The Earliest Signs Of Fibroid

Uterine fibroid is said to be amongst the commonest benign tumors of the female reproductive system. It originates from the womb (uterus) and the exact cause(s) are unknown. However, many risk factors have been attributed to fibroids. Fibroids may sometimes be asymptomatic and most patients are not aware that they have fibroid(s) but it can cause different types of symptoms depending on factors like its size, location in the uterus and its closeness to important pelvic organs like the rectum, the bladder, veins and lymphatics of the pelvis.

In this article, we will be looking at the risk factors and 10 warning signs that you may have fibroids. Such signs are usually ignored by women.

Risk Factors

Age: age is an important risk factor. In blacks and Africans, fibroids may develop at a much younger age and symptoms may be seen in these women in their early twenties. However, most fibroids shrink after menopause.

Nulliparity: women who have never been pregnant have an increased risk of developing uterine fibroids.

Family history: fibroids tend to run in families and women with their mothers or first-degree relatives who had fibroids are more likely to develop uterine fibroids than women with no such history.

Race: fibroid is more common in African women than in Asians and Caucasians.

Obesity: women who are obese have a higher risk of developing uterine fibroids

Having looked at the risk factors of fibroids, let's now look at the warning signs which indicates its possibilities..

1. Heavy vaginal bleeding
Most women suffering from fibroid usually have heavy vaginal bleeding which may be related to menstruation or occur before the onset of the next menses (Intermenstrual bleeding). In fact, it is one of the most troubling sign of fibroid which can interfere significantly with quality of life. If your menstruation is excessively heavy or prolonged and it comes out with blood clots and you are using more sanitary pads than usual, then it is advisable to consult your physician who will evaluate you adequately. Heavy vaginal bleeding is an important cause of anemia in women because of blood loss and iron depletion. Symptoms of anemia include; pallor, generalized body weakness, fatigue and shortness of breath.

2. Infertility
In this part of the world, nothing strains marriage like infertility. Although the role of fibroid and infertility is controversial numerous researches and clinical evidences have shown that fibroids are a leading cause of infertility. Fibroids can obstruct the passage of the fertilized egg from the fallopian tubes into the uterus where implantation occurs and also distorts the normal anatomy of the uterus. If you have been married and having frequent unprotected sexual intercourse with your husband without any pregnancy, you should be evaluated for uterine fibroids.

3. Recurrent Miscarriages
Miscarriages also known as spontaneous pregnancy loss occurs frequently in women with fibroid. Fibroids in the uterine cavity occupy space meant for the developing fetus. It affects the growth of the fetus and may induce miscarriage. Several conditions can cause recurrent miscarriages, but it is a sign that you may be having a fibroid.

4. Lower Abdominal Swelling/ Mass
I have heard women complaining of swelling/ mass located in the lower part of their abdomen. Some women have mistaken such swelling for a growing baby. Funny enough, such growth never results in pregnancy and may persist for years. Only large fibroids present as an abdominal mass. Any abdominal swelling/ mass are abnormal and you must consult your physician without any delay.

5. Frequent and Painful urination
The uterus and the bladder lie in close proximity and the presence of fibroids in the uterus often irritates the bladder prompting painful and frequent urination. This symptom is commonly attributed to urinary tract infection (UTI) with antibiotics as the first line of treatment. However, if you have been treated repeatedly with antibiotics without any improvement in symptoms, then further evaluation is needed as fibroids can also cause such discomforting symptoms.

6. Constipation
This may sound untrue, but many women with trivial complaint of recurrent constipation despite adequate treatment are later diagnosed with fibroid after extensive evaluation and investigation. Large fibroids in the womb may compress on the rectum causing constipation.

7. Abdominal/ Low back pains
Abdominal and low back pain is a usual but important key sign that you may have fibroid. It is usually described as a dull aching pain that may be persistent in nature. Pain is a significant symptom caused by the compression of nerves and organs by the fibroids. Severe abdominal pain can also occur when the size of the fibroid exceeds in blood supply leading to degeneration of the fibroid.

8. Swelling of the legs
Although a rare sign of fibroids, swelling of the legs is caused by the compression of the lymphatic vessels that drains the legs. When this occurs, lymph accumulates in the tissues of the legs causing edema. It is usually accompanied by pain from the distension of the tissues of the legs.

