Why Do I Feel Tired After Eating?

We’ve all felt it — that drowsy feeling that sneaks in after a meal. You’re full and relaxed, and you’re struggling to keep your eyes open. Why are meals so often followed by a sudden urge to take a nap, and should you be concerned about it?

Written by Healthline Editorial Team
Medically Reviewed by Peggy Pletcher, MS, RD, LD, CDE on March 18, 2015

In general, a little bit of sleepiness after eating is completely normal and nothing to worry about. There are several factors that contribute to this post-meal phenomenon, and there are a few things you might be able to do to minimize those drowsy effects.

Your Digestion Cycle

Your body needs energy to function — not just run after your dog or put in time at the gym — but to breathe and simply exist. We get this energy from our food, which is broken down into fuel, or glucose, by our digestive system, and then macronutrients provide calories, or energy, to our bodies. More than just changing food into energy, our digestive cycle triggers all kinds of responses within our body.

Hormones such as cholecystokinin (CCK), glucagon, and amylin are released to increase satiety, blood sugar rises, and insulin is produced to allow this sugar to go from the blood and into the cells, where it is used for energy. Interestingly, there are also hormones that can increase in the brain, such as serotonin, that can lead to drowsiness. Melatonin, the other hormone that induces sleep, is not released due to eating, but food does influence melatonin production.

Your Diet

Though all foods are digested in much the same manner, not all foods affect your body in the same way. Some foods, like turkey, can make you sleepier than others. Turkey and other high-protein foods, along with spinach, soy, eggs, cheese, tofu, and fish contain the amino acidtryptophan, which is used by the body to create serotonin, possibly responsible for that post-meal haze. Cherries affect melatonin levels, carbohydrates cause a spike and subsequent fall in blood sugar, and the minerals in bananas relax your muscles. Any one of these factors could leave you sleepy.

The good news is, there are foods that can have the opposite effect. For instance, a balanced diet that includes vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats promotes sustained energy. Drinking plenty of water, avoiding too much sugar and eating smaller, more frequent meals can also help.

Your Sleeping Habits

It’s no surprise that not getting enough quality sleep can affect how you feel after a meal, too. If you’re relaxed and full, your body may feel more like resting, especially if you didn’t get enough sleep the night before.

The Mayo Clinic suggests sticking to a regular sleep schedule, limiting stress, and including exercise as part of your daily routine to help you get a better night’s sleep. Though they also recommend avoiding midday naps if you struggle with getting a good night’s sleep, at least one study found a post-lunch nap to improve alertness and both mental and physical performance.

Your Physical Activity

Even more than helping you sleep better at night, exercise can keep you alert during the day, minimizing the risk of your post-meal slump. Multiple studies found that regular exercise helps increase energy and reduce fatigue. In other words, being sedentary doesn’t create some sort of energy reserve that you can tap into at will. Instead, being active will help ensure that you have the energy to push through your days.

Other Health Conditions

On rare occasions, being tired after a meal or simply sleepy all the time could be a sign of another health problem. Diabetes, anemia, underactive thyroid, celiac disease, food intolerance, and sleep apnea can make post-meal drowsiness worse. If you’re frequently tired and have one of these conditions, talk to your doctor about possible solutions. If you’re unaware of an underlying medical condition but have other symptoms in addition to post-meal sleepiness, your doctor may help you identify what’s causing the slump.

Feeling Tired After a Meal Is Completely Normal

If you feel tired after a meal, there’s a good chance it’s just your body responding to all of the biochemical changes caused by digestion. In other words, it’s completely normal. However, if the symptom is disruptive and/or changing your lifestyle habits doesn’t seem to help, it might not hurt to talk to your doctor.

http://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/why-do-i-feel-tired-after-eating#3

This post is on Healthwise

Five Reasons to Start Using More Mint

When you think of mint, you probably don’t think about it as a natural medicine. Yet for centuries, healers have used this common plant to treat a number of conditions. And that’s because there are some major health benefits to using fresh mint. It’s a viable solution to a variety of unpleasant—sometimes even embarrassing—health conditions.

June 13th, 2014

Here are five reasons to start using more mint:

1. Prevent Common Colds: Mint has one of the highest antioxidant counts of any food. And antioxidants help prevent oxidative damage and inflammation. They also provide your immune system with a boost that can help it fight off a cold or flu. But if you already have a cold, mint can help with that as well.

