Most people love listening to music while they work or on their commute, but new research tells us that going to concerts on a regular basis can increase your life expectancy by nearly a decade. [Read more…]
11 Ways I Use Baking Soda In My Beauty Routine
Few pantry staples are as useful — or as inexpensive — as baking soda. At around $1 a box, this ingredient will quickly become your new favorite beauty go-to. From homemade toothpaste to a cleaner for your makeup brushes, here are 11 easy ways to include baking soda in your beauty routine. [Read more…]
7 Ways To Keep Your Vagina Healthy During Menopause
There are many great things about maturing, but menopause is certainly not one of them. Everyone experiences symptoms differently, but common issues include pain during sex and vaginal dryness. The good news is, a new care regimen may help mitigate the unpleasant effects of the big change. [Read more…]
8 Amazing Ways Mindfulness Can Make You A Better Athlete
From reduced stress to improved mood, mindfulness has gained a rep for being healthy for your body and brain. Many studies show that consistent mindfulness practice helps grow new neural pathways. These pathways can give you better focus and emotional stability, while reducing the size of the stress areas of the brain. New research shows that mindfulness can make you a better athlete by rewiring your brain for more body-mind awareness, pain management and overall improved well-being. [Read more…]
New Study: 1 In 3 People Will Get This Disease. Is Anxiety The Cause?
If it feels like an increasing number of older people have Alzheimer’s or dementia these days, you’re not imagining things. One in three seniors in the United States dies with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. That means it kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. But a new study suggests that late-term dementia, the most common form of dementia, might be caused, in part, by mid-life anxiety. The logic follows, then, that reducing anxiety, especially in mid-life, can reduce your chances of developing dementia as you age. [Read more…]
5 Most Harmful Ingredients Hiding In Your Pantry (#2 Contains Arsenic)
You’re scrounging through your fridge for something to eat when you realize there isn’t anything worth devouring. Your search for food takes you to your pantry where you think some promising ingredients might reside. Yet, did you know these non-perishable items may can contain deadly additives such as hidden sodium, preservatives and carcinogenic elements? Keep reading to discover the five most harmful ingredients hiding in your pantry. [Read more…]
4 Inexpensive, Natural Skincare Remedies For Sensitive Skin
Imagine strolling through your local drug store and seeing so many enticing products on the shelves, but as you reach for them you get a mental image of blotchy red spots on your face. Not such a pleasant thought, right? That’s what living with sensitive skin can feel like. Although, there are thousands of products on the market claiming to be perfect for “sensitive skin,” many of the products are still too harsh for sensitive skin types. Chemicals like parabens, dyes and skin-drying alcohol can make over-the-counter skin products too strong for sensitive skin. [Read more…]
Is Formaldehyde In Your Mascara? 4 Scary Ingredients In Your Makeup
Most of us use dozens of shampoos, lotions, serums and scrubs on a daily basis, but now researchers are finding evidence that makeup can be the most damaging of them all. With millions of products on the market, it can be challenging to figure out which products have good ingredients and those you should not use at all. If you’re not careful, looking glamorous can come with a hefty price when it comes to your health. [Read more…]
Guanabana For Cancer Prevention? 7 Amazing Reasons To Eat This Tropical Fruit
Watch out, world. There is a new superfruit in town! Okay, guanabana (Annona muricata), is not exactly new, but it continues to make headlines for its superpowers. Guanabana, also known as soursop, custard apple or Brazilian Paw Paw, comes from the graviola tree that is native to Mexico. It is frequently used in South America for beverages and in candy, and its leaves are made into tea.
What is guanabana?
The guanabana fruit, which is more commonly known to us as soursop, is a prickly fruit with white flesh that is said to have a sweet and sour taste like a combination of strawberries and pineapple with just a hint of sour citrus. The bumpy skin is green and not edible but the white flesh is often used as an ingredient in ice cream, beverages and candy. It is quite nutritious with a variety of B vitamins as well as vitamin C, phosphorus and calcium. Plus, it is high in antioxidants.
In ancient medicine, the fruit, leaves and bark of the tree have been used to cure diseases and disorders like dysentery, diarrhea, worms and even parasites in the digestive system. To this day, in some South American countries, the fruit and leaves are used to treat mucus membranes from the nose, throat and lungs.
Breast cancer treatment
Studies suggest that the antioxidants and phytonutrients of the guanabana fruit fight disease-causing cells, including tumors. In fact, a study conducted in 1997 found that guanabana worked better than chemotherapy in destroying breast cancer cells!
Root canals
During root canals, dentists will usually irrigate the root canal with a chemical solution that is actually found in bleach. However, scientists may have found a better way. A study in the Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice suggests that using guanabana leaves may actually be a much healthier alternative to irrigate the root canal. That’s because guanabana leaves are high in anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Who knew?
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer claims the lives of about 85 percent of patients. It is estimated that at least 44,000 cases are diagnosed each year. Surprisingly, the extract of guanabana has been shown to help reduce rates of pancreatic cancer. A study performed by the University of Nebraska Medical Center found that these cancer cells have a high glucose uptake, but when treated with the guanabana extract their glucose uptake went down, compared to those cells that were left untreated.
Diabetes
Though it has not been studied in humans, laboratory rats saw a 75 percent decrease in blood glucose levels after being treated with extract from guanabana leaves. In combination with a diet low in processed carbohydrates, this could mean that patients with diabetes could see a significant decrease in their blood glucose levels.
Urinary tract infections
Urinary tract or bladder infections are most common in women and can be extremely painful. Usually, doctors prescribe strong antibiotics to treat the infection, but these can come with a host of side effects. The most common alternative treatment is pure cranberry juice or extract, but have you considered guanabana? Some people use this fruit because of its high vitamin C content and the high volume of water it contains. No clinical trials have been performed to support the claim that guanabana is effective, but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that it may be able to treat urinary tract infections.
Parasites
Western medicine usually relies on antibiotics to treat parasites, but guanabana has been used in ancient medicines for just this purpose. It is the amino acids, ascorbic acid, thiamin, iron, phosphorus, fiber and riboflavin that are said to inhibit parasites in the body.
Other potential benefits of guanabana
Thanks to the high amount of nutrients in the fruit and leaves, guanabana has been used for medicinal purpose for thousands of years. Vitamin C, for instance, is known to increase endurance and it slows down the aging process. Tryptophan, also naturally-occurring in this fruit, can potentially help with sleep and relaxation. Guanabana is rich in soluble and insoluble fiber which could make it a great relief for constipation. In addition, the extract from the guanabana leaves is frequently used in essential oils and aromatherapy.
How to eat guanabana
If you can find guanabana sold in a store, likely an Asian or Hispanic supermarket, wash the fruit under running water. Sometimes dirt can collect in the bumps, so you may even want to scrub the fruit. It is best to cut the fruit in half and spoon out the flesh, but you can also easily peel the skin and cut the flesh into pieces. Watch out for the seeds; they are not edible and should be spit out like the seeds of a watermelon. Also, do remember that the skin of the fruit is not edible.
Side effects of guanabana
While this superfruit is certainly worth exploring as an addition to a balanced diet, it is advised not to use it in excess. Side effects like diarrhea, excessive sweating and increased body heat have been reported by people who used guanabana in large amounts.
— Susan Patterson
Cleanse Your Digestive Tract With These 5 Spring-Inspired Salads
Spring cleaning shouldn’t only be something that applies to your home — it’s important to think about your body as well. By eating seasonal cleansing foods, it can help your body to naturally detox, eliminating potentially harmful substances while fueling it with nutrition that will help you feel revitalized, energized and revved up as the weather begins to warm again. [Read more…]