Foods that boost male fertility

Foods That Boost Male Fertility
Almost 40% of the current male population is reported to suffer from problems relating to infertility.
This has been credited to the lifestyle that men nowadays lead accompanied by a not so healthy dose of fertility busting foods like junk food, caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Instead of indulging in such harmful foods here are foods that will increase your odds of becoming a parent.


Pumpkin Seeds

Foods That Boost Male Fertility
Pumpkin seeds contain a good dose of zinc which is said to increase the sperm count. They also contain essential fatty acids like Omega-3 which enhance the blood flow to sexual organs. Other good sources of Omega-3 acids are almonds, sardines, salmon and flaxseed.

Pomegranate

Foods That Boost Male Fertility
Pomegranate contains a huge amount of antioxidants which help prevent damage against sperms that leads them to becoming sluggish and losing the ability to fertilize an egg. Drinking pomegranate juicealso increases the sperm count as well as fight against erectile dysfunction.

Oysters

Foods That Boost Male Fertility
Oysters are well-known as aphrodisiacs which are famous for boosting one's sexual drive. Likepumpkin seeds, oysters are also rich in zinc. Consuming a mere 15mg of oysters a day, reportedly helps you to repair the sperm damage caused by environmental and chemical factors.

Asparagus

Foods That Boost Male Fertility
Asparagus is one food that has been celebrated since the medieval ages for its ability to rev up the sexual drive in both men and women. In fact, asparagus was used by people of medieval ages to treat infertility. It contains Vitamin C which aids in raising your testosterone and sperm count.

Other Fruits and Vegetables

Foods That Boost Male Fertility
There are many other fruits and vegetables that can increase you chances of preventing fertility. An apple a day is said to keep the sperm count increasing. Another fruit banana is known as a "sexual super food" since it is a rich source of protein, magnesium, Vitamin A, B1 and C. Tomatoes are said to contain an antioxidant called carotenoid lycopene which helps in increasing the sperm count since men struggling with infertility generally have low lycopene levels in the body. 

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Former `Baywatch` hottie Pamela Anderson launches PETA stamps

London: Former `Baywatch` star Pamela Anderson and former `Price is Right` host Bob Barker teamed up to launch a new stamp range by PETA featuring the 20 most famous vegetarians of all-time.

The 44-year-old beauty and the TV legend were at the Hollywood Post Office to unveil the postage for the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) campaign, reported Contactmusic.

Anderson has been a spokesperson for the animal rights organisation for several years and has been a committed vegan for over two decades.

Other vegetarian stars who have agreed to put their faces to the stamps include Paul McCartney, Natalie Portman, Ellen DeGeneres, Morrissey, Woody Harrelson and Leona Lewis.

"These are very influential people, and not everyone knows that these folks are vegetarian," said Lisa Lange, vice president of PETA.  

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Ultimate Beauty Foods

If dieting has never been your forte then continue reading, because when it comes to enviably smooth, blemish-free skin, what you put into your face is just as important as what you put on to it. So in the effort to achieve foundation-free holiday skin, the beach experts over at Beach Tomatoturned to Wellness Expert, Ruben Tabares, a nutritionist who knows a scary amount about healthy eating and all-round fitness. So here is their list of the ultimate skin-friendly superfoods. So, keep your fridge full of these nutritious wonders and eat yourself beautiful...
Also Read:
  • Soaps to use or not to use?
  • Wine makes skin shine
  • Your beauty manual

Acerola Cherries – These little superfoods of yumminess are firstly high in vitamins A and B – both vital for a healthy-looking, smooth, clear complexion. Don’t under estimate their size; they have 65 times more vitamin C than an orange – which plays an integral role in strengthening and healing skin - a key ally against both acne and wrinkles.
Cantaloupe Melon – The superman of antioxidant enzymes, Superoxide Dismutase is found in Cantaloupe Melons and is famous for fighting off the effects of free radicals – protecting you against premature ageing (hurrah).
Avocado – Avocados are bursting full of beauty benefits, but are known best for their anti-aging properties, which they get from the antioxidant glutathione. They also contain lutein, which has been proven to help hydrate the skin and help with its elasticity and although they are notoriously fatty, it’s super-good fat, so get munching.
Vegetable Juice - Okay so it's not exactly a food, but combining the most beneficial skin nutrients, such as celery, cucumber, spinach, carrots and apple in one delicious juice, is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Aside from the multitude of vitamins you will be consuming, it is also high in sulphur which is a vital constituent of keratin and collagen, so not only will your skin glow, but your hair and nails will be smoother and stronger from the inside out.
Water – Okay another liquid within the list and an obvious one too, but an essential one at that. After losing two litres of waters at night through loss of moisture it is vital to replenish this with three to four litres of water every day. This water will help you detoxify and ideally should be spring water from a bottle, but tap will do the trick. 
So fill your trolleys and pack your fridges full of these superfood-goodies to get you on your way to beach body perfection, both inside and out. And if you’re heading off to catch some winter sun, then check out Beach Tomato’s tried-and-tested three-day detox to whip you into shape.
Want to cheat that perfect skin? Check out our top 10 new foundations
Check out Beach Tomato's guide to inner health

