Health benefits of sweet potato

Superior fiber content
Sweet potatoes contain almost twice as much fiber as other types of potatoes. Contributing close to 7 grams of fiber per serving, they make an excellent starchy addition to any meal. The high fiber content gives them a "slow burning" quality. This basically means their caloric energy is used more slowly and efficiently than a low-fiber carbohydrate.

Heart-healthy
They contain a large amount of vitamin B6. This vitamin is crucial in breaking down a substance called homocysteine, which contributes to hardening of the arteries and blood vessels. Vitamin B6 helps keep the walls of these important blood passageways flexible and healthy which allows blood to flow freely.

In addition, sweet potatoes contain high amounts of potassium. Potassium plays an important role in lowering blood pressure by ridding the body of excess sodium and regulating fluid balance. It is also an important electrolyte that helps regulate the natural rhythm of the heart, and maintains normal function of the brain and central nervous system.

Rich in beta-carotene
Beta-carotene or vitamin A is an important antioxidant. One medium sweet potato provides your body with the complete recommended daily allowance of vitamin A and then some. Vitamin A is useful in the prevention of several different types of cancer as it is one of the most potent antioxidants out there.

Beta-carotene also helps to internally protect your skin from sun damage by both deflecting and repairing cell damage caused by excessive UV exposure. It also is an excellent nutrient for eye health and has been linked to prevention of vision loss and macular degeneration.

A great source of manganese
Manganese is a little-discussed trace mineral that has some great health benefits. It is a pivotal component in the metabolism of carbohydrates which helps support healthy blood sugar levels. This can help stabilize the appetite for hours as opposed to the temporary satisfaction that comes with most other carbohydrates.

It also is a cofactor in enzymes that play an important role in the generation of energy as well as the efficient utilization of antioxidants. It is used for the treatment of anemia and is useful as a treatment for several premenstrual symptoms in women as well.

Rich in vitamins C and E
As if being one of the top vegetable sources of beta-carotene weren't enough, sweet potatoes are also rich in vitamins C and E. These are potent antioxidant vitamins that play an important role in disease prevention and longevity.

Both vitamins also play a huge role in the health and beauty of your skin and hair, making them popular supplements. The combination of beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C in one food makes the sweet potato one heck of a "beauty food". These nutrients all contribute to a healthy, glowing complexion and vibrant hair.

10 Healthy Tips For You

1. Start your day with breakfast.
Breakfast fills your "empty tank" to get you going after a long night without food. And it can help you do better in school. Easy to prepare breakfasts include cold cerea

l with fruit and low-fat milk, whole-wheat toast with peanut butter, yogurt with fruit, whole-grain waffles or even lastnight's pizza!

2. Get Moving!
It's easy to fit physical activitiesinto your daily routine. Walk, bike or jog to see friends. Take a 10-minute activity break every hour while you read, do homework or watch TV. Climb stairs instead of taking an escalator or elevator. Try to dothese things for a total of 30 minutes every day.

3. Snack smart.
Snacks are a great way to refuel. Choose snacks from different food groups - a glass of low-fat milk and a few graham crackers, an apple or celery sticks with peanut butterand raisins, or some dry cereal. If you eat smart at other meals,cookies, chips and candy are OK for occasional snacking.

4. Work up a sweat.
Vigorous work-outs - when you're breathing hard and sweating - help your heart pump better, give you more energy and help you look and feel best. Start with a warm-upthat stretches your muscles. Include 20 minutes of aerobic activity, such as running, jogging, or dancing. Follow-up with activities that help make you stronger such as push-ups or lifting weights. Then cool-down with more stretching and deep breathing.

5. Balance your food choices - don't eat too much of any one thing.
You don't have to give up foodslike hamburgers, french fries and ice cream to eat healthy. You just have to be smart about how often and how much of them you eat. Your body needs nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fat and many different vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C and A, iron and calcium from a variety of foods. Balancing food choices from the Food Guide Pyramid and checking out the Nutrition Facts Panel on food labels will help you get all these nutrients.

6. Get fit with friends or family.
Being active is much more fun with friends or family. Encourageothers to join you and plan one special physical activity event, like a bike ride or hiking, with a group each week.

7. Eat more grains, fruits andvegetables.
These foods give you carbohydrates for energy, plus vitamins, minerals and fiber. Besides, they taste good! Try breads such as whole-wheat, bagels and pita. Spaghetti and oatmeal are also in the grain group.
Bananas, strawberries and melons are some great tasting fruits. Try vegetables raw, on asandwich or salad.

