Bananas are rich in Vitamins A, C, B6, B12, magnesium, and offers great antioxidants for our bodies. They are excellent ripe, sweet and loaded with nutrients.  The green ones can be boiled like potato and also make great banana chips. Bananas can be used to make all kind of goodies like banana nut bread/cake, smoothies, banana chips,  fritters and much more. Best Banana Recipes. My favorite ripe banana is the Chiquita . Bananas have both a high amount of carbohydrates as well as potassium, which also makes them the fruit of choice for many athletes.a]   Recipe from CDC  Banana Nut Smoothie Makes 4 (1 cup) servings. Recipe source: PBH Ingredients; 2 bananas, ripe, 2 cups pineapple juice, 2 Tbsp Creamy peanut butter, 2 tsp plain yogurt, 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract, 6 ice cubes, nutmeg Combine all ingredients, except nutmeg, in blender. Cover and run on high until smooth and well-blended. Sprinkle with nutmeg. a] Wellness Encyclopedia of Food and Nutrition,...

Foods Fortified With Sterols: Foods rich with natural sterols  include corn oil, sunflower oil, many types of beans, corn, peanut butter, olive oil, almonds, oranges, apples, coconut oil , walnut oil, pecan oil, macadamia oil and cottonseed oil. Plant sterols and stanols are substances that occur naturally in small amounts in many grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Research shows eating more fruits/veggies is good for your heart!  Studies show that plant extracts block cholesterol absorption in the gut and can lower LDL levels by 10% without affecting good cholesterol. Helps with blood pressure. Margarine, soy milk, or orange juice can deliver heart healthy power of vegetables– when they’re fortified with cholesterol-fighting sterols and stanols.  According to the Mayo Clinic, eating foods which have plant sterols added to them may reduce your LDL . Here are some foods fortified with sterols , Minute maid Orange juice, Cookies, Energy bars,Yogurt drinks. Cereals. You can also get sterols in supplement form. Use under the advice of your Doctors. Natural Source is always best and first choice. Quick and easy breakfast Read more: about foods rich in sterols here . What are sterols and stanols, and does anyone like to eat them? Read more here  Read more: Foods high in Plant sterols here. What Foods are high in Plant Sterols Source: CDC, FDA, WebMD, American Heart Association.Plants that Heal,  Natural Remedies Encyclopedia....

Grapes are good for you. Grape is one of the oldest fruits to be cultivated going back as far as biblical times. The more natural, the  better. Raw fruits are better than cooked ones. Red grape juice and red wine contain a significant amount of flavonoids and red anthocyanin pigments that act as antioxidants. These substances protect cholesterol from oxidation, reduce blood lipid levels and inhibit the formation of blood clot, and provide protection against heart disease.. Grapes and grape juice, especially  the purple and red grapes, contain resveratrol. Resveratrol has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and added benefits of dietary fiber. These antioxidants are found mainly in the skin, stem, leaf and seeds of grapes, rather than in the pulp of the grapes. Grapes are one of the most delicious fruits. They are a rich source of vitamins A, C, B6 and folate in addition to essential minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and selenium. Studies done  showed that antioxidants  has prevented the kind of damage that can trigger the cancer process in cells. Some other health benefits of grapes include the ability to  treat asthma, micraine, constipation, indigestion,  and has anti-cancer properties. Grapes are found to have strong anti-cancer properties due to the anti-inflammatory effect of resveratrol present in grapes. It is particularly effective in colorectal cancer and breast cancer. Anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins present in grapes have properties of an anti-proliferate and can inhibit the growth of cancer causing agents. Grape juice not only just prevents the risk of cancer, but also suppresses the growth and propagation of cancer cells. The pigments contained in grapes enhance the overall immunity of the body. There is not enough evidence to say that eating grapes or drinking grape juice or wine can prevent or treat cancer. Some research studies suggest that red and purple grape juices may provide the following heart health benefits as red wine. (better to eat the grapes.) Reducing the risk of blood clots Reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol Preventing damage to blood vessels in your heart Helping maintain a healthy blood pressure Grapes are rich in health-protecting antioxidants, including resveratrol and flavonoids, fiber, vitamins and so much more. So make grapes  part of your daily dietary intake for heart healthy and anti-cancer benefits.   Source: Vibrant Life Magazine. CDC, Natural Remedies Encyclopedia. National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic, The Journal of Nutrition Read more about benefits of grape...

