Health Benefits of Peppermint
What are The Health Benefits of Peppermint?
Most people are not aware of the many health benefits of peppermint. Some people have only used peppermint as a food flavoring. The sweet aroma of peppermint enhances the flavor of viands, and other food or drink preparations.
Peppermint contains menthol, menthone and menthyl esters that are widely used in the manufacture of tea, ice cream, soap, shampoo, toothpaste and chewing gums.
Peppermint oil contains vitamin A and vitamin C. It also contains calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, folate, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acids.
The health benefits of peppermint are many. Peppermint has essential oils that stimulate the gastro-intestinal membrane, and aids in digestion. It is a carminative herb with volatile oils that stimulate the expulsion of gas from gastro-intestinal tract.
Among the health benefits of peppermint is its stimulating diaphoretics property which increases body perspiration, and affects the whole circulatory system. This property of peppermint makes it good in cooling the skin and the body when its leaves are applied externally.
Peppermint has antispasmodic property that is good for the relief of cramps, muscular spasm, and convulsions. It is also a good stimulant that assists the functional activities of the body to increase energy.
Peppermint has pain-relieving property. When taken internally as tea or oil, peppermint is good for the relief of headaches, migraines, nausea, menstrual cramps, heart trouble, and rheumatism. It is also used to treat fever, chills, morning sickness, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, and measles.
Peppermint oil contains menthol which helps in clearing the respiratory tract. It is an effective expectorant that provides temporary relief in numerous respiratory problems such as nasal congestion, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, cold and cough.
Peppermint tea is also good for insomnia, nervous disorders, and hysteria. It increases stomach acidity for better digestion, and is good for irritable bowel syndrome. The stimulant property of peppermint also makes it good for poor appetite.
The pain-relieving property of peppermint makes it good for toothaches. Peppermint provides local anesthetic to pains and inflamed joints. Peppermint oil has antiseptic property that is useful in dental care. It removes bad breath, and promotes healthy gums and teeth.
The health benefits of peppermint are indeed many. It is not only used as an aromatic for foods and viands, but it is also useful to relieve body pains, and to treat various ailments.
Category: Family and Kids Health
Tags: acids > benefits > calcium > carminative > copper > cramps > diaphoretic > diarrhea > dizziness > dysentery > esters > Fatty > folate > headaches > health > health benefits of peppermint > herb > iron > irritable bowel syndrome > magnesium > manganese > measles > menstrual > menthol > menthone > menthyl > migraines > morning > nausea > omega-3 > pain > peppermint > potassium > property > relieve > relieving > sickness > vomiting
The Importance Of Rest
Why is Rest Important For Good Health?
Rest is very important to man. Rest is essential to good health. Without rest, fatigue results, and illness follow. Lack of adequate rest causes us to feel weak and our immune system to be weakened. All our life we tend to overwork and take resting for granted. It is one of the most essential things to get healthy. I always discuss this with my husband, and talk him into taking vacations once in awhile. We even discussed about early retirement just recently when he was checking out online immediate annuity quotes. I told him perhaps we should just work for awhile then have an early retirement so we could enjoy life together, doing the things we love, taking time to rest from stressful things. After all, the kids are already grown up. He agreed to my point of view too.
Why is Rest Important For Good Health?
There is healing power in rest. When we are not feeling well, the first thing we do is lie down and rest. The key and remedy is the restorative power of rest.
Rest is not exclusive in sleep. You can rest by changing activity from a tedious or monotonous ones. Going out and exercising outside, and taking deep breaths under the shades of trees can give rest to the mind and body. Look at the green foliage of plants and trees around you – they give rest to tired eyes. Look at the trees, the birds, the flowers – they all give rest to a weary mind. Think about God and all the blessings he has given you daily – a genuine sense of rest and relaxation will come over you.
All parts of our body need rest. Even the hardest-working organ, the heart, rests after each beat. Also the lungs, rest after each breath. And the stomach needs thirty to sixty minutes rest after each meal.
Rest must be preceded by exercise or any activity, and rest at night is easier and comfortable when done with empty stomach. We can also rest at the middle of the day. Fifteen minutes nap is equivalent to 45 minutes or more at night. This kind of rest not only keeps you active throughout the remainder of the day,but lengthens your life span as well.
Do not sleeping pills. They drastically alter sleeping cycles, and suppress the very important REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This is the dream part of sleep. Suppressing REM is very harmful to the body. During this stage of sleep, the heartbeat becomes irregular, and brain waves are similar in the waling state.
