Expectorants help expel bronchial secretions that accumulate in the airways. They're great for treating colds, coughs and other respiratory problems. Learn how to make 5 great, natural expectorants right at home!


Expectorants are medicines whose properties help expel bronchial secretions that accumulate in the airways.
They’re often used to treat coughs, colds and other respiratory conditions characterized by congestion, phlegm and uncomfortable symptoms that prevent normal breathing.

Most of us are probably tempted by a can of Coke every now and again, though we all know it’s not exactly good for our bodies. But do you know how much sugar there actually is inside that can? Hint: it’s enough to give you diabetes.




A recent study by Public Health Liverpool noted that there is around 54g of sugar in a 500ml bottle of coke, or to put it another way, that’s a whopping 13.5 sugar cubes. With numbers like that it’s no wonder the fizzy stuff is bad for us, and researchers at Cambridge University confirmed that Coke, as well as other sugar drinks, significantly increase our risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In fact, the study found that cutting out just one such sugary drink each day can reduce your risk of developing the disease by 25%.

With around 3 million people suffering from type 2 diabetes in Britain alone, with that figure estimated to rise to 5 million by 2025, it’s safe to say it is a problem in need of attention. Earlier this year George Osborne announced that the UK government will be introducing a new sugar tax on the soft drink industry, which should be in effect by April 2018. This tax will raise around £520 million a year, and aims to address experts’ concerns that over half of all boys and 70% of girls could soon be obese.

A man from Macedonia recently took to YouTube in an attempt to warn people about the shocking amount of sugar in the drink. In the video, he boils down a bottle of Coca Cola on the hob at his home in Skopje, where the drink turns into a thick tar-like substance after 30 minutes. He says to viewers “When you drink one bottle of coke, it’s like eating all this [sugar]”.

Someone else who took it upon himself to warn others of excessive coke consumption was George Prior, who in 2014 embarked on a mission to show the negative effects of the drink by knocking back 10 355 ml cans of the stuff every day for a month. As you’d expect, the self-imposed challenge took its toll on Prior’s health; he put on two stone in weight and his blood pressure rose to an unhealthy 145/96. He also noted that, despite already drinking 350g of sugar each day, his body began to strongly crave even more.



A spokesperson for Coca Cola Great Britain said in a statement to Mirror Online: “Every one of our drinks has a no sugar alternative and since 2005 we’ve reformulated 27 drinks to reduce their sugar content.”

“On the front of our bottles and cans we clearly display the sugar content and are one of a handful of food and drink manufacturers to have adopted the government’s voluntary colour-coded labelling scheme to make it even easier for people to make informed choices.

“Our actions are helping make a difference – the latest data shows that sugar taken home from soft drinks is down 13.6 per cent in the last four years.”

References:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/01/12/what-happens-to-your-body-within-an-hour-of-drinking-a-coke.aspx

http://www.sugarstacks.com/beverages.htm

http://marshallbrain.com/science/sugar-in-soda.htm

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/533879/20140111/coca-cola-sugar-content-calorie-health-soft.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2515555/people-dont-realise-sugar-Coca-Cola-admits-companys-PRESIDENT.html

This just in – cheese could be the secret to living a long, healthy life. You’ll want to stop whatever it is you’re doing to hear us out here.

1. Yoga

2. Chair yoga

3. Mat yoga

4. Pilates

5. Tai Chi

6. Aquatic therapy

7. Walking

8. Biking

The weather outside is frightful – so, you need a food that will make your life more delightful!




As temperatures fall, our winter appetites could easily spin out of control. Studies point out that people do tend to eat more during the winter time, with the average person gaining at least two pounds – and individuals who are already overweight likely to gain a lot more. Therefore, we need to be careful during the winter months and eat good food in order stay healthy and warmed, but we also need to watch our weight!

In the article, I offer you the best foods to eat in winter that will boost your health and body heat and will help you shed pounds. These tasty foods not just help curb cravings and burn calories, they are also ideal for winter weight loss.

