dailyhealthpost--2020-07-02--The Best Sunscreens to Use and The Worst Ones to Avoid

Summer is the best time to get your daily dose of vitamin D from more than just foods and supplements .
People can and should take time to get at least some sun exposure for the precious benefits it offers .
This brings up a rather “ seasonal ” question , however – which sunscreen products should we go for ?
Most people have preferred brands and models that they use every year because they ’ re comfortable with them .
Why the sunscreen market in the U.S. is such a mess ?
If you take a deeper look into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations on it , and the ingredients in the sunscreens , you ’ ll notice that something ’ s terribly wrong .
The problem becomes even more obvious when you compare all that with Europe ’ s tight regulations and effective quality control .
Study after study has determined that America ’ s sunscreen regulations can be described as simply weak and inadequate .
“ Europe has stronger standards for their sunscreens , ” explains Carla Burns , sunscreen research and database analyst at Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) .
The main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations seems to be that the latter insist on proportional UVA and UVB protection for a balanced and comprehensive skin protection .
In the U.S. , on the other hand , these restrictions are so lax that , according to the EWG , ~75 % of the sunscreens on the American market would not meet the European standards .
What does this mean for Americans ?
It means that people in the U.S. get sunscreen that may be less effective .
There are even reports and studies from January 2020 that show that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after one application , and some ingredients can stay in the blood for at least 3 weeks.
” Such harmful and easily absorbed ingredients include chemicals such as Homosalate , Avobenzone , Octocrylene , Oxybenzone , Octisalate , and Octinoxate .
As you can see from the graph below , all of them tend to surpass the FDA-approved 0.5 nb/mL with Oxybenzone going over 200 ng/mL in American sunscreens on average .
The biggest risks bad sunscreens pose to our bodies and health Here ’ s a quick breakdown of the main risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many of these problems are present even in the biggest , most advertised , and well-renowned brands in America .
We ’ ll list them in several separate lists below but for now – here ’ s what you should be mindful of when using a sunscreen : Oxybenzone is one of the more common ingredients in American sunscreens and it has little trouble penetrating the skin and entering our bloodstreams .
One of the main problems with it is that once it gets into our system , it acts like estrogen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ hormones ” in our bodies which , in turn , can cause a lot of health problems .
There are many cases in the U.S. where oxybenzone has been detected in people ’ s bloodstreams at rates 438+ times higher than what ’ s healthy with the average being 200+ times over the line .
Some of the problems this leads to include endometriosis in older women , lower birth weights in newborn girls , lower total testosterone in adolescent boys , and lower sperm levels in adult men .
Yes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect us from is something many U.S. sunscreens actively cause .
Some forms of vitamin A such as Retinyl palmitate , Retinyl acetate , Retinol , and Retinyl Linoleate are often present in American sunscreens .
These ingredients are linked to conditions such as osteoporosis , liver damage , hair loss , brittle nails , and hip fractures in older adults , as well as skin tumors and lesions .
More so than with most other chemical products , sunscreens are known to cause allergic skin reactions .
That ’ s because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the American Contact Dermatitis Society ’ s “ Allergen of the Year ” award in 2013 .
Oxybenzone is also known to cause itchiness and eczema-like allergic reactions .
We ’ ll talk more about sunscreen sprays in a minute but for now , we ’ ll mention that the risk of inhalation is surprisingly common .
Inhaling spray sunscreens is reported to cause irreversible lung damage although more research is needed .
Plus , sprays often lead to poor skin coverage as people tend to miss spots when applying them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with sunscreens but with our psyche .
Like many other modern products , sunscreens tend to give us a false sense of security when it comes to sun exposure .
Too often people feel overly secure after applying their sunscreen and stay in the sun for much longer than they should .
This is an extra big problem in America where many sunscreens provide good UVB protection but are lackluster against UVA rays .
And since UVA rays are the ones that penetrate the skin more deeply , surpass our immune systems , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher melanoma risks , this is a problem .
Because of the lack of balance between UVB and UVA protection in American sunscreens , they ’ re known to allow ~3x more UVA rays exposure on average than their European counterparts .
What can we do about it ?
To their credit , the FDA has made multiple proposals to strengthen the UVA protection of American sunscreens over the past decade .
Unfortunately , none have been made law as of 2020 .
The agency made such proposals in 2019 as well but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adopted as written , that monograph would have ensured that all sunscreens sold in the U.S. would have been safer , providing stronger regulations around ingredient safety , UVA protection , and capping high SPF values , ” explains Carla Burns .
