Research by experts indicates that bananas have a substance that has the potential to slow down HIV infection. This finding is expected to open a new window in the treatment of prevention of HIV infection which the cure has yet not been found.

Researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School are interested in lectins, chemicals that are naturally in plants, because of its ability to stop the chain reaction of various types of infections. Laboratory test results show, BanLec, lectins found in bananas, as effective as anti-HIV medicines at this time.

A new way to stop the spread of HIV is absolutely necessary. We have a number of new HIV infections exceeds the number of individuals who received antiretroviral drugs, namely 2.5 to 1. In fact, there are no signs of an HIV vaccine would appear in the near future.

At present the use of condoms is still the main method of HIV prevention when it is used consistently and correctly. Other prevention strategies are also effective to prevent transmission through the vagina and rectum by using a drug that prevents HIV entry into target cells.

Research conducted by Michigan State University researcher shows how lectins can identify the attackers from outside the body, such as viruses, and attacks it as a pathogen, can be developed to identify the HIV virus.

Besides having the same potential anti-HIV medicine currently available, the banana lectins are also much cheaper to produce as a medicine that can reach the wider community.

“The problem for anti-HIV medicines is the ability of the virus to mutate and become resistant. However, it can be prevented by lectins. Lectins can be attached to the sugar found in various points of HIV-1 and it is estimated that the virus needs multiple mutation to get it, “said Erwin J Goldstein, PhD, professor of biological chemistry.

Fruitarian (fruitarinism follower) think that their lifestyles as an integral part and a simple lifestyle without harming living creatures, including plants. Unfortunately, there are many skeptical and critical opinion against this lifestyle.

Fruitarianism is a diet that only eat fruits, nuts, seeds, and other plants that come from harvested plants without damaging or harming the plant itself. Many of the fruitarian also eat other foods, although most of it still consume 50 percent or more fruit in their daily diet.

The most common examples of edible fruit that comes from plants, including plums, oranges, apples, melons, berries, banana, mango, avocado, and pineapple, but according to fruitarianism, did only eat fruits that fall naturally, not like harvesting fruit that takes from plants. As described by Carefair.

Besides fruits, vegetables can also be included into the fruitarianism diet, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green leafy vegetables and root vegetables. Although many of the fruitarian prefer fruits than vegetables because it believed that the fruit is higher quality food and assist people to participate in a natural way of life by spreading the seeds of fruit. Wheat is not included because it is not considered worthy to eat the seeds, which have grown into plants.

Later, the medical community expressed concern that fruitarian will lack the intake of essential vitamins and minerals for daily activities. Medical experts said that, following the fruitarianism lifestyle could make your body deficient of calcium, iron, zinc, protein, vitamin B, vitamin D, and fatty acids.

Bladder infections are considered to be very severe, even to the extent that they can have an effect on the urinary bladder or spread to the kidney or prostate. Mostly bladder infections are likely to be found in individuals who have a history of urinary obstructions, such as kidney stone or an enlarged prostate. Moreover, women within the age of twenty to fifty are most likely to suffer from these infections.

There are various home remedies that can be taken to eradicate bladder infection. It is often believed that the consumption of  barley, lemon juice, marigold, nettle, thyme, marshmallow, corn milk, lady finger, watermelon juice, onion juice, cabbage, garlic, pomegranate juice, orange, pineapple, banana bark, yoghurt, parsley and plenty of water etc. can reduce bladder infections.

Moreover, the use of cucumber juice is the most vital home remedies is found advantageous in the treatment of bladder infection. The patient needs to be given a glass of juice, mixed with two teaspoons of honey. It is advisable that the patient is given a tablespoon of fresh lime juice three times daily.

Another precious remedy for this disease is the use of sandal wood oil. The patient needs to be given doses of five drops initially and gradually this dose can be increased to 10-30 drops. The patient can also be given hot and cold compresses for the treatment of bladder infection.

One should avoid alcohol, coffee and tea as these drinks contain caffeine, which should be prohibited. Since water flushes out the pathogens in the urinary tracts and also dilutes the urine, one should drink a lot of water.

