4 Unexpected Health Benefits of Basil

While you might only think of basil as “nice in a pasta sauce,” would you believe that basil is not only delicious, but could help protect your heart? Read on to learn about the wonderful health benefits of eating basil!

Vitamins and other important nutrients in basil:

Vitamins: Vitamin K, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin A.*

* Basil is either an excellent or very good source of all of these nutrients and vitamins. There are many other nutrients, minerals and vitamins present in basil that are not listed here such as omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin C.

Health benefits of basil:

DNA Protection: Basil leaves come complete with an array of antioxidants and other wonderful phytonutrients. Some of these phytonutrients, orientin and vicenin, which are in the flavonoid family, have been found to “protect cell structures as well as chromosomes from radiation and oxygen-based damage.” – whfoods

Anti Bacterial Properties: The antibacterial nature of basil is linked to its volatile oils (essential oils) such as: estragole, linalool, cineole, eugenol, sabinene, myrcene, and limonene.

“Essential oil of basil, obtained from its leaves, has demonstrated the ability to inhibit several species of pathogenic bacteria that have become resistant to commonly used antibiotic drugs.” – whfoods

Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Eugenol (one of basil’s volatile oils) can also help block the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) in the body. This is important because COX is the same enzyme that anti-inflammatory medicines like aspirin and ibuprofen are formulated to help block, making basil a natural anti-inflammatory.

Cardiovascular Health: Basil comes complete with vitamin A (through beta-carotene), magnesium, and many other nutrients that can help protect cell walls from free radical damage (in the blood system and other body structures), improve blood flow and help stop cholesterol from oxidizing in the blood stream.

How to use basil:

-       Add fresh basil to salad dressings, smoothies, herbal teas or your favorite pasta sauce.

Basil will not only give any drink, dressing or dish a great flavor, but can also help kill any microbes that might be hiding in your greens or other food.  I love adding a sprig or two of basil to my green drinks in the morning!

Dried basil still has many of the health benefits listed, but your best bet is fresh! Try growing some in your garden and add fresh basil to raw dishes or at the end of the cooking process to preserve its nutrients and other beneficial properties.

-       Add basil essential oil to natural store bought or homemade cleaning products:

Adding basil essential oil to your natural cleaning supplies (Sal-suds, Castile soap, vinegar etc.) or hand/body soap (Dr. Bronners) in a low concentration (1% or less*) can add natural anti bacterial (anti microbial) properties.

*I often use one drop of essential oil per one ounce of carrier solution (you can try using more or less, but test for sensitivity before using on your skin.) I would not add essential oils to a chemical cleaner or soap.

Sources:

-       whfoods

-       en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil

- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.

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7 Food Cravings Explained

Food cravings: we all get them. But what do they mean? If you’re craving a particular type of food, is your body trying to tell you something? Is there something missing from your diet, or is it purely an emotional response? The answer is, unsurprisingly, that cravings are rooted in both your mind and your body. Beyond the obvious emotional link, comfort food exists for a reason, of course, craving a specific type of food can mean particular things about your body. Pining for sweets? Does your mouth water at the cheese counter?

1. Craving: Chocolate.

Most of us probably associate cravings with chocolate more than any other food — but it’s not just a silly, sexist trope — you may crave chocolate because you aren’t getting enough magnesium in your diet.

2. Craving: Salty Food.

Can’t get enough salt? You could be too stressed, and, in turn, harming your adrenal glands.

3. Craving: Ice.

Though doctors aren’t clear exactly why, craving ice cubes is a sign of anemia, an iron deficiency.

4. Craving: Cheese.

Crazy for cheese? You might not be getting enough fatty acid, like omega-3, in your diet.

5. Craving: Sweet & Salty Food.

When you’re craving a food that is both salty and sweet, you could be tired and sluggish — in need of a salty and sweet food’s glucose and sugar.

6. Craving: Spicy Food.

Is it scorching outside? People often crave hot food when they’re literally hot themselves. Spicy foods make you sweat, which in turn cools you down.

7. Craving: Sugar.

Sugar cravings often indicate that you have low–or fluctuating– blood sugar.

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10 ways to spice up your love life

Check out our top ten aphrodisiacs guaranteed to spark desire.

Get connected

Nothing is sexier than remembering why you fell in love with each other in the first place. "By undertaking some sort of bonding activity, you can reignite chemistry," says Dr Morrissey. "Look for aspects of your partner that you first admired before you started focusing on what they weren't doing," she says. "Go back to the kind of dating behaviour that you undertook at the start of the relationship, whether that's scuba diving, going out dancing or to the movies, as having fun together helps you to reconnect. By looking at your partner through fresh eyes, you'll see them with a new appreciation that will reignite your sexual spark."