“ Unfortunately for U.S. consumers , the monograph has not yet passed and language was included in the CARES Act , passed early this year , that maintains the status quo of our sunscreen industry and keeps inferior products on store shelves.
” For the consumers , this means that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own .
That ’ s why it ’ s vital to spread the word and educate those around us to look for the few healthier options on the market .
Another crucial advice is to NOT rely on sunscreens alone .
Even when using an adequate product , people often overestimate the effectiveness of the sunscreen and expose themselves to more sunlight than they should at a time .
Additionally , sunscreens are also known to have a disastrous environmental impact .
Even good mineral-based sunscreens contain nanoparticles – minute ingredients that easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and aquatic life .
Instead , experts recommend employing other protective methods in addition to using a good sunscreen such as : • Limiting the exposure to sunlight in peak hours and focusing more on early mornings and later afternoons .
• Limiting the overall time you spend in the sun at a time and instead alternating between sun and shade .
• Using physical protective gear such as sunglasses , hats , and protective summer clothes .
In essence , the sunscreen should not only be good but it should also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the folks at the Environmental Working Group want us to make is that spray sunscreens should be avoided at all costs and all other sunscreens should be chosen carefully .
The main reason for this complete rejection of spray sunscreens is not only in their application method but in their ingredients .
After going over 1,300 SPF products in 2020 , EWG found that spray sunscreens were almost entirely made with ill-advised ingredients .
During their testing , they developed a grading scale going from 0 to 10 which measured the harmful ingredients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rating of 2+ was deemed inadvisable with only ~25 % of U.S. sunscreens getting a rating in the 0-2 range .
Here ’ s a list of the worst offenders that got a scoring of 10/10 for major health concerns : Which sunscreens to get ?
Of course , with thousands of products on the market , there are still some sunscreens the EWG recommends for both their safety and effectiveness .
“ Based on the best current science and toxicology data , we continue to recommend sunscreens with the mineral active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they are the only two ingredients the FDA recognized as safe or effective in their proposed draft rules , ” Burns says .
Here are some products you can use safely : Here are some sunscreens that made the borderline score of 2/10 and are still considered “ recommended ” : The EWG also made a separate list for safe non-mineral sunscreens for those of us who can ’ t get on board with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide-based products .
The non-mineral sunscreens didn ’ t rate as well as their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but here are some of the safer options : The EWG had a separate moisturizer list as well since there were quite a few products there that also deserved recommendations : The state of the sunscreen industry and market in the U.S. is not enviable .
In light of that , it ’ s not surprising that the rate of new melanoma cases in the U.S. has tripled since the 1970s .
Still , the silver lining is that there are enough products worth using and recommending .
That , together with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushing for , may eventually change the state of the market .
Plus , as EWG experts recommend , there are plenty of other tools and solutions people can use together with or instead of sunscreen .
“ Sunscreen is only one form of sun protection and should not be relied on alone .
It ’ s also important to wear sunglasses , hats and t-shirts , stay in the shade , and avoid the midday sun.
” experts say .

Summer is the best time to get your daily dose of vitamin D from more than just foods and supplements. People can and should take time to get at least some sun exposure for the precious benefits it offers.
Advertisement
This brings up a rather “seasonal” question, however – which sunscreen products should we go for? Most people have preferred brands and models that they use every year because they’re comfortable with them.
Why the sunscreen market in the U.S. is such a mess?
If you take a deeper look into the U.S. sunscreen market, the FDA regulations on it, and the ingredients in the sunscreens, you’ll notice that something’s terribly wrong. The problem becomes even more obvious when you compare all that with Europe’s tight regulations and effective quality control.
Advertisement
Study after study has determined that America’s sunscreen regulations can be described as simply weak and inadequate.
“Europe has stronger standards for their sunscreens,” explains Carla Burns, sunscreen research and database analyst at Environmental Working Group (EWG).
The main difference between the U.S. and EU sunscreen regulations seems to be that the latter insist on proportional UVA and UVB protection for a balanced and comprehensive skin protection. In the U.S., on the other hand, these restrictions are so lax that, according to the EWG, ~75% of the sunscreens on the American market would not meet the European standards.
Advertisement
What does this mean for Americans? It means that people in the U.S. get sunscreen that may be less effective.
There are even reports and studies from January 2020 that show that “chemical sunscreen ingredients are systemically absorbed after one application, and some ingredients can stay in the blood for at least 3 weeks.”
