Nutritional Facts About Probiotics

Do you know why you should be using probiotics? Probiotics has been around for a long time and there are still some people that are not updated with probiotic benefits to health.

One dictionary defines Probiotics as a substance that promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut. They contain microorganisms or bacteria that bring benefits to the host organism. The concept of using bacteria for good health is as old as time. Its popularity began 5000 years earlier.

Centuries earlier, people fermented milk products and they contained probiotics. In Persia, people believed that Abraham of the Old Testament owed his longevity to fermented milk. Even French King Francis I was cured after consuming yogurt in 1500s.

The theory behind probiotics is that the human body is host to many microorganisms and bacteria called gut flora, which are necessary for health. Probiotics plays an important role in nutrition especially since the microbial populations have been modified by the use of antibiotics and other substances, which are designed to eliminate germs and diseases.

In 2002, probiotics were defined as ‘live microorganisms that when consumed in sufficient amounts would convey health benefit to the host’. Simply put, when eaten in adequate amount, they can benefit your intestines.

Considered as beneficial bacteria, a probiotic can boost your immune system by regulating lymphocytes and antibodies, protect your heart and prevent constipation, especially in the elderly. This can be done by regulating the intestinal transit time, with the consumption of the live microorganism.

There are studies conducted across the world showing probiotics improves the availability of nutrients such as B vitamins, iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, copper and phosphorous. In addition, pediatric research studies discovered that some strains like the Lactobacillus GG in Culturelle capsules can help in reducing the rate of acute diarrhea and shedding of rotavirus. Babies who drink formula containing the live microorganisms are reported to have 25% reduction in diaper rash.

If you have been suffering from lactose intolerance, drinking probiotics supplements or consuming probiotics products like yogurt may help improve your condition. Yogurt contains bacterial strain which produce lactase enzymes. Thus, children who have intestinal infection and adults who have lactose intolerance can tolerate yogurt because of the active culture present.

The Probiotics Acidophilus are known to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestine and colon to decrease the conversion of bile into cancer-causing substances. Although the microorganisms are present all throughout the human body, they particularly thrive in the intestine. If the presence of bad bacteria is threatened or balanced by the presence of good bacteria, you can be assured of having a healthy digestive system.

However, if the bad bacteria are invading your intestines, health problems are likely to occur. That is why many people are including probiotics-such as the lactobacilli-in their diet. The live microorganisms can restore the balance of bacteria in your intestinal tract.

Yogurt and sauerkraut are just among the many foods containing the good bacteria. On the other hand, you can also benefit from prebiotic. The prebiotic which is a substance that cannot be digested can make their way into your digestive system and thus promote the growth of good bacteria.

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5 Myths Of Detoxifying Your Body

Detoxification has been practiced for centuries in cultures throughout the world. A vital part of Chinese and Auyervedic medicine the concept of detoxifying your body is becoming more mainstream and I am hearing others talk about it more and more. But there are some misconceptions floating around about detoxification so I wanted to write an article on this subject to help clear up a few things.

1. You need to fast in order to detox. 
This could not be further from the truth. Detoxifying is about resting, cleaning and nourishing your body from the inside out. There are detox programs out there that require fasting like "Master Cleanse" a 10-day fasting program where you consume only lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. But these are totally ineffective and one of the worst things you can do for proper detoxification. Fasting causes your body to do the exact opposite of flushing toxins out of your body and instead it holds on to fat tissue in particular, which is where you store most of your toxins. Another factor to consider is when you are properly detoxifying and flushing the toxins out and are not replacing that newly created space in your cells with nutrients your body will likely grab onto another toxin. Your body needs a specific set of nutrients found in whole organic natural foods in order to perform a proper detox.