Take a big whiff

Remember when a mere hint of your partner's smell induced all-out lust? Take yourself back to those heady days by wearing the same scent you wore back then as you snuggle on the sofa tonight.

Have a seafood feast

For centuries, oysters have been known as aphrodisiacs, with amorous Casanova said to have eaten 50 for breakfast! Scientists have proven that Casanova was on the right track. A team of scientists at Barry University in Miami analysed bivalve molluscs, a group of shellfish that includes oysters, and found they were rich in rare amino acids that trigger increased levels of sex hormones. So go on a date to your favourite seafood restaurant and order a dozen raw oysters for starters and shellfish for a main.

Face up to your problems

If your lack of interest in sex is causing problems in your relationship, sex therapists and psychologists can help enhance your libido. "Sexual dysfunction can be the result of many issues, including depression, hormone levels, fatigue or psychological disorders, which can seriously harm the self-esteem of both partners," says Brett McCann, NSW president of ASSERT (Australian Society of Sex Educators, Researchers and Therapists). "Therapists can help by identifying the problem and moving onto a solution."

Have a chocolate and red wine night

There's something undeniably sensuous about chocolate. This is because cocoa contains phenylethylamine and serotonin, two chemicals that light up pleasure areas in the brain. Alcohol is known to induce feelings of horniness, so enjoy a glass of wine with a little dark chocolate for a sensuous treat. Remember, a moderate amount of wine has been said to arouse, but much more than that will have the opposite effect

Exercise more

Working out increases your urge for sex because it activates the same feel-good brain chemicals and sends the blood racing to the pelvic region, getting you in the mood. "During and after exercise, blood flows to the genitals," says Dr Gabrielle Morrissey, body+soul's sex and relationships columnist. "This can increase sensation once you start to become turned on." A study at the University of Texas illustrated this when women aged 18 to 34 were asked to watched an X-rated film twice. The first time the women cycled vigorously for 20 minutes beforehand, but the second time, they did no exercise. Researchers calculated their sexual excitement was 169 per cent greater if they exercised first! Being fit and toned also means lovemaking sessions last longer and you are more flexible when it comes to trying new positions.

Lift your libido

Epimedium, also known as horny goat weed, which grows in China and Asia, may just live up to its reputation, according to researchers at the University of Milan. When looking into natural aphrodisiacs in traditional cultures to establish their potential as alternatives to Viagra, researchers found that horny goat weed contained icariin, a compound that inhibits the enzyme phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. Viagra's active compound, sildenafil, works by inhibiting PDE5. Try Fusion Health's Libido, a Chinese herbal tonic formulated with horny goat weed and tribulus, designed to enhance sexual desire and physical performance. 

Magic potion

The herb damiana has been keeping Latin Americans hot and frisky for centuries. Mexicans in particular swear by its aphrodisiac qualities, drinking damiana tea to get them in the mood as well as to treat conditions ranging from constipation to depression. According to herbalist Ellie Dyson, damiana helps with depression, energy levels, low oestrogen levels, female libido, impotency, menopause and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). To make the tea, add 250ml boiling water to one gram of dried leaves and steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink three cups per day over two weeks. You'll find damiana at your local herbalist, 

Pitch in

According to marital researcher Dr John Gottman from The Gottman Institute, men who do more housework and child care have better sex lives and happier marriages than men who don't. Why, then, did a survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, How Australians Use Their Time, find that women still do much more housework than men? So guys, pick up the vacuum cleaner, clean the toilet and pack the kids' lunches and marvel at how much your sex life improves! Dr Morrissey says when women feel more respected, they give more to their partner and the relationship prospers. "Relationships are supposed to be equal, but often women carry more of the responsibility," she says. "When men take on more of the burden, the woman feels cared for and appreciated, and more connected to her partner." Hence more sex!

Oil up

Infused with four ancient herbal aphrodisiac properties and four essential oils, including Liriosma ovata, known as "the viagra of the amazon" and ylang ylang, which enhances attraction between lovers, Wildfire All Pleasure Oil can be used for massage and as a lubricant. It's $29.95 from Woolworths and pharmacies.