8. Join in physical activities at school.
Whether you take a physical education class or do other physical activities at school, such as intramural sports, structures activities are a sure way to feel good, look good andstay physically fit.

9. Foods aren't good or bad.
A healthy eating style is like a puzzle with many parts. Each part -- or food -- is different. Some foods may have more fat,sugar or salt while others may have more vitamins or fiber. There is a place for all these foods. What makes a diet good or bad is how foods fit together. Balancing your choicesis important. Fit in a higher-fat food, like pepperoni pizza, at dinner by choosing lower-fat foods at other meals. And don't forget about moderation. If twopieces of pizza fill you up, you don't need a third.

10. Make healthy eating and physical activities fun!
Take advantage of physical activities you and your friends enjoy doing together and eat the foods you like. Be adventurous - try new sports,games and other activities as well as new foods. You'll grow stronger, play longer, and lookand feel better! Set realistic goals - don't try changing too much at once.

Get rid of under-eye dark circles

Get rid of under-eye dark circles
One of the best home remedies to fight dark circles is using cucumber slices on your eyes.
Applying cool cucumber slices on your eyes can be soothing and reduces puffiness and prevent skin discolouration.

 Use them for five to ten minutes and see a marked improvement in your under-eye area.

Another effective homemade remedy would be using tea bags on your eyes. Tea bags contain caffeine and anti-oxidants, that help repair damaged skin. Take used tea bags, cool them, squeeze them and keep them on your eyes for 10 minutes.

Raw potatoes also help in reducing dark circles. Cool a potato in the refrigerator and cut it into very thin slices. Keep applying them 2-3 times a day for around 20 minutes.

Almond oil is considered as an effective remedy to remove dark circles. Massaging the area with almond oil before going to bed also diminishes dark circles.

Natural Treatment of Obesity

Obesity is a physical condition that results from excessive storage of fat in the body. Obesity has been defined as a weight more than 20% above what is considered normal as per the body mass index, which is calculated from an individual’s age, height, and weight.

Home Remedies for obesity:-


>Extract juice of one lemon in a glass of lukewarm water. Add a teaspoon of honey, mix well and take in the morning immediately after waking up and before taking anything else. Similarly add a pinch of black rock salt instead of honey to the lukewarm water, mix it well and take it daily in the afternoon. These two drinks must be taken regularly to cut off fats form your body.

>Roast barley seeds and powder it. Mix it with a little milk and honey. Make a small ball and take it in breakfast. A pinch of salt can be added with a little water.

>Sieve wheat flour and remove the bran. Mix two tablespoon full of this bran in a glass of skimmed milk, add honey and take it at least once a day. Do not add sugar. Bran can also be taken with buttermilk.

>Take a ripe banana mashed in plain diluted cow’s milk with a tablespoonful of fresh banana flower juice during breakfast for a couple of months can help in reducing obesity.

>Ten drops of tulsi leaf juice with two teaspoon full of honey in water for one month. This tulsi juice is very effective in terms of reducing obesity from body.

>Raw tomatoes and onions, mixed with juice of one lemon is a very good salad for obesity.

>Having green tea has been found to be beneficial in treating obesity. You can also consume tea made from dandelion root.

>Horse gram can help cure obesity. Soak 1-2 tbsp horse gram in a glass of water and keep it overnight. Filter the concoction the next morning and have it on an empty stomach.

>To prevent obesity, there is no better option than physical exercise. Brisk walking is the best exercise to begin with. As soon as you wake up in the morning, workout for at least 30mins to an hour. Burn up unwanted calories by putting large leg muscles to work.

Top 10 Eye Care Tips

Eyes are considered as the most important human organ as these can express emotions. Even though a person lacks the ability to talk, they eyes can speak for himself. Taking care of this special organ is indeed a must. Here are to 10 tips that can help you take care of your eyes and to prevent it from having eye disease.

1:
One of the simplest and most basic is to wash your eyes with cold and clear running water. It greatly helps your eyes to stay refreshed.