Such harmful and easily absorbed ingredients include chemicals such as Homosalate, Avobenzone, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone, Octisalate, and Octinoxate. As you can see from the graph below, all of them tend to surpass the FDA-approved 0.5 nb/mL with Oxybenzone going over 200 ng/mL in American sunscreens on average.
Advertisement
The biggest risks bad sunscreens pose to our bodies and health
Here’s a quick breakdown of the main risks and problems posed by bad sunscreens. Many of these problems are present even in the biggest, most advertised, and well-renowned brands in America. We’ll list them in several separate lists below but for now – here’s what you should be mindful of when using a sunscreen:
Hormonal overdose
Oxybenzone is one of the more common ingredients in American sunscreens and it has little trouble penetrating the skin and entering our bloodstreams. One of the main problems with it is that once it gets into our system, it acts like estrogen. This can lead to an unhealthy dose of “hormones” in our bodies which, in turn, can cause a lot of health problems.
There are many cases in the U.S. where oxybenzone has been detected in people’s bloodstreams at rates 438+ times higher than what’s healthy with the average being 200+ times over the line.
Advertisement
Some of the problems this leads to include endometriosis in older women, lower birth weights in newborn girls, lower total testosterone in adolescent boys, and lower sperm levels in adult men.
Skin cancer
Yes, the thing sunscreens are supposed to protect us from is something many U.S. sunscreens actively cause. Some forms of vitamin A such as Retinyl palmitate, Retinyl acetate, Retinol, and Retinyl Linoleate are often present in American sunscreens. These ingredients are linked to conditions such as osteoporosis, liver damage, hair loss, brittle nails, and hip fractures in older adults, as well as skin tumors and lesions.
Allergic reactions
More so than with most other chemical products, sunscreens are known to cause allergic skin reactions. That’s because of ingredients such as methylisothiazolinone which “won” the American Contact Dermatitis Society’s “Allergen of the Year” award in 2013.
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Oxybenzone is also known to cause itchiness and eczema-like allergic reactions. (Read more…)
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-03--How Deep Sleep Helps The Brain Wash Away Alzheimer’s Toxins

Scientists have long known and theorized how our sleep cycle helps heal our brain and bodies .
We ’ ve talked about it too – there are even light and sound brain treatments designed to slow down the progression of Alzheimer ’ s .
A new piece of the puzzle has been uncovered by Laura Lewis and her team of researchers from the Boston University Lab .
The study was published in the journal Science in which they detailed how our bodies clear toxins out of our brains when we sleep .
Sleep cycles are a well-documented phenomenon at this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our brains move through several different phases from light sleep , through REM sleep which is characterized by dreams and rapid eye movement , too deep , dreamless slumber .
Lewis ’ work focused on the deeper non-REM sleep which happens earlier in the night and which scientists had already associated with memory retention .
In doing so , they observed how , in our sleep , waves of cerebrospinal fluid washed away toxin build-up from our brains .
Some such toxins include beta amyloid which has been shown to trigger Alzheimer ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tau , a protein that harms the connections of our neurons .
This process had previously been observed in rodents in 2013 and was strongly suspected in people as well .
The cerebrospinal fluid is a water-like liquid that surrounds our brain .
As we sleep , Laura discovered , electrical impulses push waves of this fluid around our brains , helping it to quite literally wash away the toxins from it .
How did the Boston University researchers establish this ?
To research sleep ’ s effect on our brains , Lewis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volunteers who came to sleep in their lab .
The study participants were asked to lie down inside an MRI machine and fall asleep in it .
Participants were asked to stay up a bit late the night before so that they could have an easier time falling asleep in the lab .
As the participants were making themselves “ comfortable ” inside the MRI machine , the researchers also outfitted them with EEG caps to help them monitor the electrical currents inside the participants ’ brains .
Meanwhile , the MRI was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the movement of the cerebrospinal fluid .
“ We had a sense each of these metrics was important , but how they change during sleep and how they relate to each other during sleep was uncharted territory for us , ” Lewis said .
Naturally , all the research took place in the dead of night .
Lewis herself wasn ’ t oblivious to the humor in the whole situation – while researching the importance of sleep to prevent Alzheimer ’ s disease , she and her team had to suffer through countless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this great irony of sleep research , ” Lewis says .
“ You ’ re constrained by when people sleep.