One of peppermint’s active ingredients is menthol. This natural decongestant helps thin mucous. It also helps break up your cough. Another benefit is that mint can help soothe the sore throat that comes with a dry cough. Drinking organic peppermint tea is a great way to help you get immediate relief when dealing with a nasty cold.

2. Ease Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): IBS can be embarrassing… Even worse, it’s painful. Instead of turning to dangerous Big Pharma solutions—like SSRIs—to fix the problem, try natural peppermint oil. One study found that peppermint oil eliminated pain completely in IBS patients. Another study revealed that it reduced IBS symptoms by at least 50% after only one month in 75% of subjects.4 You can find natural peppermint oil in capsules for daily use at your local health food store or online.

3. Alleviate Allergies: Most mint plants are rich in rosmarinic acid (RA). This antioxidant with potent anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce seasonal allergy symptoms. Unlike OTC antihistamines, RA doesn’t just help stop the reaction, it also helps kill allergy-activated immune cells. And it does this without harming your other immune cells.5 Patients in one study saw a significant decrease in inflammatory cytokines in their nasal fluids after taking 200 mg of RA for 21 days.6

You can get RA from eating fresh mint varieties or brewing whole-leaf mint tea. You can also find it as a supplement in health stores and online.

4. Relieve Occasional Indigestion: Mint—especially peppermint—can also help you when you eat something you shouldn’t have. It helps improve the flow of stomach acids and bile. This may make digestion faster and easier.7 Peppermint may even help you feel less full and bloated. It can also ease heartburn and mild gastrointestinal spasms.8

Just make sure not to use this if you suffer from chronic acid reflux or GERD. Though mint can be cooling, it can quickly turn to a painful burning if you already have esophageal damage.

5. Soothe Skin: One of the worst parts of summer is dealing with mosquito bites. You can apply mint leaves or oil directly to your skin. This will help stop itching and ease irritation. Fresh mint can even work as a natural mosquito repellant.9 But it goes beyond bug bites. It may also help you clear up rashes and other skin reactions. If you’re the outdoorsy type, mint can help your skin get relief from poison ivy and poison oak.10

Whether you grow your own or keep some in your cupboard, mint is a great herb to have on hand. It’s a refreshing natural solution to some unpleasant and annoying health issues. And these are just a few of them… Our publisher finds that rubbing peppermint oil on her temples works wonders for a headache. What other uses have you found for mint?

References:
1http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/275944.php
2http://magazine.foxnews.com/food-wellness/superfoods-fight-colds
3https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/peppermint
4http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17420159
5http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/nov2004_report_allergy_01.htm
6http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15630183
7Idem
8http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/705.html
9http://www.ahamodernliving.com/blog/garden/five-plants-that-keep-mosquitoes-from-buzzing-in-your-ears/
10Id.

http://institutefornaturalhealing.com/2014/06/five-reasons-to-start-using-more-mint/

Five Reasons to Start Eating More Papaya

May 2, 2014 

You might think this tropical fruit is rare or exotic. But papayas are widely available across the U.S. And that’s very good news. Ancient healers used papaya to treat everything from upset stomach to burns.1 With good reason.

Here are five reasons to start eating more papaya.

1. It Preserves Eyesight: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50 years old. Your macula is the part of your eye that allows you to focus on fine details. This includes the faces of your friends and family. And if you’re eating papaya, you’re helping to protect your eyes.

Papaya is rich in zeaxanthin. It’s a potent carotenoid that may slow—and even prevent—the development of AMD.2 You’ll even find it in your macula and retina. Your eyes need it to help maintain clarity and focus.

2. It Aids Digestion: Papayas are about 60% soluble and 40% insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber helps make you feel fuller after eating. Insoluble fiber passes through your digestive system like a sponge. It soaks up foods that you don’t fully or properly digest. And it helps pass them with ease.

Papayas are also rich in papain. It’s an enzyme that can tenderize meat. It can help you digest tough proteins by breaking down larger proteins into smaller ones.3 It’s even strong enough to aid in an intestinal cleanse.4 This “tenderizing” effect may allow the fiber in papaya to be more effective.

3. It Fights Heart Disease: Eating a diet high in fiber might help you prevent heart disease. One study found you can decrease your risk for heart disease by about 9% for every seven grams of fiber you eat each day.5

The antioxidants in papaya also help lower inflammation. A single papaya can give you more than 150 mg of vitamin C alone.6

4. It Protects Your Bones: Papayas are high in vitamin K7 which helps drive calcium directly into your bones. Papayas also contain calcium. So you’re getting these two critical nutrients for keeping solid bones in each bite. But eating papaya may do more for your bones than make them stronger.

