Lose Weight with Safflower Oil

Safflower oil is a polyunsaturated fat that comes from safflower seeds. It has been shown to increase metabolism, decrease body fat percentage, decrease the risk of heart disease, and lower glucose levels.

A study done on postmenopausal women showed that when they added 1/2 tablespoon of safflower oil to their diet, they were ale to lose up to 4 pounds of belly fat and gain 1 1/2 pounds of muscle in 4 months without changing their diet or exercise habits. The oil contains linoleic acid that might improve the way the body uses fuel. Safflower oil is sold in both supplement and liquid form. It is recommended to add 1 2/3 teaspoon of the oil to your daily diet and wait about four months to start noticing results.

Health Benefits of Peppermint

Peppermint is a herb that is native to the Mediterranean region and has a distinct flavor and medicinal properties. A long time ago the leaves of the herb was used to crown luminaries in ancient Greece and Rome. It is good at treating tension headaches, indigestion, nausea, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle pain, upset stomach, reducing heartburn, dissolving and preventing gallstones, fighting bad breath, clearing congestion and cough related to cold and allergies, reducing stress, and controlling mild asthma.

Peppermint is good at dispelling gas, bloating, and intestinal cramps in the digestive system. It can have a temporary pain-relieving effect on muscles and organs that are cramped or spasming. It can be used topically for cooling and relaxing the skin.

Peppermint has B vitamins that improve concentration and performance in the brain and nerves. Peppermint tea can be prepared by blending 1/2 ounce of peppermint leaves and 1/4 ounce of camellia leaves together. Use one teaspoon of the mixture per each cup of tea. Blend the mixture and boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes and then strain.

Lose Weight Before Weight-Loss Surgery

It is found that losing at least a little bit of weight before having weight-loss surgery can reduce the risk of having surgical complications. Medical records of 881 patients who had weight-loss surgery show that the more weight patients lost before surgery, the less likely they suffered from post-operation complications, such as infection, blood clots, and kidney problems. The post-surgery complication rate was almost twice as much in patients who gained weight before surgery than patients who lost weight before surgery.

All of the patients had open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery where staples are used to create a pouch in the stomach that can hold only a small amount of food at a time. A part of the small intestine is attached to the pouch so that food bypasses the rest of the stomach and part of the small intestine. Some of the surgeons who perform weight-loss surgery mandate that certain high-risk patients lose weight before having the surgery.

Health Benefits of Licorice

Licorice is a flavorful herb that has been used for food and medicinal purposes for thousands of years to treat several illness from the common cold to liver disease. It grows wild in some parts of Europe and Asia and usually grows 3 to 7 feet high. Licorice roots are brown on the outside and yellow on the inside and contain a compound that is nearly 50 times sweeter than sugar. Licorice supplements are made from the roots and underground stems of the plant. Licorice candy that is commonly sold in stores is flavored with licorice root extract and is considered a healthier snack choice because it contains almost no fat per serving.

Licorice is considered a demulcent because of its soothing and coating properties. It is considered an expectorant because it can remove phlegm and mucous from the respiratory tract. It is commonly used by health care professionals to relieve respiratory ailments, allergies, bronchitis, colds, sore throat, tuberculosis, stomach problems, heartburn from reflux, inflammatory disorders, skin diseases, stress relief, hepatitis, and liver problems.

Fight Heartburn with Chewing Gum

It is found that chewing sugarless gum can help to relieve heartburn. Heartburn happens when acidic digestive fluids travel from the stomach to the esophagus making your chest feel like it's on fire. Gum works by lowering the acidity in the throat and stimulating the production of saliva. Saliva is alkaline, so it helps to neutralize the acid in the esophagus. Also when you swallow saliva, it helps to wash and cleanse the esophagus of everything, including acid.

The Benefits of Olive Oil

Olive oil can have a positive effect on blood cholesterol levels, heart disease, skin cancer, earaches, constipation, colon cancer, upset stomach, dry skin, and stretch marks. It also contains vitamins E, K, A and hundreds of micronutrients. Many of its health benefits are due to its high amount of monounsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and moisturizing properties.

Olive oil has a positive effect against heart disease by controlling LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It is good at activating the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones and lowering the chance of the formation of gallstones. When it is taken orally, it can increase metabolism, help digestion, and lubricate mucous membranes. Putting extra virgin olive oil on skin after sunbathing can help to prevent skin cancer.

The Health Benefits of Cranberries

There are many good health benefits to cranberries, they are good at preventing heart disease, protecting gums, and preventing urinary tract infections. The health benefits are due in part to the large amounts of proanthocyanidin antioxidants that each berry has. Antioxidants are good for the body because they protect cells from damage from unstable molecules called free radicals. Cranberries can also protect the body against cancer, stroke, and viral infections.

Cranberries have been used for a long time to treat urinary tract infections by preventing the adhesion of certain bacteria. It can also prevent the formation of kidney stones, lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL).

It is good for oral health because it reduces the production of cavity and plaque that produces bacteria in the mouth. It also reduces the bacteria associated with peptic stomach ulcers.

Fight Cancer with Fruits

Citrus fruits, such as oranges, tangerines, lemons, and grapefruit, contain flavonoids, which are anti inflammatory compounds that stimulate the detoxification of carcinogens by the liver. There are certain flavonoids in the skin of tangerines that promote the death of brain cancer cells. In some fruits there are compounds that give them their dark color and contain powerful cancer fighting properties. Citrus fruits have been shown in studies to reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer in the digestive system, such as the esophagus, mouth, and stomach. They also have anticancer molecules that affect the growth of cancer cells.

Fight Cancer with Berries

Berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries, contain ellagic acid and polypenols, such as anthocyanidins and proantocyanidins, that promote the death of cancer cells. Berries are also high in antioxidants, which attract and neutralize free radicals that could damage body cells in ways that could cause cancer, heart disease, and age-related eye damage. They are also good source of vitamin C and could help to prevent or reverse the disease processes of diabetes, heart disease, and stomach ulcers. They can also help to lower cholesterol levels. It is best to eat them raw in their whole fruit form instead of eating processed berries or fruit drinks that are made from berries.

Good Reasons to Have Good Posture

There are many reasons to practice good posture and to stand up and sit up straight. Good posture can reduce back pains, increase energy levels, reduce bone and joint aches, and encourage better digestion.

Good posture is good for reducing back pains because sitting in a hunched or slouched position can increase pressure on spinal disks and can cause supporting muscles and ligaments to degenerate quicker. Bad posture can cause back pains and can worsen the condition of a herniated disk and pinched nerves.

Bad posture is bad on the body’s energy levels because slumping can tighten the chest and compress the lungs, so less oxygen gets into the bloodstream. This can cause for a person to become mentally tired and stressed. Strain in any part of the body decreases energy levels.

Bad posture can cause bone and joint problems and cause muscles to shorten overtime. Slouching while a person is sitting can cause hip flexors to shorten and become less flexible, causing joint pain. Sitting with rounded shoulders can cause rotator-cuff pains. Over a period of time, arthritis can set in due to wear and tear on joints.

Better posture leads to better digestion. Slouching after eating can cause the stomach muscles to tighten and may push stomach acid into the esophagus and cause heart burn. Standing or sitting up straight effectively helps the digestive system to work better.

Heartburn Can Lead to Esophageal Caner

Heartburn can increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer. This is due to the backwash of stomach acids damaging the esophageal lining, which can cause cell changes that can lead to caner.

It is recommended to drink a minimal amount of coffee and citrus juices. It is also a good idea to cut back on spicy foods to control heart burn. H2 blockers, such as Zantac, and proton pump inhibitors, such as Prilosec, can help to reduce symptoms and encourage the healing of damaged tissues.

Weight Reduction to Treat Diabetes

It is found that weight reduction surgery works better than standard medical therapy to treat type 2 Diabetes in people who are obese. The surgery is also recommended for people who are not morbidly obese but still overweight.

In a recent study, researchers monitored two groups of obese people with type 2 diabetes. Half of the people had gastric binding done, where surgeons put a silicone strap around the stomach so that less food goes into it. The other half of the people was put on a standard diet and exercise plan. After two years passed, the people on the diet lost an average of 3 pounds while the people who had surgery done lost an average of 46 pounds. 22 of the people that had surgery also had their diabetes go into remission while only 3 of the dieters had that happen.

Scientist Explain Reasons for Chocolate Cravings

A study has found there is a type of bacteria in the digestive system that craves chocolate. Everyone has microbes in their stomach but people who have chocolate cravings have different colonies of bacteria.

The study was done by finding 11 men who never ate chocolate and 11 men who ate chocolate everyday. All of the men wee healthy, not obese, and were fed the same foods for five days. The researchers examined the byproducts of their metabolism in their blood and urine and found that a dozen substances were different between the two groups. The amino acid glycine levels were higher in the men that ate chocolate. People who ate chocolate also had lower levels of bad cholesterol.

It is known that bacteria interact with what you eat and studies have shown that intestinal bacteria changes when people lose weight. Someday, some types of obesity will be able to be treated by changing the bacteria in the intestines and stomach.