” The fruit of all these sleepless nights was the conclusion that during non-REM sleep large and slow-moving waves of cerebrospinal fluid are indeed moving through our brains .
The EEG helped show this by observing the synchronization of neurons in our brains , turning on and off again to trigger the fluid ’ s waves .
“ First you would see this electrical wave where all the neurons would go quiet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vital since when the neurons stop firing in unison , they require less oxygen .
That , in turn , means less blood flow to the brain which allows the cerebrospinal fluid to rush in .
It ’ s that synchronization that creates the necessary waves of the fluid , allowing it to better clean our brains .
The discovery has been lauded by scientists from the field , including by Maiken Nedergaard , the neuroscientist from the University of Rochester who established the similar process in the brains of mice .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Maiken Nedergaard .
“ I don ’ t think anybody in their wildest fantasy has really shown that the brain ’ s electrical activity is moving fluid .
So that ’ s really exciting.
” Lewis ’ team ’ s confirmation on Nedergaard ’ s experiments proves a lot of what we ’ ve been theorizing up until now .
It also shows why people with irregular sleep patterns are shown to be much more susceptible to Alzheimer ’ s .
“ It ’ s telling you sleep is not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Sleep is actually a very distinct function.
” Lewis ’ s discovery means more than just a better understanding of our sleep .
It paves the way for the development of more effective Alzheimer ’ s and dementia medication .
Drugs were already being developed for treating beta amyloid but many recent trials have failed .
“ This opens a new avenue , ” explains Nedergaard .
This discovery can lead to other approaches that don ’ t just try to target the toxins themselves but improve our brain ’ s ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own .
“ Aging is not just about one molecule , ” says Nedergaard .
“ Everything fails.
” Of course , much more research can and should be done as well .
Lewis ’ s team focused only on one stage of our sleep , for example , so the whole cycle may still hold other secrets worth knowing .
Thankfully , the methods the Boston University researchers used are perfectly noninvasive so further research should be on the way too .
This may mean more sleepless nights for Lewis and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more effective treatment and prevention of Alzheimer ’ s disease .

Scientists have long known and theorized how our sleep cycle helps heal our brain and bodies. We’ve talked about it too – there are even light and sound brain treatments designed to slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Advertisement
A new piece of the puzzle has been uncovered by Laura Lewis and her team of researchers from the Boston University Lab. The study was published in the journal Science in which they detailed how our bodies clear toxins out of our brains when we sleep.
Sleep cycles are a well-documented phenomenon at this point. As we fall asleep, our brains move through several different phases from light sleep, through REM sleep which is characterized by dreams and rapid eye movement, too deep, dreamless slumber.
Advertisement
Lewis’ work focused on the deeper non-REM sleep which happens earlier in the night and which scientists had already associated with memory retention. In doing so, they observed how, in our sleep, waves of cerebrospinal fluid washed away toxin build-up from our brains. Some such toxins include beta amyloid which has been shown to trigger Alzheimer’s disease. Another such toxin is tau, a protein that harms the connections of our neurons.
This process had previously been observed in rodents in 2013 and was strongly suspected in people as well. The cerebrospinal fluid is a water-like liquid that surrounds our brain. As we sleep, Laura discovered, electrical impulses push waves of this fluid around our brains, helping it to quite literally wash away the toxins from it.
How did the Boston University researchers establish this?
To research sleep’s effect on our brains, Lewis and her team used the help of volunteers who came to sleep in their lab. The study participants were asked to lie down inside an MRI machine and fall asleep in it. Participants were asked to stay up a bit late the night before so that they could have an easier time falling asleep in the lab.
Advertisement
As the participants were making themselves “comfortable” inside the MRI machine, the researchers also outfitted them with EEG caps to help them monitor the electrical currents inside the participants’ brains. Meanwhile, the MRI was observing the blood oxygen levels and showed the movement of the cerebrospinal fluid.
“We had a sense each of these metrics was important, but how they change during sleep and how they relate to each other during sleep was uncharted territory for us,” Lewis said.
Naturally, all the research took place in the dead of night. Lewis herself wasn’t oblivious to the humor in the whole situation – while researching the importance of sleep to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, she and her team had to suffer through countless sleepless nights.
Advertisement
“It’s this great irony of sleep research,” Lewis says. “You’re constrained by when people sleep.”
The discovery
The fruit of all these sleepless nights was the conclusion that during non-REM sleep large and slow-moving waves of cerebrospinal fluid are indeed moving through our brains. The EEG helped show this by observing the synchronization of neurons in our brains, turning on and off again to trigger the fluid’s waves.