9. Varicose veins
Varicose veins may also be a sign that you have fibroid. This is the distension of the superficial veins of the legs caused by the compression of pelvic veins by uterine fibroids.

10. Painful sexual intercourse
Sex should be pleasurable to the woman, but the presence of uterine fibroid can make sex painful and discomforting. Large fibroids located in the lower segment of the uterus may impede sexual intercourse from severe lower abdominal pain. Women suffering from protracted painful sexual intercourse should have an abdominal ultrasound scan to ascertain the presence of uterine fibroids.

Women with fibroids can present with different symptoms, but proper diagnosis is only possible after an evaluation by the doctor. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, then it is important that you consult your physician.

Treatment of fibroid has defied orthodox medicine but the good news is that fibroid can now be treated using natural/herbal medicine. In fact, the rate of success recorded by herbal medicine in the treatment of fibroid, has grown quite high over the years and even medical doctors are now recommending it for their patients.

Do you have fibroid? has the doctor told you that you cannot conceive unless you undergo surgery? you don't need to worry. You can be cured of fibroid with natural medicine. To get NAFDAC approved herbal medicines for fibroid, call +2347031040178.

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Peanuts: Natures Defence Against Heart Disease

Peanuts are rich in monounsaturated fats, the type of fat that is emphasized in the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet. Studies of diets with a special emphasis on peanuts have shown that this little legume is a big ally for a healthy heart. In one such randomized, double-blind, cross-over study involving 22 subjects, a high monounsaturated diet that emphasized peanuts and peanut butter decreased cardiovascular disease risk by an estimated 21% compared to the average diet.

In addition to their monounsaturated fat content, peanuts feature an array of other nutrients that, in numerous studies, have been shown to promote heart health. Peanuts are good sources of vitamin E, niacin, folate, protein and manganese. In addition, peanuts provide resveratrol, the phenolic antioxidant also found in red grapes and red wine that is thought to be responsible for the French paradox: the fact that in France, people consume a diet that is not low in fat, but have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

Not only do peanuts contain oleic acid, the healthful fat found in olive oil, but new research shows these tasty legumes are also as rich in antioxidants as many fruits. While unable to boast an antioxidant content that can compare with the fruits highest in antioxidants, such as pomegranate, roasted peanuts do rival the antioxidant content of blackberries and strawberries, and are far richer in antioxidants than apples, carrots or beets.

Research published in the British Journal of Nutrition (Blomhoff R, Carlsen MH), which identified several nuts among plant foods with the highest total antioxidant content, suggests nut's high antioxidant content may be key to their cardio-protective benefits. Nuts' high antioxidant content helps explain results seen in the Iowa Women's Health Study in which risk of death from cardiovascular and coronary heart diseases showed strong and consistent reductions with increasing nut/peanut butter consumption.

Even more impressive were the results of a review study of the evidence linking nuts and lower risk of coronary heart disease, also published in the British Journal of Nutrition. (Kelly JH, Sabate J.) In this study, researchers looked at four large prospective epidemiological studies—the Adventist Health Study, Iowa Women's Study, Nurses' Health Study and the Physician's Health Study. When evidence from all four studies was combined, subjects consuming nuts at least 4 times a week showed a 37% reduced risk of coronary heart disease compared to those who never or seldom ate nuts.

Resveratrol is a flavonoid first studied in red grapes and red wine, but now also found to be present in peanuts. In animal studies on resveratrol itself (the purified nutrient given in intravenous form, not the food form), this phytonutrient has been determined to improve blood flow in the brain by as much as 30%, thus greatly reducing the risk of stroke, according to the results of a laboratory animal study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The jury is still out on peanuts however, since they contain far less resveratrol than the amounts used in the above study, and also less than the amount provided by red wine. An ounce of red wine can provide as much as 1,000 micrograms of resveratrol, and it almost always provides over 75 micrograms. The same ounce of peanut butter can only provide about 50 micrograms of resveratrol. Still, routine consumption of peanuts or peanut butter might turn out to be significant in terms of the resveratrol provided by this food.

A number of studies have shown that nutrients found in peanuts, including folic acid, phytosterols, phytic acid (inositol hexaphosphate) and resveratrol, may have anti-cancer effects. A rich source all these nutrients—including the phytosterol beta-sisterol, which has demonstrated anti-cancer actions—peanuts have long been considered a likely candidate as a colon cancer-preventive food.

Colorectal cancer is the second most fatal malignancy in developed countries and the third most frequent cancer worldwide. In Taiwan, not only has incidence of colon cancer increased, but the likelihood of dying from the disease rose 74% from 1993 to 2002. Taiwanese researchers decided to examine peanuts' anti-colon cancer potential and conducted a 10-year study involving 12,026 men and 11,917 women to see if eating peanuts might affect risk of colon cancer. Risk of colon cancer was found to be highly correlated with both peanuts, which greatly lessened risk, and pickled foods, which greatly increased risk, particularly in women.

Twenty years of dietary data collected on over 80,000 women from the Nurses' Health Study shows that women who eat at least 1 ounce of nuts, peanuts or peanut butter each week have a 25% lower risk of developing gallstones. Since 1 ounce is only 28.6 nuts or about 2 tablespoons of nut butter, preventing gallbladder disease may be as easy as packing one peanut butter and jelly sandwich (be sure to use whole wheat bread for its fiber, vitamins and minerals) for lunch each week, having a handful of peanuts as an afternoon pick me up, or tossing some peanuts on your oatmeal or salad.

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"Why We Are Organizing The Healthertainment Event" - Dr. Julz

The Word "Healthertainment" is one that is gradually gaining currency amongst people who take issues bothering their health seriously in Nigeria. Healthertainment is an event that brings health practitioners to interface with the general public in an entertaining and engaging environment. Recently, the second edition of Healthertainment was held in Lagos.

In this brief but insightful interview with Nigeria Natural Health Online, the organizer of the event, Dr. Juliet Offiah (a.k.a Dr. Julz) speaks on the concept behind Healthertainment and how it is positioned to impact the health sector.

 

Let's meet you

My name is Dr. Juliet Offiah (a.k.a Dr. Julz), the presenter of Health Matters with Dr. Julz on NigeriaInfo F.M. I'm a Doctor with 12years of clinical experience and also the company doctor of AIM Group, owners of NigeriaInfo F.M, Cool F.M and Wazobia F.M.

What is Healthertainment all about?

Today we are here on a platform on Healthertainment, an event that brings practitioners in the health sector in an entertaining atmosphere. It is a platform created to bring personalities in the health sector together for the purpose of giving impactful health information to the general public. Health information is empowerment and the aim is to empower players in the sector by giving information that can drive their health consciousness.

How long have you been doing these and what impacts have you made so far? 

It was a concept created out of the award winning show, Health Matters which Dr. Julz on NigeriaInfo F.M. The show itself has been going on for past the six to seven years. In the process, we realized that it would be beneficial to have a one-on-one interface with listeners of the show: so we decided to take it from just mere listening to audio visual. So we kicked off the Healthertainment event and the feedback we have gotten so far has been very encouraging because people now make better health choices. Healthertainment is just about 1 year old but the impact has been so wonderful. This is our second edition and as we are gearing up for more episodes, we know that the impact will even be much more in the years to come.

In what ways is today’s edition special?

You were there in the last edition and you can see the difference, the turn out of people is much more than what we had last year. We have more corporate organizations represented here, we have more people exhibiting organic and health based product. We even have a special school that caters for educational needs of children. This year’s event cuts across various organizations in the country. The visibility is much more and more welcoming than what we had last year. Another thing we noticed about this year’s event is that people registered very early on like last year when people had a somewhat lukewarm attitude toward it. People are now becoming more conscious of their health needs. The entertaining environment also made it possible for a more lively and engaging audience.

What are we looking out for in the next edition?

We have been doing it once in a year but now people are clamouring and asking for quarterly editions. So we have a plan of making it happen at least 3times a year. We will also be looking at building a team with organizations for the purpose of impacting them healthwise. Most of the ailments people have these days can be traced to the workplace environment; so when you improve people’s health in their workplace, it will positively affect their productivity. Thus, we want to carry the message to them under the Healthertainment platform.

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Are There Really Carbs In Wine?

If you’re the type of person that likes to have a glass of wine with dinner, or when you’re hanging out with friends, or any time at all, you want to know what it’s all about, right? You want to know if it’s good for you, bad for you or some form of indifferent, and one of the ways you may judge that is by how many carbs in wine are there. You may have heard that wine is low-carb, but there’s a big difference between low-carb and no-carb. So what does it mean?

