Health Care

Strawberry & Grapes

2008-11-22T13:07:00.010+05:00

Strawberry

Strawberry is one of the most delicious and nutritious fruit. It has the ability to remove harmful toxin in the blood. It is also recommended for sluggish liver, gout, rheumatism, constipation, high blood pressure, catarrh and even skin cancer.
Strawberry is a rich source of folic acid, folic acid helps to prevent / reduce birth defects involving brain.
Nutritive Value : Per 100 gm.
· Vitamin A : 60 I.U.
· Vitamin B : Thiamine .03 mg.;
· Vitamin C : 60 mg.
· Calcium : 28 mg.
· Phosphorus : 27 mg.
· Potassium : 220 mg.
· Carbohydrates : 8.3 gm
· Calories : 37
Health Benefits of Strawberry :
1. This is highly rated as skin cleansing food, even though the skin eruptions may appear at first in some cases.
2. It is also known to clean or rid the blood of harmful toxins.
3. It has been reported to help cases of syphilis.
4. The strawberry, when cut in half and rubbed on the teeth and gums, removes tartar from the teeth and strengthens and heals the gums. The juice should be allowed to remain on the teeth as long as possible in order to dissolve the tartar. The mouth may then be rinsed with warm water.

G r a p e s

Grapes is a small round or oval fruit, some grapes are seedless. Grapes is a rich source of flavonoids, this gives the gives the vibrant purplish color to grapes , grape juice and red wine, the stronger the color, the higher the flavonoid content.
Nutritive Values of Grapes : Per 100 gm.
· Vitamin A : 80 I.U.
· Vitamin B : Thiamine .06 mg.;
· Vitamin C : 4 mg.
· Calcium : 17 gm.
· Phosphorus : 21 mg.
· Fat : 1.4 gm.
· Carbohydrates : 14.9 gm.
· Protein : 1.4 gm.
· Calories : 70
Health Benefits of Grapes:
1. Good blood and body builder, it is also a quick source of energy.
2. Grape juice is easily assimilated and called the "nectar of the gods". It is indicated in cases of constipation, gout, rheumatism, skin and liver disorders.
3. This alkaline fruit (also called "the queen of fruits") helps greatly to decrease the acidity of the uric acid and lends itself further in aiding the elimination of the acid from the system, thus benefiting the kidneys greatly.
4. Studies shown that grape juice, red wines and raisin tea showed strong antiviral activity against poliovirus, herpes simplex virus.
5. Helps reduce platelet clumping and harmful blood clots.

Tomato

2008-11-21T18:30:00.005+05:00

Health Benefits of Tomato :
1. A large consumption of tomato can help improve skin texture and color.
2. Tomato is a good blood purifier.
3. Tomato helps in cases of congestion of the liver (protects the liver from cirrhosis) as well as for dissolving gallstones.
4. Tomato is a natural antiseptic therefore it can help protect against infectionNicotinic acid in tomatoes can help to reduce blood cholesterol, thus helps prevent heart diseases.
5. Vitamin K in tomatoes helps to prevent hemorrhages.
6. Tomato contain lycopene (the red pigment in tomato), this pigment is a powerful antioxidant that can also fight cancer cells.
Nutritive Values of Tomato : Per 100 gm.
· Vitamin A : 1,000 I.U.
· Vitamin B : Thiamine .06 mg.;
· Vitamin C : 23 mg.
· Vitamin K : amount uncertain
· Calcium : 11 mg.
· Iron : .6 mg.
· Phosphorus : 27 mg.
· Potassium : 360 mg.
· Protein : 1.0 gm.
· Calories : 20

Walnut

2008-11-20T18:06:00.003+05:00

Health Benefits Walnut :
1. Walnut is a good source of all important omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids has a lot of health benefits ranging from cardiovascular protection, better mental function, anti-inflammatory benefits in asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory diseases like eczema and psoriasis.
2. Walnut contain ellagic acid, an antioxidant compound that helps supports the immune system and contain several anticancer properties.
3. Walnut has a mild laxative effect, it is beneficial in cases of constipation.
4. It contains vitamins and minerals thus making it an excellent food for body and muscle building.
5. Walnut helps improve body's metabolism.
6. Walnut is recommended for patients with liver ailments.
Nutritive Values : Per 100 gm.
· Vitamin A : 30 I.U.
· Vitamin B : Thiamine .48 mg.
· Niacin : 1.2 mg.
· Vitamin C : 3 mg.
· Calcium : 83 mg.
· Iron : 2.1 mg.
· Phosphorus : 380 mg.
· Potassium : 225 mg.
· Fat : 64.4 gm.
· Carbohydrates : 15.6 gm.
· Protein : 15.0 gm.
· Calories : 654

