Everyone is talking about the health benefits of white tea. There are several benefits of white tea and we will take a look at some of those benefits. First let’s explain what white tea is. White tea is made from the unripe tea leaves that are picked before the buds have opened fully on the plant. The name comes from the silver fuzz that covers the buds, this turns the tea white as it dries up. There are different varieties of white tea which depends on the amount of leaves to buds that is used in each mix. For example, the white peony has one bud for every two leaves in its mix. The silver needle, which is the best is made from only the down buds and are picked within two days during early spring. Now that we explained a little about white tea, it’s time to talk about some of the benefits a person can receive from using white tea.

Anti-Fungal Effect
Studies indicated that white tea has an anti-fungal effect on chrysogenum, penicillium, and saccharomyces cerervisiae. In the presence of white tea extract chrysogenum, penicillium, and saccharomyces cerervisiae were completely inactivated.
Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Viral Effects
Research conducted at pace university discovered that white tea extract may hinder the growth of bacteria that can cause streptococcus infections, staphylococcus infections, dental carries, and pneumonia. It was also discovered that white tea is more effective than green tea when it comes to inactivating bacterial viruses and it has an anti-viral effect on human pathogenic viruses.

Cell Damage Protection and Skin Cancer
Scientists have discovered that white tea extract can provide protection against the Langerhans cell destruction. Not only did the extract protected the skin after it was exposed to sunlight but also the immune system was restored as well. The DNA damage that happens to cells after sunlight exposure was limited also. The white tea extract anti-oxidant properties may be the reason for it being so effective. The extract may provide you with anti-aging benefits.
From reading the above information you now know three benefits of white tea that can help you live a happier and healthier life.

Top photo credit: white tea by Marntzu cook
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In text photo credit: White Tea by u m a m I
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In since U.S. food manufacturers have to now label the trans-fat content in their foods, some have decided to switch to healthier oils such as coconut and palm. This change is for the better. It will be wonderful if more and more food manufacturers do this as well.

There are some people that don’t know palm oil is a healthy saturated fat. Just like coconut oil, palm oil has been mistaken for being unhealthy for a long time. In actuality palm oil is a really healthy saturated fat. Both oils have been included in the diets of tropical people for thousands of years and helped people to stay healthy and lean for years. Just like coconut oil, palm oil is excellent for frying and baking. It is also very solid and stable at room temperature, therefore it do not need hydrogenation and does not have Trans fatty acids. Trans fat is bad for you, so you should avoid it. According to Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD, of the Weston A. Price Foundation, palm oil is a healthy and natural fat consisted of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.

After soy oil, palm oil is the second greatest utilized dietary oil in the world. It is healthier for the body than soy oil. Palm oil doesn’t come from the same palm tree as coconuts. In Africa a palm tree produces small fruits that contain the palm oil. In its original or unprocessed state palm oil is a reddish orange color and a rich source of carotenes and Vitamin E. For some people it can take a little time getting used to unprocessed palm oil because of its strong taste. When palm oil is processed it has the flavor removed and some it’s nutrients. Even if it’s processed it is still better for the body than canola or soy oil.
Switching to palm or coconut oil is better for you. Look for food products that contain non-hydrogenated palm or coconut oil or you can make your own healthy foods with these oils.

Top photo credit: Jukwa Village Palm Oil Production, Ghana by oneVillage Initiative
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In text photo credit: Jukwa Village Palm Oil Production, Ghana by oneVillage Initiative

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If you are eating healthy or want to start eating healthy you should start writing a shopping list, plan, organize, and create a menu; Doing these things will help you save money, time, and stick to healthy recipes. You will have to go grocery shopping regularly in since healthier foods tend to have a more limited shelf life. Visiting health food stores can help you meet other health-conscious people.

Healthy eating can consist of fresh and or organic foods with no or gentle cooking methods without depleting food of its nutrients or adding any artificial foods. Most of the time when you eat healthy you have to cook your own food, because you can’t just go out and buy takeout food or fast food in since they are not healthy for the most part. With all the new kitchen appliances and gadgets we have today, cooking food yourself should be easier than before and fun. Below we will provide some of the products that you should include on your shopping lists for healthy eating.