The most effective way to prevent bladder infections is drinking cranberry juice, which checks the growth of bacteria and restricts them from attaching themselves to the walls of the bladder, thereby reducing frequency of bladder infections. Another method is the use of Lysimachia, a Chinese herb, as it prevents the formation of stones. It is advisable for the patient to have a mixture of garlic juice and olive oil mixed in a glass of warm water. A small amount of baking soda mixed in a glass of water is considered to be beneficial for the patient as it helps in alleviating the infection. Apart from these, the most common cause for reoccurrence of the disease is holding back the urge to urinate for a long time; hence it is advised that the patient avoids holding back urine.

The consumption of fruits like pineapple can be beneficial as it contains an enzyme, bromelain, which is trusted to be useful in restricting infections of the urinary tract. Apart from these, the most common cause for reoccurrence of the disease is holding back the urge to urinate for a long time; hence it is advised that the patient avoids holding back urine. Moreover, maintenance of proper hygiene is the key for reduction of the disease. In order to prevent this disease, one should refrain from wearing tight clothes, especially undergarments, as it creates a favorable environment for bacterial growth.

Have you discovered the benefits of green coconut water as the new rage in fruit drinks? Yes it’s true, coconut water is quickly becoming the new sports drink for health conscious men and women.

There are several benefits of drinking green coconut water, the quickly new rage health drink for health conscious people. Could it replace Gatorade? There’s a real good chance it could become the new sports drink of the decade. Many athletes and celebrities swear by its benefits.

Instead of down the conventional sports drinks that are high in fructose corn syrup and coloring, many people are going for the all natural, no preservatives added, coconut water. It is called “green” because the water comes from coconuts still not ripe.

If you examine the contents label of most sports drinks, you’ll see that there are 16 grams of sugar in it. Then you look a bit more closely, and you discover there are three (3) servings in the bottle. Therefore, you have downed a whole load of sugar in one drink. Not so with green coconut water. So one huge benefit you get from this drink is little to no sugar.

Another benefit of coconut water is its extremely hydrating properties. It is much more hydrating than most sports drinks. People in other countries and Central America have been reaping the benefits of coconut water for years. Hydration is important for active people to keep them from getting cramps.

Yet still another benefit of coconut water is its high potassium content. You can eat bananas for potassium, but they have quite a bit of sugar. Coconut water is high in potassium without the high sugar content. Potassium is one of the minerals you sometimes don’t get enough of because you skip your vegetables or eat veggies with little food value to them.

Some of the claims is that coconut water has more potassium than a banana, and more electrolytes than most sports drinks. It is also a rich source of magnesium, too.

Further, you can buy green coconut water with no preservatives, too. It is an all natural drink that is healthy, nearly sugar free and full of energy giving properties.

For all this, where can you find a coconut tree with green coconuts on it? Well, you no longer have to go out of the country to find them. Most supermarkets are now stocking these delightfully healthy drinks.

Nutritionists are giving this new coconut water a high rating. They are very much in favor of the nutritional values that the sports drink brings to the general public. Currently, you can find the new drink online for around $12 to 22 for a pack of 12. It is recommended that you drink one bottle per day, especially after a good workout.

Yes, the benefits of green coconut water as a new rage in health drinks are many and one you need to try soon. The benefits far outweigh the slightly high price for the drink; however, you get far more nutrition from one bottle of this water as compared to most energy drinks you can buy. As always, eat healthy my friends. By: Howard Coffey

Potassium represents 5% percent of the total mineral content of a human body, even though only about one litre is found in the body at a time. Potassium is found in our bodies both inside and outside cells and is a very important mineral required every day to stay healthy. More than 98% of the body’s potassium is intracellular. The body easily absorbs potassium, but nearly 90% of it is excreted through the kidneys and bowels. Thus, potassium is a natural diuretic and is important for the elimination of body wastes, such as water and sodium.

Potassium is a primary electrolyte, it is a great alkalizer, and important for maintaining pH and water balance.