Sleep is divided into stages. In the presleep stage, the alpha brain waves are prominent. Stage 1 begins as the pulse slow down, and the muscles relax. After 5 to 10 minutes, stage 2 begins, where the brain waves become larger, and the eyes roll from side to side. Twenty minutes later, stage 3 is entered, and the brain waves becomes slow and larger. Muscles are relaxed, and breathing is slow and even. Then stage 4 or delta sleep enters and generally last for 20 minutes, after which the REM sleep starts. After 10 minutes, the sleeper returns to stage 2, 3, and then delta sleep in a cycle lasting about 90 minutes. Then REM sleep starts again. In a night sleep, there is more delta sleep earlier in the night, and more REM sleep toward the morning.
Sleepers who do not get their REM sleep awaken irritable and tired. They become restless, angry, depressed. So take time to rest and sleep, and enjoy good health and having the energy to live life to the fullest.
Category: Healthy Lifestyle & Practices
Tags: alpha > brain > delta > eye > healing > health > importance > important > movement > rapid > rest > sleep > sleeping > suppression > waves
Health Benefits Of Alkaline Food
What Are The health benefits of eating raw alkaline food?
Alkaline foods are excellent for our body. They are the best and fast restorer of good health. Alkaline food neutralizes the hyperacidity of the body thus eliminating the toxins in the system. Hyperacidic system is very prone to diseases, therefore eating alkaline food restores the body to good health.
The following herbs, fruits, nuts, and vegetables are alkaline food: celery, lettuce, cucumbers, egg plant, strawberries, okra, limes, oranges, tomatoes, lemons, peaches, grapefruit, banana, carrots, beets, and figs.
Cooked food ferments easily once inside the body. It causes hyperacidity and toxify the body. Fruits, nuts, and vegetables are best eaten raw. The nutrients are preserved, and organic live enzymes are excellent for good health.
I eat raw vegetables during all my regular meals. With rice as the only cooked food, I have as my viands all raw vegetables, such as cucumber mixed with tomatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce, cabbage, squash, potatoes, raddish, cabbage, and horseraddish. Lately, I tried eating raw eggplant. It taste like an egg yolk. No wonder it is called an eggplant.
Mustard leaves are quite bitter and pungent like the horseraddish leaves. But by garnishing your vegetable salad with lemon, tomato, onion, and garlic, the dish become delicious and palatable.
The health benefits of eating raw alkaline food is tremendous. You will have fairer, naturally glowing skin. You will have a strength and vitality you never had before, and your memory becomes sharper and more retentive. All body aches will disappear, and you will have a very good night sleep. Your immune system becomes stronger, and all your days and years of your life are disease-free.
Category: Family and Kids Health, Healthy Lifestyle & Practices
Tags: alkaline > alkalinity > banana > beets > benefits > carrots > celery > cucumbers > eggplant > figs > food > fruits > good > grapefruit > health > Hyperacidic > lemons > lettuce > limes > okra > oranges > peaches > raw > strawberries > system > tomatoes > vegetables
Appreciating Classical Music and Contemporary arts
I love listening to classical music. It started way back in high school, because my mom used to tell me that classical music helps to calm our minds and is great to listen to it, especially when you want to relax or when studying. Or simply playing mellow music can soothe your soul. I’ve learned this from a musician when I went to a Gibson Custom Shop. I also imparted that advise to my kids, so they have classical music in their ipod touch nano and other multimedia players/devices.
I am also a lover of contemporary and traditional arts. I like realistic paintings very much. The paintings of old masters amazed me without end, considering the genius and the beauty in which they had been masterfully done. Blessed are the homes that are decorated with these old masters paintings! They do not only evoke past glory and grandeur, but they are treasures that ever increase in price as the years go by.
But paintings of classical masters are very rare and hard to find. They are sold only by auction and at very high prices. Only the rich and the affluent can bid to buy these priceless pieces of arts. So I just visit museums to take a look at the great artworks and painting of the famous artists.
Category: Computer Technology & Gadgets
Tags: classical music > Contemporary arts > iPod > nano > touch
How Can A Pet Help Your Child
If you want to teach young children about responsibility, nurturing behavior and empathy, having a pet like fish, cat or dog at home will help a lot.
Nurture games are usually played by little girls like playing with dolls and playhouse as if little girls are parents who needs to take care of their house (playhouse) and kids (dolls) that boys considers sissy to play. If it seems awkward for young boys to learn about nurturing through playtime, what is the best option for you to do? Give them a pet a take care of.