The antioxidants in papaya can reduce oxidative damage in your bone marrow.8 This may helpprevent cancer in your blood and bone marrow. But if you already suffer from a blood or bone marrow cancer, papaya can help you produce blood cells correctly.

5. It Supports Healthy Skin: Papaya is the star ingredient in many natural beauty treatments. Things like facemasks, foot creams, and even hair softeners.

Papayas are rich in vitamin E and beta carotene. They both help fight free radicals and prevent cell damage. But vitamin E also supports collagen production. Collagen is what keeps your skin firm and supple. Beta carotene may smooth away wrinkles by protecting against—and even helping reverse—skin damage from the sun. Eating papaya alone will help with this. But using a papaya-based facemask is a great way to directly expose your skin to these healing compounds.

Making papaya a regular addition to your diet is an easy way to help prevent oxidative stress. Eating it can help you look younger—maybe even live longer. If you can’t find organic papaya at your local health food store, you can buy papaya enzyme supplements online.

References:
1http://naturalstandard.com/databases/herbssupplements/all/papaya.asp?
2http://www.nutritionj.com/content/2/1/20
3http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/papain/
4http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/papain/
5http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f6879
6https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Inflammation-and-Heart-Disease_UCM_432150_Article.jsp
7http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=47
8http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3570158/

http://institutefornaturalhealing.com/2014/05/five-reasons-to-start-eating-more-papaya/

The Gluten-Cancer Connection

Dr. Isaac Eliaz | Oct 29, 2013


If you’re highly sensitive to gluten or have full-blown celiac disease, you don’t need any extra reasons to avoid what many are calling the “mutant grains.” You’ve already concluded that wheat and its relatives such as barley and rye aren’t invited to the next dinner party. But many people may still be gluten-sensitive and not know it. In fact, it’s quite common to have an undiagnosed food sensitivity that can cause vague symptoms such as occasional indigestion, headaches, skin outbreaks, brain fog and a whole host of other issues. As these symptoms progress, or simply come and go, many people blame aging, stressful schedules or other causes. However, a growing number of health practitioners are now paying closer attention to possible food sensitivities as major factors in diseases related to inflammation and impaired immunity.

Furthermore, advancements in diagnostic procedures have made it quite clear that gluten can be a common allergen for many people, triggering low-grade chronic inflammation that may not even be noticed. You can have none of the classic digestive symptoms, but still have damaging inflammation in many parts of the body. The list of gluten-related health issues is long and includes osteoporosis, periodontal disease and neurological disease.

Some of the more common symptoms produced by gluten sensitivity, whether they’re diagnosed or not, are heartburn and indigestion/stomach pain, as well as bloating and gas lower in the abdomen. As the body struggles to digest the gluten, inflammation ensues and symptoms follow. Did you ever get a stomachache after eating a bagel? That’s probably why. But your gluten problem is more dangerous than you may think.

Indigestion And Cancer

A number of studies, including new research from Rhode Island Hospital, have identified a pattern I’ve observed in my clinical practice for decades: Chronic heartburn and indigestion can contribute to cancer in the esophagus. The overly acidic and chronically inflamed stomach environment can cause what’s called Barrett’s esophagus. This occurs when the cells lining the esophagus become abnormal.

This new study and others suggest a direct link between this degenerative process and the development of esophageal cancer. Although this study didn’t specifically discuss gluten or other food sensitivities as contributing to chronic indigestion and heartburn, and increased cancer incidence, I am confident, based on my experience, that this link will eventually be made. If you have undiagnosed gluten or other food sensitivities, the resulting chronic inflammation puts you at a higher risk for this increasingly common disease. In fact, rates of esophageal cancer are on the rise, similar to rates of food sensitivities — including gluten sensitivity.

Other studies have attempted to link gluten sensitivity to cancer in general, though the findings are mixed. One study showed that there is a higher rate of cancer among people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, though the relationships were unclear. This is a relatively new field of research that I will be watching closely.

