulin level in every human blood and mango leaves is good in normalizing insulin levels in the blood.  The traditional home remedy involves boiling leaves in water, soaking through the night and then consuming the filtered decoction in the morning. Mango fruit also have a relatively low glycemic index of 41 to 60 which is so moderate quantities and will not spike your sugar levels.

·    Improves Digestion: Research has shown that Papayas are not the only fruit that contain enzymes for breaking down protein. There are several fruits,  of which mangoes have this beneficial quality. Mangoes are very much beneficial for people suffering from acidity and its enzymes helps to relieve indigestion problems. The following Bio-active elements present in mango aids to ease digestion

o  Esters,

o  Terpenes and

o  Aldehydes 

·    Remedy for Heat Stroke:  Mango juice made from the mango fruit mixed with water and a little sweetener helps to calm the body down and prevent harm to the human body.

·    Boosts Immune system: The generous amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A in mangoes, plus 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy and strong.

·    For Treating Acne: Mango helps in clearing clogged pores that causes acne. Just slice the mango into very thin pieces and keep it on your face for 10 to 15 min and then take bath or wash your face. Use warm water for washing your face.

·    High Iron for Women: It's a known fact that Mango is rich in Iron. People who suffer from anemia can regularly take mango along with their dinner. Generally women after menopause become weak and they should take mangoes and other fruits rich in iron. Pregnant ladies can also take mangoes occasionally as their body needs iron and calcium during that time. Too much consumption of mangoes should be avoided during pregnancy. If you have generally taken lots of mangoes right from your childhood then you can consume mangoes when you are pregnant as it won't affect your body.

·    Prevents Cancer and Heart diseases: High amount of antioxidants are present in mangoes. So mango when consumed regularly fights against cancer and other heart diseases. As mentioned earlier it also lowers cholesterol.

For Diabetes: Mango is slowly gaining new acclaim as diabetes fighter. Earlier people were deceived not to eat mangoes because they are diabetic but that's not true. Not only the fruit but the leaves also fight against diabetes.

Health tip: Before going to bed put some 10 or 15 mango leaves in warm water and close it with lid. The next day morning filter the water and drink it in empty stomach. Do this regularly.

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WATERMELON SEED

When there is a need to think of the health benefits of watermelon, the health benefits of the seeds probably don't come to the human mind. Rarely will you probably think about the seeds. It is not given afterthought and maybe good only for spitting contests. The fact is that, watermelon seeds make a great snack when they have been dried and roasted. Even though there nutritional values are limited, it is worth taking good note of. Although many people spit out the seeds when eating watermelon, these small kernels can be a rich source of nutrition. Watermelon seeds are not optimal for every diet plan due to the rich fat content, but watermelon seeds do provide nutritional benefits that can make them a valuable addition to your diet plan. You should note that watermelon seeds are calorie dense, so the recommendation is that eating them in moderation is best.

Carbohydrates: If you are following a low-carbohydrate diet, watermelon seeds can be a good choice. Each 1 oz. serving of the seeds provides just 4.3 g of carbohydrates.

Protein: Watermelon seeds are very high in protein, it is estimated that 1 cup of dried seeds containing 30.6g, which is 61 percent of the daily recommended value. 

·    The protein in watermelon seeds consists of several amino acids, one of which is arginine. While the body produces some arginine, there are times when people need to take in additional arginine. Some of the health benefits of arginine include

o  regulating blood pressure and

o  treating coronary heart disease.

There are several other amino acids that make up the protein in watermelon seeds, including tryptophan, glutamic acid, and lysine.

Calories: The seed of watermelon are not optimal for dieting as they are calorie dense; a 1 oz. serving of seeds contains 158 calories, which comprises 7.9 percent of the daily suggested calorie intake of 2,000. This makes watermelon seeds about as calorie dense as mixed nuts, which provide 174 calories per 1 oz. serving. The calorie density makes watermelon seeds good for active individuals. A 1 oz. serving of watermelon seeds provides enough calories to fuel ¾ hour of weightlifting or ¼  minutes of swimming laps.

B Vitamins: The seeds are also loaded with several of the B vitamins. It is recommended that the B vitamins are necessary for converting food into energy and other important bodily functions. The most prevalent B vitamin in watermelon seeds is niacin, with 1 cup of dried watermelon seeds containing 3.8mg, which is 19 percent of the daily value. Niacin is important for maintaining the

·    nervous system,

·    digestive system and

·    skin health.

Other B vitamins in watermelon seeds include

·    folate,

·    thiamin

·    riboflavin

·    vitamin B6 and

·    pantothenic acid.

Minerals: Minerals abound in watermelon seeds. Magnesium is the most abundant mineral, weighing in with 556mg, or 139 percent of the recommended daily value, in 1 cup of dried seeds. According to the National Institutes of Health, magnesium helps regulate blood pressure and the metabolism of carbohydrates, which has a beneficial effect on blood sugar as well. Other important minerals in watermelon seeds are phosphorous, iron, potassium, sodium, copper, manganese and zinc.

Fats: It is the most surprising thing about watermelon seeds, amount of fat they contain. In 1 cup of dried seeds, there are approximately 51g of fat,

·    With 11g of those being saturated fat.

·    The other fats are

o  monounsaturated fats,

o  polyunsaturated fats, and

o  Omega-6 fatty acids.

The mono and polyunsaturated fats reduce blood cholesterol, and omega-6 fatty acids can help reduce high blood pressure.