Health Benefits of Black Pepper

The health benefits of black pepper include relief from respiratory disorders, cough, common cold, constipation, digestion, anemia, impotency, muscular strains, dental care, pyorrhea, diarrhea, and heart disease.

Black pepper is the fruit of the black pepper plant from the Piperaceae family and is used as a spice and also as a medicine. The chemical piperine, present in black pepper, causes the spiciness. It is native to the southern state of India, Kerala. From ancient times, black pepper is one of the most widely traded spices in the world. It is not seasonal and is, therefore available throughout the year.

Because of its antibacterial properties, pepper is also used to preserve food. It is a source of manganese, iron, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin K and dietary fiber. Black pepper is a very good, anti-inflammatory agent.

The health benefits of black pepper include the following:

• Good for stomach: Pepper increases the hydrochloric acid secretion in stomach and thus, helps digestion. Proper digestion is essential to avoid diarrhea, constipation and colic. Pepper also helps to prevent formation of intestinal gas. Pepper-added diet promotes sweating and urination.
• Helps to lose weight: The outer layer of peppercorn assists in the breakdown of fat cells. Hence, peppery foods are a good way to help you shed weight.
• Good for skin: Pepper helps to cure Vitiligo, which is a skin disease that causes some areas of skin to lose its normal pigment and turn white. According to researchers in London, piperine contained in pepper can stimulate the skin to produce pigment. Topical treatment of piperine combined with ultra violet light therapy is much better than the other treatments for vitiligo. It also reduces the chances of skin cancer due to excess ultraviolet radiation.
• Relief for cough and cold: In Ayurveda pepper is added in tonics for cold and cough. Pepper gives relief from sinusitis and nasal congestion.
• The antibacterial property of black pepper helps to fight against infections, insect bites etc. Pepper added diet helps to keeping your arteries clean.
• Good antioxidant: An antioxidant, like pepper, can prevent or repair the damage caused by the free radicals and thus helps to prevent cancer, cardiovascular diseases and liver problems.
• Enhances bioavailability: Black pepper helps in transporting the benefits of other herbs to different parts of body.
• According to Ayurveda, black pepper also helps avoid ear-ache and gangrene. It is also good for conditions of hernia, hoarseness and insect bites. It relieves joint pain.
• It is a good treatment for respiratory conditions like asthma, whooping cough etc.
• It is used to treat conditions of tooth decay and toothache. In ancient times, pepper was also used to treat eye problems.

Preparing grounded pepper powder at home is better than buying ready-made pepper powder. But even home-made powder retains its freshness for only up to 3 months. Whole peppercorns can keep their freshness indefinitely.

Thus, adding a pinch of black pepper to every meal helps improve taste and digestion. It also improves your overall health and well being.

Precaution: Pepper may cause sneezing. Patients who’ve undergone abdominal surgery should not take pepper added diet because pepper has an irritating effect on the intestines. It is also not good for people with ulcers. Black pepper should not be taken in high concentration.

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-black-pepper.html

Turmeric Milk Recipe for Cough and Sore Throat

Turmeric milk is an ancient but still popular Ayurvedic remedy for cough, sore throat and colds.

The health benefits of turmeric and ginger combined with the sleep-promoting properties of milk are what make this a tried and true home remedy that will heal the body and soothe the soul.

Don't omit the black peppercorns from the recipe. Research has found that black pepper increases the bioavailablity of turmeric and helps it heal the body. In fact, one study found that turmeric and black pepper eliminated breast cancer cells when consumed together.

Ingredients
2 cups organic milk
1 tsp. turmeric powder
1/4 tsp. ginger powder
4 black peppercorns, crushed
dash of cinnamon (optional)
honey or other sweetener (optional)

Directions
Place all ingredients in a saucepan on medium heat and bring to a boil. Simmer for five minutes, stirring frequently. Sweeten to taste, preferably with a healthy sweetener like honey or erythritol. Pour into a mug and drink hot.

This drink is great on cold winter evenings before bed!

http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/turmeric-milk-recipe-for-cough-and-sore-throat.html

20 Health Benefits of Turmeric

The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Tumeric has been used for over 2500 years in India, where it was most likely first used as a dye.

The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.

Here are 20 reasons to add turmeric to your diet:

1. It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.

2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.

3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.

4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.

5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.

6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.

7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.

8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.

9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.

10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.

11. Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.

12. May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.

13. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.

14. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

15. Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.

16. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.

17. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.

18. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.

19. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.

20. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules.

Once you start using turmeric on a regular basis, it's fun to find new ways to use it in recipes. My favorite way to use it is to add a pinch of it to egg salad. It adds a nice flavor and gives the egg salad a rich yellow hue.

Contraindications: Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.

10 Facts About Turmeric

Turmeric is the ingredient in curry that gives it a vibrant yellow color.

It is also used in mustard and many other common foods to impart a yellow shade.

India is the worlds largest producer of turmeric powder as well as the world's largest consumer of the powder.

The city of Erode in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu is the world's largest producer of turmeric. Erode has often been referred to as "Yellow City" or "Turmeric City."

It is a ritual in Indian weddings to apply turmeric paste over the bride and groom's face and arms.

Women in India sometimes use turmeric paste to remove excess body hair.

Dr. Eric Lattman of Aston University has identified turmeric as a natural antivenin for King Cobra snake bites.

People in the Middle Ages called turmeric "Indian saffron" because it was often used as a less expensive alternative to saffron.

A spoonful of turmeric added to the water in water-cooled radiators will stop leaks.

Turmeric paste is a home remedy for sunburn and it is also an ingredient in many commercial sunscreens.

http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-facts-about-turmeric.html

Badam and its usage

As amazing as it may seem, your favorite little nut, the almond, can help boost your brainpower, stabilize your mood and even relieve the aging process. It may seem that the little miracle nut has so much to offer you will want to incorporate it into your diet as often as possible.

The almond contains phenylalanine, this is little chemical is shown to work in conjunction with our cognitive processes and supports healthy neurological function. This chemical very easily passes through our blood-brain barrier and makes our brain produce our natural mood stabilizing hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine. These same hormones also help reduce pain in the body. While studies are still on going, it is believed that almonds may also help treat some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Almonds contain another brain boosting element called nutrientriboflavin as well as L-carnitine. This little chemical is important for the brain because it helps make it possible for our brain to metabolize acetyl-L-carnitinetransferase which supports choline metabolism. Our brain utilizes choline to prevent any neuronal degeneration. The L-carnitine that is found in almonds and other nuts also helps in the release of acetylcholine, which is essential for good memory.

Along with the brain boosting power of the almond it offers other benefits as well. Studies show that by adding almonds to your diet can help with satiety and prevent weight gain. No dangerous diet pill needed, just a handful of almonds a day. Purdue University researchers have found that two servings a day did not cause weight gain or decrease our body’s efficiency.

The almond can do wonders for your heart health as well. Almonds have been shown to lower LDL. The bad cholesterol that we really don’t want and is at times hard to lower can be handled with addition of a hand full of almonds a day.

Obviously, too much of anything is never a good thing, and eating to many nuts can lead to problems such as obesity. But incorporating a handful of almonds a day into your diet can prove to be beneficial to healthy mind function.

Tomato for safe diet/உடல் எடையைப் பராமரிக்க உதவும் தக்காளி

தக்காளியை தொடர்ந்து சாப்பிட்டு வந்தால் உடல் எடை அதிகரிக்காமல் இருக்கும் என்று அண்மையில் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்ட ஆய்வில் தெரியவந்துள்ளது. தக்காளியில் அதிக அளவு வைட்டமின் சி உள்ளது. அதனை தொடர்ந்து சாப்பிடுவது இதயத்துக்கு நல்லது. உடலில் கொழுப்பு சேராமல் பாதுகாக்க உதவும் என்பதெல்லாம் ஏற்கெனவே அனைவருக்கும் தெரிந்த விஷயம். தற்போது தக்காளியை தினமும் உணவில் சேர்த்துக் கொள்வதால் உடல் எடை அதிகரிக்காமல் ஒரே அளவில் பராமரிக்க முடியும் என்று பிரிட்டன் ஆய்வாளர்கள் கண்டறிந்துள்ளனர்.

