Lemon is an inexpensive, easily available citrus fruit, popular for its culinary and medicinal uses. It is used to prepare a variety of food recipes such as lemon cakes, lemon chicken and beverages like lemonade and lemon-flavored drinks.

It is also used for garnishing. Lemon juice consists of about 5% citric acid that gives a tart taste to lemon. Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C.

It also contains vitamins like vitamin B, riboflavin and beneficial minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium as well as proteins and carbohydrates.

Lemon is generally consumed in the form of lemon juice or lemon water. Lemon water makes a healthy drink, when taken in the morning. Daily consumption of lemon water provides a number of health benefits.

9 Health Benefits of Lemon Water

Lemon water is rich in several essential nutrients. It is known to have antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-aging, anti-fatigue and anti-inflammatory properties. It boosts immune system, improves digestion and maintains overall health.

It can be used to treat various health conditions and prevent infections. Traditional Chinese Medicine suggests that you begin your day with refreshing lemon water.

1. Lemon water is the best source of vitamin C and antioxidants. It removes harmful, free radicals from the body and improves immune system. Lemon water also acts as a blood purifier.

2. Lemon water is used to prevent and treat different infections as well as to control allergies. Due to its antiseptic properties, it is effective in healing wounds. Lemon water is helpful in relieving symptoms of sore throat, tonsillitis or asthma.

3. Lemon water plays an important role in maintaining digestive health. It boosts metabolism and improves functioning of the digestive system and prevents various digestive problems like constipation, indigestion, nausea, heartburn and parasites. It also helps dissolve gallstones.

4. Lemon water is effective in body cleansing and detoxification. It maintains good health by eliminating harmful toxins from the body.

5. Another important benefit of lemon water is that it strengthens the liver functioning and stimulates it to produce more enzymes essential for different body processes. A well-functioning liver is the key to a healthy body.

6. Since lemon water has a diuretic effect, it is beneficial for people with urinary tract infections. Lemon water is helpful in treating arthritis and rheumatism.

7. Daily consumption of warm lemon water is an effective remedy to get rid of belly fat.

8. Lemon water is one of the most effective regimens for skin care and hair care. Daily consumption can make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. It rejuvenates the skin and gives a clear, radiant and glowing complexion. Lemon juice is one of the best home remedies for acne control. It can also be used to treat various skin diseases like eczema. Application of lemon juice on the skin is effective in preventing sunburn. If you apply lemon water to your hair for a few minutes and then rinse with water, it will make your hair clean and shining.

9. Lemon juice, if externally applied on the nostrils, can help stop nosebleeds and control bleeding gums, when massaged onto the gums. Lemon juice combined with glycerin is effective to heal chapped lips.

Start your day in a healthy way with energizing lemon water. Nutrient-rich lemon water rejuvenates your body and improves overall fitness and stamina.

Article written by: Reshma Jirage

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• Do You Know Which Foods are High in Antioxidants?

If you are interested in your health and overall wellness, you really need to know not only what antioxidants are and how they work, but, even more importantly, which foods have the highest antioxidant content in order to know how to eat better and smarter.

Knowing what antioxidants are and why they are important in the diet with regards to overall health and wellness, plus also knowing what foods are high in antioxidants can help everyone eat better and smarter. There are actually a wide range of different types of foods, many which are common items in the daily diet, that are high in antioxidants and provide a great number of health benefits for your body.

There is a misconception that the very highest amount of antioxidants is found in tea and, in particular, in green tea. While green tea is very high in antioxidants, there is one food item that actually has a higher content. Believe it or not, dark chocolate is the winner of the high antioxidant food category.

It important to understand that this refers only to dark chocolate, and does not include milk chocolates or white chocolates. Dark chocolate is produced from the cocoa bean and is in the purest and least diluted form, which is why dark chocolate is so rich and distinct in flavor. Although high in antioxidants, eating large quantities of dark chocolate isn’t healthy either – just a small amount in the diet is beneficial.

Dark chocolate contains flavonols, which are a type of flavinoid. Further breaking down the types of antioxidants in dark chocolate you will find procyanidins, epicatechins and catechins, this last one being the same antioxidant found in green tea.

Berries have long been recognized as a healthy addition to the diet, but now researchers and nutritionists know why. Berries, particularly strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and kiwi fruit, provide a large amount of antioxidants to the diet, plus they also add fiber, vitamins and great taste. Consider eating berries on your cereal or as a dessert rather than cake or pie. Berries also make an easy to carry snack for kids and are simple to have at your desk for between meal cravings.

Many vegetables are also high antioxidant food types and generally they include the green leafy vegetables. Some good examples of high antioxidant content vegetables include green and red cabbage, kale, spinach, broccoli and cauliflower.

All of these vegetables are in the cruciferous group of vegetables along with bok choy, and Brussels sprouts. Eating these vegetables on a daily basis, or even adding one or two servings per week in addition to your regular diet, will help increase the amount of antioxidants available for your body to use.

