Lose Weight Naturally With Regular Diets Of Garden Egg

People who want to lose weight can achieve it now by consuming plenty of garden eggs. According to Jummai Hassan, a nutritionist with Wuse General Hospital, Abuja, garden egg also known as eggplant “has low calorie, low sodium, low protein and is very high in dietary fibre and potassium. It’s a fruit that is classified under vegetables and anyone who really want to lose weight should eat fresh garden egg. When you take garden egg, it fills the tummy because of its fibre content which reduces the food you consume, thereby reducing the calories and body weight.” 

The high fibre content in eggplant helps to reduce bad cholesterol in the body, thereby protecting the heart. Garden eggs help to regulate the blood pressure, maintain and regulate the function of the heart. Because of the high fibre and low soluble carbohydrate content of the eggplant, it controls glucose absorption and reduces the risk of hypertension and is very low in calorie content, such that when a diabetic person consumes it, it suppresses the sugar level and brings the blood pressure down. 

The fiber, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and phytonutrient content in eggplants all support heart health. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating foods containing flavonoids is affiliated with a lower risk of mortality from heart disease. Consuming even small quantities of flavonoid-rich foods such as garden eggs may benefit human health. Several studies show that consumption of the flavonoids known as anthocyanins has played a major role in lowering risk of cardiovascular disease. 

One particular study revealed that those who consumed more than three servings of fruits and vegetables per week containing anthocyanins had 34% less risk of heart disease than those who consumed less. In another clinical study, researchers found that increased intake of  anthocyanins in garden egg was associated with significantly lower blood pressure. Research on the effects of eggplant consumption in animal studies has shown that rabbits with high cholesterol that consumed eggplant juice displayed a significant decrease in weight and blood cholesterol levels.

Polyphenols in eggplant have been found to exhibit anti-cancer effects. Anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid function as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. They protect body cells from damage caused by free radicals and in turn prevent tumor growth and invasion and spread of cancer cells. They also stimulate detoxifying enzymes within cells and promote cancer cell death.

Findings from animal studies suggest that nasunin, an anthocyanin within eggplant skin, is a powerful antioxidant that protects the lipids comprising cell membranes in brain cells from free radical damage. It has also been proven to help facilitate the transport of nutrients into the cell and wastes out. Research has also shown that anthocyanins inhibit neuroinflammation and facilitate blood flow to the brain. This helps prevent age-related mental disorders and also improves memory.

Dietary fibers are commonly recognized as important factors in weight management and loss by functioning as "bulking agents" in the digestive system. These compounds increase satiety and reduce appetite, making you feel fuller for longer and thereby lowering your overall calorie intake. Since eggplant is already low in calories, it makes a great part of a healthy, low-calorie diet. 

One cup of raw eggplant contains 20 calories, 0.8 grams of protein, 4.82 grams of carbohydrate, 0.15 grams of fat and 2.5 grams of dietary fiber. A one-cup serving meets 10% of daily fiber needs, 5% potassium, 3% vitamin C, 5% vitamin B-6, 1% iron and 2% magnesium. Eggplants also contain anthocyanins, compounds that belong to a class of naturally occurring phytochemicals known as flavonoids. Flavonoids are present in many plant foods and in addition to providing health benefits - they also contribute to the distinguishable coloration of many fruits and vegetables.

Many of the nutritional benefits gained from consuming eggplants are obtained from the skin of the vegetable. Eggplant skin is full of fiber, potassium and magnesium and antioxidants. In fact, its phenolic content makes it such a potent free radical scavenger that the eggplant is ranked among the top 10 vegetables in terms of oxygen radical absorbance capacity.

When buying eggplants choose ones that are firm and somewhat heavy for their size. Avoid eggplants that appear withered, bruised, or discolored. Research suggests that the polyphenols found in eggplants contribute to their bitter flavor, which means that the eggplants with the highest levels of antioxidants are also the most bitter and unpleasant to eat. However, scientists are hoping to be able to genetically improve eggplants so that they contain high levels of beneficial nutrients and remain palatable.

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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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