Staying healthy and natural

Vitamin K, an essential fat-soluble vitamin, plays an important role in bone and heart health. The term vitamin K refers to a family of compounds with a common chemical structure of 2-methyl-1, 4-naphthoquinone. These compounds include phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and a series of menaquinones (vitamin K2) Being a fat-soluble vitamin, your body stores it in fat tissue and the liver. Signs of Vitamin K Deficiency A deficiency in vitamin K can lead to defective blood clotting, increased bleeding and osteoporosis. Some of the signs and symptoms include easy bruising, oozing from the nose or gums, heavy menstrual periods, gastrointestinal bleeding, blood in the urine and excessive bleeding from wounds, punctures, injections or surgical incisions. People with chronic malnutrition, alcohol dependency or health conditions that inhibit absorption of dietary vitamins are at a higher risk of suffering from vitamin K deficiency. How Much Vitamin K You Need The U.S. National Insti...

Lemons are a favorite all over the world and an essential kitchen staple. Plus, they’re one of those foods that you can use every bit of – from the flesh to the peels. Lemon peels contain a wide range of vitamins, minerals and fiber that provide a nutritional boost. In fact, compared to lemon juice, the peels have more vitamins C and A, beta-carotene, folate, calcium, magnesium and potassium, to name a few. The peels are even refreshing and smell divine, and can add flavor and aroma to foods and drinks. They also offer skin as well as common household cleaning benefits. 1. Improve Your Skin Health Lemon peel has many skin benefits. The acid in it can help enhance the clarity, glow and softness of your skin. Plus, lemon peels are great for exfoliating to remove dead skin cells and stimulate new skin growth. They can also be helpful for those with acne. You can choose from various methods to reap the benefits. You can rub fresh lemon peel all over your face. ...

The human body is designed to be alkaline and it functions properly in this state. The optimum pH for our blood and body tissues is about 7.35 to 7.45. This is slightly above the neutral pH level– between a pH of 0, which is completely acidic, and a pH of 14, which is completely alkaline. However, the foods that most of us eat cause our bodies to be in a constant state of acidity. You can put the blame on highly acidic foods like processed food, sodas, junk food, meat, eggs and dairy products that most of us consume in huge amounts. A constant state of acidity can lead to heart disease, a stroke, cancer, skin disorders, auto-immune conditions, allergies and the list goes on. The solution to this problem is an alkaline diet, which will help balance the pH level of the fluids in the body, including blood and urine. Several foods are alkaline in nature and can help properly balance our pH levels to reduce daily ailments and the possibility of certain long-term health ris...

Many people skip breakfast due to busy schedules and hectic lifestyles or to cut calories and lose weight. But skipping the first meal of the day is not a good idea. It is important for your overall health to eat breakfast. First of all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day after an overnight break from eating. Its name comes from the idea of breaking the fast and waking up your metabolism rate. This meal  provides the energy and nutrients to help you carry out your day’s activities . Secondly, several studies have proven that  people who eat breakfast daily have a better chance of dropping pounds and maintaining a healthy body weight . People who skip breakfast often snack on foods that are high in fat and sugar. Thirdly, people who eat breakfast are more alert,  work more efficiently and tend to be in better moods . On the other hand, those who skip breakfast can be apathetic, disinterested and irritable. Finally, eating breakfast daily has lon...

Papaya is one of the best fruits with an excellent nutritional profile. It offers the most amazing health benefits for the body, from skin care to cancer benefits. And it’s not just the fruit, even a spoonful of papaya seeds a day will benefit your body immensely. Most people just set the papaya seeds aside or throw them away, but you may stop doing that after reading this article. The tiny seeds are actually edible and have a strong flavor, like a cross between mustard and black peppercorns. In fact, they can be used as a substitute for black pepper. The seeds are rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, protein, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. They also exhibit strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic and antibacterial effects. How to Eat Papaya Seeds There are various ways of eating papaya seeds. Some of the ways include: Raw:  The simplest option is to  scoop out the seeds directly from the cut fruit and eat them along with the fruit . Pou...

A healthy gut is the secret to maintaining a healthy body and mind! A properly functioning digestive system is essential for your overall health. The gastrointestinal tract is lined with bacteria that aid in performing many important functions. These good bacteria help in boosting immunity, producing the feel-good brain chemical serotonin, converting food into energy, and disposing of foreign substances and toxins from the body, to name a few. But if the good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract are overpowered by bad bacteria, things go awry.  An imbalance in gut bacteria can also potentially affect how well other organs and bodily systems function. In fact, a gut imbalance has been linked to hormonal imbalances, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, eczema, rosacea and other chronic health problems. Most people are not even aware that something’s wrong with their gut bacteria, so the problem goes untreated. Knowing the...