பசியைத் துண்டும் ஹார்மோன்களின் செயல்பாடுகளை தக்காளி கட்டுப்படுத்துகிறது. இதனால் அதிக அளவு சாப்பிடுவது தடுக்கப்பட்டு உடல் எடை அதிகரிக்காமல் கட்டுக்குள் இருக்கிறது.சராசரி எடை கொண்ட 18 வயது முதல் 35 வயதுக்குள்பட்ட பெண்கள் இதற்கான ஆய்வில் ஈடுபடுத்தப்பட்டனர். அவர்களில் ஒரு பிரிவினருக்கு சான்ட்விச்களுடன் தக்காளி வழங்கப்பட்டது. மற்றொரு பிரிவினருக்கு சான்டவிச்சுடன் கேரட் வழங்கப்பட்டது. இதில் தக்காளி சாப்பிட்டு வந்தவர்கள் குறைவாகவே உணவு சாப்பிட்டனர்.

இது குறித்து ஆய்வாளர் டாக்டர் ஜூலி லவ்குரோவ் கூறுகையில், “இது சிறிய அளவில் நடத்தப்பட்ட ஆய்வுதான் என்றாலும் முடிவு திருப்திகரமானதாக உள்ளது. தக்காளி சாப்பிடுவது பசி உணர்வைக் கட்டுப்பாட்டுக்குள் வைக்கிறது என்பது முதல்கட்டமாக தெரியவந்துள்ளது. இது தொடர்பாக தொடர்ந்து ஆய்வு நடத்தவுள்ளோம்’ என்றார்.

http://www.sivastar.net/2010/03/blog-post_1796.html

Treatment for Heart Disease

Eat a nourishing diet that removes all processed foods, poor quality dairy, poor quality oils, hydrogenated oils. Increase foods that are excellent for the heart. Use garlic, turmeric, ginger and saffron. Include whole grains, pulses and foods high in essential fatty acids such as hemp seed oil. for helping to keep arteries clean and the heart strong.

Avoid over-eating and eating frequently. Eat a light breakfast and dinner. Lunch should be the main meal. Milk products, fried foods, cold foods and acidic foods should be taken in small quantities. White flour products and foods that contain chemical preservatives and additives should be avoided. Animal products, especially red meat, are not good as they take a long time to be digested, and create a lot of toxins in the stomach.

Seasonal fruits and fresh vegetables (steamed or cooked), Brown bread or Chapatti, salad, sprouts, vegetable soup, buttermilk, cottage cheese (paneer), a little quantity of fresh milk and ghee (clarified butter) prepared from cow's milk, make up an ideal list of food items to choose from. Anything sweet should be taken in moderation. Honey and jaggery are healthier than purified sugar.

Fried things, pulses and their preparations, and groundnut oil are prohibited. Ayurvedic physicians allow butter or ghee, and not groundnut oil. Cow's ghee, cow's milk and cows' butter are useful for the patient. Buffalo ghee and buffalo milk are not recommended. Stimulants like tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks are very harmful for such patients.

In addition to maintaining a healthy eating pattern, specific foods are often recognized as particularly heart-healthy. One of the most popular of these healthful foods is fatty fish with its high omega-3 fatty acid content. A recent study determined that women who consumed more omega-3 fatty acid laden fish (two servings weekly) had a reduced rate of death due to heart disease. These researchers found that this was independent of cardiovascular risk factors or other dietary sources that may influence the development of heart disease. Good sources of omega-3's besides fish are: flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, canola oil, olive oil, sesame oil, peanut butter and oil, sunflower seeds and oil, avocado, soybean oil, and safflower oil. Additionally, flavonoids found in tea and cocoa have been recognized for their antioxidant benefit. This underscores the recommendation for increased consumption of fiber-rich whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.research done by roslan sulaiman...through the net.:)

Simple herbs that can be used as medicine...Ayurvedham

1.Beans are a good choice if you are trying to lose weight because they keep blood sugar levels in safe level and suppress hunger.

2.Add some Fenugreek (venthayam) to your food as it has been shown to lower blood sugar and increase insulin sensitivity.

3.For ladies having menstrual pain take ventayam (Fenugreek) in the morning with empty stomuch and night before sleeping will reduce the pain.