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Mysterious Myths about snails and pregnant women

Where I come from, it is believed that eating of snails by pregnant women will have derogatory effect on the unborn child as it is believed (myth) that the unborn child would posses this slow attribute of the snail, the unborn child will be sluggish with saliva drooling from his/her mouth at birth.

Am sure you will be convinced that those myths do not exist after reading this piece.

Health Benefits of Snails

• Snails are a great source of the valuable lectin, possesses anti-cancer properties and helps in boosting the immune system and fighting against cancerous cells.
• The snail slime is extremely rich in allantonin, collagen and elastin, which is beneficial for the treatment of skin diseases and broken bones. The secretions also have a copper peptide, which is regarded as the only source of a substance manufactured for creating creams that are useful in minimizing scars and wounds.
• Serum secreted by these snails is an excellent source of oligosaccharides that act as a hydrator for the skin. When applied directly on the skin, this serum works wonders for acne, enhances natural glow and protects skin cells from environmental damage.
• The venom extracted from the ocean snail is highly beneficial for people suffering from addictions, depression and Parkinson’s disease. This substance produces a synthetic version of the toxin that blocks or stimulates receptors, which release chemicals in the brain.
• In addition, toxins excreted by snails are valuable in stimulating dopamine, found lacking in people with neurological diseases.

Snail Nutrition Facts

Amount: 100 g
Total Weight: 100 g

Nutrients	Amount
Basic Components
Proteins	16.1 g
Water	79.2 g
Ash	1.3 g
Carbohydrates	2 g
Cholesterol	50 mg
Calories
Total Calories	90
Calories From Carbohydrate	13
Calories From Fat	12.6
Calories From Protein	64.4
Fats & Fatty Acids
Total Fat	1.4 g
Saturated Fat	0.4 g
Monounsaturated Fat	0.3 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	0.3 g
Omega-3 Fatty Acids	218 mg
Omega-6 Fatty Acids	17 mg
Vitamins
Vitamin A	100 IU
Vitamin E	5 mg
Vitamin K	0.1 mcg
Riboflavin	0.1 mg
Niacin	1.4 mg
Vitamin B6	0.1 mg
Folate	6 mcg
Vitamin B12	0.5 mcg
Choline	65 mg
Minerals
Calcium	10 mg
Iron	3.5 mg
Magnesium	250 mg
Phosphorus	272 mg
Potassium	382 mg
Sodium	70 mg
Zinc	1 mg
Copper	0.4 mg
Selenium	27.4 mcg

How many calories in snails (per 100 gm)
Snails have about 90 calories per 100 gm of weight.

How to Buy Snails

• Fresh snails can be found in all seafood markets, as cans or packages. But, it is necessary to enquire about the arrival date and whether they have been purged.
• Snails are generally sold by the size - typically small (petits), large (gros), extra large (extra gros) and medium (moyen).
• To check whether snails are alive, touch them lightly. If they respond, then you have picked the right ones!

Snail Storage Tips

• Live snails must be brought back home at the earliest and refrigerated.
• Although snails can last for up to 2 days in the refrigerator, they must be consumed immediately after purchase for best flavour and taste.

credits:http://recipeclout.india-server.com/snails.html

How to naturally boost your sperm count

Researchers at Harvard University in the US asked almost 200 young men to follow diets containing a variety of fruit and veg before testing to see what effect it had on sperm.

Yellow and orange foods were found to help make the sperm stronger.

The boost was attributed to pigments called carotenoids because the body converts some of these into health-boosting antioxidants.

These include beta-carotene, which the body can make into the antioxidant vitamin A.

The sperm-boosting qualities come from chemicals called carotenoids, which give such foods their familiar colour

Antioxidants help to neutralise free radicals, destructive groups of atoms that are a by-product of metabolism and can damage cell membranes and DNA. 

Sweet potato and melon can enhance the quantity and quality of sperm, but carrots were found to improve sperm performance by between 6.5 and 8 per cent, according to a report in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

Red fruit and veg, particularly tomatoes, which contain the anti-cancer chemical lycopene, were associated with fewer abnormally shaped sperm.