Whenever planning to add more high antioxidant foods to your diet, be sure to do so reasonably and slowly, not all at once. In addition don’t only eat foods that are high antioxidant foods, you also need to consume complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, brown rice and cereals; proteins such as lean meats and fish, as well as other vegetables and fruits. Keep in mind that eating in balance helps your body with vitamins and minerals that are also necessary in the production of antioxidants as well as in overall health.

About the Author:

Terry Roberts is a professional translator and linguist with a wide range of hobbies. His website, Healthful Living Today, gives great advice for everyone.

Article syndicated from Buzzle.com

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The greenhouse is one of the simplest and easiest ways to do your part for the environment, not to mention help you out as well. A greenhouse is also relatively simple to get a hold of and maintain. And even if you aren’t the world’s greatest gardener, the knowledge that you are helping the environment and yourself is enough to push you through the most arduous weeding session.

They are, in and of themselves, solar. But they’ve been around for a lot longer than the “green” movement. Watch any gardening program, and you’ll invariably see someone walking in to their greenhouse, and pottering around.

Why Bother With A Greenhouse At All?

The answers are simple and numerous. If for no other reason than growing your own vegetables all year round, a greenhouse is invaluable. Growing your own vegetables not only keeps you honest in what you are eating, but it also reduces the demand on the agricultural industry, lessening their workload and thus lower your burden on the environment.

How to Keep Your Greenhouse Hot

There have been problems though, with keeping a greenhouse hot. You would expect that a greenhouse has no problem staying hot, seeing as that is what it’s all about to be a greenhouse. But what happens when night falls?

This is where you need to add a bit of ingenuity or technology to the situation.

There are two methods to keeping your greenhouse warm at all times; passive and active. An active way to do this is simply to hook it up to an electrical source which will provide the energy to pump heated air back in to your greenhouse when it starts getting dark, and thus cool. This method however is more complicated and more expensive than option number two.

The second, is definitely the better option, as we’re sticking to the all natural, no added benefits scheme. To keep your heat up, you need a heat sink which stores the heat through the day, and as the greenhouse turns in to a coolhouse, it starts letting that heat back out again. What you want then, are things like barrels of water, rocks or concrete walls that trap the heat in them during the day, and let it out at night.

If you’re going with the second option, here are a few tips.

• Use 55-gallon drums filled with water, and painted nice dark and non-reflective colors to enhance the heat absorption
• A pile of rocks in a wire-mesh cage will also work well, if you’re short on dirty great gallon drums
• Ensure that your sinks are well situated to collect the most sunlight
• Furthermore, ensure that they are not touching or even near (if you can help it) the sides of your greenhouse. The cold outside will draw that heat straight out through the walls
• Allow for 2 gallons of water/80 pounds of rocks for each square foot of greenhouse admitting direct sunlight on to the heat sinks
• Ensure that your greenhouse is as airtight as humanly possible, so that there are no extra ways for the heat to get out of there

Really interested in doing this right? Ask your local hardware store or nursery for advice. But I can guarantee you that there will be nothing as good as eating vegetables that you’ve grown yourself; especially with the added benefit that you’re doing the environment a favor.

Soy milk is processed from soy beans through the use of varying manufacturing processes. You can find soy milk with a wide range of fat and protein content, with fat amounts generally ranging from 1-3%. In spite of the tremendous amount of positive press that soy in general seems to receive these days, there is some cause for concern among consumers, particularly when it comes to the consumption of soy milk.

During the past few years, the benefits of soy milk and soy foods have become widely debated. All it takes is a search online to discover some intelligent arguments and clinical studies concerning the potential health dangers that are present in the soy products that American families regularly consume.

While we certainly do not want to label ALL soy products as harmful or dangerous, it is only fair to present you with some essential data representing both sides of this discussion.

The Benefits of Soy Milk

Soy Milk is considered to be a nutritious alternative to cow’s milk for many reasons. First and foremost, soy milk is 100% Lactose-Free, meaning it is a great alternative to those whom suffer from lactose intolerance.

Soy milk may also provide you with beneficial protein, calcium and essential fatty acids, which we all need to live a healthy lifestyle. Soy milk is also low in saturated fat and sodium, but high in dietary fiber.

A recent study from the National Institute of Health & Nutrition in Japan, concludes that soy protein is effective at lowering your cholesterol, which ultimately lowers your overall risk of developing heart-related issues.

Another benefit of soy milk, is the fact that it does not contain a protein called casein, unlike cow’s milk. Casein is commonly used in many different products, ranging from medicine, foods, paints, and adhesives. It is not uncommon for people to develop an allergy to casein. Parents of autistic children need to be aware of products and foods containing casein, as it is widely believed that it can contribute to gastrointestinal disorders.

The Dangers of Soy Milk

Do the benefits of soy milk sound too good to be true? Well, recent research does indicate a few downsides to the consumption of soy foods.

