Health Benefits of Pineapple

Photo credit: wiki-fitness.com

To be honest, pineapple is the least fruit I want to eat because it can make my tongue very itchy and there's always no guarantee that what I'll buy from the supermarket is sweet. So, I always pass this up when I buy my fruits in the produce section.

Thinking of its health benefits, I must admit that I do have to consider having pineapple regularly as it packed in nutrients with very little calorie. It is also cholesterol-free and fat-free and is very rich in Vitamin C which helps in lowering your risk in heart disease, cancer, gout, cataracts and stroke.

Since it is packed with vitamins and nutrients, it is good in improving your immune system and strengthen your bones and connective tissues because of its manganese level which is a trace mineral that helps in building and strengthening bones and tissues.

Include pineapples in your snacks or meals daily for a more healthy and nutritious diet.

Chia Seeds - Small Seed With A Punch of Health Benefits

Chia seeds are slightly smaller than the sesame seeds. It is also known as Salvia Hispanica which is a part of the mint family, the Lamiacaea which is native to Guatemala and Mexico.

This tiny seed is cultivated for commercial use because of its high level of nutritional value. It has calcium, protein, manganese and phosphorus. Aside from the nutrients, it also has plenty of health benefits like:

• It is a good source of plant's Omega fatty acid oil. 
• It is hydrophilic which means, it absorbs more water than their weight making you feel fuller. This is great for athletes as it helps them stay hydrated.
• It aids in weight loss for dieters as chia seeds have the ability to block calories in our digestive system because it gels. And when it gels, it helps in blocking absorption of calories.
• It also provides antioxidant properties.

Eat Apricots For Good Health

Photo credit: thehindu.com

Apricot is a succulent fruit loaded with vitamins and nutrients. You can eat it raw, dried or canned but studies show that eating dried apricots can yield more health benefits.

This fruit is rich in beta-carotene. It is also rich in potassium, iron, calcium and Vitamin C and is a good natural source of fibre. Here are some health benefits of eating apricots:

• Helps ease constipation because it can act as a mild laxative due to its cellulose and pectin content.
• Helps indigestion because it produces alkaline reaction on the body system. You can take one apricot before meal to aid digestion.
• The juice can help your body to cool down during fever.
• It helps treat skin diseases like scabies, sunburn, rashes, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.
• Helps in anemia because it is rich in iron.

Placenta - Will You Ingest It For Health Reasons?

I have been hearing tales about how some mothers would ingest their "cooked" or dried and encapsulated placentas to keep postpartum depression at bay. I have seen handmade soaps infused with placenta and I dare not ask if the placenta used is of human or animal. My stomach turns just by thinking about it.

I may be one of those with the faint heart and stomach. I think I cannot eat my own placenta inspite of the health benefits a lot of people claim about it. My personal opinion about placentophagia or the practice of eating the placenta is leaning towards the Hannibal Lector kind. So pardon me. I don't wish to offend those who have found this practice really helpful and beneficial health-wise.

Here are some health benefits of ingesting placenta which I scoured in the internet:

It replenishes nutrients lost during pregnancy because placenta has a high content of vitamins such as B6.

It curbs postpartum depression.

It aids in the production of milk.

Well, the health benefits are quite few but a lot of young mothers these days are trying this placentophagia. People justify this practice to be helpful to women who have given birth since other mammals do it too. 

No matter what Science or Medicine or other experts say about this practice, I don't think I can ingest mine. So, how about you?   

Having a Poor Eyesight

There was a time when all I did was read and read and read some more until my head ached and my sight blurred. I stopped because I did not want to wear glasses. I find wearing glasses so cumbersome and I don't want anything obstructing my view and face. That's one of the reasons too why I barely put cosmetics because I feel that it hides my natural beauty (if there is any! hahaha).

Well, I just learned that my daughter (she is in Manila right now for her summer break) is now officially wearing eye glasses; not corrective glasses but the real deal where there are grade levels. She has 150-100 vision.

We are partly to be blamed because we didn't heed on the signs that her eye sight was degrading. It's too late to be pointing fingers now, right?

So, what causes poor eye sight anyway? Here are the tell-tale signs:

1. Vitamin A difficiency
2. Poor nutrition
3. Reading with dim lights
4. Looking closely on tv, monitors
5. Squinting, closing one eye
6. Headaches, nausea or dizziness
7. Clumsiness
8. Rubbing the eyes repeatedly
9. Tilting the head to one side
10. Using a finger as a guide when reading
11. Reading while in motion (as this strains the eyes)

Honestly, she manifested some of the above signs but I was clueless because I have never worn glasses. I should have known then so this poor eyesight thing would have been averted.

Empty Calories

Many of us are soda and alcoholic drinkers. I for one is not spared at times (except for the alcoholic part!). I do drink sodas once in a while but of lately, I have been gulping down sodas like I was a fish in a soda tank! LOL... AND that is very, very bad!

I know we have to take in calories too but taking sodas and alcoholic beverages is synonymous to taking empty calories. They provide nothing healthy except for a temporary surge of energy (probably because of their sugar content) but no nutritional value. These short-term surge of energy can be bad for our blood-sugar levels. They can also ruin your appetite to eat something healthy.

Well, the holidays bring forth astonishing increase in our girth size so be careful with what you will consume this holiday season!

Sweet Pea, My Sweet Pea

I am not an avid legume lover but I do consume them every chance I get because I don't like the taste of green peas and some legumes except for peanuts. In fairness to that small legume, it does have very great benefits when taken. It's also bursting with nutrients your body needs.

Green peas are excellent source of nutrients and vitamins such as Vitamins A, B1 and B6, C, and K. It is also rich in protein, zinc, iron, potassium, phosphorus, niacin and magnesium. So, while I figure a way to eat it with gusto, why find ways to serve it together with your meals to add more valuable nutrients to your daily intake.

(photo source: fotosearch.com)