source

It’s a well-known fact that blueberries are a very rich in antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins. Adding them to your diet is a tasty way to get these important nutrients, as well as provide many other important health benefits. Now, there is new research coming out of Sweden that indicates blueberries can help fight off the negative effects of many intestinal diseases.

According to researchers from the Lund University Faculty of Engineering in Sweden, the fiber from blueberries can help alleviate and protect against intestinal inflammations, such as ulcerative colitis, crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome. The benefits are even greater when blueberries are mixed with the beneficial bacteria found in probiotics, such as yogurt.

The researchers on the project tested many types of fiber, such as rye bran and oat bran, as well as testing them all with and without a mixture of beneficial bacteria. Blueberries are rich in polyphenols, which have an antimicrobial effect on your body.

When these polyphenols are combined with the beneficial bacteria found in probiotics, they help reduce inflamation-inducing bacteria in the intestinal tract, while simulatenously increasing the amount of healthy bacteria. This is the effect that is so beneficial for protecting and alleviating from inflammation in the intestinal tract.

The following quote is from Åsa Håkansson, researcher on the team:

“In recent years the research world has been realizing that our health is governed to a great extent by what happens in our large intestine. The probiotics (in our research) proved to have a protective effect on the liver, an organ that is often negatively impacted by intestinal inflammations.”

Camilla Bränning, another researcher on the team, added the following:

“A further explanation for the extremely positive effect of blueberries may be that the blueberry fibre are not degraded to such a high degree in the large intestine. This means that inflammation-inducing substances do not come into contact with the mucous lining of the intestine but are embedded in the fibre instead. Then these substances are transported out of body together with the faeces”

The Bottomline on this Study

Blueberries are healthy for you. We’ve known this for a very long time, but with this new research, if you suffer from an intestinal disorders, there is no better time to add blueberries to your diet than right now. If you’re not a fan of blueberries or are looking for a little diversity, there are many other healthy berries out there that you could easily add to your diet.

Related Articles

• Tips for Growing Your Own Blueberries
• 5 Poisonous Berries You Want to Avoid
• Foods that Speed up Metabolism
• Soy Milk: The Benefits vs. The Dangers
• Do You Know Which Foods are High in Antioxidants?

You eat when you are happy and you also eat when you are feeling low. Food seems like the most obvious distraction from the daily woes. Most of us have almost lost our ability to tell when we are hungry and when we are content. Overeating has become a phenomenal problem, especially in America where the portion sizes grow faster than our waistlines.

Needless to say, all those calories that you unnecessarily intake, manifest into pounds of fat and get stored around your belly. Although, the causes of overeating are myriad, the binging pattern is the same.

If you suffer from the problem of compulsive overeating disorder and wish to know about how to control overeating, then this article is for you. Given below are some tips on how to stop overeating.

5 Tips to Help You Stop Overeating

1. Know When to Stop

The temptation or craving for food often urges you to eat more than required. You fail to notice the signals that your stomach send to indicate that it is full. Normally, it takes about 12 minutes for the brain to receive the signals of food satisfaction. However, in an obese person, this time is about 20 minutes. As a result, you keep on gorging even when your stomach has long before attained its capacity. The feeling of stuffiness in your stomach is very uncomfortable. However, if you keep on hogging, you eventually become used to this feeling. Hence, it is important to know when your stomach has reached its capacity.

2. Eat Slowly & Chew More

When you eat really fast, you clear your plate within a few minutes, only to be replenished again. You don’t realize the amount of food that you consume within short duration. Hence, it is always best to eat slowly and chew your food throughly. Eating at a slower pace helps you to realize when you are full and content with not eating any more food. Also, chewing your food throughly can help improve the digestion process.

3. Do Not Get Distracted

Eating while watching television or driving does not allow you to focus solely on your food. As a result, you don’t realize the amount of food that you are stuffing your stomach with. Similarly, do not use food as a distraction while staying up at night or while working at a computer. When you eat, you need to concentrate on your food alone. Not only does it help in cutting down on your excess intake, but also results in better assimilation of food. If you want to know how to stop overeating at night or any other time in the day, then reading this article on suppress hunger might help you.

4. Drink Lost of Purified Water

Often, your body fails to distinguish between the signals of thirst and hunger pangs. As a result, you are likely to take thirst signals for hunger pangs and eat immodestly. Hence, it is necessary to regularly drink water, so that you keep your body well hydrated which prevents it form sending mixed signals. Drinking sips of water between meals is a great solution, if you want to know ‘how to stop overeating at dinner.’

5. Choose the Right Food

This is your ultimate solution to overeating. You are less likely to face health hazards due to overeating carrot sticks than due to overeating potato chips. Hence, whenever you feel an irresistible urge to eat, you may try switching to healthier versions of food. This is particularly true when your overeating is due to boredom or easy access to food.