Long-Term Digestive Health

The truth is that digestive wellness is at the foundation of our long-term health and vitality. In today’s day and age, the digestive system may work harder than any other system of the body to maintain health. Even for people who claim to possess an iron gut, consuming everything from raw meat to jalapeno peppers, digestive vitality can still be reduced over time with the wrong diet. Impaired digestion can lead to malnourishment, suppressed immunity, metabolic problems, irritable bowel disease, allergies, depression and more serious chronic illnesses as we can see from this study. So if you have food sensitivities or not, optimizing digestive function will help put your overall health on the “right tract.”

If you suffer from digestive woes, it’s important to test for food sensitivities with a qualified, integrative health provider. This will guide you in developing an optimal eating plan to help you pave the way to long-term digestive vitality. In addition, certain herbs and nutrients can help support and enhance digestive function over time.

Here are some recommendations:

• Probiotics and prebiotics: These are two of the most important supplements for healthy digestion. Probiotics are critical for digestive and overall health and have been extensively researched for their numerous remarkable benefits. Prebiotics provide food and a nourishing environment for probiotics to thrive.
• Zinc: This is an important mineral for digestive health, and it also plays roles in hormone regulation, immune health, tissue repair and neurological function.
• Proteolytic enzymes: These enzymes, such as amylase, protease and lipase, increase digestive strength, improve nutrient absorption, and support immunity and vital energy.
• Digestive Formula: A unique formula containing a blend of “warming” herbs, such as pomegranate seed, licorice root, a specific mushroom blend, enzymes and nutrients, can be used to alleviate digestive discomfort and promote long term digestive health.
• Medicinal mushrooms: Medicinal mushrooms such as reishi, cordyceps, poria and tremella can help strengthen digestion, improve nutrient assimilation, detoxify the body and support immunity and overall health.

When functioning optimally, digestion is a highly organized and efficient system that ensures vitality throughout the body. Experts now call the gut “our second brain” and “the other immune system” because of its heightened neurotransmitter and immune functions. Often, problems in other areas first manifest as digestive discomfort, and vice versa. So for optimal health and wellness, it’s important to “follow your gut.”

To access more in-depth information on digestive and overall health, visit www.dreliaz.org.

http://easyhealthoptions.com/alternative-medicine/the-gluten-cancer-connection/

Top Picks: Add a spoonful of vinegar

09 October 2012 | last updated at 11:19PM

Vinegar has been used traditionally to treat various ailments. Kasmiah Mustapha looks at vinegar as a health remedy

 

Digestion

Digestion
1- Vinegar has contains a high content of acetic acid, which helps in the absorption of essential nutrients. It is a natural cure for constipation, improving bowel irregularity and removing toxins at a faster rate.

Weight loss
2 - Acetic acid can also prevent the build up of fat and helps speed up metabolism as well as burn calories faster. Add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to your drinking water daily in the morning. You should see results in just a few weeks.

Diabetes
3 - Several studies have found that vinegar may help lower glucose levels. Vinegar slows down the digestive enzymes’ process of breaking down carbohydrates into sugar. The glucose can be absorbed at a slower rate, preventing a sugar build-up in the bloodstream. Less insulin is released as the flow is better regulated.

Cold
4 - When you have a cold, the body becomes more alkaline. Vinegar will help to re-balance the body’s acid level and decrease the length of illness. Mix one teaspoon of vinegar in half a cup of warm water to fight the cold. Vinegar also helps with nasal congestion, allergies and asthma symptoms.


Insomnia

 

Insomnia
5- It is said that apple cider vinegar is the cure for people suffering from insomnia. Mix vinegar with honey, dilute in warm water and drink it before bedtime. It will help you to fall asleep faster and longer.

Acne
6 - Vinegar is an effective natural agent that cures acne by killing the bacteria and balancing our skin’s pH level. It also absorbs excessive oil from our skin, which is a leading cause of acne. Dilute vinegar in water and then using a clean cotton, apply to your face and leave on for about 10 minutes.

Heart
7 - A epidemiological study has found that people who choose to have an oil and vinegar dressing on salads five to six times a week have lower rates of heart disease than people who didn’t.

Dandruff
8 - Apple cider vinegar is an effective fungicide and germ killer, making it a natural alternative treatment for dandruff. Apply pure vinegar on the scalp and massage it into the roots of the hair. Leave on for an hour before washing. Another benefit is that it leaves a shine on hair.

Hiccups
9 - It is annoying to experience hiccups. A simple remedy is to add one teaspoon of vinegar to a glass of warm water and drink it.