Protect your eyes from the sun. Studies have shown that sun exposure is linked to the formation of cataracts and possibly to macular degeneration. Wear eyeglasses that have 100% UV protection.
2:
Nutrition always makes a difference. On your diet, include foods that are rich in vitamins as these can make your eye healthier and appear brighter.
3:
Engage yourself in an "anti-inflammatory diet". Avoid eating red meat. Instead, eat foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids like mackerel, salmon and halibut. Also, keep away from saturated fats. Alternatively, use monosaturated fats like olive oil. Inflammation is at the base of many different diseases. Eating foods that prevents inflammation as well as eating foods with antioxidants protects your eyes from these eye diseases including cataracts and macular degeneration.

4:
Get rid of those dark bags under your eyes. With your eyes closed, place slices of cucumber for about 30 to 60 minutes.

5:
Avoid smoking. Smoking increases the risk for having eye diseases and vision problems. It damages blood vessels resulting to constriction and development of atherosclerotic plaques. Such condition can deprive your eye tissues with oxygen.

6:
For individuals who are usually in front of a computer screen or television, place cotton pads dipped in cold milled on their closed eyes for about 10 minutes.

Prevent stressing your eyes by sitting comfortably at your computer or television screens. Make sure that the screens are positioned slightly below the line of sight and are not too close or too far from you.

7:
For itchy eyes, massage your scalp with curd.

8:
Wash your face before going to sleep. Get rid of all the makeup and dirt that could have adverse reactions to your eyes.

9:
Always wash your hands first before touching your eyes and the area around your eyes.

10:
Have a thorough eye exam. This is the most important and most proactive step that a person should take to protect his or her eyes. This is very essential especially for individuals with a positive family history of eye problems.

5 Simple Ways to Increase Your Intelligence

1. Minimize Television Watching – This is a hard sell. People love vegetating in front of the television, myself included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching television doesn't use your mental capacity OR allow it to recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle without the health benefits of exercise.
When you feel like rel
axing, try reading a book instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.

2. Exercise – I used to think that I’d learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can concentrate more easily.

3. Read Challenging Books – Many people like to read popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more precise, elegant English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time, re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed to the author’s style.

Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think you’ll find that you aren't tempted to go back to page-turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.

4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise – Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and have trouble focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity all day.

If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.

5. Take Time to Reflect – Often our lives get so hectic that we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s important and what isn't  The unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your mind will feel less encumbered.

I’m not saying you need to sit on the floor cross-legged and chant ‘ommm’. Anything that allows a bit of prolonged solitude will do. One of my personal favorites is taking a solitary walk. Someone famous said, “All the best ideas occur while walking.” I think he was on to something. Experiment to find the activity that works best for you.

Danger of eating White Bread

The Swiss government has been aware of the dangers of eating white bread for decades and in order to get i ts populace to stop eating it, Switzerland has placed a tax on the purchase of white bread. The tax money is given to bakers to reduce the price of whole wheat bread to encourage people to switch. The Canadian government passed a law prohibiting the “enrichment” of white bread with synthetic vitamins. Bread must contain the original vitamins found in the grain, not imitations. Essentially, white bread is “dead” bread. Frequently, consumers are not told the truth about this and so called “enriched” flour. Why is the color of white bread so white when the flour taken from wheat is not? It’s because the flour used to make white bread is chemically bleached, just like you bleach your clothes. When you are eating white bread, you are also eating residual chemical bleach.Flour mills use different chemical bleaches, all of which are pretty bad. Here are a few of them: oxide of nitrogen, chlorine, chloride, nitrosyl and benzoyl peroxide mixed with various chemical salts. One bleaching agent, chloride oxide, combined with whatever proteins are still left in the flour, produces alloxan. Alloxon is a poison and has been used to produce diabetes in laboratory animals. Chlorine oxide destroys the vital wheat germ oil. It will also shorten the flour’s shelf life. Good Nutrition: You won’t find it In White Bread In the process of making flour white, half of the good unsaturated fatty acids, that are high in food value, are lost in the milling process alone, and virtually all the vitamin E is lost with the removal of wheat germ and bran.  As a result, the remaining flour in the white bread you buy, contains only poor quality proteins and fattening starch. But that is not the whole story as to the loss of nutrients.  Scientific Study Has Confirmed What The Swiss Have Known For Years These horrific numbers are the results of a study run by the University of California, College of Agriculture. It is obvious, from what we have learned, that white bread should be avoided.  Whole wheat, rye and grain breads made with whole wheat flour is a better way. It is a good idea to always read the labels and never buy foods that contain artificial flavors, colors, bleached flour, preservatives, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils.