Eating food wrapped in newspapers can cause cancer!

Have you ever eaten bhel or roadside chat from a hawker who serves it in cones made of newspapers?

Do you often go the supermarket and buy foods packed in cardboard boxes?

Have you used newspaper to soak oil from the fried foods you cook at your home?

Well, you might be putting yourselves at a greater health risk than you probably know.

Newspapers are printed all over with ink that is dissolved on it with the help of chemical solvents. Studies have shown that printing ink from newspapers can easily get leached into foods wrapped or served in them and pose a health risk. The solvent used to dissolve ink on the paper can be potentially carcinogenic.

Also, newspapers and cardboard boxes used for pacakaged foods are made of recycled paper that may be contaminated with harmful chemicals like diisobutyl phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate which can cause digestive problems and also lead to severe toxicity.

Recycled paper also has printing ink residues trapped from previous prints. These trapped residues have found to contain hormone disruptors like benzophenones and mineral oils. They can interfere with reproductive cycle, especially in women.

One good example demonstrating the ill-effects of paper as the packaging material is the case of 2010, when a cereal company had to recall an entire batch of boxes coated with paper lining. The material had an increased level of methylnaphthalene which leached into the cereal and consumers reported digestive problems after eating the contaminated cereal. 

Source:  http://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/eating-food-wrapped-in-newspapers-can-cause-cancer/

Benefits of Turmeric in Neuropathic Pain

Before I can go ahead and talk about turmeric benefits to nerves for the benefit of readers who do not have much idea about Ayurveda (ancient Indian medical science)let me talk a bit about ‘five elements’. Ayurveda believes that universe (including our body) is made of five elements and a fine balance between all of them is a must for a healthy body. These five elements are:

Aakash (space component)

Vayu (air)

Agni (fire)

Jala (water)

Prithvi (earth)

Turmeric is known to control the air element in our body. According to Ayurveda, air is force allowing blood to circulate, nerves to send impulses, thoughts to flow. One key thing here is what happens when air element is in excess. Excess air element causes nervous system to become hyper active. Turmeric’s nature is basically warm and thus helps in controlling hyper nerves and soothes them down. It is also now proved that turmeric is a good antispasmodic.

Users of turmeric and turmeric supplements have reported that they got relief from certain nerve related disorders (numbness, tingling or pain in hands or feet). According to studies, turmeric is beneficial for patients suffering from Neuropathic pain, which is not an easy disorder to treat using contemporary medicine.

Turmeric is also known as an anti-ischemic agent. Thus taking turmeric helps in regulating blood supply to peripheral nerves. Lack of blood supply to nerves is of the key reason for these nerves not working properly (also called peripheral neuropathy). Experiments done on rats have found that turmeric has string anti-ischemic effect in rat brain.

Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties are responsible for checking nerve related problems such as peripheral neuropathy and nerve problems due to diabetes. The reason, as research has found out that there is a close relation between disorders and nerve inflammation.

It is interesting when I was researching on feedback of people on turmeric and Neuropathic pain most of the users did not start turmeric with this benefit I mind but later realized it. Thus I thought that I should write something on benefit to nerves to let more people know about it.

According to some texts, turmeric when used with other herbs such as Ashwagandha and Brahmi (two very popular herbs mentioned in Ayurveda) can help considerably in calming nerves.

Have you taken turmeric and saw improvement in your Neuropathy pain, please share your experiences with all of us here. 

Source:  http://www.turmericforhealth.com/turmeric-benefits/benefits-of-turmeric-in-neuropathic-pain

Four herbs that boost your brain capacity

12 Natural Ways to Stimulate Your Cells to Grow Younger!

(NaturalNews) The amount of chemicals and internal disturbances that are wreaking havoc on brain function are limitless. Whether it is fluoride, GMOs, heavy metals or severe intestinal issues, there is no shortage of things causing our noggin problems. Aside from cleaning up your lifestyle, here are four herbs that can crank up your brain function.

Ginkgo biloba

The Ginkgo biloba tree is one of the oldest trees in the world and is native to China. They reach up to 40 meters in height and have greenish-yellow fan-shaped leaves.

Many health practitioners have recognized this herb's results when it comes to improving memory and overall brain functions. The ginkgo leaves contain two chemicals, flavonoids and terpenoids, which act as important antioxidants that inhibit free radical damage to various areas of the body, including the brain. This is very important, as oxidative stress is a leading factor in the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

The World Health Organization also reported that ginkgo can help individuals suffering from cerebrovascular insufficiency, which can be experienced as poor concentration and memory and headaches.