Now the big question is: Are there carbs in wine? the short answer is yes. Of course, that’s going to vary based on a number of different factors. For one, not all wine has carbs. Some wines actually don’t have any. But, many wines have at least 2 and up to 5 carbs per 5 ounces glass. This means if you’re really being particular about carbs and counting yours you’ll want to watch the number of glasses you drink. You’ll also want to think carefully about the types of wine that you’re drinking.

The lowest carb wines are the dry versions. These include things like general dry wines, dry sherry, dry red and dry white wines. Each of these typically has closer to the bottom of the spectrum when it comes to carbs. They are actually close to 0-3 carbs. When it comes to sparkling wine and off-dry wines, that’s where you’re going to get closer to the five carbs per glass. Of course, all of this is much less than the number of carbs you’ll find in liquors, Kahlua and late harvest or tawny drinks, so you’re still getting something slightly better for you.

So, how do the carbs in wine even get there? Where do they come from? Well, they come from the unfermented sugar that’s left over after the alcohol is produced. When it comes to wine, you’ll find more carbs left over at the end than some drinks because they start out with a whole lot of sugar. Those grapes have a lot of carbs in them, but as they’re fermented the carbs start to disappear because of the yeast. What’s left over, however, becomes the carbs in the wine.

The same thing happens with beer and some other mixers because they have a lot of sugar or grain that contains carbs and leaves some left over. Mixers are the worst of it because they’re not fermented at all and are only added to the already fermented beverage. You’re going to have no carbs in things like distilled spirits because there’s only alcohol left in there with absolutely none of the sugar or grain. That means carb wise you’re getting the best from pure alcohols, but you’re getting some other things that you should watch out for. You also might want to look at low-carb drinks.

What do you do if you’re trying to get healthy, but you like to drink the occasional glass of wine? Well, the truth is that wine and other forms of alcohol have been found to be really bad for people who are dieting. It’s not just the carbs in wine and the calories they have. It’s actually that people who drink alcohol have been found to eat a whole lot more, up to 400 calories. If you really like to have a glass once in a while you can account for it, and the low carbs make it okay for most diets, but keep track of your eating habits.

On top of this, keep in mind that alcohol can stop your body from burning fat, which is what you’re trying to do when you’re dieting. The alcohol is burned off by the body first, and if that happens, it means that fat is being stored. The alcohol doesn’t store into your body, but it does indicate that you’re going to have significantly reduced results than you might think because of the alcohol that you’re drinking. Most dieticians would recommend that you cut out alcohol entirely, or as much as possible, for this reason.

Are carbs in wine really that bad? That’s not as easy of a question to answer. Carbs in wine increase the blood sugar in your body when they are absorbed into the blood. When this happens, the body releases insulin to help control the blood sugar. To help lower the blood sugar the sugar itself is directed into fat cells so that you have more energy stored away. Then, the carbs make it difficult for the fat to be converted back into sugar and burned off. This means that carbs increase the amount of fat that’s being stored in your body and make sure that it stays there.

In the days of our ancestors this was a good thing because there was a lot of sugar intensive produce around during the warm seasons, but not much available during the cold season. If our ancestors were able to pack on some stored fat during the warm months, they would burn it off during the cold ones but would have enough nutrients to keep them going. For us now this isn’t as big of a problem, so the extra fat tends to make it difficult to get to that weight goal.

If you’re trying to lose some weight or even just watch your carb intake, you should definitely be looking at the wine that you consume. While there isn’t a whole lot there, it is enough that you’ll want to keep track. Plus, now that you know more about what carbs are really doing to your body and how they can negatively affect your goals you may want to think twice. Even that 2-5 carbs per glass in a single day can start to add up and before you know it you’ve got more fat stored than you ever wanted. So keep an eye on that glass of sherry.

This article is from IloveWine, an organization that aspires to share insight and experiences with wine lovers of all kinds.

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Less Than Six Hours Sleep A Day Could Cause Heart Disease

People who sleep less than six hours a night may be at increased risk of cardiovascular (heart and blood) disease, a new research has found.

The study, as published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, reveals that poor quality sleep increases the risk of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a heart pathology marked with the accumulation of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on artery walls, restricting blood flow.