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Exercise may Cut Heart Disease Risk

In liver transplant recipients, exercise was found to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome-risk factors that can lead to heart disease and stroke.Findings published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society, indicate that exercise could reduce complications from metabolic disease in patients post-transplantation.The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute suggests that obesity, physical inactivity, and insulin resistance increase risk of metabolic syndrome. According to the NHLBI, patients who have three or more of the following metabolic clinical features would be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome:

 high triglyceride level
    abdominal obesity
    low HDL (good) cholesterol level
    high blood pressure
    high fasting blood sugar
While liver transplantation extends life for those with liver failure and liver cancer, studies show that transplant recipients are at increased risk for heart disease and metabolic abnormalities. In fact, experts suggest that up to 58% of liver transplant patients have metabolic syndrome.

“Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent among liver transplant recipients who also tend to be more physically inactive than other patient groups,” explains lead author, Dr. Eric Kallwitz from Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill. “For this reason, our study evaluated physical activity and metabolic syndrome in patients following liver transplantation.”

Researchers recruited 204 liver transplant recipients to evaluate their metabolic abnormalities, and exercise intensity and duration following transplantation. There were 112 male and 92 female participants with a mean age of 57 years. Ethnic composition of the group was 45% Caucasian, 27% Hispanic, 24% African-American, and 5% Asian or other background.

Analysis shows metabolic syndrome in 59% of all subjects and in 64% of recipients more than one year after transplant. Liver transplant patients exercised an average of 90 minutes with a mean metabolic equivalent (METS) at 3.6. In all subjects, metabolic syndrome was significantly higher and was associated with lower exercise intensity, older age, and pre-transplant diabetes in patients more than one year following transplant.

Dr. Kallwitz concludes, “Our findings suggest that exercise could help reduce metabolic syndrome complications in liver transplant recipients. Given the early onset of metabolic abnormalities following transplant, an effective intervention such as a structured exercise program during the first year after surgery, may benefit liver transplant patients.”

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How Can You Avoid the Flu in College?

Wash Your Hands

The flu is a nasty disease that runs rampant at most college campuses every year. This virus is extremely infectious, so it often spreads like wildfire in the confinement of classrooms and dormitories. Find out what you can do to avoid the flu in college!

Washing your hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the flu virus. Some people touch their face as many as 1,000 times a day, which means that clean hands are extremely important for staying healthy. We’re all conditioned to wash our hands after using the bathroom (if you don’t, you’re disgusting), but we actually should wash our hands a little more often. The flu virus can live on surfaces for up to two days, so be mindful the next time you use a computer keyboard that hundreds of other people used the same day.

 

Clean Your Room

Most college dorm rooms are extremely messy, and living in your own filth has a way of making you sick. You and your roommate need to set aside a dedicated time each week to clean your room. If you both work on it at the same time, it won’t seem so bad.

Possibly the most important thing is to remove and wash all dirty laundry. Piles of used, sweaty clothes are theperfect breeding ground for germs and mold. Take care of your laundry, or you’re just asking to get sick.

 

Take Out the Trash

Now that you’ve cleaned up, it’s time to take out the trash. That half-eaten pizza from two weeks ago is probably starting to smell, and you need to get rid of it. Aside from the gross-out factor, garbage is also very likely to contain cold and flu germs.

If your roommate or friends have thrown away used tissues, make sure to dispose of them at the end of the day. You should also use trash bags to limit your contact with the garbage itself.

 

Disinfect Everything

If you want to make your living area germ-free, then you’ll need to pick up some disinfectant wipes and sprays. You should spray or wipe down any hard surface and anything that gets used regularly. Don’t forget to wipe down light switches, computer keyboards, and TV remotes. It might sound a little OCD, but you can’t be too careful when it comes to the flu.

Don’t worry about disinfecting all the time, but a thorough cleaning is a good idea every one or two weeks during flu season.

Limit Drinking

Drinking alcohol is a common part of college life, but heavy drinking leads to a weakened immune system. A drink or two won’t hurt, but intoxication will compromise your immune system and make you more likely to get sick. You should also avoid playing drinking games, like beer pong, where multiple players drink out of the same cups. Beer and mixed drinks usually do not have enough alcohol content to kill off the flu virus, so the cups are not automatically sterilized.

 

Get Some Rest

Sleep is one of the most important things that your body needs to fight off the flu virus. Getting plenty of rest keeps your immune system in tip-top shape, but many college students don’t get nearly enough sleep. Force yourself to go to bed earlier, especially if the flu is going around. You might miss out on a party or two, but you’ll be a lot less likely to get sick.