Be careful when choosing a Ginkgo biloba supplement, as those imported from China have been found to have high levels of toxic heavy metal lead.

Bacopa

Bacopa (also called Brahmi) is a perennial plant with white or blue flowers and grows throughout Southern Asia. It has been commonly cited as a nerve tonic in Ayurvedic medicine and has been traditionally used to enhance learning and memory through its neuroprotective and antioxidant properties.

The active constituents for cognitive function have been linked to saponin compounds called bacosides. They have been shown to improve neurotransmission among brain cells, repair damaged neurons and improve nerve synapse performance, as well as increase serotonin production.

Research trials have suggested that bacopa can help provide relief for memory recall, comprehension, anxiety, depression, insomnia and ADD.

Bacopa is not addictive and has no reported side effects after centuries of use in Ayurvedic medicine, and it is safe for anyone regardless of age and gender.

Reishi

Known in Eastern medicine as the "mushroom of immortality" and "King of Herbs," reishi is a medicinal mushroom that grows in various regions of the world where damp and temperate conditions exist.

Reishi is known to have multiple benefits to the body, most notably immune, cardiovascular, adrenal, liver, nerve and mental function.

Reishi is a great herb for the brain due to its strong antibacterial and fungal qualities, which help clean up the digestive system and improve the health of the vagus nerve connection between the gut and the brain. It's becoming well known that a healthy gut goes a long way to creating a healthy brain.

Not only that, but this healing herb's adaptogenic qualities provide us with an incredible ability to handle stressful situations, which eases our anxiety and increases mental clarity.

Shilajit

There are a few ideas on what shilajit is, including one which states that it's the residue of plants which have been degraded by bacteria and fungi, and another that says it is the end result of rocks and soil being broken down by mosses and liverworts.

What we do know for sure is that this tar-like substance comes from cracks in rocks in high mountainous regions during hot weather, and the best shilajit comes from the Himalayas.

In addition to providing vitality and strength, and boosting immunity, this healing superfood is also rich in organic acids, which can increase metabolism and stamina as well as improve brain function, circulation and digestion. Not only that, but it has also been implicated in relief from depression and mental stress.

Source:  http://www.naturalnews.com/045442_herbal_medicine_brain_function_Ginkgo_biloba.html

Top 10 ways to burn less gas and save money on fuel

(NaturalNews) As gasoline and diesel fuel prices remain through the roof -- and there appears to be no end in sight to higher prices (despite a boom in oil and gas production in the U.S.) -- it's becoming more necessary to et the best fuel economy you possibly can out of every gallon.

With that in mind, and with the summer driving season approaching, Natural News looked at ways we could help the environment by helping you burn less fuel (and $ave $ome money in the proce$$):

-- Drive with the A/C off: Yes, we know many of you have always heard that using the air conditioner makes your engine work a bit harder and, thus, use more fuel. Turns out, that's true. The editors at Consumer Reports (CR) found that, in driving tests using a Honda Accord at highway speeds of 65 miles per hour, the car got an average of 3 mpg LESS when the A/C was running. Meanwhile, the effect on gas mileage at the same speed with the windows down was not measurable. The theory had been that open windows reduce the car's aerodynamic qualities, but most vehicles today are very aerodynamic to begin with, CR reported.

-- Drive moderately: Keeping your vehicle at lower, moderate speeds will save you money, no question about it. That might require more patience on your part, but driving 55 mph instead of 65 or 75 mph will save you money. "When we drove the Accord at a steady 65 mph, the car's fuel economy dropped from 49 mpg to 42 mpg compared to 55 mph," reported CR. "Speeding up to 75 mph cost the car another 5 mpg. One reason is that aerodynamic drag increases exponentially the faster you drive; it simply takes more fuel to power the car through the air."

Based on the Environmental Protection Agency's advice, HowStuffWorks.com states: "Speeding, rapid acceleration, and braking can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town."

-- Invest in a more fuel-efficient vehicle: This seems like a no-brainer, and really, it is. You may love your SUV or tricked-out pickup truck, but let's face it: They get worse mileage than a four-cylinder compact.

-- Keep your tires properly inflated: This simple tip can help you save a lot of money over the course of the year on fuel that you won't have to buy. Also, "under-inflated tires compromise handling and braking," says Consumer Reports. "Plus, they wear faster and run much hotter, which can lead to tire failure." A Fetch123.com video on gas-saving tips reminds you that you can usually find your tire's proper pressure figures on your vehicle's door jamb.