2. If you eat healthy you do not need to detox. 
We are exposed to more and more chemicals every year. There are over 3,000 chemicals added to our food supply while over 10,000 chemical solvents like emulsifiers and preservatives used to process our food. Even if you eat healthy you are still exposed to toxins in your environment that are impossible to control. Eating healthy is great but if your cells are full of toxins your body cannot absorb the nutrients of all the healthy food you are eating. A cell is a singular space, so if its holding onto a toxin by definition it cannot hold a nutrient, you can't get two things into a single space. To get the most of your healthy food you should aim to detox every 3 months to keep your body absorbing all the good vitamins and minerals so that your body can be healthy and strong.

3. There is no real benefit to detoxing. 
Toxins accumulate in your body over time. If you think about it for even a second the concept of flushing toxins out of your body makes complete sense. We as a society take in an enormous amount of toxins every day then eat food that does nothing to help nourish and cleanse the body and instead puts more toxins in the body. Toxins stay trapped in our bodies contributing to the obesity epidemic, cancer, heart disease, auto immune disorders; I could really go on and on for pages about the damage toxins have on your body. When you are putting so many toxins in your body it would only make sense that a regular detox is necessary and essential to your health. Detoxing allows your body to unlock and eliminate these harmful toxins before they build up in your body.

If you experience; fatigue or are constantly tired, bloating, cravings for are continually snacking, get headaches or migraines, have allergies or skin disorders, are anxious or depressed, or have digestive problems such as diarrhea, constipation, stomach aches, and indigestion then you absolutely would benefit from detoxing. These are all signals your body gives you that it's on toxicity overload and needs attention.

4. Detox is expensive and should be done in a clinic.
Detoxing is very affordable and you do not need to be supervised by a medical professional while cleansing. If you have a health concern as always you should discuss it with your health care professional. You should not detox if you are pregnant or nursing and is not recommended for children.

5. Detox is just for the liver and colon. 
Your liver is the second largest organ in your body performing over 500 tasks! Obviously when you detox you are cleansing your liver and colon but that's not all. You are also cleansing your digestive system, your body tissues, and cells. Cleansing removes toxins and impurities from your whole body restoring and rejuvenating your mind, body, and spirit.

Detoxifying your body is essential to the overall maintenance of your body on the inside for optimal long-term health. After detoxing you'll notice you feel lighter, more energetic, and clear minded. You may notice your eyes are brighter and your complexion is radiant. These are all amazing signs that your body is healing itself from the inside out.

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Diet And 'Acne Food' Explained

Why is diet so important for you to have clear and beautiful skin? Eating right will always help the health of your body. In fact, many diseases today are related to bad eating habits. So what is "acne food"? Essentially, foods that help your immune system, which then helps skin health too. When eaten, this acne food will help ensure that you have clear skin. It can be thought of as one of the pimple remedies that you do not apply onto the skin, but works internally instead.

A change in diet may clean you from the inside. It is commonly known that foods low in nutrition do not do your body any favours. The fact is that a pimple is, essentially, an infection. It appears red and inflamed due to inflammation triggered by acne bacteria. We can help our bodies fight off (and even prevent) these infections by ensuring our immune system is as strong as possible.

Acne food combines natural sugars and fats. If you eat something like a garden salad, then an avocado (for example) is a must for the fat component. In the same way, sugars with cold pressed olive oil and olive oil with orange juice will stabilize blood sugar level and discourage the break out of pimples and acne.

Also, an acne food diet consists of plenty of water and fresh juices that will help you to get rid of toxins. A balanced diet cuts out all excessively fatty and oily food like french fries, pizzas, potato chips, and processed foods, since they do not help the body. It should be noted that, despite the myths about these foods causing acne, the reason to avoid them is actually because they do not add to the body's nutrient intake. Fresh fruits, whole grained foods and plant based foods that are rich in minerals and vitamins are "acne food" that will help to benefit the overall health of acne sufferers, and your skin will show it.

