The Pomegranate
Image via WikipediaHere is a little history of the pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall. The pomegranate is mostly native to theIranian Plateau and the Himalayas in North Pakistan and Northern India. It has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times, and today, is widely cultivated throughout Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Egypt, China, Burma, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the drier parts of southeast Asia, the Mediterraneanregion of Southern Europe, and tropical Africa. Introduced into Latin America and California by Spanish settlers in 1769, pomegranate is now cultivated in parts of California and Arizona for juice production.In the Northern Hemisphere, the fruit is typically in season from September to February. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is in season from March to May.
An ancient fruit, pomegranate is mentioned in Europe as early as the Iron-Age Greek Mythology in the Homeric hymns. Yet, it has still to reach mainstream prominence as a consumer fruit in commercial markets of North America and the Western Hemisphere.
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| Model Credit Madison R.V |
There are many antioxidants are found inside a pomegranate. Health benefits associated with antioxidants are well proven. Antioxidants help to neutralize the free radicals that can damage cells via oxidative stress. Free radicals are encountered throughout a normal day via pollution, pesticides, and unhealthy food choices - and have been linked to a variety of diseases. Natural antioxidants found in pomegranates are their most well-documented health benefit.
Pomegranate juice has been shown to work well as a blood thinner so be careful if you have a medical condition that might worsen. As a result, it is an excellent agent for promoting blood flow to the heart. One study showed that drinking 1.7 ounces (50 ml) of pomegranate juice per day lowered systolic blood pressure (the higher number in your blood pressure reading) by as much as 5 percent.
The high amount of vitamin C content helps to fight against flu and cold symptoms. It you are down with flu, simply drink 1 to 2 glasses of diluted Pomegranate juice. Also research suggests that drinking pomegranate juice may be a natural way to prevent dental plaque because it possess antibacterial properties. This helps to decrease the chances of bad breath and gum disease.
The seeds of this fruit are packed with dietary fiber, yielding more than five grams of fiber for every half cup. The fiber content and the medicinal properties of the juice help reduce LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. Regular intake of the fruit could thus prevent the build up of plaque in the arteries. Thus, pomegranates keep the heart healthy. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition in September 2005 found that an extract of pomegranate was able to reduce a pro-inflammatory protein molecule (Interlukin-1b), which is known to the cause cartilage degradation of osteoarthritis. This means that pomegranate can slow the deterioration of human cartilage.
Recap:
Pomegranates are a great of this vital nutrient. Vitamin C helps you fight off colds and other infections.
Recap:
Pomegranates are a great of this vital nutrient. Vitamin C helps you fight off colds and other infections.
Vitamin K
You need this vitamin to help your blood coagulate (clot) properly.
Potassium
Pomegranates are rich in this important mineral.
Pomegranates also have folic acid, iron, calcium, and fiber. All essential for good health!
So take another look at that funny looking fruit because this one packs a punch.
Resource
Life Mojo
Belly Bytes
Belly Bytes
Natural health restored
Pimples & Blackheads
A pimple is a kind of acne, and one of the many results of excess oil clogging the pores. Some of the varieties are pustules or papules. Pimples can be treated by various acne medications prescribed by a dermatologist, or purchased at a drug store with a wide variety of treatments. Inside the pore are sebaceous glands which produce sebum. When the outer layers of skin shed (as they do continuously), the dead skin cells left behind may become 'glued' together by the sebum. This causes the blockage in the pore, especially when the skin becomes thicker at puberty. The sebaceous glands produce more sebum which builds up behind the blockage, and this sebum harbours various bacteria including the species Propionibacterium acnes, causing infection and inflammation.
A blackhead (medically known as an open comedo, plural comedones) is a yellow or blackish bump or plug on the skin. A blackhead is a type of acne vulgaris. Contrary to the common belief that it is caused by poor hygiene, blackheads are caused by excess oils that have accumulated in the sebaceous gland's duct. The substance found in these bumps mostly consists of keratin and modified sebum (an oily secretion of the sebaceous gland), which darkens as it oxidizes. Clogged hair follicles, where blackheads often occur, reflect light irregularly to produce a blackhead's "black" hue. For this reason, the blockage might not necessarily look black when extracted from the pore, but may have a more yellow-brown colour as a result of its melanin content.
In contrast, a "whitehead" (more commonly known as a pimple or a closed comedo) is a follicle that is filled with the same material, sebum, but lacks a microscopic opening to the skin surface. Since the air cannot reach the follicle, the material is not oxidized, and remains white.
The words pimples and blackheads, are things you have probably dealt with before, but what’s the difference between them? Pimples,and blackheads are various forms of acne that affect the face, chest, back, and shoulders. Treating these various forms of acne can be tedious and take dedication. Not to be confused with just a teenage phase, acne can affect teens, adults. Since it is a very common disease, you need to know what form of acne you are personally dealing with. Although they may look different, pimples and blackheads are all results from clogged pores.
What are safe alternatives for getting rid of blackheads? You can use a pimple extractor tool, which is a stick with a loop on the end of it. You put the pimple inside of the loop and push down, then once it pops, you swipe across. Want an even safer way to get rid of your blackheads? Make a mixture of Epsom salt and water to wash the area with blackheads and pimples.(Dr. OZ)The best way to prevent your blackheads is to know the cause behind it and take steps accordingly. When you notice blackheads on your skin take the following preventive measures.
Avoid picking and squeezing your skin
Avoid oil based cosmetics
Avoid heavy make up
Keep your skin clean
Avoid coming in contact with dust
In case of severity, consult a specialist and follow the suggestions
Making Your Own Facial Masks
Here are a few all-natural facial masks you can make with ingredients found in your kitchen:
A. Oatmeal: People with really oily skin often get blackheads. Oatmeal is one way to treat oily skin. It is very dry, so it absorbs oil from the skin. Plus, it's inexpensive and natural.To use oatmeal to help clear your skin, make a thick paste of oatmeal and water. Apply this mix to your face in the morning and evening. Allow the paste to stay on your face for ten to twenty minutes before rinsing with cool water.
B. Honey and Apple: Another effective all-natural facial mask for those with oily skin is made from honey and apples. After grating the apple into a fine pulp, mix in four tablespoons of honey and apply to your face for ten minutes. Rinse off the mask after ten minutes is up.
C. Egg Whites, Witch Hazel and Lemon Juice: Another acne home remedy is a mask made of egg whites, witch hazel and lemon juice. To make this mask, beat an egg white until stiff and add a few drops of witch hazel and a few drops of lemon juice. Spread the mixture over the face and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse well with lukewarm water.
D. Tomatoes: Tomatoes work wonders for oily skin. After mashing a ripe tomato, drain the juice on paper towels for a few minutes. Next, take the tomato pieces and pat them onto your face as you are lying back. Leave the pieces on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Do this treatment once daily, preferably in the morning.
1. Try to stay away from dairy products as much as possible because these contain harmful hormones that can trigger sebum, which is one of the main causes of acne.
2. Don't over-wash your skin as this can cause impurities.
3. Avoid stress as much as possible. In this day and age that is easier said than done, but stress and anxiety can cause acne or make it worse, so try to reduce stress in your daily habits.
4. Dairy products contain iodine which affects pimples and acne. To reduce the amount of oil and thus " starve " those sebum-greedy pimples, acne and blackheads, cut down your consumption of oil, fats and fried foods
5. Visit a dermatologist
Basically, blackheads and pimples are caused by blocked pores,Ok now that we now this what can one do, its hard because there is so many types
Resource
Wikipedia
Dr.Oz
Health Tree
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