Must - Eat – Vegetables for Wellness: Part 5

Wellness is defined as the condition or state of having good physical and mental health, especially as the result of deliberate effort that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life by proper diet, exercise and maintaining good health habits, as opposed to treating diseases.

When I was growing up, my grand mom and mother used to say “Eat your veggies, it will keep you strong and safe” or they’d say “Eat your salad, you won’t turn into a rabbit instead you will be as strong and as fast as a horse”. To be honest, I grew up liking vegetables due to repetition, being a writer-researcher has opened my eyes to the miracles of plants, vegetables and fruits. 

Total wellness has now become a popular topic for people around the world. Social media has made it possible for people to read health tips from their mobile devices or chancing about their friends’ latest fruit “Like” and more. People have the power to “share” the things they like or articles they think would help other people stay healthy and glow with beauty. Below is my personal list of veggies our fridge often has an abundance of; I recommend you do the same and you will feel light and healthier even more.

6. Eggplant

Also called Mad Apple, defined as an egg-shaped glossy black-purple fruit which has white meaty textured flesh, the Eggplant or Solanum melongena is a delicate tropical perennial with a spiny stem that has tall, large, coarsely lobed leaves and white to purple flowers that later produce the fruit-veggie we all love to eat. Name was said to come from French aubergine, from Catalan albergínia, from Arabic الباذِنْجان(al-baðinjān), the eggplant, from Persian بادنگان (bâdengân), from باتنگان(bâtengân), from Sanskrit वातिगगम (vātiga-gama, “eggplant”),this purple-black veggie-fruit is famous all over the world.The plant is native to the Indian Subcontinent and has been cultivated in Southeast Asia since prehistory. The eggplant was first recorded in the Qímínyàoshù, an ancient Chinese agricultural treatise completed in 544. Called as “aubergine” in British English, the aubergine was first recorded in England in the 16th century as a plant that growth in Egypt almost everywhere.

For thousands of years different cultures have cultivated the eggplant and our ancestors must have had a very good reason why.A research study done by the US Agricultural Services in Beltsville, Maryland have published that eggplants are rich sources of phenolic compounds that function as antioxidants.Also other scientific studies show that this purple necessity contains important phytonutrients which have promoteantioxidant activity. Phenolic compound such as caffeic, chlorogenic acid, and flavonoids, such as nasunin are examples of Phytonutrients contained in this purple-black aubegine veggie. Nasunin is said to act as a brain-food and is shown to protect cell membranes from damage.

Good for the bone-building for it contains vitamin K and magnesium. Egg plants are high in heart-healthy nutrients such as vitamin B6, folate, copper and niacin. Eggplant is an excellent source of dietary fiber and heart-healthy potassium plus bone-building manganese. Researchers believe this may reduce risk of dementia and stroke. So say yes to aubergine and do not forget to place a load of this wellness veggie in your cart the next time you do your groceries. Make some Eggplant Parmesan, Pork Sinigang, Ratatouille or Greek Moussaka. The more the merrier!

Must – Eat - Vegetables for Wellness: Part 4

Wellness is defined as the condition or state of having good physical and mental health, especially as the result of deliberate effort that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life by proper diet, exercise and maintaining good health habits, as opposed to treating diseases.

When I was growing up, my grand mom and mother used to say “Eat your veggies, it will keep you strong and safe” or they’d say “Eat your salad, you won’t turn into a rabbit instead you will be as strong and as fast as a horse”. To be honest, I grew up liking vegetables due to repetition, being a writer-researcher has opened my eyes to the miracles of plants, vegetables and fruits. 

Wellness has now become a popular topic for people around the world. Social media has made it possible for people to read health tips from their mobile devices or chancing about their friends’ latest fruit “Like” and more. People have the power to “share” the things they like or articles they think would help other people stay healthy and glow with beauty. Below is my personal list of veggies our fridge often has an abundance of; I recommend you do the same and you will feel light and healthier even more.

5. Sweet potato

My research on this veggie necessity brought me to various cultures, countries and ways it can be cooked and consumed. Wow! I did not know there were so many ways you could cook this large, sweet-tasting, starchy tuberous root vegetable. Even the more reason, you should have a staple supply of this wellness must eat vegetable in your pantry for personal consumption. Also the sweet potato is a source of vitamin B6, vitamin B1, phosphorus and potassium; known to be an energy food used in cooking all over the world.