1) Rabbit Meat:

For most Americans, the domesticated rabbit is a quite rare food option. The rabbit meat is usually comparable to poultry and offers an economical alternative to many larger animals. The domesticated rabbits commonly distributed in the U.S. are imported Chinese rabbits or Belgian and New Zealand hybrids. Rabbit meat is generally available fresh or frozen.
Rabbit meat is popular for its high protein content. This meat contains more proteins than chicken and beef. It is also a concentrated source of iron. One serving has more than 4 mg. In addition, the meat provides many minerals. The highest levels include 292 mg of potassium and 204 mg of phosphorous. Rabbit meat is very low in calories, which can truly benefit your weight loss process. One serving of rabbit meat contains only 147 calories.

2) Pomelo:

Pomelo is a citrus fruit that looks like a big grapefruit with thick bark and sweeter taste. Its yellow flesh is rich in antioxidants, which help prevent the spread of cancer cells. It is also rich in potassium and folic acid.

3) Sunflower Seeds:

Sunflower seeds are an exceptional source of folate, protein, and Vitamin B. They can help protect the immune system. These seeds are loaded with vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that supports healthy hair and skin, prevents cell damage, and could even prevent cancer.

4) Shiitake mushrooms:

Nutritious and appetizing mushrooms are low in calories (only 10 in 1/2 a cup), almost devoid of fat and a great source of zinc, Vitamin B6, folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, selenium, potassium, and dietary fiber. According to many laboratory studies, shiitake mushrooms also help immune cells to kill viruses.

5) Honey:

Honey is the best natural sweeter that you can use! It can help boost the immune system and will warm up your soul in winter months. However, make sure not to overdo it – at the same volume, it has more calories than sugar. Honey is a great source of antioxidants and its powerful antimicrobial properties make it an ally during the cold days.

6) Liver:

It is a relatively inexpensive source of protein. The liver is an amazing source of vitamin A, B12, niacin, folic acid, and minerals, principally iron.
With just 200 calories, it supersedes most cuts of meat, however, the problem is its high cholesterol: around 400 mg per 115 grams’ liver braised. Therefore, if you lead a diet that is low in cholesterol and fat, eating liver from time to time cannot hurt if you are healthy.

7) Macadamia nuts:

Macadamias are a melt-in-your mouth treat! They are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, which are good fats that can help reduce cholesterol. Macadamia nuts are also rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E and contain omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in a ratio 1:1, which is great! Macadamias will warm you up and benefit the weight loss process.

8) Oatmeal:

There is nothing like a hot bowl of oatmeal on a cold winter day! Not just is oatmeal delicious and convenient, it is also full of phytochemicals and nutrients. It also provides great energy and keeps you full. In accordance to a research, individuals who consume oats for breakfast eat 1/3 fewer calories at lunchtime.

8) Guava:

Guava is a popular tropical fruit, which tastes similar to strawberries and pears. This fruit contains 5 times more Vitamin C than oranges. It is also rich in fiber – particularly if you consume the seeds. Moreover, guava contains iron, calcium, soluble dietary fiber, potassium, and lutein. The best part? This fruit has sixty calories in just one serving, making it the ideal slimming snack.

9) Ginger tea:

If you are thinking of reaching for a cup of tea, choose a brew with ginger. It has thermogenic properties that will keep you warm. Due to its healing powers, ginger can also promote blood flow and boost metabolism.

10) Coconut milk:

Scientists’ suggest that the fatty acids present in coconut milk could help speed up the metabolism and promote weight loss. Make sure to read labels – certain brands are high in calories. Additionally, its dietary fiber will keep you feeling full.

11) Chia Seeds:

This seed packs a huge nutritional punch. It contains great amounts of omega-3, calcium, magnesium, folate, and iron. Its soluble fiber upsurges the duration of satiety. Our energy falls easily in winter due to the cold weather. Therefore, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds to your smoothie to boost your energy and improve the immune system.