Since an "acne food" diet consists of foods rich in nutrients a good example of an acne food snack would be a salad comprised of things such as well-ripened fresh fruit, tomatoes, cucumber and avocados, prepared with extra virgin olive oil, and even sushi (raw fish). It is said to be ideal if you consume 2 egg yolks and 50gms of raw fish a day (it is 5 egg yolks and 100gms of raw fish for a man). This type of acne food has redundant protein and can increase blood protein level in your body.

Often people in search of "pimple remedies" find only disappointment instead of true help. The fact is that information is the BEST of the pimple remedies. The reason's because it is in understanding skin that one can get rid of zits long-term and truly get clear skin.

By shifting the focus away from merely discovering how to get rid of zits to the bigger picture of understanding skin, it becomes much easier to not only get clear skin, but also keep it healthy.

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High Fiber Foods: A Rich Source For A Healthy Life

Fiber rich foods are the way to go in today’s hectic and inappropriate lifestyle. When the consumption of junk and unhealthy foods is on all-time high, fiber rich foods help you greatly to maintain a balance in your diet and lead a healthy life.

It’s no surprise that fiber forms to be a vital part of a healthy diet. However, consuming foods high in dietary fiber can be more beneficial than just keeping you healthy. Eating fiber rich foods can lower the risks for stroke; heart disease and diabetes besides enhancing the health of your skin and helping you lose weight. 

Unfortunately, in today’s time when one needs to eat healthy foods as a result of stressful and unhealthy lifestyle, majority of the people don’t include fiber rich foods in their diet. Given are some tips wherein you can count on the several benefits of fiber that help you feel good and prevent you from serious diseases.

What’s Fiber?

Fiber, the other name for which is ‘roughage’, is the part of plant based foods (nuts, beans, fruits, vegetables and grains) that the body is unable to break down. It passes through the body without getting digested, thus keeping the digestive system clean and healthy, facilitating bowel movements and throwing cholesterol and harmful chemicals out of the body. There are primarily two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Insoluble one doesn’t dissolve in water. It’s bulky fiber that helps prevent constipation and is found in wheat cereals, whole grains and vegetables such as celery, carrots and tomatoes.

On the other hand, soluble fiber gets easily dissolved in water and helps control levels of blood sugar and lessen cholesterol. Oatmeal, barley, nuts, beans and fruits such as berries, apple, pears and citrus fruits are some good sources of soluble fiber.

Fiber with several health benefits

Many expert nutritionists have highlighted how consuming a fiber rich diet can boost the immune system and how it forms to be a good source of nutrition for children as well. Some benefits are highlighted below:

Digestive Health

Eating dietary fiber helps normalize bowel movements by bulking up stools and letting them easier to pass. This helps relieve and prevent both diarrhoea and constipation. Getting fiber in abundance also tends to lessen the risk for gallstones, diverticulitis (inflammation of intestine), kidney stones and also offer relief from irritable bowel syndrome.

Diabetes

The risk of type 2 diabetes can be considerably lowered by consuming a fiber rich diet, especially insoluble fiber from cereals. If you already have diabetes then consuming soluble fiber may help control blood sugar levels by delaying gastric emptying

Skin Health

Consuming fiber rich diet can flush toxins out of the body which affect the health of the skin. Skin tends to be healthy when the flow of blood is good as a result of lesser toxins in the body.

Fiber helps Weight Loss

Besides helping in digestion and preventing constipation, fiber adds bulk to your diet, an important factor in both losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight. Adding bulk lets you feel full earlier. Also, since fiber stays in the stomach for a longer period than other foods, the feeling of fullness stays with you for quite some time, letting you eat less. Foods such as vegetables and fruits that are rich in fiber tend to be low in calories, thus by adding them to your diet; it’s quite simple to cut calories.

Eating fiber rich foods has been the first preference of many nutritionists when it comes to weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Due to its numerous health benefits it should be your first choice as well during your daily meal.

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Effective Natural Plant Based Foods To Boost Immunity

Natural plant based foods are the effective ways to boost immunity health. They provide power to the body to fight against diseases to maintain health and well being.