6:05 AM | Posted in , | Read More »

Ultimate Beauty Foods

If dieting has never been your forte then continue reading, because when it comes to enviably smooth, blemish-free skin, what you put into your face is just as important as what you put on to it. So in the effort to achieve foundation-free holiday skin, the beach experts over at Beach Tomatoturned to Wellness Expert, Ruben Tabares, a nutritionist who knows a scary amount about healthy eating and all-round fitness. So here is their list of the ultimate skin-friendly superfoods. So, keep your fridge full of these nutritious wonders and eat yourself beautiful...
Also Read:
  • Soaps to use or not to use?
  • Wine makes skin shine
  • Your beauty manual

Acerola Cherries – These little superfoods of yumminess are firstly high in vitamins A and B – both vital for a healthy-looking, smooth, clear complexion. Don’t under estimate their size; they have 65 times more vitamin C than an orange – which plays an integral role in strengthening and healing skin - a key ally against both acne and wrinkles.
Cantaloupe Melon – The superman of antioxidant enzymes, Superoxide Dismutase is found in Cantaloupe Melons and is famous for fighting off the effects of free radicals – protecting you against premature ageing (hurrah).
Avocado – Avocados are bursting full of beauty benefits, but are known best for their anti-aging properties, which they get from the antioxidant glutathione. They also contain lutein, which has been proven to help hydrate the skin and help with its elasticity and although they are notoriously fatty, it’s super-good fat, so get munching.
Vegetable Juice - Okay so it's not exactly a food, but combining the most beneficial skin nutrients, such as celery, cucumber, spinach, carrots and apple in one delicious juice, is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Aside from the multitude of vitamins you will be consuming, it is also high in sulphur which is a vital constituent of keratin and collagen, so not only will your skin glow, but your hair and nails will be smoother and stronger from the inside out.
Water – Okay another liquid within the list and an obvious one too, but an essential one at that. After losing two litres of waters at night through loss of moisture it is vital to replenish this with three to four litres of water every day. This water will help you detoxify and ideally should be spring water from a bottle, but tap will do the trick. 
So fill your trolleys and pack your fridges full of these superfood-goodies to get you on your way to beach body perfection, both inside and out. And if you’re heading off to catch some winter sun, then check out Beach Tomato’s tried-and-tested three-day detox to whip you into shape.
Want to cheat that perfect skin? Check out our top 10 new foundations
Check out Beach Tomato's guide to inner health

6:05 AM | Posted in , | Read More »

Is Organic Beauty Better?


Organic Beauty Products

By Maui R.

So many beauty companies have joined the “Green Revolution,” releasing beauty products that they claim are “natural” and “organic”. These products supposedly work just as hard, if not better, than their “chemical” counterparts.

There is, however, a price to getting beautiful the natural way – a hefty price tag at that – as these products cost double or triple. Which makes us ask the question: Are organic products really better, or are they all just hype?

First, let’s look at the facts: our skin is our largest organ, and it absorbs almost anything we put on it. Unfortunately, many of the beauty products we use contain chemicals that could be harmful to our bodies.

Pick up a beauty product and look at the list of ingredients at the back. Chances are, it’s filled with chemicals that you can’t even pronounce – and we’re willing to bet they contain ingredients like ethylparaben or propelyne glycol, which can be toxic in large amounts.

In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are more than 5,000 different fragrances in beauty products, some a combination of chemicals that research has found could be harmful to other organs in the body.

Now if you’re thinking of going the “natural and organic” route, you should know that the two mean different things.

“Natural” products are in theory, made up of ingredients that are “existing” or come from nature. “Organic,” on the other hand, are made of ingredients that are grown or cultivated without the use of chemicals.

But is it really worth the extra dollars?