From Africa’s “amukeke” (sun-dried slices of root) eaten with peanut sauce to Egypt’s "batata" where this sweet potato tubers are known to be baked as a snack or dessert, served with honey to Korea’s “Goguma”, to Japan’s “yaki-imo” (roasted sweet potato) and “imo-jōchū” a Japanese Potato wine, to India’s Sweet potato – “shakarkand, शक्करकंद” roasted slowly over kitchen coal and eaten with yogurt dressing. Sweet potato contains calcium, sugars and carbohydrates which makes it filling to the tummy.

Different cultures from different continents have acknowledged the importance of this root vegetable.  Radio carbon dating revealed the presence of this tuber in the Cook Islands dating back to 1000 AD. Researchers postulated that it was brought to central Polynesia around 700 AD, it was Polynesians who brought this tuber when they traveled to South America. The first record of the name “sweet potato” is found in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1775. In Chile, Mexico, Central America, and the Philippines, this is known as camote or kamote. In Argentina, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, it is called batata. Boniato is another name for it in Spain and Uruguay. In Peru, it is kumar, while in New Zealand it is called kumara.

The root vegetable is a great source of iron and fiber that can help regulate the digestive system.This vegetable tuber is found in different varieties all over the world has anti-cancer properties like vitamin C, A and manganese. No wonder everyone is going gaga over this root tuber veggie necessity. Try it today!

Must – Eat – Vegetables for Wellness: Part 3

Wellness is defined as the condition or state of having good physical and mental health, especially as the result of deliberate effort that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life by proper diet, exercise and maintaining good health habits, as opposed to treating diseases.

When I was growing up, my grand mom and mother used to say “Eat your veggies, it will keep you strong and safe” or they’d say “Eat your salad, you won’t turn into a rabbit instead you will be as strong and as fast as a horse”. To be honest, I grew up liking vegetables due to repetition, being a writer-researcher has opened my eyes to the miracles of plants, vegetables and fruits. 

Total wellness has now become a popular topic for people around the world. Social media has made it possible for people to read health tips from their mobile devices or chancing about their friends’ latest fruit “Like” and more. People have the power to “share” the things they like or articles they think would help other people stay healthy and glow with beauty. Below is my personal list of veggies our fridge often has an abundance of; I recommend you do the same and you will feel light and healthier even more.

3. Carrots

This horn-like shaped root vegetable is also called Daucus carota in Science or καρότον karōton in Greek. Carrot seeds have been found in Switzerland and Southern Germany dating to 2000–3000 BC. Back in the days, it was cultivated for its aromatic leaves and seeds, not their root. The carrot gets its characteristic and bright orange colour from β-carotene, and lesser amounts of α-carotene and γ-carotene. Glad to inform you that this veggie is the richest source of some antioxidant, like Vitamin A and Vitamin C – all perfect for your total wellness. Not only is it loaded with nutrients that are good for your eyes, hair and skin, this orange colored necessity helps reduce the risk of cancer and protects your cardiovascular system from damage. So now you can indulge in eating your low calorie carrot cake after dinner, enjoy your carrot nibbler as you watch TV, eat your Chopsuey for breakfast and feast on salads during lunch. With this orange colored miracle worker, you will never go wrong.

4. Squash

Archaeologists suggest that this plant has been cultivated first in Mesoamerica dating back to about 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Rich in fiber, potassium and magnesium, the squash is also a viable source of anti-inflammatory nutrients.Consumption can help remedy a lot of health conditions including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.Bees played a big role in the pollination and cultivation of the squash plant in the olden days.Squash was said to be historically proven to have been pollinated by the native North American squash bee, Peponapis pruinosa. Due to the decline of bee population, gardeners resorted to hand pollination. Squash was derived from the word askuta

squash (a green thing eaten raw). Botanically speaking the squash is a fruit though, like the tomato, it is considered to be a vegetable in cooking. This yellow necessity can be served in salads, made into a soup-base and cooked stuffed with meat, fried and baked into pastry. Take note that this yellow-orange fruit-veggie has lots of wonders, for not only can the fruit be eaten but also its seeds. The leaves, shoots and squash tendrils can also be eaten as greens. The blossoms are used in many other parts of the world but are recorded to have played an important part in Native American cooking. To this very day, we enjoy the same privileges of our ancestors; this golden veggie contains Vitamin C and beta-carotene which reduces the risk of breast cancer. Today health enthusiasts have come up with squash flavored cakes and pastries, catering to the health conscious crowd, for a yummy tandem with your favorite afternoon coffee or tea time.

Must – Eat – Vegetables for Wellness: Part 2

Wellness is defined as the condition or state of having good physical and mental health, especially as the result of deliberate effort that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life by proper diet, exercise and maintaining good health habits, as opposed to treating diseases.

When I was growing up, my grand mom and mother used to say “Eat your veggies, it will keep you strong and safe” or they’d say “Eat your salad, you won’t turn into a rabbit instead you will be as strong and as fast as a horse”. To be honest, I grew up liking vegetables due to repetition, being a writer-researcher has opened my eyes to the miracles of plants, vegetables and fruits. 

Wellness has now become a popular topic for people around the world. Social media has made it possible for people to read health tips from their mobile devices or chancing about their friends’ latest fruit “Like” and more. People have the power to “share” the things they like or articles they think would help other people stay healthy and glow with beauty. Below is my personal list of veggies our fridge often has an abundance of; I recommend you do the same and you will feel light and healthier even more.

Here are my most recommended wellness vegetables:

2. Tomatoes

In an article written by award-winning physician and medical journalist, Dr. Julie Lynn Wong published by www.abcnews.go.com last Oct. 2012, it was stated how tomatoes are linked to lower stroke risk. The article discussed a research conducted by Jouni Karppi, lead study author of the University of Eastern Finland showing the evidence that diet high in fruits and vegetables is associated with lower risk of stroke. Karpi confirmed that eating tomatoes and tomato based food reduce stroke risk. Men with the highest blood level of lycopene, followed over an average of 12 years to see if they would develop a stroke, were 55 percent less likely to have a stroke. Statistics confirm every four minutes, someone dies of a stroke. Lycopene found in vegetables like tomatoes may help reduce risk of stroke by preventing the formation of blood cloths that can obstruct the brain’s blood supply, Karppi mentioned in an interview.

A very exciting medical find that support the cardiologist recommendation that people consume fresh fruits and vegetables rather than nutritional supplements. Tomatoes are always plentiful and cost-efficient.

Dubbed as the “golden apple” or pomi d’oroback in the 1500s by Pietro Andrea Mattioli, this red fruit of the Solanum lycopersicum, commonly known as a tomato plant, has been around since the time of Mesoamerica. Aztec people used it in their cooking by 500 B.C. and they believed that those who witnessed the ingestion of tomato seeds were blessed with powers of divination. Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes may have been the first to bring this red orb to Europe after he captured the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City, in 1521. Good for the heart, the face and the whole body. Not only should you consider the tomato an important part of your everyday diet but also include tomato based products available in the market. This salad-making necessity is a big hit in the wellness community. These gorgeous little red-orange spheres are jam-packed with lycopene that have anti-aging and anti-cancer properties. Though categorized as a fruit, it is usually treated as a vegetable. Who would think that these little red planets are bursting with vitamins from A to K. So to live long, eat your tomatoes.

Top 5 Things to Do in Fighting Cardiomyopathy

Improving length of life is a victory, and one can be successful in fighting cardiomyopathy. Read on to know more about the disease, how one can slow the rate of decline, tips on lifestyle change that can provide improvement of the symptoms and the alternative treatments available now for the said disease.

1.     Watch your weight

·         Diet is necessary. You have to lose weight or maintain the weight that you already have depending you what your doctor recommends.

·         You need to keep close record of what you are losing and nothing too much too soon.

·         It is a known fact that diabetes can speed up the decline and can cause complications for a patient diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. Hence, prevention is better than cure for diabetes.

·         Vegetables or its alternatives should be your new best friend.

2.     Take a walk

·       Your heart will be going through rehabilitation. Start by walking a good distance and take it slow.

·         This exercise is see how much walking is good for your heart, just enough to get the blood pumping and getting you a steady heart rate.

·         It has to be taken in stride, walking should be a relaxation and not a task you have to do every day.

·    Focus on the benefits and psyche yourself that doing it regularly will make you better and improve your condition, even if partial and gradual.

·   Slowly you will notice improvement in your heart rhythm and the increase of distance covered.

3.     Invest in a good juicer, fasting is necessary

·        It is recommended to do vegetable juice fasting for one week on and one week rest.

·      Consult your physician how much weight you need to maintain or lose. You wouldn’t want to lose too much.

4.     Take Linolenic acid

·      This will supply special nutrients that the heart would need in specific fatty acids and linolenic acids.

·     Linolenic acid is found in leafy green veggies, fish and flaxseed oil or other oils in general.

·        Good news is that Lecithin has both.

·     Try to work up to a gradual amount of intake like trying 3- 5 teaspoons of lecithin granules per day. Mix some juice or yogurt and down it quickly and follow with something to eat. Expect an unusual taste.

5.     Take vitamins and your prescribed drugs regularly

·  Below are the following recommended vitamins for people diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.

·        Some are non-prescription nutritional supplements which proved to be effective in improving or eliminating certain symptoms of the disease.