Body odour
10 - The acetic acid works as a natural deodorant and kills the bacteria that causes the offensive odour. Wipe underarms with undiluted vinegar to get rid of body odour. To treat smelly feet, soak feet in warm water mixed with one cup of vinegar.

http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/health/top-picks-add-a-spoonful-of-vinegar-1.154280

Hydrochloric Acid: God’s Natural Antiseptic

Bob Livingston | Aug 16, 2012 | Comments 0

Pharmaceutical companies persuade the public to buy antacids for what their advertising calls “over-acid stomach.”

There has never been an over-acid stomach with natural acid. All the “heartburn” and “acid indigestion” symptoms are created because of low stomach acid, which causes incomplete digestion.

Incomplete digestion allows fermentation to take place. That produces the organic acids of fermentation resulting in gas and reflux. The body makes only one acid: hydrochloric acid with pepsin.

Other acids that produce symptoms of acid reflux come from the fermentation process; they are entirely different from the natural stomach acid that originates in the stomach.

Different Compounds

The fermentation process comes from undigested food caused by a lack of — or low — stomach acid. Antacids don’t know the difference between natural stomach hydrochloric acid and organic acids of fermentation from undigested food. They attack all acids. This is why there can be only temporary relief. As long as stomach acid is low or insufficient, the digestive process is incomplete and fermentation continues.

We are suppressing the all-important digestive process with antacids. The only solution is to build stomach acid with betaine hydrochloride by supplement with each meal. (Ask your doctor to test your stomach-acid level.)

Just how important is it to have sufficient natural hydrochloric stomach acid? The answer is something no doctor will ever tell you because most don’t know.

Adequate hydrochloric acid in the stomach or induced into the tissues by mouth, vein or muscle acts chiefly in clearing out the poisonous waste acids created by insufficient digestion and fermentation.

Hydrochloric stomach acid increases the elimination of carbon dioxide (CO₂), decreases to normal the pH reaction and desensitizes the tissues to disease proteins.

An Essential Presence

Natural stomach hydrochloric acid stimulates phagocytes. Its presence is essential to all glandular and cellular activity.

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) intravenously injected will significantly raise the oxygen content of the blood. HCl stimulates all the forces of resistance.

Adequate stomach acid stops all the fermentation and putrefactive (rot) processes. Antacids increase the alkalinity, fermentation and putrefaction. This sets the stage for malnutrition because of incomplete digestion and consequent failure of assimilation must occur. Adequate HCl sterilizes the whole body system, even to the natural purging of parasites.

Antacids compound the destruction of natural stomach HCl, making way for a septic process of the tissues and organs. Pyorrhea, symptoms of indigestion, nephritis, appendicitis, abscesses, pneumonia, etc., begin to appear. Deficiency of normal acid leads to stagnation of organs like the gall bladder and the pancreas, causing diabetes and gallstones, and leads the way to all forms of degenerative disease.

Man’s Best Friend

Normal HCl is nature’s true antiseptic, which is clearly demonstrated in the difference between HCl in a dog and a man. Normal gastric juice is far stronger in dogs. Unlike humans, a healthy dog can eat septic meat and if its stomach is opened 30 minutes later, the foul, odorous meat will be found sterile. This shows the power of HCl in the process of digestion and health.

With sufficient and normal HCl, all waste acids along with fermentation disappear. It follows that all “heartburn” and gastritis are symptoms of low HCl, not high acid as the pharmaceutical sales pitches claim.

When antacids are taken, the contents of the stomach become alkaline. This masks the symptoms of the fermentation process but at the same time the putrefactive processes are present in the stomach. Excess alkalinity promotes putrefaction and tends to diminish HCl. HCl deficiency is a large factor in the etiology of degenerative disease.

The crime of alkalizing the stomach runs deeper. The epidemic of cancer may be directly related. But the antacid people have a ruse called confusion of cause and effect. This is only one more example of the system, which we call benevolent totalitarianism, manipulating the people against their best interest with sales propaganda.

Misguided Campaigns

Now they have a new “health” campaign to take salt out of our diet. This further diminishes the antiseptic value of the chlorine in salt for the process of normal digestion.

Dr. David Brownstein says in his book Salt, Your Way To Health: “It is impossible to have an optimal functioning immune system when there is a salt-deficient state present… a low-salt diet has been associated with a greater than 400 percent increase in risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) in men.”