Having a pet to care and nurture is pretty acceptable regardless of gender and age thus it is perfect to have a pet at home for your little ones, especially for young boys to take care. Pets could play a big role in development of your child. They can become your children’s children for them to take care, nurture and love. And their pets could be their good friend that gives unconditional love in return.
Having a pet could help your child learn the reality of life, the reality of loving others, and of life and losses too. Loss of a pet is a painful experience for kids but it could give them lesson how to cope well. Coping from loss (especially losing loved ones) could not be learned like other lessons in school, you need to experience it for you to learn. Mostly, loss of pet is child’s first experience of loss and grief.
There are lots of other benefits to enumerate to for a growing child to have a pet to take care of. So, why not give your child a pet as your gift? It is one of the best gifts your child will receive. Just make sure that it suites to your child’s age and health. If your child is allergic to furry pets, better give him or her a nice tank of tropical fish.
Category: Family and Kids Health, Family Pets, Parenting, Marriage and Relationships
Tags: empathy > How Can A Pet Help Your Child > in what way can having a pet pet in development of a child > nurturing behavior > relation of having a pet and child development > relation of having a pet and development of a child > responsibility > teaching child about coping mechanism > teaching child about empathy > teaching child about life > teaching child about love > teaching child about nurturing behavior > teaching child about reality of life and death > teaching child about responsibility > the benefits of giving your child a pet > the benefits of having a pet > the benefits of having a pet at home
The Wedding
The eldest daughter of my friend just got married last week to her long time beau, whom she’s been with since they were in high school. The groom also happened to be the son of one of our closest college friends. We gave them with masonic watches as congratulatory gift. It’s great to see a couple so happy and getting wed out of love. We wish them only the best and to have bright and beautiful kids in the future.
The bride looked so beautiful in her wedding gown, and I’ve heard that their engagement and wedding rings were gifts from their grandparents in both sides.
An engagement ring is a symbol of love and faithfulness. When a lady wears a ring given to her by a gentleman, it means her heart belongs to him, and that she will forever remain faithful to him.
When a man and a woman are in love, they bind themselves with engagement rings. They promise to wear it everyday and pledge to be faithful to each other. Wearing it reminds each one that she or he belongs to him or her. It is a chain of love that binds them together.
After the passage of time, when lovers are able to successfully hurdle the many trials, they then agree to tie the knot. This is a very momentous time for men and women. After saying “I do”, the couple then wear the wedding bands as a symbol that they are now one flesh and one body in the sight of God and men.
The wearing of wedding rings or wedding bands is common everywhere. Depending on culture and tradition, wedding rings are made from different materials and comes in various shapes. Most common ones are made of gold, and some rare ones are of silver.
For those who can afford to buy, the best ones are the diamond wedding bands. This precious gemstone is the best gift a bridegroom can give to his most precious bride. Its brilliance will surely dazzle her heart and bring her great joy and happiness. They are expensive, but they’re the real thing to be always proud of. Surely, it’s a nice start of abundance and prosperity in a married life together.
Category: Parenting, Marriage and Relationships
Tags: band > bride > bridegroom > couple > culture and tradition > diamond wedding bands > engagement > engagement rings > gold > love > precious gemstone > relationships > ring > silver > Symbol of Love and Faithfulness > tie the knot > Wedding > wedding bands > wedding rings
How to Enjoy Chocolate Without Counting the Calories
I love chocolate, how about you? It is a great passion of many people regardless of race. Consuming too much of it is not good to health but treating yourself a small bar sometimes is not that bad I think.
Pure chocolate contains zinc, potassium, iron, and magnesium that are essential to our health. Cacao in chocolate is noted in enhancing mood by releasing serotonin and endorphins, the happy hormones that makes us feel good and fight depression.
A good friend of mine who is also fond of chocolate experienced the goodness of chocolate in a different way, a chocolate massage. It was a fun experience she said. Warmed melted chocolate massaged on muscles and its aroma seems so relaxing, right?
Aside from its relaxing effect when pure chocolate is used in massage, did you know that beauty therapists uses pure chocolate because of its chemical properties that is good for the skin? Its glycerides content could help the skin stay toned, and the polyphenols could help fight aging because of its antioxidant property.
Because of its popularity almost all spas offers chocolate massage. But, mind you, some uses cocoa or other artificial substances instead of pure chocolate in which you cannot avail the benefits of true chocolate massage so you better ask.
How I wish one of these days I will experience the relaxing effect of chocolate and avail the other benefits without counting the calories, a luxurious pure chocolate massage.