Avocado

2008-11-20T17:39:00.003+05:00

Health Benefits of Avocado
Avocado is a pear shape with dark green or blackish skin with a large seed. It is a fruit belonging to the genus Persea in the Lauraceae family. Avocado is often on the hate-list of those people who want to lose weight, but avocado should be every woman's best friend. They are rich in vitamin E which is said to be a beauty vitamin because it is valuable for healthy skin and the prevention of wrinkles. Avocadoes also supply a considerable amount of potassium and large quantities of the extremely healthy monounsaturated fats. These especially the oleic acid and the other nutrients avocado contain that make them one of the most powerful antioxidant foods. Pureed avocado is good for invalids, sick children and those people who are recovering from operation as its easily digestible and contains some antibacterial and antifungal chemicals.

Nutritive Values : Per 100 gm.
· Vitamin A : 290 I.U
· Thiamine : 290 mg.
· Niacin : 1.1 mg.
· Vitamin C : 16 mg.
· Calcium : 10 mg.
· Phosphorus : 38 mg.
· Fat : 26.4 gm. (monounsaturated)
· Carbohydrates : 5.1 gm.
· Protein : 1.7 gm.
· Calories : 245
Health Benefits of Avocado :
1. For malnutrition because of the plentiful supply of vitamins and minerals.
2. Readily taken by ulcer patients.
3. Inflamed conditions of the mucous membranes, particularly the stomach, small intestines and colon.
4. Help in Male impotency because of its richness in nutrients.
5. Beneficial for women in their menopause
6. Constipation

Orange

2008-11-19T17:53:00.000+05:00

Orange is one of the most favorite fruit in the world. Orange is loaded with vitamins, and the most abundant vitamin in orange is Vitamin C. This powerful vitamin protect our body against harmful elements.

It is very helpful to control lot of dieseas

Orange is Beneficial in the following cases :

Asthma
Bronchitis
Tuberculosis
Pneumonia
Rheumatism
Prevent kidney stone
Helps lower cholesterol
Helps prevent diabetes
Arthritis
High blood pressure
Persons addicted to alcohol have found that the desire for liquor is greatly reduced by drinking of orange juice.
Consumption of large quantities of oranges will decrease the outpouring of mucus secretions from the nose.

Nutritional Contents of Orange :
Betacarotene, another powerful antioxidant that protects our cells from being damage.
Calcium that helps protect and maintain the health of our bone and teeth.
Folic Acid for proper brain development.
Magnesium helps maintain blood pressure.
Potassium helps maintain electrolyte balance in the cells, and is important in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.

Thiamin helps to convert food into energy.
Vitamin B6 helps support the production of hemoglobin that carries oxygen to all parts of the body.
Nutritive Values : Per 100 gm.
Vitamin A : 190 I.U.
Vitamin B : Thiamine .08 mg.;
Vitamin C : 49 mg.
Calcium : 33 mg.
Phosphorus : 23 mg.
Potassium : 300 mg.

Apple

2008-11-19T17:29:00.000+05:00

Most of us are familiar with the tale that originated from Switzerland of William Tell when an Apple was placed on the head of his son and Tell was ordered to split the apple with his arrow or lose his son. Of course Tell succeeded in piercing the apple into two and saved his son. Again we have heard of Adam's apple. The story goes that in the Garden of Eden, Adam ate a piece of the forbidden fruit that got stuck in his throat, and thus the term Adams Apple. An Adam's apple sometimes looks like a small, rounded apple just under the skin in the front of the throat, usually seen in boys. Now lets have some interesting facts about Apples and how they aid in good health.