Think how chemically close ocean salt water is to human blood. Both strive for stasis. The ocean is always clean no matter how many animals, etc., die within it. This is due to its chlorine content from sodium chloride and also to the chlorides of magnesium, calcium and other minerals. The chlorine is invaluable to health and longevity to human and sea life.

When I go to the ocean, I always bring back 2 gallons of sea water. I take at least 1 tablespoon per day. I learned this from Dr. Royal Lee’s lectures.

Mild cases of “heartburn” can also be aided by a daily regimen of apple cider vinegar, which stimulates natural production of HCl in the stomach. Take 1 tablespoon in 8 ounces of water. Honey can be added to help make the taste more palatable

http://easyhealthoptions.com/alternative-medicine/hydrochloric-acid-gods-natural-antisepticbb/

For Better Looks And Health, Make That The Last Straw

Easy Health Options News

Sam Rolley | Jul 25, 2012 | Comments 1

Do you sip beverages through a straw? Bad idea.
Straws can add pucker to your cheeks, create wrinkles around your mouth, inspire intestinal gas and help dissolve your teeth.

It is a common myth that drinking sugary and acidic beverages through a straw can help preserve your pearly whites by lessening tooth exposure to staining liquids and acids. It works only if you place the straw in the back of your mouth, causing you to miss much of the taste of the beverage. Then, what’s the point in even drinking a tasty treat?

Expert Warning

A growing number of dental experts say it is a much better idea to chase sugary and staining beverages with a bit of water to neutralize acid and minimize stains. An even better option is to opt for water as your drink of choice.

So if straws aren’t really protecting your teeth, what are they doing for you? They’re giving you wrinkles and could be causing digestive issues.

When you enjoy refreshment through a drinking straw, you make the same puckered-lip motion that smokers do as they puff away at their cigarettes. Though you may not be inhaling a multitude of poisonous chemicals, drinking a beverage through a straw may give you a wrinkly smoker’s mouth.

If you notice that you tend to be gassy or bloated after enjoying a meal or beverage, there could be many culprits. But one you may not expect is the plastic tube from which you sip your drinks. With every slurp, you may also gulp a tiny amount of air. This air builds up in your gut and can cause painful bloating and uncomfortable gassiness.

http://easyhealthoptions.com/skin-care/for-better-looks-and-health-make-that-the-last-straw/

Amazing Health Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar

By Delialah Falcon Ι Published November 3, 2011


The use of apple cider vinegar as a home remedy dates back for centuries. Over time, it has been used as a cooking ingredient, cleansing agent, disinfectant and as an ancient remedy for curing a wide variety of ailments. In recent years, apple cider vinegar has become recognized by many as a powerful health tonic.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is comprised of vitamins, mineral salts and amino acids. The main ingredient, acetic acid, is responsible for vinegar's bitter taste and strong odor. To make vinegar, apples are pulverized and then left to ferment. During fermentation, bacteria and yeast enzymes break down the sugar in the apples to create alcohol. Vinegar is created when the alcohol continues to ferment. There are 2 basic kinds of apple cider vinegars. There is commercially produced vinegar that is found in the cooking aisle of supermarkets, and there is natural, raw, and sometimes organic, vinegar that is found in health food stores. In terms of health benefits, it is the raw, natural variety that should be utilized.

Immune System Booster

There are many factors at work in apple cider vinegar that may be responsible for the possible boost in immune system health. Chock full of vitamins and minerals, apple cider vinegar helps provide vital nutrients that the body may be missing. Raw apple cider vinegar contains anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties that can work as immune protectors against a wide variety of germs. In addition, apple cider vinegar works as a pH balancer within the body and helps to maintain the body's natural alkaline state. When the body is alkaline, it is better equipped to stave off colds and other viruses that thrive in an acidic body. These viruses cannot develop and grow properly in a body that is alkaline because it is not conducive to the environment these germs need to survive.

Improve Metabolism And Weight Loss

The use of apple cider vinegar as a weight loss supplement is nothing new. Weight loss is one of the most common reasons people turn to apple cider vinegar, and for thousands of years, people have relied on its health benefits to help trim their waistlines. It is believed that the acetic acid in the vinegar reacts with foods that are eaten in a way that helps boost iron absorption. When iron is absorbed at a high rate, oxygen is utilized rather quickly, and the result is a higher metabolic rate. A higher metabolic rate leads to increased weight loss as a result of more calories being burned.
Although apple cider vinegar has thousands of supporters who swear by the weight loss benefits, there are no scientific studies that prove these claims to be true. Some research over the years has suggested that apple cider vinegar may have a possible weight loss link, although more studies need to be conducted.