There are so many diseases around humans that they are prone to in life. These diseases affect their general well-being. The life has become so stressful that it is difficult to control diseases. It is suggested to take care of the health and protect against diseases by building immunity. Immunity is like building a wall that protects the body from diseases. It fights against diseases and does not let the system to be affected. There are so many medicines that are prescribed for every small problem as the body gets affected by disease. It is important to understand that there are natural plant foods that can help protect the body from several diseases. It gives power to the body to fight against diseases. There are immunity boosting foods that help the body to be well protected. These simple plant-based foods should be included in the diet for the best results.

The use of cod liver oil is healthy option for immunity problem. It helps to increase the immunity without any side effects it should be regularly included in the diet after meals. It is used as healthy tonic for positive results. It is one of the simple immunity boosting foods. Regular usage will help to show results without any side effects. It helps to give special antioxidant properties. It also gives antiviral properties. Regular use will detox the body. It will cleanse the system. 

The use of jasmine leaves grinded and dried to make into powder is healthy option for immunity. It should be mixed with warm water and consumed for positive results. It is used as healthy tonic for results. It is one of the popular immunity boosting foods. Regular usage will help to show excellent results without any side effects.

The use of pumpkin seed made into a powder after drying and adding basil leaves is healthy to increase immunity it should be included in the diet and consumed after meals for effective results. It is used as healthy tonic for positive results. It is one of the popular immunity boosting foods. Regular usage will help to show results without any adverse effects. It helps to give special antioxidant properties. It also gives antiviral properties. Regular use will detox the body. It will cleanse the system. 

The use of leaves of tulsi should be consumed every morning to increase immunity. It has positive results on the body. The regular use followed by warm water detox will help the body. It is used as healthy tonic for excellent results. It is one of the natural immunity boosting foods.

The use of fig leaves is healthy for the body. It is used as healthy tonic for excellent results. It is one of the popular immunity boosting foods. Regular usage will help to show results without any adverse effects. It helps to give special antioxidant properties. It also gives antiviral properties. Regular use will detox the body.

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Top 10 Health Benefits Of Goji Berries

Have you ever wondered how these little red berries can change your life? Well, goji berries are one of the most nutritionally rich foods on the planet. They are grown on a vine-like bush only in the shade. Goji berries differ in colors from pale yellow, sun-fire orange and deep red. The two main types of goji berries are Asian and American. The only difference between them is their history. The Asian goji berries have been grown for thousands of years by Chinese, Mongolian and Tibetans, whereas the American goji berries originated from the South-West dessert of the United States which was used for survival when no water was found. 

There are many benefits of goji berries. Here are some of them:

1. Longevity and Healthy Hormones. According to researches, the seventy year old person produces only one-tenth of the amount of the Human Growth Hormone generated by the twenty year old person. This causes the body to have lower energy levels and wastage. To feel, look and function like a youthful person, you need to boost the natural production of the growth hormone. This superfood has been identified as "the longevity fruit" which is filled with a variety of nutrients. These nutrients will help you to live a longer and healthier life. Goji berries help your body to achieve this in three ways:

• They are high in sesquiterpenoids which are filled with anti-inflammatory properties.
• They stimulate the pituitary and pineal glands which increase the glandular production of the Human Growth Hormone (HGH).
• They are rich in l-arginine and l-glutamine which works together to boost the HGH to revitalize your appearance and metabolism.

2. Enhancing Libido and Sexual Function. Goji berries are known for strong sexual tonic in Asia. Goji berries improve your stamina levels, mood and wellbeing, while decreasing the impact of stress on your body. These benefits lead to a much healthier life. Goji berries will help your HGH production and raise the testosterone levels to ensure healthier sex life.

