Health Benefits of Cardamom

Cardamom, is one spice, which is widely used in Indian cuisine, for its amazing taste. Besides, adding taste to your recipe, this spice is a medicine for various treatment like mouth ulcers, digestion etc. 


Benefits of Cardamom

# Digestive disorders 

This spice is great for boosting digestive health. It helps in stimulating the digestive system and reduces gas and bloating. It also helps in relieving acidity. Choose cardamom tea to treat headaches caused by indigestion.

# Bad Breath

If you are troubled with bad breadth, then chew some cardamom. It will work as a mouth freshener and help get rid of bad breath.

# Depression

For depression or anxiety, powder some cardamom and boil it in hot water to prepare cardamom tea. The pleasing aroma will help you ease your depression and other mental problems.

# Expectorant Action

Cardamom helps to improve circulation to the lungs, so it is recommended for people suffering from asthma and bronchitis.

# Impotency

If your sex life is going down the drain, then use cardamom. Cardamom can be used to treat sexual dysfunctions like impotency and premature ejaculation.

# Other benefits

Cardamom also has a cooling effect; stimulates the appetite and eases stomach cramps.

Uses of Cardamom 

Cardamom is used in garam masala, tea, coffee and paan.

Cardamom is also used in Indian desserts like phirni, gulab jamun etc. The use of cardamom gives a distinctive flavour to the food.

The whole green cardamom can be used in pulavs, curries and hot dishes like biryanis, pulaos and kebabs.

Kidney Stone

Kidney stones are hard mass deposits that form in the kidney or ureter. They are made up of tiny crystalline minerals and acid salts that settle out of the urine and stick together. 

They could vary in size and texture and can usually go unnoticed until they cause a blockage. This can then cause excruciating pain as they make their way into the ureter (the urine carrying tubes that connect the kidneys and the bladder).

Kidney stones are a common problem, that most people experience. Although this is not a life threatening disease, it can be very painful if you ignore it. 

The symptoms, causes and treatments for kidney stones:

# Causes

There are no specific causes of kidney stones. They form when the urine cannot dilute crystal forming minerals such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid. These crystals then stick together, creating kidney stones. Knowing the type of kidney stone helps determine its cause, which can help reduce future risks of developing them.

# Symptoms

Kidney stones go unnoticed, until they begin to move to the ureter and block the urine flow, causing severe pain. A few symptoms of kidney stones that one should be aware of:

Pain in the abdomen or back

Pain spreading to the groin area or testicles

Blood in the urine

Nausea or vomiting

Burning sensation during urination

# Treatment

Kidney stone treatments depend on the type of stone and its severity.

Small kidney stones of about 5mm can be passed out through urine. Doctor will recommend you drink plenty of water so that the stone gets flushed out of your body faster. After the stone passes, you need to send it for testing.

If the stone is about 10mm, the doctor prescribes medicines that help break down the stone for it to pass through the urine.

Another common medical procedure is the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL). During this therapy, shock waves are passed through the skin of your abdomen for your kidney stone to break up and pass out through the urine.

When the stone is large and cannot be removed through any of the above mentioned procedures, the doctor recommends a keyhole surgery. These surgeries include Percutaneous nephrolithotomy or a Ureteroscopy.

Health Benefits of Ginger Tea

Nothing beats cold in the winter like a piping hot cup of ginger tea. With its high levels of Vitamin C, magnesium and other minerals, ginger root is extremely beneficial for health.

Once made into tea, you can add peppermint, honey or lemon to mask the taste of the ginger. 

Some of the health benefits are:

# Relieve Nausea

Drinking a cup of ginger tea before travelling can help prevent the nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness. You can also drink a cuppa at the first sign of nausea to relieve the symptom.

# Improve Stomach Performance

Useful in improving digestion and increasing absorption of food, ginger tea can bloating after eating too much.

# Reduce Inflammation

Ginger contains anti-inflammatory properties that make it an ideal home remedy for muscle and joint problems. In addition to drinking ginger tea, you can also use it to soak inflamed joints.

# Fight Respiratory Problems

Ginger tea can help relieve congestion associated with the common cold. Try a cup of ginger tea for the respiratory symptoms associated with environmental allergies.

# Improve blood circulation

The vitamins, minerals and amino acids in ginger tea can help restore and improve blood circulation that may help decrease the chance of cardiovascular problems. Ginger may prevent fat from depositing in the arteries helping to prevent heart attacks and stroke.

# Relieve Menstrual Discomfort

This one is for all women suffering from menstrual cramps. Try soaking a towel in warm ginger tea and apply it to your lower abdomen. It may help relieve the pain and relax the muscles. At the same time, drink a cup of ginger tea with honey.

# Strengthen Immunity

Ginger tea can help strengthen your immunity due to the high levels of antioxidants in ginger.

# Relieve Stress

Ginger tea has calming properties that may help lower your stress and tension. Its is due to a combination of the strong aroma and healing properties.

Health Benefits of Carrots

Health benefits of eating Carrots are considered superfoods for fertility and help boost the quality and quantity of sperm. 

# Ageing

Carrots are considered anti-ageing foods as they are rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that fights free radicals.

# Boost Beauty

Carrots are rich in antioxidants and vitamin A, both responsible for healthy skin, hair and nails.

# Fight Cardiovascular Diseases

Carrots consists of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and lutein are antioxidants that fight cholesterol. Carrots are also fibrous; hence it helps soak out bad cholesterol.