If your overeating is due to some psychological condition, then addressing that issue first can eventually cure the problem of overeating. Treating the cause of overeating is your answer to ‘how to stop overeating’.

Related Articles

• Foods that Speed up Metabolism
• How Milk Can Sabotage Your Diet
• Soy Milk: The Benefits vs. The Dangers
• 5 Poisonous Berries You Probably Want to Avoid
• Do You Know Which Foods are High in Antioxidants?

Article written by: A. Kulkarni

source

Blueberries are one of the most popular and delicious fruits available. Their unique flavor and the healthy advantages it offers are aplenty which is why these are often used for lip smacking sweet fruit pies and jams. Personally, I love to use the blueberries I grow in yogurt and muffins. These can be eaten fresh and are also low in calories.

Blueberries are related to the huckleberries, the azaleas and the rhododendrons. These shrubs grow at least 7 to 8 feet in height and flourish in those areas that have the specific soil required. Most of the time, they require around 3-4 years to start bearing fruit, however this is not always true. There are many advantages to growing blueberries instead of buying them off the shelf. Not only do they taste fresher, but because they are locally-grown, they are better for the environment. All it needs is proper attention and care.

How To Grow Blueberries

Before growing blueberries at your home, you should consider the composition of the soil and the climate in which you live. Also, you can grow 2 or more varieties for the pollination. I have listed a few steps below that you can follow in growing blueberries.

• You need to contact the local store to know the variety you may need to pick before growing blueberries. Planting the blueberries bushes is quite a similar task to planting most shrubs. The variety of the bush matters, as some are quite drought resistant. This would suit a climate that is on the dry side.
• Once you have decided on the kind of blueberry you wish to grow, you need to select the appropriate location in your garden. The bushes require ample sunlight.
• You also need to check the pH level of the soil. This is because the soil used should be suitable for growing blueberries. The most favorable level for the blueberries is 4.5. The soil mixture should at least have an organic mixture of 5%. You can add leaves and manure to the soil.
• The time of the year also matters when you are growing blueberries. This needs to be planted in the spring or during the fall. This is because the soil tends to be more workable during this period. When you plant blueberry bushes, you also need to keep in mind that they should stand at least 4 feet apart. The lowbush varieties can be planted 1-3 feet apart.
• You also need to keep the depth of the mulch at 4″. This will help to retain the moisture for the weeds of the blueberry bushes and also prevent the growth of weeds.
• Adding the fertilizers is also important for growing blueberries. You can fertilize it in the late winter season or the early spring season. You can try an ammonium sulfate fertilizer at least twice in a year.
• Pruning the blueberry bushes may not be required for the initial few years. You may have to cut the oldest shoots so that it promotes the growth of a new shoot. You have to also remove the stalks that have dried up. Also, sometimes, you may need to take care that the branches are not over laden with fruits. You will need to prune the shoots so that they have the right amount of buds on them. There are certain people who believe in removing the flowers in the first year. This is because; it is firmly believed that this would help in the total development of the plant.

There are various categories of blueberries available, and within each category are many types of blueberries. These categories are as follows:

• Highbush Blueberries: These are the ones that are usually available in the local grocery store.
• Lowbush Blueberries: These are also known as the wild blueberries and generally do not grow beyond 18-inches of height.
• Half-high Blueberries: These can withstand heavy snowfall and are a hybrid combination of the two mentioned above.
• Rabbiteye Blueberries: These can face the full sun and are the tallest of the various kinds of blueberries available.

Growing Blueberries in Containers

Blueberries can be grown in containers as well. Due to their shallow root systems, these are suitable for growing in raised bed gardens or flower pots. Of course, it would be wise to plan ahead and grow your blueberry plant in a large pot. The larger the pot, the better chance you have at your plant bearing fruit for years to come. Once you have followed the steps above, the blueberry bush will require minimal care.

Related Articles

• 7 Healthy & Delicious Berries
• 5 Poisonous Berries You Want to Avoid
• Foods that Speed up Metabolism
• Soy Milk: The Benefits vs. The Dangers
• Do You Know Which Foods are High in Antioxidants?

Article written by: K. Lad

As the name suggests, oregano oil is derived from wild oregano plants and the key ingredients which make the oil beneficial are carvacrol and thymol. The extraction of the oil is done through a process, without the use of any chemicals or solvents. Apart from containing carvacrol and thumol, the oil is also rich in potassium, iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium, copper, boron, Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Niacin. Let’s now get to the list of the different oregano oil benefits.

Wild Oregano Oil Benefits

Oregano Oil Benefits for Skin
Treating itches, insect bites, burns, wounds, cuts and skin infections are all included in oregano oil benefits. Acne treatment is also done effectively by the use of this oil. Just dilute the oil with olive oil or coconut oil and dab on the acne using a cotton ball. Psoriasis and eczema can also be improved by the use of this oil.