Improve Digestion

It is the combination of acids and minerals found in apple cider vinegar that are associated with improved digestion. Though the exact reason for this is unknown, one popular theory suggests that the acids and minerals together help prevent bacteria from developing and breeding in the digestive tract. Bacteria in the digestive tract are a common cause for slowed digestion and digestive illnesses. An acidic digestive tract is required for these bacteria to thrive. When the minerals in apple cider vinegar form a bond with the acids, they become neutralized, which balances out the digestive tract to become more alkaline.

Remove toxins

Next to weight loss, detoxification is one of the most popular reasons why people turn to raw apple cider vinegar. For hundreds of years, people have relied on apple cider vinegar and its cleansing properties to remove toxins and impurities form the body. It is believed that apple cider vinegar assists with detoxification by aiding circulation and boosting the liver's ability to purge toxins. Once again, it is the acids found in apple cider vinegar that are believed to be responsible for the cleansing effects. The acids help to eliminate impurities by binding to free radicals and other toxins that are stored in the blood, fat cells and organs, and 'pulling them out' of the body. In addition, apple cider vinegar supplies the body with a large amount of vitamins, minerals and enzymes, which is essential to a body that is purging out toxins.

Skin Benefits

Apple cider vinegar is touted as a natural remedy for a wide variety of skin conditions. From removing warts and freckles to treating acne and soothing the pain of sunburn, its use as a topical treatment is widespread. While supporters insist on apple cider vinegar's ability to improve skin health, there are very few studies that support this popular theory. The few that have been conducted suggest that although apple cider vinegar may help with conditions such as shrinking warts, treating lice and dandruff and eliminating acne, it will not help as quickly or as effectively as traditional medication.

Control Blood Sugar

Although apple cider vinegar is not as widely known in health circles for its ability to treat diabetes and lower blood sugar, this is probably the one area with the most research in the medical field. The underlying reason for apple cider vinegar's effect on glucose is not yet understood. However, even conventional doctors cannot deny the results of numerous studies which suggest that there is a definite correlation among the two. It is important to note that individuals suffering from Diabetes should never start an apple cider regimen without a doctor's supervision. The chromium contained in apple cider vinegar can have an effect on insulin levels, and any use of apple cider vinegar should be closely monitored by a health care practitioner.

Lower Blood Pressure And Improve Heart Health

Natural health enthusiasts claim that apple cider vinegar can have a positive effect on elevated cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Not many studies have been performed on the effects apple cider vinegar may have on high cholesterol. The few that have been performed suggest that the vinegar may help lower cholesterol, but more research needs to be conducted. The same thing goes for apple cider vinegar and blood pressure. If there is in fact a correlation between apple cider vinegar and a decrease in blood pressure and cholesterol, two of the major factors in heart disease then it stands to reason that taking apple cider vinegar daily may help to improve overall heart health.

Sources:

• WebMD
• Health MSN

http://www.symptomfind.com/nutrition-supplements/health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/

Enzymes: The Weakest Link

Enzymes: The Weakest Link

In Your Digestive System

http://www.purebodysolutions.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/PDF/Enzymes.pdf

Health benefits of papaya

The best part about adding fruits and vegetables in your diet is the fact that almost every one of them has health benefits that are synonymous with the family of fruits that they have their origins in, and even distinctive ones that set them apart from the rest.

The fruit “papaya” is no different from the rest, and so, here is a list of benefits that one can enjoy in eating the papaya regularly:

Benefit #1: Digestion

Since the papaya contains the digestive enzyme papain, one of the biggest benefits of eating papaya regularly is that it aids digestion. If one eats the “ripe” version, this is not only digestible but also aids in relieving constipation. In some studies, it has been found that if this fruit is only eaten for two to three days, it has a beneficial effect on one’s stomach and the intestines.

Benefit #2: Reduces inflammation and improves healing

Another big benefit to eating papaya regularly is the fact that nutrients such as the protein-digesting enzymes apart from the antioxidants that are present in papaya not only reduce inflammation but also improves healing. These nutrients also aid in digesting proteins as well.

Benefit #3: Prevention of Cancer and the lowering of cholesterol levels

The fiber that is present in ripe papaya can prevent cancer in the organs and glands, especially the ones which has epithelial tissue. In the case of colon cancer, the fiber in papaya binds to cancer-causing toxins and keeps them away from healthy colon cells. Another benefit is that the juice of papaya has been known to reduce infections of the colon. The fiber present in the papaya also has been observed to lower high (bad) cholesterol levels.