-- Have a plan and combine: Planning out your trips and combining as many errands as you can into a single trip can reduce the number of trips you have to make, and therefore save you both gas and wear and tear on your vehicle. "Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm," says the U.S. Department of Energy. "Trip planning ensures that traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient, and it can reduce the distance you travel."

-- Carpooling: We are Americans, and as such, we love the freedom that we get from owning and driving our own cars. But commuting can save money and vehicle wear and tear, can be better for the environment and can reduce highway congestion (thereby shortening the morning and evening drive home!). For that matter, the Energy Department recommends telecommuting from home if your job will allow that (and businesses are increasingly turning to that model, because it reduces their overhead as well).

-- Kill the engine: If you find that you're going to be sitting and waiting on something or for someone for more than a few moments, turn off your vehicle's engine. Idling for many minutes at a time wastes fuel and, in turn, costs you more money because you'll have to fill up sooner. The exception here is diesel engines; they are designed to use very little fuel when idling.

-- Shape up your vehicle: "Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test," says the Dept. of Energy, "can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4%, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.

"Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%." The result? Big savings.

-- Don't be a pack rat: The EPA recommends taking all unnecessary items out of your trunk (and the back seat -- and the passenger seat!) to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle and, thus, get you better mileage.

-- Definitely do go into 'overdrive': If your car has overdrive gearing (on 5-speed manual transmissions and 4-speed automatic transmissions), make use of the overdrive gear as soon as your speed is high enough. If you have a manual transmission, lower your shift speed for better fuel economy.

Sources:  http://www.naturalnews.com/045469_burn_less_gas_fuel_economy_save_money.html

mangoes, diabetes prevention, healthy foods

(NaturalNews) The most popular fresh fruit in the world, mangoes are a whole lot more than just a delicious, refreshing treat produced by nature. As evidenced by copious scientific research, mangoes are also a powerful medicinal food, as they contain nutrients that can help clear up skin, promote eye health, stave off diabetes, and even prevent the formation and spread of cancer.

Research recently presented at a meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), for instance, revealed that eating mangoes every day can help moderate and even lower blood sugar levels, despite their natural sugar content. This is good news for people with type 2 diabetes who may benefit from consuming mangoes regularly as part of a low-sugar diet.

For their study, researchers tested the effects of mangoes on a group of obese animals, some of whom were given 10 grams of freeze-dried mango every day for 12 weeks. At the end of three months, the blood sugar levels of those animals that consumed mango were compared to those that did not consume mango. Based on the data, mango consumption was found to result in a significant decline in blood sugar levels.

"Although the mechanism by which mango exerts its effects warrants further investigation, we do know that mangoes contain a complex mixture of polyphenolic compounds," says Dr. Edralin Lucas, Ph.D., author of the study.

Similar research out of Australia found back in 2006 that eating mango can also help decrease inflammation and resulting high cholesterol, as well as block the formation of various health conditions included under the banner of metabolic syndrome. In essence, mangoes actually work better than cholesterol drugs at naturally balancing and optimizing cellular function throughout the body.

"We don't know yet how the whole thing's going to play out but we know some of the individual components (of mango) activate these receptors and even inhibit them," said a doctor from University of Queensland about the effects of mango consumption on cellular processes. "That could end up with positive nutritional health benefits for diabetes and high cholesterol."

And again in 2011, researchers from Oklahoma State University found that mango consumption helps lower insulin resistance and improve glucose tolerance in test mice. The same study also found that mangoes help normalize lipid levels throughout the blood, which in turn can help prevent the development of cardiovascular disease.

Eating mangoes can also help you avoid cancer

But the health benefits of mango do not stop here. Science has identified more than 4,000 different antioxidant polyphenols in the plant kingdom, and many of these polyphenols are present in mangoes. The primary benefit of these polyphenols is that they scavenge damaging free radicals and protect cells against damage, which is believed to facilitate and even promote cancer.

"If you look at [mango] from the physiological and nutritional standpoint, taking everything together, it would be a high-ranking superfood," says Dr. Susanne Talcott, who together with her husband discovered back in 2010 that mango compounds target both colon and breast cancer cells.

"What we found is that not all cell lines are sensitive to the same extent to an anticancer agent. But the breast and colon cancer lines underwent apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Additionally, we found that when we tested normal colon cells side by side with the colon cancer cells, that the mango polyphenolics did not harm the normal cells."