They contributed to between 8 and 10 per cent more ‘normal’ sperm, said the research, which could make a significant difference for couples having problems conceiving.

The report said: ‘In a population of healthy young men, carotenoid intake was associated with higher sperm motility and, in the case of lycopene, better sperm morphology.

‘Our data suggest that dietary carotenoids may have a positive impact on semen quality.’

It comes amid reports that the quantity and quality of male sperm is declining in Western countries, with some studies showing that average sperm counts have fallen by over half.

A previous study from Harvard showed that men eating diets containing most saturated fat had the lowest sperm counts and poorer quality sperm.

However, men who ate more ‘good’ fats – including omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and some plants – had better quality sperm than those eating less.

Carrots have long been prized for their proven ability to help maintain eye health.

They are a prime source of vitamin A, which the retina of the eye needs to function. The vitamin’s antioxidant properties may help prevent cataracts and a deficiency causes night blindness.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2480431/The-secret-healthy-sperm-CARROTS-Study-finds-boost-performance-fruit-veg.html#ixzz3K78Hfl9V
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

credits: www.dailymail.co.uk

5 Things you should know about watermelons

Lovely facts about watermelons i stumbled on you should read them too

No other produce screams summer quite like watermelon. It could be its refreshing sweetness or even the burst of color that adds a bit of brightness to your plate.

Thing is, there’s more to watermelon than just its flavor: It boasts some powerful health benefits, too. At 46 calories per cup, watermelon offers 20% of your daily intake of vitamin C and 17% vitamin A, according to theUSDA. That’s not all.

“Watermelon contains dietary fiber for digestive health as well as potassium, a mineral that helps keep blood pressure capped,” says Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, Health‘s contributing nutrition editor.

No wonder there’s a month-long holiday dedicated to it—July is National Watermelon Month. Here are some other fun facts to celebrate watermelon’s big month:

It has more lycopene than raw tomatoes

In just one cup, watermelon has 1.5 times the stuff than a large fresh tomato, 6 milligrams compared to 4 milligrams, according to the USDA. That matters because lycopene is thought to act as a super antioxidant, stopping free radicals from damaging your cells and messing with your immune system. Some research even suggests that lycopene, typically found in red fruits and vegetables, may help fight heart disease and several types of cancer. Pro tip: “To retain the most antioxidants in this delicious superfood, store your watermelon at room temperature before slicing,” Sass says.

The juice may relieve muscle soreness

A Spanish study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that drinking watermelon juice can actually be quite soothing after a grueling workout. Athletes who consumed a little more than 16 ounces an hour before exercise had less muscle soreness and a lower heart rate within a day.

That may be because watermelon contains a natural substance called citrulline that’s been tied to improved artery function and lower blood pressure. In fact, its ability to relax the blood vessels led Texas A&M University researchers to say watermelon has Viagra-like effects. But you’ll need to look beyond the pink flesh if you really want to load up on citrulline—it’s concentrated most in the rind. If that’s not your thing, you can always save it for pickling or preserving later, Sass says.

It’s a fruit AND a vegetable

Talk about an overachiever. Like most fruits, watermelon is the product of a seed-producing plant and has a signature sweet taste. But it can be traced back to the squash, pumpkin, and cucumber family known as Cucurbitaceae. Remember how you can eat the rind? The dual nature of watermelon makes it all edible, so there’s no excuse to leave any part behind.

It’s packed with, well, water

Now this is a food with some serious hydration power. Watermelon is 91.5% water, according to the USDA. That’s a big deal seeing as how being dehydrated is bad for your health. A study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that women with even mild dehydration experienced headaches, poor concentration, fatigue, and worse moods. More reason to whip up some watermelon recipes, stat.

