Understanding The Food Labels.

This article briefly describes and helps you understand:

• The main sections of a food label and state what they mean
• Apply the principles of the 'use by' and 'best before' dates
• Determine foods that are appropriate for you in terms of nutritional value and compare similar foods
• Select appropriate food using the traffic light symbols
• Explain the problems associated with additives and preservatives.

What's the difference between natural and processed Foods? 

Natural foods: include Meat, fish, dairy products, bread, vegetables and fruit.

Processed foods;  Jars of sauce, convenience meals, crisps, cola type drinks and snacks are examples of processed foods. With processed foods you have no idea what you're getting unless you read the label.

A food label for instance on tinned food shows:

1; The name of the product .

2. The product company.

3. The ingredients.

4.  The customer service address and phone number

5. Any instruction for using the product. 

6. Dietary information/ allergy advice / suitable for gluten free and vegetarians etc. 

Dates on food products:
Some food products bought from the market have 'use by' or 'best before' dates on it. This is because the processed food goes off or spoils with time.
Some times Using the spoiled food can cause food poisoning a medical emergency.

There are two types of dates on food:
Use by date -  which ,means don't eat food after this date
Best before date - you can use this product after this date but it will start to get worse after this date.

Foods which spoil quickly such as protein based foods like meat, fish and dairy products have a use by date and could not be used after that date.  These food are usually kept in the fridge. 

Foods that you generally don't keep in the fridge like packet food, tinned food and jars of sauces. have a best before date. 

Nutritional information

A Balanced Diet And Healthy Eating Tips.

We are always being told that we should eat a balanced diet, but what does this actually mean and how can we achieve it?

A balanced diet is one that gives your body the nutrients it needs to function correctly.

This article will help you understand 

• The three main parts of a healthy diet (protein, carbohydrates and fats) and where to find them
• Identify the differences between simple and complex carbohydrates
• State the important reasons for having vitamins and minerals in the diet and identify some of the main sources.

The easiest way of understanding a balanced diet is to split up the food into four parts. 

1. Proteins: Protein is what which builds and repairs our bodies. Foods such as meat, fish, dairy products, beans and pulses, seeds and nuts are all excellent sources of protein

2. Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are found in a number of foods and give us food calories which we turn into energy
Foods such as pasta, rice, potatoes and bread are all excellent sources of carbohydrates and have very little fat.

There are two types of carbohydrates: 

• simple carbohydrates (they contain no nutrients) 
• complex carbohydrates. (slowly release energy plus a source of certain vitamins and minerals) 

3. Fats: Foods such as meat, dairy products, olive oil and  sunflower oil are all sources of fat.

There are good and bad fats:

• Good fats are unsaturated, for example, olive oil, sunflower oil and other vegetable oils
• Bad fats are saturated and are found in food which comes from animals, like meat and dairy products.

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 165

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 164

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 162

Home Made Turmeric Face Mask- Get Rid of Acne, Dark circles And Eczema

Benefits of Turmeric Face Mask: Face masks are applied to a cleaned and dried skin and left for a few minutes until it completely dries and then it is rinsed off. Getting face masks at beauty salons is expensive and time consuming.

Every one of us wants a fresh glowing skin, free form acne, dark circles and eczema. 

Turmeric is an all-natural skincare ingredient that can be applied topically for glowing and a health  skin. Surprisingly, this excellent spice that we use for cooking curries can be used as a skin-brightening face mask.

Not only does this spice have amazing healing properties but it’s also a great beauty product. Turns out.  Indian brides have long used turmeric as a head-to-toe body scrub and face mask to brighten skin before their weddings.

Turmeric contains a photochemical called curcumin, which can benefit the body, both inside and out.

Turmeric mask works for acne and eczema. It reduces inflammation and redness, and promotes skin healing. Due to turmeric’s antioxidant properties, it has been used for skin rejuvenation. It helps softening lines and wrinkles, giving the face a more youthful appearance. It is also effective with rosacea – a chronic skin condition that is characterized by redness and pimples. It eases the redness and treats this disease.

The turmeric basic face mask is easy to make and acts as a moisturizer, exfoliator and reduces redness. It brightens the skin and makes it look fresh and clean.