Vitamin E (natural d-alpha tocopherol or mixed natural tocopherols)

·         “E” helps the heart do more work on less fuel and oxygen.

·    “E” helps increase the amount of blood pumped per beat or your heart’s stroke volume. It is essential to have regular hearbeats, the stronger the better.

Vitamin C

·      Being Vitamin C deficient can result to muscle and connective tissue damage. Vitamin C is necessary for healthy connective tissue.

Magnesium and Calcium

·         Oratates, citrates or aparates help for better absorption

·         In a study done be the late Dr. Hans Neiper, one of Europe’s best cardiologists,it is stated to double to the recommended RDA to increase the availability if minerals in the body called “mineral transporters”.

Take Coenzyme Q-10

·    Studies show that the heart muscle benefits from coQ10 supplementation, established improvements in cases of congestive heart disease and even cardiomyopathy.

·    CoQ10 is vital to muscle cells, involved with cellular energy production, growth control and other life functions.

·     The recommended 100 and 400 milligrams a day and a person with cardiomyopathy may have bigger requirements like taking 300- 600 mg. It would be best to consult your cardiologist to create an action plan for your condition.

Take your prescribed drugs

·         Taking your prescription regularly and on time is a must.

·         Avoid cutting the recommended dosage or prolonging the medication.

·    Taking some medicine doesn't equate to the effect of taking all your prescribed medicine.

·         There is a reason why it was given all in one prescription.

·         Mostly some of it will not work without the others.

This article was researched for the purpose of giving the alternative now available in the market and has no intention of recommending any brand nor should it be used to take the place of prescription given be a certified cardiologist. It is better to always consult your doctor. Knowledge is power and trust that the world has put a lot of brain into providing better alternative medicine and treatments for the common good of all mankind.

Do you have Cardiomyopathy? Common Symptoms to Watch Out For.

It was a sunny Monday afternoon, one of the busiest days at any major hospital in the city. Anthony went to visit the doctor with his wife, Elaine. She was able to convince him to finally see the doctor. They waited patiently for their number to be called. She tried to make him smile by cracking jokes despite the knot of worry that was persistently nagging her own mind. He tried to act nonchalant about the appointment, convinced it was a waste of time. He was OK  or was he? He just focused on holding her warm comforting hand. He loved her and his kids, he had to make sure he did all that he could to be better and to live longer.

People tend to disregard the life threatening symptoms of any disease or ailment thinking that knowing about it would speed up their decline. Most hoped that the symptoms would naturally go away and they could move on with their lives.

The doctor’s assistant called out the numbers until it was their time to go. The couple stood up and bravely entered the office. They were about to learn more about his condition and the life threatening symptoms that if ignored could cost Anthony his life.

Cardiomyopathy and Congestive Heart Failure

Cardiomyopathy is a life threatening condition in which the heart is damaged and can no longer function properly, often not curable but has many treatment alternatives that can effectively control the disease. Most patients with cardiomyopathy have congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood throughout the body. Congestive heart failure is not a diagnosis in itself. It is the result of the heart damage due to underlying conditions like cardiomyopathy.

Top 5 Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy

1.      Fluid accumulation

·     Bloating of the abdomen due to fluid build up

· Fluid buildup in the lungs may cause combined complications to heart & lungs

2.      Persistent coughing

3.     Shortness of breath or dyspnea with exertion or even at rest

·   Dizziness, light-headedness and fainting

4.  Irregular heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering or arrhythmia

5.      Patient may develop orthopnea or cardiac asthma

·         Patients need several pillows to sleep on to prevent shortness of breath

·         Consistent need to go stand up by a window to breathe better

·         Person awakens in the middle of the night

·         Shortness of breath is positional, caused by positional changes in blood flow

Having knowledge is power, so to say the least. The more you know about the symptoms and how to prevent the catastrophic deterioration in the person's condition, the better. To improve your personal condition once diagnosed with this illness, you would need discipline and commitment in improving your quality of living for a longer better healthier life. Family becomes a motivation and a support system in keeping you aligned with your goals of getting better.

Heart failure generally develops slowly, and the patient is often unaware of the condition until symptoms appear. So watch out for these symptoms and consult your doctor regularly.

After the checkup, Anthony’s wife hugged him. Elaine was confident that with the right diet, maintenance, blood pressure monitoring, weight control and regular walking exercise, Anthony’s condition will improve in the next couple of weeks, months and years. They wanted to spend time raising their children and she was committed in helping him keep up with his new lifestyle as determined in Anthony was in prolonging his life for the future of his loved ones. They were glad they did this together, they we glad to find out what they needed to know to fight this disease and what it would take to get better.