12) Watercress:

Peppery watercress and dark green leaves are some of the most nutritious greens. Watercress is a cruciferous vegetable abundant in antioxidants, which can help prevent cancer and many other diseases. It is a great source of Vitamin C and beta-carotene, as well as potassium and calcium. One cup contains 5 calories.

Victoria VITO, - nutritionist, Certificate in Human Nutrition

source: Pinterest

It's hard to know just what will keep us healthy these days.

Avocados have been touted as a heart-healthy superfood in recent years. In reality, the truth isn't too far off from the hype. They are turning up in everything from guacamole and salads to smoothies and even brownies. Here are four reasons that make eating avocados every day a sensible choice.

The reason for heart disease is clogged arteries which has a main purpose of interrupting the flow of blood in the body. These arteries block the flow of blood towards the heart and then also don’t allow the blood to flow away to other parts of the body.

There’re some simple and common factors which most of the people follow and due to which such problems occur. Heart disease is top on the list of such problems and this is only due to unhealthy diet and even stress.
This can be avoided by controlling the consumption of unhealthy diet and changes which are need to be done in the diet as per the requirement for your healthy heart.

According to a 2012 study by the American Diabetes Association, nearly 30 million people were suffering from diabetes in our country. The majority of the statistic was Type 2 diabetes that is mostly seen in adults. Unfortunately, the same study quoted that nearly that many people have undiagnosed diabetes. With pandemic proportions such as these, no wonder there is a plethora of books and articles about the disease.

For more detail:

1. http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/diet-reverses-type-2-diabetes
1a. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21656330
1b. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23320491
3. http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/17/12/1469.short
5. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060115182443.htm
6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16873779 
7. http://www.cnbc.com/id/102243886#.
10. http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/13590849409003592
11. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa012512

Fruit is tasty and highly nutritive. It is a rich source of fibers, vitamins and antioxidants that helps the body be in a perfect shape. Nevertheless, fruit contains sugar and for people trying to cut down on carbohydrates, fruit is among the food that goes off the diet list. Natural sugars in food do not have the same negative effect as fast food and desserts because they have added fructose in them.

However, if you are being careful with carbohydrates intake, it is always a great idea to choose fruit that contains the lowest amounts of sugar.

Here is the list:

Olives:
100 gr olives have 0 grams of sugar. You probably did not know that olives were fruit.The same as cherries and apricots, olives are a part of plant whose fruit is a flower of the olive tree. This tiny, little fruit has also antioxidant properties. Olives soak up free radicals that cause damages to cells. Antioxidants are essential in protecting us against various diseases. Olives make the recovery quicker after an intensive physical activity, too.

Avocado:
One slice of avocado has 2 gr of sugar. You may not have known that avocado is fruit, too. It is botanically classified as such and it contains very little sugar. However, it has monosaturated fatty acids, fibers and a broad specter of necessary vitamins and minerals. Consuming avocado with other food such as carrots and tomatoes can increase absorption of beta carotene which in turn helps vitamin A build up in the body. Vitamin A is en essential for proper growth of cells, immunity and eyesight.

Huckleberry:
100 gr huckleberries have 4 gr of sugar. Huckleberries need to be main food throughout the year and not only during holiday season. Besides the very low amount of fructose, this type of fruit also contains a lot of antioxidants. If consumed daily, the low calorie huckleberry juice (the one with no added sugar) can prevent the risk of cardiovascular diseases, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, triglycerides and body inflammations. Other nutritive values important to mention are vitamin C and fibers.

Raspberries:
123 gr raspberries contain 5 gr of sugar. In comparison to all other berries, raspberries contain the least amounts of sugar, so it is always a good idea to have them in your fridge – whether fresh or frozen they make great protein shakes. Raspberries have more fibers than any other berries (8 grams) and with that the chances of sugar fluctuations in the body are amount to nul. Fibers not only make you feel full up but also may better the content of good bacteria in your stomach. If bad bacteria are dominant in the stomach, then it becomes an environment ideal for new diseases, potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes type 2 and overweight. If your diet is rich in fibers, then it helps good bacteria survive. Strawberries and brambles are also types of fruit with low amounts of sugar.