You can also make your own face masks using ingredients found at home. Home facial masks are often better for you know exactly what ingredients go into them.

Common ingredients that work well for home facial masks are turmeric, honey, avocado, eggs, yoghurt and milk.The advantage of home facial masks is that you can try various combinations of ingredients before settling on one that suits your skin the best. This can be done without wasting a lot of money on commercial masks.

Preparation before applying the turmeric mask: Wash your face with running water and remove all makeup. If your hair is long, tie it up at the back. Wear a T-shirt you are not too attached to, in case it gets stained.

Different Ways Your Spouse Can Affect Your Health

Is your significant other keeping you health or making you sick? depends on the relationship and the personality of each partner.
The marriage vows says that the spouses will be together for each other in sickness and in health but some research now shows that marriage itself sometimes may determine whether you get ill or stay healthy. It is well own fact that a good marriage is better for your health but there are different ways your health may be affected by your spouse.
Some recent studies have shown that married couples are more likely to survive cancer and less likely to develop dementia or be hospitalized with pneumonia compared with unmarried adults.
Here are some of the ways your relationship with your spouse may affect your health and well being.

1. If you are married for decades: Couples married for long duration and living together without any conflicts begin to have striking similarities in their physiology. Even some say that they begin to resemble and look alike but regarding the health, longtime couples have almost similar kidney functions, cholesterol levels and general strength. A study conducted by the University of Michigan showed that more than 1500 older married couples had similar blood work results.
With time couples learn to live depending on each other emotionally and physically. They eat a similar diet, have almost same physical and sleep routines which may be the answer to these similarities.

2. If one of you is depressed: Your spouse's depression could raise your own risk of developing chronic pain and even getting depressed yourself. A study at University of Edinburgh showed that while chronic pain  is caused partly by a person's age and genetics it is also affected by partner's mental health. Caring for a depressed spouse can contribute to one's own chronic pain and fatigue.

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 160

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 155

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 98

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 97

Management Of A Few Medical Emergencies

Here are given simple methods to recognize and manage a few medical emergencies.

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 96

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 95

How To Survive Your First Heart Attack

Every 34 seconds , someone in US has a heart attack, and every 60 seconds , someone dies from it. What a person does or does not in the critical first moments can make a difference between life and death. Shortening the time between arrival at ER and treatment contributes to decrease in deaths from coronary artery disease.

When your heart is in danger, every second counts. Take these steps to identify the symptoms and make it to the hospital in time.

Step 1; Recognize the symptoms (more important the less typical symptoms) :
People with a type of arterial disease called atherosclerosis in which there is build up of fat and cholesterol in the arteries in the form of plaques, can get a heart attack if a piece of this plaque breaks off and forms a clot which in turn blocks the blood flow to the heart muscle.
The classic signs of a heart attack are:

• Chest pain
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms
• Pain in the back or shoulders,
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea and vomiting

Studies have shown that as many as one third of heart attack patients have no chest pain. These patients are more likely to be older, females or diabetic. In fact the older you are it is more likely you will not have the typical symptoms of heart attack. The atypical symptoms include:

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 60

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 59

Adverse Effects Of Smoking On Your Health - In Pictures

Basic Information On Zika Virus

Zika Virus: 6 Facts:
1. Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes.
2. The current out break originated in Brazil and has since spread to 20 countries in the America.
3. There is no treatment or vaccine available.
4. Symptoms can include a mild fever, skin rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis, normally lasting 2- 7 days.
5. Pregnant woman are mostly at risk as the virus may cause brain defects in the unborn baby.
6. Prevent transmission by avoiding contact with mosquitoes all together. Use insect repellent and cover skin with long sleeves.

Epidemiology:

• Only about 1 in 5 people infected will fall ill.
• 22 areas in Latin America and the Caribbean have active Zika virus transmission. 
• There is also presence of an outbreak of the virus in Thailand and Indonesia. 

Mode of Transmission: Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquito which also transmits dengue. 

Clinical Symptoms include:

In News -- October 15th 2016 -- Three Kansas men calling themselves ‘Crusaders’ charged in terror plot targeting Muslim immigrants

Three Kansas men calling themselves ‘Crusaders’ charged in terror plot targeting Muslim immigrants.