Well, it really depends on you – although going organic certainly has its benefits, especially if you have sensitive skin. That’s because our skin recognises and identifies with natural products. So, the fewer chemicals there are, the better it is. 

Organic products also assure you that you won’t be exposing your skin to harmful chemicals such as parabens, which is used as preservatives in beauty products. Parabens have been found to cause metabolic, developmental, hormonal and neurological disorders.

There are also some people who patronise organic products for their social and environmental implications. The Mayo Clinic states that organic farming encourages soil and water conservation – non-organic products use petrochemicals that deplete the earth’s natural resources. Organic farming has also helped communities all over the world by providing jobs to locals.

But do organic products make a difference, beauty-wise? Many have said that organic products give the same results as its chemical-laced counterparts, and that it isn’t exactly more effective – which means what you’re really paying for is the peace of mind that you’re not exposing yourself to chemicals, and that you’re doing something good for the environment and society.

Also, organic products don’t have a long shelf life, since they don’t use industry-grade chemical preservatives.

Thinking about going the organic route? If you’ve got the extra cash to spare, by all means, go for it. But before you start grabbing products off the shelf, keep in mind that many companies call their products “organic” just because one or two of the ingredients they use are organic. The product itself however, still contains chemicals.

To make sure you’re getting the real thing, purchase products that are “certified organic.” This means that it has been certified by several international bodies, and follows the standard that 95% of the product must be made of organic ingredients.

However, you don’t really need to go organic just to take good care of your skin. Knowing what you feed your skin is the first step in proper skin care, which means get familiar with the ingredients of the products you use.

The next time you go shopping, pick products with few or no artificial ingredients. Always read the label to better understand what you’re buying –“derived from natural ingredients” obviously means the product is not “natural” at all. And besides, just because it’s “natural” doesn’t mean it’s safe (Hey, tobacco and poison ivy are “natural,” right?)

4:20 AM | Posted in | Read More »

Laughter really is the best medicine


A rattling good laugh with friends will help you deal with pain thanks to opiate-like chemicals that flood the brain, according to a British study released on Wednesday.
Researchers carried out lab experiments in which volunteers watched either comedy clips from "Mr Bean" or "Friends," or non-humorous items such as golf or wildlife programmes, while their resistance to mild pain was monitored.
Another test was conducted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where the volunteers watched either a stand-up comedy show or a theatrical drama.
In lab conditions, the pain came from a deep-frozen wine-cooler sleeve which was slipped onto the arm or from a blood-pressure cuff that was pumped to the threshold of tolerance.
For the Fringe Festival, the volunteers were asked to do a tough exercise -- leaning against the wall with their legs at right angles, as if sitting on a straight-backed chair -- before and immediately after the performance, to see if laughter had helped with the pain.
Just 15 minutes of laughter increased the level of pain tolerance by around 10 percent, the study found.
In the lab experiments, the neutral, non-funny programming had no pain-alleviating effect at all. Nor did watching drama at the Fringe Festival.
However, the study notes two important distinctions.
The only laughter that worked was relaxed, unforced laughter that creases the eyes, as opposed to a polite titter.
And this kind of belly laugh is far likelier to happen when you are with others, rather than being alone.
"Very little research has been done into why we laugh and what role it plays in society," said Robin Dunbar, head of the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Oxford.
"Using microphones, we were able to record each of the participants and found that in a comedy show, they laughed for about a third of the time, and their pain tolerance rose as a consequence."
The protection apparently comes from endorphins, a complex chemical that helps to transmit messages between neurons but also dulls signals of physical pain and psychological stress.
Endorphins are the famous product of physical exercise -- they help create the "buzz" that comes from running, swimming, rowing, yoga and so on.
In laughter, the release comes from an involuntary, repeated muscular exertion that comes from exhaling without drawing a breath, the scientists believe. The exertion leaves us exhausted and thereby triggers the endorphins.
Great apes are also believed to be able to laugh but, unlike humans, they breathe in as well as out when they do so.
The investigators believe the experiments help to understand the physiological and social mechanism of how laughter is generated.
The group seems vital in unleashing the right kind of endorphin-making laughter, they contend.
Previous studies have focussed more on why humans laugh, as opposed to how they do it.
One theory is that laughter helps transmit mating signals or cements bonding between individuals.
Another idea is that, in a group setting, laughter promotes social cooperation and collective identity. It is thus an evolutionary tool to help survival.
The paper appears in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, a journal published by Britain's de-facto academy of sciences.
ri/mh/har

4:19 AM | Posted in | Read More »