There’s a yellow variety

It’s hard to believe there’s a watermelon that’s NOT pink on the inside, but there’s another variety, known as Yellow Crimson, has a sunny interior and the flesh has a sweeter, honey-like taste. Thing is, the two are nearly identical on the outside, so unless you’re reading the signs at your grocery store or farmers’ market, it can be hard to tell which is which. If you want the regular pink watermelon, ask for a Crimson Sweet.

Just keep in mind that no one really knows what, if any, nutritional value the yellow variety offers. Most research has been done on the pink kind, Sass says, so best to stick with that or round up a good mix of both.

credit: news.health.com

Reasons why you should eat banana during pregnancy

1. Bananas are good source of potassium, it helps maintain blood pressure at a normal level, which is very important during pregnancy. It is good  for a healthy nervous system, kidneys. A medium banana contains 350mg potassium, which is around 12% of the recommended daily intake (RDI).
2. They are good source of vitamin C which helps boost immune system in pregnancy
3. Bananas are good source of vitamin B6

eat bananas for healthy pregnancy

10 WHO facts on Nutrition

1.  Malnutrition, in all forms, is a major contributor to disease and early deaths for mothers and children. Undernutrition, including vitamin and mineral deficiencies, contributes to about one third of all child deaths, and impairs healthy development and life-long productivity. At the same time, growing rates of overweight are linked to a rise in chronic diseases. The result is a double burden of malnutrition.
2. A key indicator of chronic malnutrition is stunting - when children are too short for their age group compared to the WHO child growth standards. About 165 million children globally are stunted, according to 2011 figures, resulting from not enough food, a vitamin- and mineral-poor diet, inadequate child care and disease. As growth slows down, brain development lags and stunted children learn poorly. Stunting rates among children are highest in Africa and Asia. In Eastern Africa 42% were affected as of 2011.
3. Wasting and bilateral oedema are severe forms of malnutrition - resulting from acute food shortages and compounded by illness. About 1.5 million children die annually due to wasting. Rising food prices, food scarcity in areas of conflict, and natural disasters diminish household access to appropriate and adequate food, all of which can lead to wasting. Wasting demands emergency nutritional interventions to save lives.
4. Essential vitamins and minerals in the diet are vital to boost immunity and healthy development. Vitamin A, zinc, iron and iodine deficiencies are primary public health concerns. About 2 billion people are affected by inadequate iodine nutrition worldwide. More than one third of preschool-age children globally are vitamin A deficient. Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children.
5. Maternal undernutrition, common in many developing countries, leads to poor fetal development and higher risk of pregnancy complications. Together, maternal and child undernutrition account for more than 10 percent of the global burden of disease.
6. For healthier babies, WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, introducing age-appropriate and safe complementary foods at six months, and continuing breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond. Worldwide, about 20% of deaths among children under-five could be avoided if these feeding guidelines are followed. Appropriate feeding decreases rates of stunting and obesity and stimulates intellectual development in young children.
7. Nutritional problems in adolescents start during childhood and continue into adult life. Anaemia is a key nutritional problem in adolescent girls. Preventing early pregnancies and assuring adequate intakes of essential nutrients for developing girls can reduce maternal and child deaths later, and stop cycles of malnutrition from one generation to the next. Globally, anaemia affects 42% of pregnant women.
8. The rise in overweight and obesity worldwide is a major public health challenge. People of all ages and backgrounds face this form of malnutrition. As a consequence, rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other diet-related conditions are escalating worldwide. These are very difficult to treat in places with limited resources and with already overburdened health systems. About 43 million children under age five are overweight, according to 2011 figures.
9. Nutrition information is required to identify the areas where assistance is most needed. WHO released international child growth standards that provide benchmarks to compare children's nutritional status within and across countries and regions. Also, a nutrition landscape information system, developed by WHO and partners, provides country profiles on key nutrition indicators and affecting factors such as food, health and care.
10. Science has moved forward, and evidenced-based actions that will improve nutritional health - particularly for the most vulnerable - are known. In response, WHO and partners are working together to provide scientific advice to countries, as well as user-friendly, web-based tools. These concerted efforts are aimed to stimulate policies and interventions that will save lives.

CREDITS: WHO