In other words, mango compounds effectively target and eliminate harmful cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone, a phenomenon that is unique to nature and nowhere to be found in pharmaceutical-based medicine. Chemotherapy and radiation, for instance, which are the two most popular conventional treatments for cancer, damage healthy cells along with malignant cells, which is why the treatments are a failure as far as long-term survival is concerned.

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/040415_mangoes_diabetes_prevention_healthy_foods.html

22 home-remedies for cough and throat infections

Coomi Selod
Did you know that your kitchen is a storehouse of
spices that can cure a bundle of throat infections? Find out how!

The next time you catch a cold or struggle with a throat infection, instead of running to the nearest pharmacist, get to your kitchen.

Some of the commonly used spices like honey, pepper, garlic and ginger can help you a great deal to relieve your cough naturally.

Try these super effective home remedies and you'll realise why your grandma was right all along.

After reading this, don't forget to share them with your loved ones too:

1. Pepper

Finely ground six peppercorns and mix it with a glass of warm water. Add six pieces of Batasha type of sugar candy. Drink it consistently for a few nights to get relief from cold.

2. Milk

Take 1 glass pure boiled milk and add a pinch of turmeric, two to three crushed pepperballs and drink it at bedtime for three consecutive nights to cure coughs

.

3. Garlic

Add three cloves garlic and boil it in milk. Drink this every night for relief from asthma and cough.

To reduce the severity of asthmatic attacks, peel 1 pod of garlic, macerate and boil in 120 ml of pure malt-vinegar. Cool, strain and add equal amount of honey. Store in a sterile bottle.

Take 1 to 2 tsps of this syrup with a decoction of Fenugreek every evening and before bedtime.

4. Holy basil

Make a decoction of the tulsi leaves boiled in 1/2 litre of water, till only half the water remains.

Add honey and ginger and drink it when you have a tough cold.

A decoction of tulsi leaves with cloves and salt also gives immediate relief.

5. Clove

Chew a clove with a crystal of salt; it relieves throat irritation and cough.

Chewing a burnt clove is good for those suffering from a congested throat and recurrent cough.

Before bedtime, take five drops of clove oil, add one clove of crushed garlic and 1 teaspoon honey.

Mix well and consume this to get relief from spasmodic coughs like in the case of asthma, tuberculosis and bronchitis.

6. Honey

Take 2 to 4 tbsp of 1-year old honey every day.

Gargling with hot water along with 1 tsp honey helps relieve you from irritant coughs.

7. Sour lime

The juice of 1 lime in a glass of warm water along with 1 teaspoon of honey is ideal for dry hacking coughs.

You must sip this while it's warm.

8. Oranges

If you have difficulty ejecting your cough, prepare a mixture of orange juice with a pinch of salt and 1 tbsp honey.

This also protects against secondary infection.

9. Bitter Gourd

Take 1 tsp bitter gourd root paste with 1 tsp honey or juice of holy basil and have it every night for a month to relieve chronic respiratory disorders like asthma, bronchitis, pharyngitis and rhinitis.

10. Ginger

In 1 tsp of honey add fresh ginger juice and consume 3 to 4 times daily, to relieve cough.

A mixture of 1 tsp fresh ginger juice with 1 cup Fenugreek decoction and honey, acts as a good expectorant.

11. Onion

Mix equal amounts of onion juice and honey. Consume 3 to 4 tsps of this mixture daily.

It liquefies phlegm and prevents further congestion.

12. Spinach

Prepare an infusion of fresh spinach leaves and 2 tsp fenugreek seeds with a pinch of ammonium chloride and honey.

30 ml of this mixture should be taken three times a day. It is an effective expectorant tonic.

13. Coconut

Mix coconut milk with 1 tbsp poppy seeds and 1 tbsp honey and consume it every night before bed as a remedy for dry cough caused due to throat irritation or smoking.

14. Turmeric

Boil slowly over a fire ½ tsp turmeric powder mixed in 30ml milk; this is very effective in cough and throat irritations.

For colds in infants or young children, give 30ml of this decoction, sweetened with honey.

Alternately, you may add 1 tsp turmeric powder to boiling milk and add 1/4 tsp Bishop's weed  or ajwain seeds. Cool this mixture and feed them this thrice a day.

15. Sage

Take a handful of sage leaves, pour 1/2 litre of boiling water.

When slightly cooled, add a little vinegar and honey.

Drink 1 teaspoon of this mixture or use it to gargle whenever you have a throat infection!