Unfermented soy foods have a high amount of phytic acid, which can lead to the lower absorption of certain vitamins and minerals.

Soy contains a high level of phytoestrogen, which may affect the production of sperm in men, as well as decrease the amount of testoterone in their body. The isoflavones found in soy foods also contribute to the development of thyroid disorders, breast cancer and leukemia.

Another less thought of danger, is whether or not the soy you consume is organic. If possible, you should always avoid all genetically modified foods.

The Soy Isoflavone Controversy

Soy isoflavones, also known as phytoestrogens, are routinely marketed as treatments or prevention of certain types of cancer, including prostate, breast, and edometrium.

Part of the problem with the majority of the information that Americans are receiving is that the facts have been somewhat skewed.

For example, some reports have indicated that Asian diets are heavy in soy products, and that these soy-rich diets have resulted in reduced instances of cancers. This is misleading. Asian diets are actually quite low in soy consumption, with diets incorporating healthy amounts of poultry, eggs, fish, and meats.

The amounts of soy that are being placed in foods that Americans eat are exceeding the amounts that Asians consume in an entire day or week. The danger here is that excessive consumption of soy milk, or any other soy product, can lead to the development of many different diseases. For people who have chosen to focus on eating diets that are rich in soy-based products, this presents a very real problem. Unfortunately, many people are not aware that consuming too much soy can be hazardous to their health.

Soy Research & Product Labels

If you are a person who enjoys soy products, and you have incorporated them into your regular diet, you should understand the importance of reading product labels. It is important that you do this not only for those foods that claim to contain soy, but also on all of the food products that you buy. The reason for this is that there are many foods that contain some form of soy. The only way to be sure about this, however, is to read your labels!

The best advice is to research the types of food you eat so that you can make educated decisions about whether or not they are good for you and your family. Try to stick to organic, unprocessed foods as much as possible, and always be aware of the ingredients you are consuming. Genetically Modified Foods are something that you need to steer clear of when at all possible, and unfortunately soy is a primary component in many of these types of food products.

A healthy, lactose-free alternative to soy milk, is hemp milk.

The benefits of red wine have been debated for several years. For the most part, the reports that you might read about red wine as it relates to our health are not conflicting. Through scientific research and clinical studies, it has come to be generally accepted that, when consumed in moderate amounts, red wine can offer us quite a few health benefits.

If you are a fan of red wine, such news is certainly cause for celebration!

How Much Red Wine Should I Drink?

The key, of course, is to exercise caution when consuming red wine. Just because red wine consumption possesses some health benefits, it does not mean that you should drink as much red wine as you possibly can. For women, 1-2 glasses of red wine per day is considered to be a moderate amount. For men, 3-4 glasses of red wine per day is more than sufficient.

The Benefits of Red Wine

One reason that red wine has been examined so closely by health professionals, is because of the “French Paradox.” There are areas of France where the overall consumption of saturated fats is much higher than the typical American diet.

Not only are the French diets higher in saturated fats, the French also typically drink several glasses of red wine on a daily basis. Despite this, there are significantly less instances of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease among the French. Why would that be so unless there is something about red wine that provides health benefits? This question led researchers to discover the antioxidant properties in red wine, particularly French red wines.

You may already know a few of the benefits of antioxidants for slowing the oxidation process in the body, which helps to deter many significantly harmful illnesses. The benefits of the antioxidants in some red wines may surprise you, too.

For example, did you know that red wine can help reduce the harmful effects of food poisoning? Red wine contains properties that help to rid the body of toxins, which can also be beneficial for reducing the effects of dysentery & diarrhea.

What Exactly is in Red Wine?

The primary antioxidant found in red wine is called resveratrol. Resveratrol is found in the seeds and skins of processed and fermented grapes. Because of the process that red wines are put through during processing, they have higher resveratrol levels than other wines. Resveratrol can also be found in peanuts, cranberries, and blueberries.

It has been suggested that drinking purple grape juice and non-alcoholic red wine offer similar or equal benefits as red wine consumption. Further research is required before a conclusive determination can be made regarding the resveratrol content (and health benefits) of purple grape juice.

Which Red Wines Offer You the Most Benefits?

According to researchers at the University of California-Davis, the highest concentrations of flavonoids (including resveratrol) can be found in Cabernet Sauvignon. Two other red wines offering high levels of these beneficial antioxidants are Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir.

Merlots & Red Sinfandels have significantly fewer flavonoids than these three red wines. White wines have even smaller amounts of them. A good rule of thumb to remember is the sweeter the wine, the fewer the flavonoids.

Red wine consumption is not appropriate for everyone. Health professionals only recommend that people with a clean bill of health drink red wine or any other type of alcohol. In fact, there are many health problems that can occur from the overuse of red wine & alcohol. Not to mention that certain medications can not mix with alcohol.