3. Improving Vision. Goji berries contain the highest concentration of eyesight improving antioxidants, namely zeaxanthin and lutein. Zeaxanthin and lutein protect the eyes from the damage of the free radicals that attacks your eyes every day. They also heal the membranes of your eyes keeping them youthful and healthy. These two key antioxidants are concentrated at the center of the retina and protect your eyes from the following diseases:

• Cataracts
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Loss of sight
• Eye aging problems.

4. Antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your DNA from the damage of free radicals and radiation. If your DNA is damaged, it's easier for every imaginable illness to enter your body, as well as increase the aging process. Your body is equipped to repair itself, but if your body gets faced with too many free radicals, it becomes overwhelmed and the result is the premature death of healthy cells. This can be the cause of a variety of diseases, such as a cancer. The goji berry is filled with carotenoid antioxidants which are natural sources of fat soluble antioxidant pigments.

5. Immune System Booster. Goji berries are rich in Vitamin C and Zinc. Both of these vitamins protect the body against diseases and help in recovery. They also protect the cells in your body and boost your immune system through these three main components:

• Polysaccharides which protect the cells from generic mutation.
• Beta-carotene which enhances the thymus gland function and increases the stimulation action on your immune system to prevent any viral infection.
• Mineral germanium which fights off any cancer properties, such as liver cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, testicular cancer and uterine cancer.

6. Hydration. Proper hydration is a very important aspect for your overall health. If your body isn't hydrated you become dehydrated and your body doesn't have enough water to absorb to function normally. You lose water when you breathe, when you go to the bathroom and through your sweat. You don't have to drink water only. You can consume this superfood for hydration as well. This fresh superfood grows in rich, alkaline alluvial soils which contain a big amount of hydrogen needed for hydration.

7. Supporting Brain and Neurological Health. Goji berries help our bodies with the production of choline. The choline is an essential nutrient that fights off free radical damage, narrows the arteries that delivers oxygen to the brain cells which can cause Alzheimer's disease and neurological degeneration.

8. Supporting Cardiovascular Health. Goji berry holds the key to fight off the main cause of most heart diseases, mainly oxidized cholesterol. Cholesterol becomes more dangerous when it is oxidized as a result of free radicals. This is when the blood fats clench to the artery walls with calcium forming nanobacteria to form plagues. An enzyme called Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) acts as a defense mechanism against cholesterol and may prevent cholesterol from oxidizing. Goji berries can increase your SOD to decrease your cholesterol levels.

9. Keeping Vital Organs Healthy. They keep our vital organs healthy through balancing blood sugar levels and increasing the digestive system, skin and liver function. They're also filled with phytonutrients which enhance the ability to detoxify and guard the liver against any damage from carcinogens and hepatitis virus. These phytonutrients include betaine, polysaccharides and antioxidant pigments. The liver gets cleaned by betaine. This reduces the toxic amino acids in the cardiovascular system. Goji berry tea can be used for the treatment of diabetes and all types of digestive problems, as well as the recovery of ulcers and a spastic colon. Goji berries also contain fatty acids which can stimulate collagen production to ensure moisture resulting in a youthful skin.

10. Improving Sleep. Goji berries contain Thiamine and Magnesium - two main nutrients needed for a healthy sleep. Thiamin improves your mood and energy levels, while magnesium improves the quality of sleep by shortening the time it takes to fall asleep.

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The 7 Health Benefits Of Castor Oil

Many know castor oil's health properties and is widely used for medicinal purposes. Yet, this vegetable oil's use for health is often underrated, for a number of reasons. This vegetable oil is found from the seeds of the castor plant, which is found in Africa and India. So, what are the health properties of this vegetable oil that makes it so special? Here is a look at the seven different benefits of this oil and how it is different.

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1. For pain

Castor oils' anti-inflammatory properties make it be used as a natural anti-inflammatory agent useful in treatment of swollen joints and tissues. You can take this oil orally in a glass of water to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis as well. This oil can also work wonders to offer relief to back pain and abdominal pain and is also useful in menstrual cramps.