Three Kansas men have been accused of plotting attacks targeting an apartment complex home, a mosque and many Muslim immigrants from Somalia, authorities said Friday.

Curtis Allen, Gavin Wright and Patrick Eugene Stein face federal charges of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction, the Justice Department announced.

Curtis Allen (Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

“These charges are based on eight months of investigation by the FBI that is alleged to have taken the investigators deep into a hidden culture of hatred and violence,” acting U.S. attorney Tom Beall said in a statement. “Many Kansans may find it as startling as I do that such things could happen here.”

According to the FBI complaint made public Friday, the investigation was prompted by a paid confidential informant who had attended meetings with a group of individuals calling themselves “the Crusaders” and had heard plans discussed for attacks on Muslims, whom the men called “cockroaches.”

5 Reasons You Are Having Back Pain And SImple Ways To Fix Them

Most of us suffer from low back pain at some point in our life. At times we may know the reason that triggered it like after lifting a heavy box improperly or just sleeping in an abnormal posture.
But generally speaking low back pain is one of the most common reasons for doctor visits, disability and loss from work.
Read these 5 surprising reasons that might be causing you the back pain and simple tips to fix the problems.

1. You Are Feeling Down: Being upset, feeling down or more serious mood disorders like depression can show up as pain in different parts of the body most commonly affecting the lower back. A research at University of Sydney found that people who had symptoms of depression had 60% greater incidence of back pain compared to those who were not depressed.
Although the link between back pain and depression is not clearly understood , one theory is that people who are depressed or feeling down are less likely to exercise and more likely to have disturbed sleep , both of which can contribute to low back pain.

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 38

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 32

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 17

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 13

3 Red Fruits That Can Make Your Heart Stronger.

We all know the famous quote " An Apple a day keep the doctor away" Here we can add tomatoes and cranberries which are healthy fruits to keep the doctor away too.
New research shows incorporating these three red , round fruits into your daily diet can reduce your risk of heart disease as much as 40 % .
Indeed, diet can have a tremendous impact on heart health and should be the first line of defense when treating high cholesterol or high blood pressure , two of the biggest risk factors for heart disease. In many patients there can be an improvement in cholesterol levels from diet alone.
Fortunately , the antioxidant rich fruits features here are as tasty as they are healthy.

Tomatoes: A recent new study showed that eating lycopene rich foods such as tomatoes more than five times a week oven an 11 year period reduced coronary disease risk by 26%.
Its best to eat tomatoes cooked, because the heating process allows lycopene to be better absorbed.

Apples: An apple daily can reduce LDL (the bad cholesterol) by as much as 40%. A study was done on post menopausal woman and it was found to have a link between eating apple and a lowered risk of dying from heart disease. Be sure to eat the fruit as a whole rather than drinking juice because the peel has most of the anti oxidants.

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 3

Natural Ways to Fix Common Hair Problems

We all want healthy beautiful hair. Here are a few common hair problems and the natural ways to fix them.

1. Dry, Brittle Hair: 

The Cause: Excessive blow drying, chemical coloring agents, and the wrong kind of conditioner are the common culprits. Hormonal balances may be to blame , especially if you are menopausal or perimenopausal. Less common causes include: thyroid disease or autoimmune diseases. These can cause dryness and breakage of hair. Lack of proper hydration impacts hair leaving it parched and brittle. 

The Fix: Once you have ruled out possible medical causes, focus on moisturizing with super-emollient shampoos and conditioners: look for those with biotin, a B vitamin that increases the elasticity of the hair cortex to keep brittle hair from breaking. ( you can take biotin supplements too). Use a deep conditioner or hair repair formula weekly. Avoid excessively steamy showers and heat drying, both of which can strip oil from scalp and dehydrate hair, 

2. Dull Hair:

The Cause: Most often it is because of build up of hair product, spray, mousse or even conditioner that coat the hair shaft over time , causing dull hair. Chlorine from swimming pools and even in tap water can also cause dull hair. 

The Fix: Use a clarifying shapoo once a week to remove hair product buildup. Rinse hair weekly in apple cider vinegar. Keep hair locks well conditioned to promote shine and look for a conditioner that specifically focuses on luster. Plant oil serums can also bring glow back to dull hair. 