The Greek and Roman mythology refer to apples as symbols of love and beauty but Apple contain vitamins like Vitamin C, Beta-Carotene, iron and potassium etc., The Vitamin C content may not be as good as Oranges but apples have very high mineral contents, pectins, malic acid which are good in normalizing the intestines. Apple is good for treatment of anaemia, dysentery, heart disease, headache, eye disorders, kidney stones and promotes vigour and vitality. Apple juice is good to overcome a liverish feeling, further, apples are unlikely to cause allergic reactions and are excellent means of providing essential fluids to the body.

A popular saying about apples is that apples combine the best attributes of something old and something new. A number of components in apples, have been found in studies to lower blood cholesterol with a reduced risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, prostrate cancer, type II diabetes and asthma. A new study whose findings have been published in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease is sure to bring cheers for people suffering from this strange disease.

This study suggests that eating and drinking apples and apple juice, in conjunction with a balanced diet, can protect the brain from the effects of oxidative stress- and that we should eat such antioxidant-rich foods. Apples are also good for treatment of the Acid reflux condition also called gerd (gastro esophageal reflux disease).
It is well said that we should have in our diet apart from vegetables, fresh coloured fruits like Yellow Apples, Green Apples, Red Apples etc., which are easily available considering that we have some of the best Apples coming from places like Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh etc., Of course imported apples like Washington apples and Australian apples are available at big departmental stores. Some of the well known apple varieties are Golden Noble, Bramleys etc., As in vegetables like carrot, the colours in fruits like Apples are indicative of good health as shown below:

Green Apples - Good for strong bones and teeth, aids in vision, anti cancer properties.

Yellow Apples - Good for heart and eyes, immune system, reduce risk of some cancers.
Red Apples - Good for heart, Memory function, lower risk of some cancers and to maintain urinary tract health.

So lets seize the opportunity to grab as much apples as we can in our diet for good health for the whole family.

Peach

2008-11-19T13:34:00.000+05:00

The peach (Prunus persica) is a species of Prunus native to China that bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach. It is a deciduous tree growing to 5–10 m tall, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It is classified with the almond in the subgenus Amygdalus within the genus Prunus, distinguished from the other subgenera by the corrugated seed shell.
The leaves are lanceolate, 7–15 cm long and 2–3 cm broad. The flowers are produced in early spring before the leaves; they are solitary or paired, 2.5–3 cm diameter, pink, with five petals. The fruit is a drupe, with a single large seed encased in what appears to be wood, but isn't (called the "stone" or "pit"), yellow or whitish flesh, a delicate aroma, and a skin that is either velvety (peaches) or smooth (nectarines) in different cultivars. The flesh is very delicate and easily bruised in some cultivars, but is fairly firm in some commercial cultivars, especially when green. The seed is red-brown, oval shaped and 1.5-2 cm long. Peaches, along with cherries, plums and apricots, are stone fruits (drupes).

The scientific name persica, along with the word "peach" itself and its cognates in many European languages, derives from an early European belief that peaches were native to Persia (now Iran). The modern botanical consensus is that they originate in China, and were introduced to Persia and the Mediterranean region along the Silk Road before Christian times. Cultivated peaches are divided into clingstones and freestones, depending on whether the flesh sticks to the stone or not; both can have either white or yellow flesh. Peaches with white flesh typically are very sweet with little acidity, while yellow-fleshed peaches typically have an acidic tang coupled with sweetness, though this also varies greatly. Both colours often have some red on their skin. Low-acid white-fleshed peaches are the most popular kinds in China, Japan, and neighbouring Asian countries, while Europeans and North Americans have historically favoured the acidic, yellow-fleshed kinds, though some prefer the other.

History of peaches

Although its botanical name Prunus persica suggests the peach is native to Persia, it actually originated in China where it has been cultivated since the early days of Chinese culture. Peaches were mentioned in Chinese writings as far back as the tenth century B.C and were a favored fruit of emperors.

Its English name derives from the Latin plural of persicum malum, meaning Persian apple. In Middle English, it melded into peche, much closer to what we call it today.
The Persians brought the peach from China and passed it on to the Romans. The peach was brought to America by Spanish explorers in the sixteenth century and eventually made it to England and France in the seventeenth century, where it was a prized albeit rare treat.
A Horticultist by the name of George Minifie supposedly brought the first peaches from England to the USA in the early seventeenth century, planting them at his Estate of Buckland in Virginia.
Various American Indian tribes are credited with migrating the peach tree across the United States, taking seeds along with them and planting as they roved the country.
Although Thomas Jefferson had peach trees at Monticello, United States farmers did not begin commercial production until the nineteenth century in Maryland, Delaware, Georgia and finally Virginia. California grows 65% of peaches grown for commercial production in the United States, but the Southern states, Colorado, Michigan, and Washington also grow a significant amount.
Today, peaches are the second largest commercial fruit crop in the States, second only to apples. Italy, China and Greece are major producers of peaches outside of the United States.