Benefit #4: Prevention of Diabetic Heart disease and Atherosclerosis

Since papaya is packed with powerful healing antioxidants such as Vitamin A, C and E, these nutrients will prevent atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease.


Medical Daily Staff Writer | 23 November 2010 @ 12:03 pm EST
http://www.medicaldaily.com/news/20101123/4133/health-benefits-of-papaya.htm

Health benefits of mangoes

The mango has been posthumously given the title ‘king of fruits’, and there are several reasons why, thanks to the slew of benefits that one can get from eating this fruit. While the caveat is that one can only obtain this fruit during the summer, of which about 40 to 60 percent has to be sourced from either Burma or India, the costs will pale in comparison to the benefits that this fruit has to offer.

So here is a list of health benefits of mangoes:

Good eyesight

While one cup of sliced mangoes provides at least 25 percent of Vitamin A that is required on a daily basis, there is no doubt that this contributes to good eye sight. If that’s not enough, mangoes also prevent night blindness, softening of the cornea, dryness of the eyes, itching and burning of the eyes and refractive errors and so on and so forth.

Digestion

Mangoes have digestive enzymes that help breakdown protein as well as help digestion while also containing enzymes that soothe the stomach by preventing acidity and poor digestion. In addition to this, one can also expect to avoid constipation due to the large amounts of fiber present in mangoes.

Better sex

The Vitamin E in mangoes boosts one’s sex drive by regulating the sex hormones in one’s body.

Boosts memory

Glutamine acid, which is present in adequate quantities in mangoes, is known to be beneficial to children by boosting their memory.

Softer and glowing skin

While eating mangoes keeps your skin soft and glowing, it also has benefits when one applies mango pulp to their skin for at least 10 minutes (before washing it off) to their skin as doing this will relieve the clogged pores of their skin, thus reducing acne that is a common problem.


07 November 2010 @ 06:59 pm EST
http://www.medicaldaily.com/news/20101107/3414/health-benefits-of-mangoes.htm

Reap the rewards from tea

Kick back and relax with a cup or tea and enjoy its health benefits 

Around the world, millions drink tea as it is steeped in may cultures and traditions, and after water, it is the second most consumed drink. That relaxing aromatic cup of tea you often have has more health benefits than you realise as the phytochemicals found in tea reduce the risk of disease. Read on to find out the health advantages of drinking tea.

Regular tea drinkers have been found to have a higher bones density that those who don't drink it. Making sure you have strong bones will decrease your risk of osteoporosis, which many women are vulnerable to, especially after menopause.

 

 Drinking tea can protect the heart. Researchers have found that drinking tea on a regular basis can help to lower cholesterol and prevent blood clots. By having low cholesterol, you reduce your risk of high blood pressure and protect the heart from disease.

Tea can also help to keep your teeth white and protect against decay as it contains tannins and fluoride which helps to prevent plaque. It's the sugar that people add to their tea which makes it bad for their teeth.

 

Tea is good for weight loss as it doesn't have any calories, except when milk or sugar are added. Studies have shown that green tea extract fights obesity and flavonoids, found in green tea can help increase the speed of your metabolism and therefore calorie burning.

 

Drinking black tea has been found to increase and improve a person's blood circulation therefore, reducing risk of heart disease and ensuring that plenty of blood and oxygen reach all the vitals. Adding milk however, decreases the beneficial effect.

Tea, especially green tea, contains plenty of antioxidants which are important for maintaining good health. They fight free radicals which cause damage to the cells and studies found that they have anti-carcinogenic effects by inhibiting the growth of cancer.

These antioxidants also help repair and regenerate the cells, including the skin cells which indicates they could have anti-aging benefits. Tea is believed to slow the process of wrinkles, fine lines and age spots, all associated with aging.

Many cultures around the world drink tea after a meal. The benefits of this is that the tannins found in tea have been found to help with digestion and improve it.

Black tea has been found to be good for the brain as it has calming effects and reduces stress hormones which damage the brain. Studies on green tea in Japan have also found that it can help to reduce the risk cognitive decline.

Flora McCraith, MSN, 03/08/2011

http://lifestyle.xin.msn.com/en/health/healthy-eating/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5111134&page=0