Benefits of potassium:

1. Along with other minerals such as sodium, chloride and calcium, potassium helps in normal cellular function, such as transmission of nerve impulses, digestion, healthy muscle contractions, proper cardiovascular functioning (heartbeat irregularities are normally a sign of potassium deficiency), and helping the body to convert glucose into glycogen (the body’s stored form of energy).

2. Potassium helps promote healthy cardiovascular health. It is strongly believed that potassium has the ability to pump sodium out of the body’s cells and reduce body fluid.

3. Potassium, along with sodium, helps to regulate blood pressure. Increasing potassium in the diet may protect against hypertension in people who are sensitive to high levels of sodium.

4. Potassium also affects blood vessel tone as well as the way blood vessels react to the flowing hormones, thus affecting pressure within blood vessels.

5. Potassium therapeutically assists in the treatment of alcoholism, acne, alleviating allergies, promoting the early healing of burns.

6. It also helps with problems such as congestive heart failure, chronic fatigue syndrome or kidney stones.

7. Potassium plays a vital role in cellular integrity by regulating the transfer of nutrients into the cell.

8. Potassium also attracts oxygen to tissues, helps correct positioning of vital organs. Potassium deficiency indicates that probably albumin, sugar, sodium, and chlorine are also in short supply or not being properly absorbed.

9. Potassium helps proper functioning of the adrenal glands. It helps support healthy sugar balance in the body.

Deficiency of potassium –

The kidneys excrete excess potassium from the body, and deficiencies are rarely found in people on a normal balanced diet. A deficiency may result in fatigue, cramping legs, muscle weakness, sluggish reflexes, acne, dry skin, mood swings and irregular heartbeat.

A shortage of potassium in body may cause a fatal condition known as hypokalemia, resulting from diarrhea, increased diuresis and vomiting. Hypokalemia can occur in people with a chronic disease or due to aging process. Deficiency symptoms include muscle weakness, ECG abnormalities, decreased reflex response, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia and respiratory paralysis.

If the fluid and electrolyte balance is not restored, the risk of heart failure increases.

Potassium deficiency increases acid levels in the body, lowers the natural pH balance, causes problems with the formation of connective tissue. Kidney diseases (such as acute renal failure), diabetes can also cause fluctuations in the levels of potassium. Many medications such as diuretics, cortisone, prolonged use of aspirin, and laxatives also cause depletion of potassium.

Dietary sources of potassium:

Eating a variety of foods that contain potassium is the best way to get the required amount. Individuals who eat a balanced diet do not need potassium supplements. Foods, which are rich sources of potassium include turnips, whole grains, molasses, fish, citrus fruit, apple cider vinegar, bananas, avocados, yoghurt, tomatoes, poultry, oranges, apricots, potatoes (especially their skins), leafy green vegetables such as spinach, lettuce; and meat. One large orange will supply one with 250 mg of potassium, one-eighth of a person’s daily need. Dried apricots contain more potassium than fresh apricots.

Steaming of foods helps to retain nutrients that are lost through other cooking techniques such as boiling (loss of about 50% of potassium content). Steaming results in only a 6% loss of potassium.

Recommended Daily Allowance of potassium:

There is no recommended daily allowance (RDA) for potassium, but it is advised to get between 2,000-3,000 mg per day. The range of intake for children is 780 to 1,600 mg per day.

This is not difficult, and most people meet this requirement on their own through a normal diet. In general, nutritionists recommend reducing salt intake and ensuring adequate supply by increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables in the diet.

If one is into bodybuilding, he must increase the potassium intake, since potassium is needed to maintain muscles in good form, and also because potassium is lost from excessive sweating and urine.

Symptoms of high intake of potassium:

Excessive potassium can be toxic and will affect the heart. This is a problem especially when one is suffering from some problem such as kidney failure. Irregular heart beat and muscle fatigue is sign of toxic potassium levels. In healthy people, the kidneys in the urine excrete excess potassium.

Who requires extra potassium?

People who require potassium supplements include:

# women on oral contraceptives,

# chronic alcoholics or drug abusers,

# smokers

# people undergoing stress

# athletes

# people doing strenuous exertion,

# anyone suffering from any degree of mal-absorption syndrome

# people with eating disorders, especially bulimia and anorexia..