Oregano Oil Benefits for Digestive Disorders
As mentioned earlier, oregano oil is high in carvacrol and thumol and these two components help in treating upset stomach and also help in the digestion process. This is done by the antioxidant property of the oil, which encourages bile production and hence, proper digestion. Best results are obtained, when the oil is taken with a glass of milk or juice.

Oregano Oil Benefits for Sinus Infection, Cold and Sore Throats
Several natural remedies for sinus infection include, the use of oregano oil. Drink a glass of juice daily mixed with 2 – 3 drops of the oil. A mere period of 3 – 5 days is what is required, after which the improvements can be noticed. When the symptoms of cold and sore throat start cropping up, help yourself with a glass of orange juice mixed with 2 – 3 drops of the oregano oil. The oil curbs the progress of such illnesses and also reduces the symptoms in a few days.

More on medicinal uses of oregano.

Other Oregano Oil Benefits
Oregano oil is an effective pain reliever. People suffering from arthritis, joint pain and tendonitis, can benefit from the use of diluted oregano oil. Other benefits of this oil include:

• Regulating menstrual cycles
• Treating Insect bites
• Treating bronchitis, canker sores, muscle pain and warts
• Prevents cellular damage
• Treating constipation, diarrhea, asthma, athlete’s foot, earaches and dandruff

The reason why I mentioned the use of oregano oil in diluted form is, because if not properly diluted, then upset stomach or abdominal discomfort may occur. Some people might develop some allergic reactions due to the use of oregano oil. The reactions might be skin irritations, rashes or vomiting. Expecting mothers are not advised to make any use of the oil, as the oil tends to reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron. So, those who are the regular users of the oil, must ensure that they also take regular iron supplements. Certain areas of the body such as the genitals’ or that of the mucous membranes or eyes, may feel a burning sensation after the use of the oil. So, make sure that the oil is properly diluted (with olive or coconut oil) before it is used.

In order to reduce the risks of any side effects and get the most of the oregano oil benefits, drink plenty of water. If you are on medications, then it is safe to talk to your doctor regarding the use of the oil, to keep any undesirable interactions from occurring.

Regarding the dosages, 4 – 6 drops of the oil should be mixed with juice, when taken internally. When used topically, 1 – 2 drops should be good enough for treating the affected area, however, it also depends upon the severity. When taken as capsules, 600 mg daily is the requirement. However, the dosages may vary from person to person. So, in order to be certain, get an advise from a doctor, so that, you make the most of the different oregano oil benefits.

Article by: Rajiv Singha

Senior home care is making the decision to care for your aging parents or loved ones in their home or in your home allowing them their independence but taking on the responsibility of their being the caregiver. Caring for aging parents or loved ones carries a lot of responsibility and a range of emotions. No matter how much love in your heart, carrying the load of caring for your loved one will leave you drained physically, emotionally and possibly financially. Coping with the stress of senior home care has to be managed or you will not be able to be an effective caregiver.

Managing the stress of senior home care is all about taking charge. Take charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment and the way you deal with problems and unexpected situations. The ultimate goal of coping with the stress of senior home care is to achieve a balanced life.

How to reduce, prevent, and cope with the stress of senior home care

Senior home care requires organization – Organize your time and your schedule. Write everything down so that you or another family member has reference to phone numbers, doctors, medications, in home senior care providers, important insurance and financial numbers.

Start a personal journal – Share your feelings about the stress of senior home care. Writing down your thoughts will help you to take charge of your emotions.

Prioritize your health and well-being. Nurturing yourself is a necessary not a luxury.

Healthy ways to relax and recharge

• Go for a walk
• Call a good friend
• Sweat out the tension with a good workout
• Write in your journal
• Curl up with a good book
• Take a long bath
• Eat healthy and exercise regularly
• Play with your pet
• Work in your garden
• Listen to music
• Savor a cup of warm coffee or tea

Give yourself a break – Enlist the help of a professional senior home care provider. Senior home care providers such as Visiting Angels can provide daily or weekly help to everyday chores, errands, hygiene, meals or transportation needs just to name a few. Senior home care providers can also provide a respite to you responsibilities with as little as 15 minute notice to avoid unnecessary stress if your schedule needs help.

Coping with the stress of senior home care is the only possible way to be an effective caregiver to your loved ones. Your mental and physical health must take priority or you will not be able to manage what needs to be done. Take advantage of these tips. Organize yourself, express yourself, nurture yourself and help yourself by arranging for assistance with a senior home care provider.

Bio: Linda Dunkelberger is a freelance writer and editor. “Coping with Stress of Senior Home Care” shares tips for coping with the stress of senior home care. Visiting Angels is a senior home care provider that helps seniors with everyday tasks, errands, meals, transportation, just to name a few services. For more information on Visiting Angels in your area, see www.Visitingangels.com.