3. Frizzies: 

The Cause: In winter, cold dry air and indoor heating lead to a lack of humidity in the air leaving hair dull and frizzy and causes flyaway locks. If you have curly hair, your problem will be compounded in summer, when excess humidity in the air can make curls unmanageable. Lack of dietary fat can also lead to year round frizzies.

The Fix:  Tame frizzy, flyaway hair by spritzing your hair brush with hair spray. Combat damage and dryness with leave in conditioner. Skip brushing and use a wide toothed comb to style hair instead. Increase healthy fats in your diet .

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 2

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 1

Surah Al-Maidah Chapter 5 Verse 88

Overcome Your Stress In Few Minutes

Stress and anxiety are a part of human life. You may be stressed due to pressure of work or an upcoming exam, these 5 simple tips can help relive stress in few minutes. Try it out and you will feel great.

1. Eat a Square of Dark Chocolate: Not only is it rich in healthy flavanols, but cocoa also causes the brain to release endorphins, the hormone that make you feel good.

2. Embrace the Rush And Use it For the Good: Short term stress can actually help memory and brain function. So use the initial burst of energy to accomplish your goal, then learn to just let it go.

3. Give or Get A Hug: A nice big squeeze triggers the release of the warm and fuzzy love hormone oxytocin. Hug your spouse, child or a close friend. Shaking hands works too.

4. Take a Break: If you are busy with something, work or studies that is causing you stress , just take a break, watch something funny on you tube like a pet video or read some jokes. A good belly laugh relaxes muscles, lowers blood pressure and releases body's natural pain killers.

5. Find a Green Space: Walking in nature relieves tension, decreases frustration and calms you down. If you don't have time to go to a park, just watch outside through the window for a while.

How Stress Affects Your Body

Stress affects every cell in human body, and our body under stress undergoes many changes that are not good for our health. The affects are summarized below:

1. Brain: Hypothalamus orders adrenal glands to release cortisol and adrenaline ( the stress hormones that prepare body to action) and endorphins ( to blunt pain) . If Stress continues it leads to Headaches, insomnia, depression and increased risk of dementia.

2. Eyes: When under stress the pupils dilate and continued underlying stress may present as eyelid twitching.

3. Ears: When body faces acute stress hearing sharpens in order to respond to fright and emergency state but if continues there is risk of tinnitus and hearing loss.

4. Esophagus: Stress may be the cause for reflux symptoms.

5. Heart: Heart rate increases and blood pressure rises. Long term effects include increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

6. Lungs: Rapid breathing and can cause worsening of asthma.

Surah Al-Maidah Chapter 5 Verse 40

Surah Al-Maidah Chapter 5 Verse 39

A Guide To Living Healthy at 70 Plus

There is a lot about getting older which is out of our control like aches and pains and certain habits that has caught up with us during all those years. But there is a lot that we can do to stay healthy, fit  and mentally sound as much as possible. Research has shown that these  healthy life style changes are much easier than thought.

Step 1 : Eat Clean, Get Lean: As we get older, we usually tend to resign ourselves to live with the extra weight but the fact is that the older we get the more dangerous those extra pounds can be for our health. Don't worry here we will try to suggest a simple nutrition plan that will help your body function the best at your age.
Clean eating is used for the basic fundamental of eating the food we know is good for health - whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and goof fats, and avoid high salt, sugar and trans fats.
A few simple rules to chose a smarter diet are:

1. Try to eat food in their natural state like unsalted nuts, whole fruits and vegetables. It is unfortunate that much of the food that we consume in this era is chemically altered so try to swap to two or more servings of real natural food and you will be on your way to better health.

2. Most food that comes in boxes is processed in some way or other, which means it had added things which you don't need or strips away some of a food's essential goodness. So try to eat food with the least amount of processing. The closer the food to its original is more better.

3. Check the label of ingredients before you buy anything to eat and the healthiest foods are the ones that contain the least ingredients.

4. Try to AVOID:

Surah Al-Maidah Chapter 5 Verse 35

Surah An-Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 175

Surah An-Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 147

Surah An-Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 135