“Cardiovascular disease is a major global problem, and we are preventing and treating it using several approaches, including pharmaceuticals, physical activity and diet. But this study emphasizes we have to include sleep as one of the weapons we use to fight heart disease – a factor we are compromising every day,” Jose Ordovas, senior author of the study, explains.

After series of experiments, people who slept less than six hours were found to be 27 percent more likely to have atherosclerosis when compared with those who slept seven to eight hours.

Those who had poor quality of sleep were 34 percent more likely to have atherosclerosis compared with those who had good quality of sleep.

Previous studies have shown that lack of sleep increases heart disease risk factors such as glucose levels; blood pressure; inflammation and obesity.

“This is the first study to show that objectively measured sleep is independently associated with atherosclerosis throughout the body, not just in the heart,” Jose said.

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High Fibre Diet Reduces Death Risk, Chronic Diseases

Researchers said people who eat diets that are high in fibre have lower risk of death and chronic diseases such as stroke or cancer. According to findings of a new meta-analysis of existing research, published in the journal ‘The Lancet,’ compared with people who consume low fibre, higher intakes of fibre results in a reduced incidence of a surprisingly broad range of relevant diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer.

The analysis found a 15 to 30 per cent reduced risk of death and chronic diseases in people who included the most fibre in their diets, compared with those with the lowest intake. Also, a fibre-rich diet was linked, on average, to a 22 per cent reduced risk of stroke, a 16 per cent lower risk of Type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer, and a 30 per cent reduced risk of death from coronary heartdisease. 

Based on the research, a Professor of Human Nutrition and Medicine at the University of Otago in New Zealand, Jim Mann, who is a co-author of the study, recommended 25 grams (0.88 ounces) to 29 grams (1.02 ounces) of fibre consumption each day, though, higher amounts were even more beneficial, according to the analysis of the study.

Most people globally consume about 20 grams (0.70 ounces) of dietary fibre per day, Mann said of the findings. However, a 15-gram (0.52ounce) increase in whole grains consumed per day was associated with a two per cent to 19 per cent reduction in total deaths and incidences of coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer. 

Dietary fibre includes plant-based carbohydrates such as whole-grain cereal, seeds and some legumes including peas, chickpeas, lentils, lupin beans, mesquite, carob, soybeans, peanuts and tamarind. Quoting Andrew Reynolds, a co-author of the new meta-analysis of existing research, who is a researcher at the University of Otago in New Zealand, the ‘CNN’ reported that Fibre’s health benefits have been recorded “by over 100 years of research.”

Reynolds’ team was commissioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to inform future fibre intake recommendations, the report stated. The researchers analysed over 180 observational studies and 50 clinical trials from the past four decades; that’s the strength of the analysis said Mann, adding, “The health benefits of dietary fibre appear to be even greater than we thought previously.”

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Is Lactating While Pregnant Bad?

Some pregnant women often express fear and some amount of anxiety when they notice that they are lactating even when they have not given birth. They think lactating while pregnant is a manifestation of abnormalities with the pregnancy. But is this really so? Is lactating while pregnant really bad?

Lactation, the process in which your breasts produce milk to feed your baby, begins while you are still pregnant. Lactation causes a variety of changes in your breasts, some that are unpleasant and embarrassing. Fortunately, it is possible to minimize its effects and make lactation more comfortable to handle.

Lactating begins as early as three or four months into your pregnancy. You typically begin noticing signs of it during the third trimester of pregnancy when it causes your breasts to leak a fluid that is yellowish, golden, clear or creamy in color. Although your breasts can discharge fluid at anytime, it is more evident when your breasts are sexually stimulated or massaged. In addition to discharge, lactating sometimes causes your breasts to become tender and enlarge or swell.

Lactation, which is triggered by the hormonal fluctuations in your body during pregnancy, is your body’s way of preparing for your baby’s birth. Your milk production system begins to work while you are still pregnant and produces colostrum, the pre-milk that is full of antibodies, nutrients and easily digestible fluid. Colostrum is what your baby drinks during the first few days after birth before your milk supply fully comes in.

Although there is no way to stop lactation from occurring while pregnant, there are ways to make it more comfortable to deal with. Purchase nursing pads at a drugstore. These pads fit discretely into your bra and absorb any fluid before it appears on or stains your clothing. Alternatively, fold up a cotton handkerchief or cut a square out of a cloth diaper and conceal the fabric inside of your bra to contain any moisture.