2. For hair

This vegetable oil has fatty acids and Vitamin E, both of which help you in your hair growth. All you need to do is to apply this oil on your hair and scalp to increase blood circulation and free the scalp from fungal as well as bacterial infections. Applying castor oil also ensures that you check hair loss.

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3. As laxative

The laxative benefits of this vegetable oil are well known. The ricinoleic acid in castor oil starts functioning and helps in digesting the food as well as cleanses the system and improves the bowel movement. No wonder, it helps during constipation too.

4. For skin

The skin properties of castor oil are well known to all. Using this vegetable oil on your skin helps it be hydrated and also be free fro infections. No wonder, it helps treat skin diseases like acne too. If you use the oil regularly you will be able to keep wrinkles in control too. In fact, if you apply this oil to babies, it can help prevent cases of diaper rashes too.

5. For immunity

It's been researched and found out that castor oil, when applied to the body, helps increase the count of T-11 cells in the body thus strengthening the immune system. The total number of lymphocytes increases within 24 hours too.

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6. For allergies

Are you suffering from allergies? Well, this oils' anti-allergic properties can help. If you have allergies related to skin and naso-pharyngeal area, just take five drops of castor oil in water in an empty stomach.

7. For warts, moles and cysts

Applying this oil also helps treat warts, moles and cysts. Apply the oil with a pinch of baking soda will help solve the problem of cysts. In fact, using castor oil packs also helps dissolve cysts in the ovary.

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The Benefits Of Seaweed: Its Vitamins And Importance To Your Overall Health

Today, many of us have eaten seaweed in one form or another. However, you might be surprised to find out how many vitamins it offers and how vital they are for our general health. Seaweed also has an abundance of minerals, but I'll cover that in another article. For now, lets see what vitamins seaweed offers us and the impact it has on our overall health.

Vitamin A

• Cell Growth, Repair, and Immunity - Helps your body fight illness from viruses and bacteria. It strengthens areas of your body which are vulnerable to them such as the mucous membranes near the eyes and nose which is how viruses and bacteria can enter your body which can lead to illness.
• Vision and Eye Health - Helps fight against glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts, along with other illnesses of the eyes which you may become vulnerable to as you get older.
• Cancer - Is considered to be a strong antioxidant and is thought to prevent development of certain varieties of cancer and pulmonary diseases.
• Bones - Since Vitamin A plays a significant part in the growth of new cell tissue, it also helps ensure bone health by replacing damaged tissue. It also helps the formation of dentin on your teeth.
• Prevention of Urinary Stones - Vitamin A creates a mineral called calcium phosphate that prevents solid particles from forming within your body. These particles can form stones and can cause vomiting and pain.
• Helps to Maintain Healthy Skin - Vitamin A is an antioxidant. Free radicals damage the skin, which is why antioxidants are important in maintaining healthy skin. It will protect it from wrinkling, pimples, dryness, and psoriasis.

Vitamin B1

Is also commonly known as Thiamine or Thiamin. B1 is important for maintaining a healthy nervous system. In addition it will help to convert the food you eat everyday into energy your body uses to function.

Vitamin B2

Also known as Riboflavin. Vitamin B2 also helps convert food into energy. As a matter of fact, every B vitamin aids in the conversion of food into energy. However, B2 is also responsible for breaking down fats and proteins. In addition it helps in the production of hormones and helps red blood cells to stay healthy.

Vitamin B3

Is typically known as Niacin. It also helps in converting food into energy like all the B vitamins. It's also responsible for helping your nervous system to continue functioning properly, assists in maintaining a healthy digestive system and assists in blood circulation.

Vitamin B6

Helps prevent heart disease, aids in the production of antibodies to fight infection, viruses and bacteria. Like B3, it assists in the maintenance of your nervous system. It also assists in keeping red blood cells healthy. Similar to many of the B vitamins, it also converts food to energy.