Know the Risks Associated with Obesity


Know the Risks Associated with Obesity
The unhealthy diets and haphazard lifestyles of the present times have contributed to an alarmingincrease in obesity rates in both kids and adults.
And it's not just a cosmetic problem. Obesity has also cropped up as a major health issue leading to a numerous ailments and complications. As per medical standards, if a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) is higher than 30, he or she is obese. At the moment, the condition has been elevated to a serious public health problem and is becoming a cause of many fatalities worldwide.
In this piece, we'll discuss some of the grave risks associated with obesity. For information on how to battle obesity, refer to our 'Weight Management' category under the 'Health' section. Recent studies indicate that an obese person is likely to develop one or more of these problems:

High Blood Pressure

Hypertension is strongly attached to obesity. Presence of additional body fat leads to the circulation of more blood to those tissues as they need oxygen and nutrients to survive. This requires the heart to pump more blood and in this process the work load on the heart and the pressure on the artery walls go up.
Know the Risks Associated with Obesity

Type 2 Diabetes

Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, also called Type 2 Diabetes, is another common health problem among obese patients. Research data shows that such people are twice as likely to develop diabetes. This condition is one of the chief causes of early death, kidney disease, heart disease and even blindness.

Heart Diseases and Stroke

An obese person has 10 times more chances of developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) as compared to a non-obese person! Other heart ailments like Coronary Heart Disease (CAD) and heart attack are more common in bulky and obese people. Such people may also develop high blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides which is linked to a number of heart ailments and stroke.

Cancer

Overweight men are quite prone to developing cancer of the rectum, colon and prostrate, whereas women are likely to develop breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and cancer of the uterus.

Sleep Apnea

Know the Risks Associated with Obesity
This is a sleeping disorder in which the patient snores heavily and his breathing rate is abnormally low. The risk of sleep apnea increases with higher body weights but can be countered with lifestyle changes and effective weight-loss programs.

Osteoarthritis

Know the Risks Associated with Obesity
A fat person's joints have to withstand extra pressure. This can lead to the wearing out of the protective cartilage in between the joints, the condition being knows as Osteoarthritis. This is particularly seen in weight-bearing joints like knee, hips and lower back joints. This unnecessary pressure on joints can be lessened by regular weight loss exercise and a balanced diet. 

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8 important manners you should teach your little ones


8 important manners you should teach your little ones
We all want to raise our little ones to be polite and well behaved, and learning those lessons starts at home. It's never too early to teach your little ones basic manners! Here are eight of the most important manners you should try to teach your little ones before they go to school. They won't remember them all, or get them right every time, but patience and perseverance should get you through:
1.    Always say please and thank you.
Whether they're activities as small as giving your little one a snack, or them asking if they can play in the garden, always reinforce the importance of saying please and thank you. No matter how young your children are, you can't start enforcing this rule too early!
2.    Table manners
When your tiny tots are just learning to eat at the table, start teaching them the manners you'd like them to have for the rest of their lives! Rules like not eating with their mouths open, or not putting their elbows on the table, are good life lessons for your children to learn as soon as possible.
3.    Play dates
When you're little ones go on play dates, or to birthday parties, remind them to thank their friends parents for having them over. If you aren't going to be attending the play date or event with your little one, ensure your little ones know they should treat their friends parents (and all grown-ups) with the same respect they treat you.
4.    Birthday party etiquette
It's often said that kids go wild at birthday parties - all the sweet snacks and fun can make little ones get excited, and sometimes forget their manners. But no matter how excited your little one is on their birthday, there are some manners they shouldn't forget: to open their presents thoughtfully (not ripping off the paper, or tossing the present to one side as soon as they've seen it) and to say thank you for every gift, and to every attendee.
5.    Mind the language
There will come a moment every parent dreads: the moment your little one swears. And then finds it funny! The worst thing you can do in this scenario is laugh. Let them know that you already know that word, you think it's unpleasant, not funny, and ask your little one not to use it again!
6.    Don't be mean
Kids tease each other, and they find it funny. But this can sometimes go a step too far and lead to bullying. Make sure your little ones don't call others mean names, and don't make fun of anyone for any reason. Ganging up on someone else is cruel, not clever.
7.    Excuse me!
Once your little ones have mastered saying please and thank you, teach them to say excuse me. It's the polite thing to say when you have to interrupt someone, or bump into somebody.
8.    TMI!
There are some things that are too much information, and that your little ones shouldn't talk about in public! These include genitals, poo, nose picking, and all the other gory things that amuse kids!

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