Not all women leak colostrum during pregnancy-this doesn’t mean that you are not lactating. If you want to check, carefully squeeze your areola to see if any drops of fluid come out. Don’t be alarmed if it doesn’t. It is noted that a woman who does not exhibit obvious signs of lactation is still able to produce a healthy and abundant milk supply when her baby is born.

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Why Taking Tea During Pregnancy May Pose A Risk To The Baby

Scientists from Ireland yesterday said consuming caffeine during pregnancy may be bad for the health of the unborn baby. Findings of a study published in ‘The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,’ showed a consistent link between caffeine sourced from coffee and tea and adverse birth outcomes. 

According to the researchers, regardless of the caffeine source, whether from tea or coffee, the risks of delivering babies with abnormally low birth weight or short gestational age at birth were higher. Apart from smaller birth size and shorter gestational duration, maternal caffeine intake had been linked to other negative outcomes for the child, such as a lower intelligent quotient (IQ). 

, these findings, including that of the current study, were from observational studies. The team said observational studies cannot prove that caffeine causes these outcomes, only that there was a link between them. To prove causation, scientists would need to conduct randomized, controlled trials, they stated.

The researchers said until more definitive evidence emerges, it was prudent to at least limit caffeine intake during pregnancy or when planning to conceive. The team wanted to know if there was a link between maternal caffeine intake and negative birth outcomes in a population where tea was the main caffeine source.

Consequently, they used data from an Irish cohort study involving about 1,000 Irish women that provided the researchers with the usual dietary intakes of caffeinated products during early pregnancy. We matched these with hospital records of the women’s newborns to get information on the birth size and gestational age at birth.

Tea was the predominant caffeine source (48 per cent), followed by coffee (39 per cent). “In the highest caffeine consumption group, the risks of delivering babies with abnormally low birth weight or short gestational age at birth were about two times higher. The results were similar regardless of the caffeine source,” the researchers disclosed. 

Caffeine is the most commonly used psychoactive substance in the world. And at average consumption levels, it is considered to be good for health, or at least not bad for health. While coffee is the main source of caffeine in most parts of the world (about 100mg per cup), it is less recognised that tea contains a significant amount of caffeine, too (about 33mg per cup).

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Buy Bitter Leaf Capsules In Nigeria

Bitter Leaf Capsule is an African Herbal, dietary supplement made in the USA. The product is one hundred percent natural and formulated to deliver the highest level of health benefit that you expect and deserve. Because the only ingredient use is the Bitter Leaf herbs, the potency of Bitter Leaf Capsules is guaranteed – what’s on the label is what’s in the bottle. Plus, the manufacturing of Bitter Leaf Capsules strictly adheres to the FDA’s (the food and drugs regulatory body in the US) Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs), ensuring that it is manufactured to high standards of POTENCY, PURITY, efficacy and safety. 

For thousands of year, Africans have used this herb to cure and prevent many diseases.  Although most popularly found in African diet, Bitter Leaf has also traditionally been used in Africa for its medicinal properties now proven by modern day scientific and medical research institutes around the world, Research institute and institutions like the University of Texas. Working with your body and overall health, Bitter Leaf supplements can help maintain a healthy life style. 

The amazing thing about taking Bitter Leaf in a Capsule form is that you get the highest concentration of bitter leaf health benefits in its raw and most effective form without the extreme bitter taste.

This is why the product has endeared itself to many consumers.

The following are some of the amazing health benefits derived from consuming Bitter Leaf Capsules: 

1. Bitter-leaf speeds up metabolism and therefore is great for weight loss.

2. Bitter leaf relieves fever and feverish conditions.
 

3. It also helps to reduce high sugar level in the blood, and great for diabetic patients.

4. Bitter Leaf has been known to help in the cure of the chronic form of hepatitis B and C.  

5. Bitter leaf is said to soothe and also cure pile.

6. Taking Bitter Leaf Capsules Dietary supplement a day, is a great way to detoxify the body of harmful toxins.

7. Bitter leaf nourishes the skin.

8. Bitter leaf also cures mild stomach ailments

9. Bitter leaf is said to increase breast milk production in nursing mothers.
 

Bitter Leaf Capsules is now available in Nigeria and other African countries. To place your orders and get it delivered on your doorstep, call or SMS Frank on +2347031040178.