Vitamin B-12

Is also known as Cobalamin. B-12 is known to assist in preventing heart disease, strengthen the immune system, keep red blood cells healthy and like all the B vitamins we've mentioned, it assists in converting food to energy.

Vitamin C

Is another vitamin that has a host of positive affects on your health. There's also evidence that it helps to raise good cholesterol generally known as HDL. HDL helps to eliminate fatty deposits from arteries, which reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It's also an antioxidant like Vitamin A. It also promotes strong teeth and bones, healthy skin and gums, helps wounds to heal and strengthens blood vessels.

Vitamin D

Aids in bone growth, strength and also helps to strengthen teeth. It also boosts the activity of the natural killer cells in your body. These cells are responsible for targeting other cells that are infected by viruses. Vitamin D also plays a role in the rejection of tumors. It also helps lower cholesterol. Low levels of Vitamin D can lead to increased blood pressure and increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Vitamin E

Is known as an antioxidant like Vitamins A and C. It protects cells from the negative affects of free radicals. It can help to strengthen the immune system. It also helps create red blood cells. In addition it widens blood vessels, which prevent blood clots.

We take vitamins for granted, but they're vital to the proper functioning of our bodies. As you can see, seaweed has an abundance of them. Maybe it's time you thought about including it in your diet more often?

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5 Reasons Why Greek Yogurt Is Good For Your Health

Many people think that yogurt is just the foreign name for curd. But that is not the case. Yogurt and its benefits are very different than that of curd. It actually is extremely beneficial for human body. Although curd and yogurt are both made from milk, both products are different. Let’s take a look at how exactly they are different.

Yogurt vs. Curd

Both the dairy products are made from milk, but the process differs. To make curd you have to boil the milk and cool it down to 30 degree celsius. Then you can add either lemon juice or vinegar to the milk. These acidic substances include a microorganism named as ‘lactobacillus’. The lactic acid curdles the milk and splits it into two parts, the solids and liquid. The solid which is extracted is the curd. The liquid part is called whey, which contains whey proteins and the curd contains milk proteins. Once separated the curd can be flavoured with sugars, salts, etc.

Yogurt is made by adding a different set of bacteria known as ‘Yogurt Cultures’. Yogurt cultures include two different strains of bacteria namely ‘lactobacillus bulgaris’ and ‘streptococcus thermophilous’. The addition of bacteria ensures quality of product because they make it homogenized. This dairy product also can be enhanced by the addition of different flavours.

Benefits of Yogurt

• Good for digestion:

The addition of yogurt cultures makes it probiotic. The good bacteria helps in the digestion of food. Actually your intestine already contains microorganisms. Some are good and some are bad. When the number of bad ones increase, your health deteriorates. Probiotic drinks contains good bacteria. Thus, the good and bad bacteria remain balanced. Hence the da helps to avoid or cure diseases like constipation, diarrhoea, etc.

• Boosts immunity system:

Consuming probiotics also helps to boost the immune system. These beverages also have proven to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is related to many diseases. As yogurt provides vitamin D to the body and the nutrient is said to provide antibacterial proteins to the body, we can say that it helps to enhance the immunity system.

As the digestive system improves, it keeps away bowel related diseases. And thus, it is said that probiotics keep our stomach immune from various diseases. A daily serving of the product also helps you to keep the cold away.

• Helps to lose weight:

Yogurt contains proteins. Proteins with calcium helps to lower the appetite and thus keeps the weight in check. This improves your diet and makes you avoid the untimely snacks which we munch on mindlessly.

• Maintains blood pressure:

Yogurt contains  potassium, which has proven to reduce sodium reabsorption. Thus the probiotics maintains heart health while lowering the high blood pressure.

• Reduces bad cholesterol:

The product keeps you full longer and also keeps you well hydrated. This helps you to avoid yourself from consuming more calories by eating oily food. Hence, it is said to increase good cholesterol which promotes heart health. It also reduces the occurrences of heart diseases.

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