Vegetables: Eat all your vegetables while they are still young. This is when they are tender. You can find some of the best vegetables at fresh food markets or health food stores. Grocery stores that are not health food stores usually sell vegetables that are genetically modified or have been picked while they are green and later ripened in boxes when being delivered to places long distance. Brightly colored vegetables and sprouts contain the most antioxidants and vitamins.

Fruits: It is best to buy seasonal fruits because exotic fruits have traveled long distances and ripened in their boxes and not on the trees. Local, fresh, naturally ripened and organic fruit are the best to buy.

Fish and Shellfish: The best fish to buy is unfrozen and fresh. Most of the fish you see in grocery stores that are not health food stores come from fish farms in which the fish are fed with artificial substances which can be unhealthy. Pink salmon and other popular fish will most likely come from a fish farm. Shellfish will be healthier. For example, shrimp does not live in chemically polluted water. When you boil mussels throw away the ones that do not open.

Meat: To be honest, it’s probably best to not eat meat at all in order to eat healthy; only because it’s difficult to find healthy meat that comes from a farmer that use healthy methods to ensure their meat is healthy. Many of the meats in grocery stores have a large amount of antibiotics and growth hormones. The best meat will come from small farms or organic farms.

Eggs: Buy free-range or organic eggs. Before buying them, make sure they are fresh.

Cheese: Cheese is rich in minerals and vitamins, although they are rich in fats as well. Buy fresh cheese only and try to eat it soon because fresh or gourmet cheese don’t last long.

Herbs: You can use herbs fresh or dried. You can plant and grow your own herbs and use them fresh. Also to preserve flavor you can buy whole spices/herbs and freshly ground them.

Grains: Eat whole grains and Whole wheat. Try not to eat refined grains or wheat because once it’s refined a lot of the ingredients are depleted. Rice may be the only exclusion because even if the rice grain shell is removed, many of the nutrients may remain in the rice grain.
Remember the saying, “you are what you eat”. So begin buying and eating healthy foods and have fun cooking healthy meals.

 

Top photo credit: Fresh fruit and vegetables by Mundoo

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In text photo credit: Cheese School 101 by niallkennedy

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The nails protect the fingertips and help you grip things firmly. The nails are at the end of the fingertips on the dorsal surface. It contains a sturdy flexible keratinous nail plate originating from the nail matrix. Soft tissue called the nail bed lies underneath the nail plate. The nail fold or the cuticle is between the skin and the nail plate. A healthy normal nail is slightly pink and the surface is convex from side to side. On average finger nails grow 1 cm in 3 months and toe nails grow 1 cm in 24 months. The nails can help give the general health and hygiene of a person through its appearance, color, nature, and shape. Sometimes doctors may examine the nails to find out about possible diseases. An abnormal nail may be due to diseases or genetics. The cause of change in the nails can be from something simple or something that’s life threatening. An examination of the nails is needed for diagnosis. We discuss some abnormal findings and there possible causes for you to be aware.

1. Hygiene:
It very easy to tell if a nail is unhygienic. Dirt under the nails can cause the ingestion of pathogens when you eat. Improper nail cutting can cause worm problems in children. If worms crawl in the anal orifice children may scratch the area which can lodge the ova of worms under the nails and can be consumed when eating. Sharp nails can also worsen a skin disease through scratching and can accidentally cause small wounds, when a person accidentally scratches themselves.
2. Color of nails
• Nails are pale in anemia
• Leuconychia is when the nails are white or have white spots. This is seen in nephrotic syndrome and chronic renal failure.
• White nails is also seen in hypoalbuminemia as in cirrhosis and kidney disorders.
• Discoloration in nails can be caused by certain drugs such as antibiotics, sulpha group, anti-malarial and etc.
• Fungal infection can cause black discoloration in nails.
• Pseudomonas infection can cause black or green nails.
• Vasculitis can cause nail bed infarction, especially in SLE and polyarteritis.
• Splinter hemorrhages in subacute bacterial endocarditis, rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, and collagen vascular diseases can cause red dots in nails.
• Blunt injury can cause hemorrhage and causes blue/black discoloration.
• Kidney diseases and decreased adrenal activity can cause brown nails.
• Wilsons disease can cause blue semicircles in the nails.
• Jaundice and psoriasis can cause the nails to become yellow or yellowish. Also when the blood supply decreases the nails can become yellow.
• Yellow nail syndrome causes all nails to become yellowish with pleural effusion.