What Causes Eczema? Doctors do not know exactly what causes eczema. The most common type of eczema [ atopic dermatitis]  resembles an allergy. The skin irritation, which is more often seen in children rather than adults, is not an allergic reaction. Experts believe genetic, skin factors and environmental factors all play a role. The immune system may be involved, creating inflammation in the skin even when there is no infection to fight. Eczema is not contagious. Eczema is not an allergic reaction. However  a large number of children who have eczema also have food allergies. That doesn’t mean that certain foods such as dairy, eggs, and nuts (which are common food allergy triggers in children with eczema) , cause it or make it worse. Before removing particular foods from your child’s diet, talk with your health care provider to be sure your child’s nutritional needs will be met. Triggers in Eczema: A trigger is not something that causes eczema. But it can cause it to flare or make a flare worse. The most common triggers are substances that irritate the skin. For example wool or man-made fibers that come in contact with the skin, of many people with eczema, can trigger a flare. Other things that can irritate the skin include: soaps and cleansers perfume makeup dust and sand chlorine solvents irritants in the environment cigarette smoke Flares can also be triggered by certain conditions that have an effect on the immune system. Such as cold or flu, bacterial infection, allergic reaction to something such as mold, pollen, or pet dander, these can trigger or worsen  flares. Stress has also been identified as a possible trigger. Actions and environments that cause the skin to dry out or become  sensitive can trigger flares. Some examples are as follows. prolonged exposure to water being too hot or too cold sweating and then becoming chilled taking baths or showers that are too hot or last too long not using a skin lubricant after a bath low humidity in the winter living in a climate that is dry year-round There is no cure for eczema, but you can control it with treatments. Eczema generally occurs more often in winter, when the air is cold and dry. Eczema, is itchy and sometimes painful but  simple lifestyle changes can go a long way treating this condition. Here are  some tips that can help to keep your skin feeling  comfortable and soft. Know what triggers your eczema . Moisturize dry, itchy skin often.: One of the best ways to help keep eczema under control is to moisturize your skin.  especially after washing and bathing. Choose a plain, unscented moisturizer look for one that doesn’t contain additives or chemicals, which can irritate the skin. Manage extreme...

Turmeric  Exotic Spice Turmeric is a plant. You probably know turmeric as the main spice in curry. It has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or color curry powders. Curcumin is the main ingredient in the Indian spice turmeric and a potential cancer fighter. Lab studies show it can suppress the transformation, proliferation, and invasion of cancerous cells for a wide array of cancers. Health Benefits Turmeric is used for heartburn (dyspepsia), stomach pain, diarrhea, intestinal gas, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, jaundice, liver problems and gallbladder disorders, headaches, bronchitis, colds, lung infections, fibromyalgia, leprosy, fever, menstrual problems, and cancer. Other uses include depression, Alzheimer’s disease, water retention, worms, and kidney problems. Some people use turmeric by applying to the skin for pain, ringworm, bruising, leech bites, eye infections, inflammatory skin conditions, soreness inside of the mouth, and infected wounds. Turmeric is currently being investigated for possible benefits in Alzheimer’s disease, cancer,arthritis, and other clinical disorders. As an example of preliminary laboratory research, turmeric ameliorated the severity of pancreatitis-associated lung injury in mice. Source Tumeric  from the U.S. National Institutes of Health...

Avocado: Antianemic, protects the digestive lining and acts as a tonic in addition to lowering blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. There are 13 vitamins that the body absolutely needs: vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate). Avocados naturally contain many of these vitamins,and fiber, potassium, magnesium, and folate. They’re also cholesterol and sodium free. Avocados contain 60% more potassium per ounce than bananas. This fruit is an excellent source of monounsaturated fat.  The cholesterol-lowering monounsaturated fat in these green heart healthy foods can help keep your body strong and pain free. University of Buffalo researchers found that competitive women runners who ate less than 20 percent fat were more likely to suffer injuries than those who consumed at least 31 percent. …..Avocados are one of the few fruits that provide “good” fats Avocados contribute good fats to one’s diet, providing 3g of mono and 0.5g polyunsaturated fat per 1 oz. serving. There are more than 80 varieties, with the “Hass” variety dominating the share. Source: CDC Foods That Heal by George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans American Heart Association : Get more information here. avocado...