16. Sweet apple

In case of dry hacking coughs eat about 250 gms of sweet apples daily, for a week

17. Sunflower

Swallow 1 to 2 tsp powder of dry sunflower seeds or a decoction made from crushed seeds to get relief from cough.

18. Betel leaves

Soak betel leaves in mustard oil and warm them on a dry fry-pan .

Apply them on the chest to relieve coughs and congested breathing.

19. Cardamom

Gargling with an infusion of cardamom and cinnamon cures sore throat, pharyngitis and hoarseness.

For best results, gargle daily or twice a day.

20. Fenugreek

Fenugreek (seeds) tea helps shorten periods of fever during respiratory infections.

Drink up to four cups of this tea a day, and lessen as the condition improves.

Add a few drops of lemon to make it palatable.

21. Liquorice

If you have a sore throat or a throat inflammation, suck or chew a smalll piece of liquorice for relief.

22. Fennel

Juice of fennel leaves can be given to those suffering from asthma and bronchitis.

Fennel seeds with figs help fight coughs and other lung problems.

Source:  http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-health-22-home-remedies-for-cough-and-throat-infections/20140601.htm#5

Indian women smoking more now

While smoking rates have fallen among Indian men, they have risen among women. A factor, doctors say, that can be attributed to rising cases of infertility and higher risk of cancer among Indian women these days.

A study published earlier this year in the British Medical Journal and which was earlier carried by the The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) examined the prevalence of smoking and cigarette consumption in 187 countries between 1980 and 2012 and found that while cigarette smoking among Indian men has fallen from 33.8 percent in 1980 to 23 percent in 2012, it has risen from three percent to 3.2 percent among Indian women within the same time frame.

In absolute terms, the number of female smokers in India has more than doubled - from about 5.3 million to 12.2 million in that time frame.

Commenting on the trend, Nevin Kishore, consultant in Pulmonology at Max Hospital, said the changing lifestyles are leading to more women taking up smoking in the Indian scenario.

"The effects of smoking, like lung damage, do not show in a person who smokes about four-five cigarettes a day in the initial few years. Although tobacco does not discriminate on the basis of gender, women smokers are more at risk of infertility. They also face the risk of all kinds of cancer," Kishore told us.

Agreed Sapna Nangia, oncologist at Apollo Hospital. "There has been a rise in the number of women smoking cigarettes and there are two main reasons for it. The first is a carefully devised plan by the tobacco industry which has faced a lot of lawsuits in this regard in the west, and has therefore realised that instead of going on facing the difficulty of advertising their product there, it would be easier to encourage women in India and China to smoke under the pretext of making smoking a socially acceptable norm," Nangia told us.

"If women in India and China started smoking in big numbers, the tobacco companies felt that they would no longer have to depend on the west. This, plus a mistaken notion that smoking denotes independence of women, has led to the numbers rising," she added.

Nangia however stressed that the upward trend is only in the urban areas, because "women in the rural areas have always consumed tobacco in high numbers".

Kailashnath Gupta, pulmonologist at Columbia Asia Hospital, went on to say that the consumption rate of smokeless tobacco has also risen among women.

"Tobacco does not differentiate, but the effect of smoking on pregnant women and those in the reproductive age group of 22-40 can be detrimental to the foetus and on their fertility," Gupta said.

He also said that while the overall number of smokers in India has increased, the percentage of smokers has come down "since it's in relation to the size of our population. I also think that the younger generation today, those in the 20-25 age group, is smoking lesser than of the yesteryears," Gupta added.

His words find resonance in the study which revealed that although the prevalence of cigarette smoking in India has dropped by over five percent over the last three decades, the number of smokers in India has risen from about 74.5 million in 1980 to 110.2 million in 2012.

However, as compared to 1980 when Indians used to smoke an average of 11.6 cigarettes a day, now they average 8.2 a day. The study used data from several multinational and national surveys, including the Global Adult Tobacco Survey.

India is the third largest producer of tobacco and the second largest consumer of tobacco products worldwide, the study said. A different study in 2012 further found that 42 percent of cancers in men and 18.3 percent cancers in women were related to tobacco consumption. Cardiovascular disease is also linked to it.

"The only way out of this health mess is for the government to implement the anti-tobacco laws more effectively. Increasing taxes, I feel, hardly discourages people, and it's only the government that benefits. Advertisements against tobacco usage like the ones in movie theatres is one of the best ways to make people aware and therefore discourage them." Gupta said.

Source:  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Indian-women-smoking-more-now/articleshow/35780048.cms