Kiwi:
One kiwi has 7 gr of sugar. In the past, kiwi was considered as fruit that is egsotic and rarely available to people, but today this “hairy fruit” can be bought everywhere. Aside from the very low content of sugar, kiwi is rich in vitamin C that can literally save your life, so do include it in your daily diet. If you consume a lot of vitamin C from fruits, it lowers the risk of coronary diseases and premature death due to other diseases. Consuming 2 kiwi before sleeping, improves sleep. This is important for you, if you take into account the fact that recovery out of the gym happens while we sleep!

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Reference :  Natural Health.

No matter if you are skinny or fat, people will never be satisfied with how you look. When you are skinny, you will hear the compliments like, ‘oh honey get yourself something to eat you are so weak.’ And when you are fat or just little healthy, you will be receiving compliments like, ’Oh dear, go eat some salad or starve yourself to lose those extra pounds, you look so huge’. ‘Sigh’. I know both the compliments aren’t something a girl ever wanted to hear. But, you better stop caring about what people say and start knowing your body and win your desire body, and you can do this only if you want to.

Healthy habits may seem old school but they are definitely for your own good because as you grow old your body gets old too and that is the time when you realize either you have to thank yourself or should be worried about what might happen. But worrying and crying and regretting is not the last option. You still can make yourself look young, pretty and have the perfect body. Excess fat in the body can bring a lot of problems with it. You start losing your confidence, and all those pretty dresses start losing their charm. Kids whose parents, in their early age, make them eat all junk and processed food, are highly at risk of getting obese. And obesity is not something to take light headed. The increase in weight leads to obesity. And most importantly it can bring along a lot of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and sometimes cancer too. A person suffering from obesity has a higher chance of getting cancer than an average person.

I read this magic portion recipe somewhere and thought to try it out and I used this for months, and it turned out the best thing ever happened to me and since then it is the part of my healthy and clean eating. This magic portion consists of 3 ingredients:

1. -Raw Honey: 1 tbsp.
2. -Cinnamon powder: ½ tsp.
3. -Boiled water: 1 glass

Instructions:

Take hot water, that you can drink easily, and add tbsp. of honey and cinnamon powder. Mix well and drink every morning before breakfast and avoid too much crabs and sodas. You will be seeing results in a very short period of a week.

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Reference :   Home Reference

Worried about clogged arteries? The answer may be found, not in your medicine cabinets, but in your kitchen or pantries!

A recent study published in the Atherosclerosis journal shows that pomegranate extract may reverse and prevent the underlying pathologies of the cardiovascular system, that lead to heart attacks and bypass surgeries.

This study also adds to the clinical study showing that pomegranate can help unclog your arteries. A 2004 study published in the Clinical Nutrition journal showed the result of a 3 year clinical trial in an Israeli population, that the daily consumption of pomegranate juice reversed carotid artery stenosis by up to 29% within 1 year. Also the blockages in the control group increased by 9%, indicating that pomegranate’s artery unblocking effects were even greater than at first apparent.

Pomegranate’s benefit in cardiovascular disease is extensive, as shown by the following experimentally confirmed properties:

– Anti-inflammatory
– Blood Pressure Lowering Properties
– Antioxidant

How can a simple fruit be this beneficial to your heart?

This is because pomegranate juice has a high concentration of antioxidants, particularly polyphenols and vitamin C. Vitamin C deficiency is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease.

Pomegranates are also known to have anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation have a huge role in heart disease. It is a powerful antioxidant, good for lowering blood pressure, and anti-infective.

So make it a habit to drink pomegranate juice and incorporate it into your daily diet.

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Reference :     Atherosclerosis journal