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Boost Your Antioxidants Level With Diets Of Pumpkin

If the only thing you have ever done with pumpkin is carve it and fill it with a candle, you are not alone. Many people tend to think of pumpkins as little more than just a holiday decoration or a pie filling, but you may want to rethink this plump orange plant. Pumpkin is an extremely nutrient dense food, meaning it is chock-full of vitamins and minerals but low on calories. There are many creative ways pumpkin can be incorporated into your diet, including desserts, soups, salads, preserves and even as a substitute for butter. 

According to the USDA National Nutrient database, one cup of pumpkin, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt contains 49 calories, 1.76 grams of protein, 0.17 grams of fat, 0 grams of cholesterol and 12 grams of carbohydrate (including 2.7 grams of fiber and 5.1 grams of sugar). Consuming one cup of cooked, canned pumpkin would provide well over 100% of your daily needs for vitamin A, 20% of the daily value for vitamin C, 10% or more for vitamin E, riboflavin, potassium, copper and manganese at least 5% for thiamin, B-6, folate, pantothenic acid, niacin, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus.  

Of course, using fresh pumpkin and preparing it yourself will give you the most health benefits, but canned pumpkin is also a great choice. Be sure to steer clear of canned pumpkin pie mix, which is usually right next to the canned pumpkin in grocery stores and in a similar can but has added sugars, syrups, etc. Canned pumpkin should have only one ingredient: pumpkin. Consuming fruits and vegetables, including pumpkin has long been associated with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions. 

Pumpkin is one of the best-known sources of beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant known to give orange vegetables and fruits their vibrant color and which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Consuming foods rich in beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer, offer protection against asthma and heart disease, and delay aging and body degeneration. Eating pumpkin is good for the heart. The fiber, potassium and vitamin C content in pumpkin all support heart health. 

One particular type of cancer where research has shown a positive benefits of a diet rich in beta-carotene is prostate cancer, according to a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health's Department of Nutrition. Beta-carotene has also been shown to have an inverse association with the development of colon cancer in the Japanese population. The antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene (all of which pumpkin has) have been shown to support eye health and prevent degenerative damage. 

For women of child-bearing age, consuming more iron from plant sources such as spinach, beans, pumpkin, tomatoes, and beets appear to promote fertility, according Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Publications. The vitamin A in pumpkin (consumed as beta-carotene then converted to vitamin A in the body) is also essential during pregnancy and lactation for hormone synthesis. Plant foods like pumpkins that are high in both vitamin C and beta-carotene offer an immunity boost from their powerful combination of nutrients. 

Although the jack-o-lantern variety of pumpkins is perfectly edible, look for the sweet or pie pumpkin varieties for cooking, which are smaller and sweeter. Make sure your pumpkin has a few inches of stem left and that it is hard and heavy for its size. Store uncut pumpkins in a cool dark place for up to two months. Make your own pumpkin puree instead of buying canned.  Use pumpkin puree or canned pumpkin in place of oil or butter in any baking recipe.

Pumpkin leaves are also very rich in vitamins and other nutrients that the body needs to protect itself. This is what someone from Africa has to say about pumpkin leafs: "Back where I come from, we call these green “ugwu” or “ugu”, and most Nigerians have no idea what the English name is (like most local foods). It is known  as pumpkin leaves. My grandmother used to say this was a great vegetable to blend and mix with juices and stuff, but way back then, as a child, I could never understand why someone would want to blend a vegetable." 

Pumpkin leaves contain a healthy amount of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron, while still staying very low on the calorie front. We all know about the vision benefits vitamin A provides, as well as the skin benefits. Vitamin C helps to heal wounds and form scar tissue, and maintain healthy bones, skin, and teeth. However since the body cannot produce this vitamin on its own or even store it, you should be consistently getting enough vitamin C in your diet. Pumpkin leaves are a rich source for that diet.

Iron helps our muscles store and use oxygen, and helps carry oxygen from our lungs to other parts of our body as part of hemoglobin. If you’ve ever heard the term “anemia”, this can be caused by iron deficiency. Women and children in particular need a healthy dose of iron consistently, and pumpkin leaves help provide that nutrient naturally.

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