# Dental Health

Consumption of carrots improves the dental health by clearing plaque. Biting on carrots increases the production of saliva, hence balances the acid level which fight cavity-causing bacteria.

# Improves Liver Health

Carrots are considered detox food, as it cleanses the liver. Carrots help reduce bile and fat storage in the liver.

#Prevent Infection 

Raw carrot or boiled are applied on cuts and wounds as an antiseptic.

Choose bright colour carrots, smooth ones and medium size carrots as these are fresh. Carrots also contain minerals and vitamins like thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate and manganese. Carrots are also a good source of fibre, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium.

Importance of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is both a nutrient we eat and a hormone that our body makes. 

Vitamin D plays a much wider disease-fighting role. Being deficient of vitamin D can make a host of various chronic disease and infections. 

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D belongs to a group of fat-soluble vitamins the absorption that enhance of calcium and phosphate in the body. In humans, the most important compounds in this group are vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. The body can also synthesis vitamin D in the skin, from cholesterol, with adequate sun exposure. So, it is often referred to as 'the sunshine vitamin'.

Recommend Daily Allowance

The Indian Dietetic Association, in accordance with the 2010 revised data, recommends 400 IU(10 g) per day with adequate sun exposure.

Benefits of Vitamin D


# Disease prevention

Adequate vitamin D in the body prevents diseases like cancer, rickets, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, kidney disease, tuberculosis, influenza, obesity, hair loss and depression.

# Vitamin D against Flu

Vitamin D improves the immune function and provides a protective shield against cold, flu and pneumonia.

# Vitamin D for Expecting Mothers

Vitamin D is important in making healthy babies with good immune functions. It also prevents risk of premature births.

Optimum vitamin D intake reduces the risk of injuries die to falls, fractures, high blood pressure and type 1 diabetes.

Vitamin D also speeds up wound healing

# Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include depression, backache, obesity, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, gum disease, premenstrual syndrome, asthma, bronchitis, hypertension and diabetes.

# Sources of Vitamin D

Mostly all the sources of vitamin D are of animal-source, so food fortifications are preferred. Foods like milk and milk products, breakfast cereals and breakfast bars are generally fortified.

Fatty fishes like tuna, mackerel, sardines and salmon are rich sources of vitamin D. 

Vitamin D is also present in moderate amounts in egg yolk, beef liver and cheese.

Health Benefits of Pineapple

Pineapple is one the best fruits to fight free radicals and is also good for those with arthritis. 

Pineapple is a unique fruit - it is actually multiple fruits fused together. When you have a slice of pineapple you experience a burst of different flavours - sweet, salty and tangy. You can eat pineapple anyway you like. For example, juice it, pulp it or make a refreshing mocktail. Canned pineapple can be a great topping for cakes and desserts. Different parts of a pineapple; skin, core etc. are used in the production of vinegar, alcohol and animal food.

Pineapple is highly rich in Vitamin C and so acts as a great antioxidant, which prevents colds and flu. It is also a good source of thiamine, B12, folate, copper and dietary fibres. A few slices of pineapple a day in your meal can work wonders for your body and it is a good choice for weight due to its low calorie content (100gm pineapple= 50Kcal).

Besides helping you lose weight, pineapple has an important nutrient that reduces arthritic pain, Bromelain is a magical component which is present in the fruit that has many health benefits. Although it is present in the entire fruit, the stem of a pineapple has the most amount of bromelain.

Bromelain extracts aid in digestion and act as an anti-inflammatory agent thus in turn it helps with arthritis pain. Bromelain extracts are now available in form of capsules. Being a proteo-lytic enzyme, bromelin helps to tenderise your meats by breaking down the protein in it, bromelain can coagulate the milk and prevent the jelly to set hence remember if you want to make a pineapple milkshake you need to cook it to destroy the bromelain content.

Moderation is the key to good health, likewise gluttonous consumption of pineapple has negative side effects. Consuming excess amount of pineapple can lead to irritation and soreness in mouth due to high acid content hence portion control is important.

Pineapple is one of the best fruits to consume this season. Hydrate, lose weight and improve your complexion with pineapple.

Home Remedies to Treat Migraine

Migraine is a neurological disorder, which is at times accompanied by nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. 

To solve your migraine problem, here are some easy home remedies:

# Ice packs

If it's difficult to bear your headache, then treat it with some cold therapy. Placing ice on your head can help to reduce your pain, because ice has anti-inflammatory properties.

# Load up in vitamin B2

Consuming at least 400 mg of Vitamin B2 helps in reducing the symptoms of migraine significantly.

The best sources of vitamin B2 are chicken, fish, eggs, legumes (like peas and lentils), milk and milk products such as yogurt and cheese, nuts, green leafy vegetables like spinach, broccoli, asparagus, and fortified cereals also supply significant amounts of riboflavin to the diet.

# Relaxation Techniques

When you get a severe headache, try relaxation techniques like massaging your head, yoga or mediation. All these relaxation techniques help to ease neck and shoulder spasms, increases body awareness, which helps to detect and treat oncoming headache and increases your focus.

# Treat with Herbs

A warm cup of herbal tea made with peppermint or lemon balm will relieve a headache, especially one that involves nausea. Tea made from the leaves of fresh oregano or ginger also helps to relieve nervous headache.

# Acupuncture

Acupuncture is more effective than drugs in relieving the misery of migraine. However, the benefits are slow, but they are assured and last for a long time.