Cultivation

Harvested peaches
Peach trees grow very well in a fairly limited range, since they have a chilling requirement that subtropical areas cannot satisfy, and they are not very cold-hardy. The trees themselves can usually tolerate temperatures to around −26 °C to −30 °C, although the following season's flower buds are usually killed at these temperatures, leading to no crop that summer. Flower bud kill begins to occur at temperatures between −15 °C and −25 °C depending on the cultivar (some are more cold-tolerant than others) and the timing of the cold, with the buds becoming less cold tolerant in late winter. Certain cultivars are more tender and others can tolerate a few degrees more cold. In addition, a lot of summer heat is required to mature the crop, with mean temperatures of the hottest month between 20 °C and 30 °C. Another problematic issue in many peach-growing areas is spring frost. The trees tend to flower fairly early in spring. The flowers can often be damaged or killed by freezes; typically, if temperatures drop below about −4 °C, most flowers will be killed. However, if the flowers are not fully open, they can tolerate a couple of degrees colder.

Nectarines

Nectarine
The nectarine is a cultivar group of peach that has a smooth, fuzzless skin. Though fuzzy peaches and nectarines are commercially regarded as different fruits, with nectarines often erroneously believed to be a crossbreed between peaches and plums, or a "peach with a plum skin", they belong to the same species as peaches. Several genetic studies have concluded in fact that nectarines are created due to a recessive gene, whereas a fuzzy peach skin is dominant. Nectarines have arisen many times from peach trees, often as bud sports.
As with peaches, nectarines can be white or yellow, and clingstone or freestone. On average, nectarines are slightly smaller and sweeter than peaches, but with much overlap. The lack of skin fuzz can make nectarine skins appear more reddish than those of peaches, contributing to the fruit's plum-like appearance. The lack of down on the skin also means their skin is more easily bruised than peaches.

Peaches in Asian tradition

Pan Tao, the Chinese flat peach. Also called Paraguaya (Paraguayan).

A Chinese Song Dynasty painting of a bird and peach blossom, by Song Emperor Huizong, 11th century.
Peaches are known in China, Japan, Korea, Laos, and Vietnam not only as a popular fruit but for the many folktales and traditions associated with it. Momotaro, one of Japan's most noble and semi-historical heroes, was born from within an enormous peach floating down a stream. Momotaro or "Peach Boy" went on to fight evil oni and face many adventures. Peach flowers are admired by the Japanese but not as much as the sakura (cherry).
In China, the peach was said to be consumed by the immortals due to its mystic virtue of conferring longevity on all who ate them. The divinity Yu Huang, also called the Jade Emperor, and his mother called Xi Wangmu also known as Queen Mother of the West, ensured the gods' everlasting existence by feeding them the peaches of immortality. The immortals residing in the palace of Xi Wangmu were said to celebrate an extravagant banquet called the Pantao Hui or "The Feast of Peaches". The immortals waited six thousand years before gathering for this magnificent feast; the peach tree put forth leaves once every thousand years and it required another three thousand years for the fruit to ripen. Ivory statues depicting Xi Wangmu's attendants often held three peaches.
The peach often plays an important part in Chinese tradition and is symbolic of long life. One example is in the peach-gathering story of Zhang Daoling, who many say is the true founder of Taoism. Elder Zhang Guo, one of the Chinese Eight Immortals, is often depicted carrying a Peach of Immortality. The peach blossoms are also highly prized in Chinese culture, ranked slightly lower than mei blossom.
It was in an orchard of flowering peach trees that Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei took an oath of brotherhood in the opening chapter of the classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Due to its delicious taste and soft texture, in ancient China "peach" was also a slang word for "young bride", and it has remained in many cultures as a way to define young women or a general state of goodness(as in English, with peach or peachy keen).