Category: Fashion and Beauty
Tags: cacao > chocolate > chocolate massage > cocoa > happy hormones > health > health benefits > health benefits of chocolate > How to Enjoy Chocolate Without Counting the Calories > iron > magnesium > massage > potassium > pure chocolate > zinc
Eat Raw Vegetables And Be Healthy
Eat raw vegetables and be healthy! This is about my mom’s own experience in life. Five years ago, she started being a vegetarian. She always watch what she eats and make sure she eats them in moderation with the help of best ceramic portion control plate. She began as a total vegetarian, but shifted to a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet a year later because of her fear of having a deficiency in vitamin B12. She was running with a wrong notion then that a total vegetarian diet is deficient in vitamin B12.
As I wrote in my other posts in this website, a total vegetarian diet is not deficient in vitamin B12. Some fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetable are rich sources of cobalt, which our body use to produce vitamin B12. It is not true that vitamin B12 is only available from animal flesh meats. Spirulina and some seaweeds are rich sources of vitamin B12. And all green leafy vegetables are rich sources of chlorophyll which have magnesium in them that are converted into iron for red blood cell formation in the body.
Category: Random Things
Tags: chlorophyll > cobalt > eat raw vegetables > eat raw vegetables and be healthy > fruits > grains > health benefits > healthy > lacto-ovo vegetarian diet > magnesium > nuts > raw vegetables > total vegetarian > Vitamin B12
Vitamin B2: Health Benefits, Source & Dosage
What are the Health Benefits, Sources & Dosage of Vitamin B2?
Vitamins are essential to healthy body functions. Its deficiency results to disease or death. Vitamins work together with chemical catalysts called enzymes, thus their being called as “co-enzymes”.
Among the important vitamins needed by the body is the vitamin B complex. This is a group of a dozen or so vitamins that are needful for the proper functioning of the body, specially the nervous system.
One of these B complex is vitamin B2 or riboflavin. This vitamin aids in the carbohydrate metabolism. It is needed for growth, good eyes, nails, skin, and hair. Riboflavin helps prevent cataracts, and is very important during pregnancy. It is crucial in the production of energy.
Vitamin B2 is used to treat cataracts, sickle-cell anemia, and migraine headaches. Patients with cataract should take not more than 10 mg of vitamin B2 daily. Richest sources of vitamin B2 are almonds, brewer’s yeast, torula yeast, wheat germ, whole grains, soybeans, sunflower seeds, and leafy vegetables.
The vitamin B2 deficiency symptoms include eye problems, itching, burning, sensitivity to light, bloodshot, mouth sores, cracking of the lips and corners of the mouth, inflamed tongue, burning and itching of the mouth, oily or dull hair, oily skin, premature wrinkles on face and arms, split nails, cataract formation, loss of visual acuity, disorders of the mucous membranes, seborrheic dermatitis, severe anemia, and certain esophageal cancers.
Vitamin B2 is needed in the assimation of vitamin C and other vitamin B complex. Vitamin B2 is destroyed by light, but not by cooking. It has no toxicity or side effects, except for cataract treatment which should not exceed more that 10 mg daily.
Dosage: RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) is 1.6 mg. ODA (Optimum Daily Amount) is 50 mg. TDA (Therapeutic Daily Allowance) is 200-500 mg. Recommended is 5-10 mg daily. These dosages are for adults. Dosage for children 12-17 years old is 3/4 of the recommended amount, and for those 6-12 years old, use 1/2 of the recommended dose. Body cannot absorb more than 20 mg in a single dose.
Category: Family and Kids Health, Gems and Nuggets of Wisdom
Tags: benefits > cataracts > co-enzymes > deficiency > Dosage > health > prevent > riboflavin > Source > sources > Vitamin B2
Why Vegan Diet Is Best For Us?
Why vegan diet is best for us? A vegetarian diet is best for us because it is the safest and the healthiest diet for a longer happy life. A vegan diet is complete in carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals for a healthy and strong body.
Vegetarian diet is best for us because it strengthens and boosts our immune system to protect us from stress, pollution, and many diseases. So be mindful of what you eat and what you give your kids, even when it comes to snacks. Give them vegan snack bars to enjoy instead of buying them junk food. They would love and enjoy it just as much without risking their health.
Category: Family and Kids Health
Tags: cancers > carbohydrates > communicable diseases > diseases > eating raw vegetables > health benefits of vegetarian diet > minerals > phytonutrients > proteins > raw vegetables > vegetables > Vegetarian Diet > vegetarian diet is best > vitamins > why vegetarian diet is best for us