 

Stay Away From Sick People

The main reason why college campuses get hit so hard by the flu virus is that so many people are living and interacting within such a small space. While you can’t avoid everyone, you can do your best to stay away from sick people when you see them. Even if someone claims they don’t have the flu, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

Get a Flu Shot

If you want a more reliable method of preventing the flu, you can always get a flu shot. Most colleges offer cheap or free flu shots right on campus. The whole thing only takes a few minutes, and then you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your semester.

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What Can You Do To Make Waking Up Easier?

Wakey Wakey, Eggs ‘n’ Bakey!

Back in 1962, Neil Sedaka sang that “Breaking Up is Hard To Do.” But as I’m hitting my snooze alarm for the 20th time and groaning at the thought of getting out from under the covers, I tend to think that he actually meant to saywaking.

How many of us have this problem?

The alarm goes off in the morning, and we proceed to:

• Turn it off, roll over, and go back to sleep.
• Audibly moan out of frustration.
• Hit the snooze alarm countless times.

It’s a tough situation to break free from, but is it possible to make getting out of bed and ready for the day an easier task?

Set Your Alarm Earlier

One trick that might help you wake up in the morning is to set your alarm for an earlier time! That way, when your fingers keep reaching for the snooze, you’ll eventually rise and shine at just the right time instead of oversleeping.

It will feel a bit like that glorious moment when you wake up in the middle of the night only to realize that you still have plenty of time left to sleep. It makes those last hours, or minutes, of sleep feel extra soothing.

It’s particularly nice because you’ll still get the satisfaction of sleeping in without actually doing the sleeping in. Brilliant!

Go To Bed Earlier

I know that this is the last piece of advice you wanted to get, but it’s true! If you go to bed earlier, you will feel more rested when morning arrives and it will be much easier to pry yourself out of your cave.

You don’t have to go to sleep ridiculously early to pull this off, though. Just try heading to bed a half hour to an hour before you normally would, and see how it feels. You’ll probably be so happy with the results that you won’t mind doing it again tomorrow!

Make Turning Off the Alarm More Challenging

If your main problem is the close proximity of the snooze button, make it a little harder to turn off your alarm! Try one of these options:

• Get an alarm that requires you to do a math problem or write a sentence before it stops beeping.
• Put your alarm clock or phone across the room, so you’re forced to get out of bed to turn it off.

Let the Sun Shine In

Don’t cover your windows with so many layers of curtains that the sun can’t possibly get in to disturb you. We’ve already established that you have trouble waking up, so why would you want to make it even easier to sleep in?

Unless you’re living in Alaska and the sun is up 24/7, keep your windows relatively clear. Buy basic blinds or sheer curtains that block out the outside world without creating a black hole in your bedroom. That way, you can get plenty of rest while the sun is down, but then greet the day when the sun fills your room with light

Eat Breakfast

Make it a habit to eat breakfast first thing in the morning! Once you start hopping out of bed at just the right time and heading straight for a healthy breakfast, it’ll become second nature and you won’t have to force it anymore.

On top of helping you wake up, you’ll be starting off with a solid, tasty breakfast that will help keep you awake and energized for the rest of the day. It’s a win-win!

Take An Immediate Shower

Right when your alarm goes off in the morning, jump out of bed and into the shower. Let the water wake you up! Instead of relaxing in bed, you can relax under the warm water instead. It feels great, and you’ll immediately feel more awake!

To make it even more effective, try listening to music in the shower! If you can find a place to hook up a music player that isn’t near any water (so you don’t get electrocuted), you can play some energizing music to help get your day started on the right foot.

Hire An Assistant

Has any effort on your own part failed and left you discouraged about your wake-up routine? Try getting help from a friend or family member! Find someone who will be awake before you need to start your day, and have them call you to wake you up.

Talking to someone is a surefire way to drag you out of your hibernation. After putting in the effort to hold a conversation, crawling out from under the covers will be the next obvious step!

Choose An Alarm That Gets You Going

If you have the possibility of choosing an alarm noise other than the typical ‘beep,’ pick something that will get you out of bed faster!

• Choose a song by an artist with a really shrill, high-pitched voice.
• Use one of your favorite dance tunes, so you can’t resist tapping your toes and singing along.
• Pick something loud and obnoxious that’s impossible to ignore
  
  Source

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11 Weird Facts About Your Breasts

Women Are Buying Bigger Bras

The average woman says she now wears a 34DD-sized bra, according to data from lingerie retailer Intimacy. That’s up from a 34B 20 years ago! (To put that into perspective, that’s the same band measurement, but about three inches bigger around the fullest part of the chest.)

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