3. Shape of nails:
Clubbing is when the angle between the nail base and the skin is eradicated and the tissues at the base of the nail are thickened. The fingertip becomes bulbous (rounded or swollen) and looks like the end of a drumstick. The nail becomes more convex or curved. If the condition becomes worse the nail can look like a parrot beak. Causes of clubbing can be from severe chronic cyanosis, Congenital Injuries, Heart diseases like fallot tetralogy, subacute bacterial endocarditis and etc. Lung diseases like empyema, bronchiectasis, carcinoma of bronchus and pulmonary tuberculosis and abdominal diseases like crohn’s disease, polyposis of colon, ulcerative colitis, cirrhosis of the liver and etc.

Koilonychia is when the nails become concave like a spoon. The nails become soft, thin and brittle. The normal convexity of the nail will be replaced with concavity. Koilonychia can be seen on nails of people with iron deficiency anemia.

Raynaud’s disease can cause Longitudinal ridging in nails.

Dermatomyositis can cause ragged Cuticles.

Nail fold telangiectasia is a sign of dermatomyositis , SLE, and systemic sclerosis.

4. Structure and consistency
• Fungal infection of the nail can cause discoloration, deformity, abnormal brittleness, and hypertrophy.
• Thimble pitting of the nails can be the result of acute eczema, psoriasis, and alopecia areata.
• Paronychia is the inflammation of the cuticle or nail fold.
• Onycholysis is the separation of the nail from the nail bed seen in psoriasis, infection, and after taking tetracyclines (antibiotics).
• lichen planus, epidermolysis bullosa can cause nail destruction
• Missing nail is seen in nail patella syndrome, which can be hereditary.
• Nails can become brittle in gangrene and raynaud’s disease.
• Nail falling is seen in fungal infection, psoriasis and thyroid diseases.

5. Growth

The growth of nails is affected by decrease in blood supply and severe illness. When the disease goes away the growth starts up again which results in transverse ridges known as beau’s lines, which can help you determine illness.

Top photo credit: Nails by matsuyuki

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In text photo credit: Fingers by fortinbras
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There are different hair vitamins and minerals out there that can help someone get healthy hair. Not getting enough hair vitamins can cause thinning hair or total baldness in more serious cases. The condition of a person hair can reflect the overall condition of the body. More hair vitamins may be needed if a person is ill or malnourished, the hair will show damage and may stop growing.

Some of the most important hair vitamins to obtain healthy hair are B6, biotin, folic acid, and inositol. The best way to make sure you are getting enough of these vitamins is to consume vitamin supplements. It is not just hair vitamins that are needed for healthy hair but minerals such as sulphur, silica, zinc, and magnesium is needed as well.
The most important hair vitamin is vitamin A but the best way to consume vitamin A is by including beta-carotene in your diet; because Vitamin A can be harmful if taken in large quantities but beta-carotene doesn’t have that problem and is converted into vitamin A by the body, which can be used to stimulate healthy hair. Vitamin A isn’t just a hair vitamin, it is needed for other functions including normal growth of bones, nails, skin, and the sheath surrounding nerve fibers.
Protein is another important hair vitamin because hair itself is basically protein. The amount of protein a person consumes can affect the hair directly. Consuming a lot of protein can lead to better hair growth and a fuller head of hair. Insufficient protein in the diet can lead to slow hair growth and thin hair.

Vitamins and minerals are not the only things needed when it comes to strong healthy hair. Researchers have found a connection between the condition of a person hair and their overall health. If a person is not getting enough sleep or is under a lot of stress then the hair is likely to be affected and their diet most likely will not provide enough hair vitamins to stop these effects. Vitamins and mineral supplements for the hair can help repair damaged and weak hair.

Top photo credit: Blond long-haired young lady woman girl watching the surfers at Morro Bay, CA by mikebaird

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In text photo credit: hair-larious by everyplace

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