“First you would see this electrical wave where all the neurons would go quiet,” said Lewis. This synchronization is vital since when the neurons stop firing in unison, they require less oxygen. That, in turn, means less blood flow to the brain which allows the cerebrospinal fluid to rush in. It’s that synchronization that creates the necessary waves of the fluid, allowing it to better clean our brains.
Advertisement
The discovery has been lauded by scientists from the field, including by Maiken Nedergaard, the neuroscientist from the University of Rochester who established the similar process in the brains of mice.
“It’s a fantastic paper,” said Maiken Nedergaard. “I don’t think anybody in their wildest fantasy has really shown that the brain’s electrical activity is moving fluid. So that’s really exciting.”
Lewis’ team’s confirmation on Nedergaard’s experiments proves a lot of what we’ve been theorizing up until now. It also shows why people with irregular sleep patterns are shown to be much more susceptible to Alzheimer’s.
Advertisement
“It’s telling you sleep is not just to relax,” said Nedergaard. “Sleep is actually a very distinct function.”
Practical applications
Lewis’s discovery means more than just a better understanding of our sleep. It paves the way for the development of more effective Alzheimer’s and dementia medication. Drugs were already being developed for treating beta amyloid but many recent trials have failed.
“This opens a new avenue,” explains Nedergaard. This discovery can lead to other approaches that don’t just try to target the toxins themselves but improve our brain’s ability to get rid of them on its own.
Advertisement
“Aging is not just about one molecule,” says Nedergaard. “Everything fails.”
Of course, much more research can and should be done as well. Lewis’s team focused only on one stage of our sleep, for example, so the whole cycle may still hold other secrets worth knowing.
Thankfully, the methods the Boston University researchers used are perfectly noninvasive so further research should be on the way too. This may mean more sleepless nights for Lewis and her team but it may also mean better and more effective treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
Advertisement
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-06--Grow Lemongrass at Home, It Will Repel Mosquitoes, Keep you Relaxed and Ease Your Headaches

Lemongrass is an example of a plant that looks almost too inconspicuous but is nevertheless amazing to grow at home .
This tropical greenery is quite popular in Africa , Asia , and Australia .
Why you might want to grow lemongrass ?
Named after its citrusy scent , lemongrass is also known as “ citronella ” .
And it ’ s that strong fragrant component that is its most defining feature .
Great as a potted plant , as a natural mosquito repellent , as well as for tea , here ’ s why you ’ d probably want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most people love the scent and taste of citrus fruits .
Mosquitoes , however , don ’ t .
The pesky blood-suckers are known to avoid a lot of plants such as lavender , marigolds , rosemary , catnip , and citronella is certainly on that list as well .
Relying window nets is still the best way to protect your home from mosquitoes , of course , but lemongrass can still be very useful as well .
Placing several pots of it outside your windows , on your porch or patio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoors safer as well .
Lemongrass is not a flamboyant and spectacular-looking plant like roses or tulips but it makes for a great decoration , both indoors and outdoors .
The elongated green leaves and the bushes they grow into are very pleasing to the eye .
Such greeneries have already been proven to have calming and relaxing effects on our psyche .
Another calming feature of lemongrass is its noticeable citrusy scent .
Even just a couple of bushy pots in your living room or office can drastically improve the air quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the most popular plant for tea , lemongrass has a lot to offer in that regard as well .
It has great anti-oxidant properties , as well as strong antimicrobial characteristics .
It ’ s also been shown to be effective against multiple types of fungus and bacteria .
Lemongrass tea also alleviates stomach cramping and has even been demonstrated to help against gastric ulcers .
There are studies hinting at lemongrass reducing high systolic blood pressure too .
As for cancer , while lemongrass has been rumored to help prevent various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research about that as of today .
Most of the lemongrass ’ s bodies are leaves which aren ’ t really usable for cooking .
The tubular base of those leaves can be used for cooking , however .
There are lots of Asian recipes that have used lemongrass for millennia for anything from curries to marinades , as well as for cocktails and stir-fries .
It ’ s especially good in soups and sauces because of its strong aroma and flavor .
To prep your lemongrass for cooking just remember to : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stalks • Remove the upper third of the stalks ( around where it stops being yellow and flashy ) • Chop the soft lower halves of the stalks into little pieces and use them in your cooking Lemongrass is very firm and fibrous too which makes it quite good for our digestive system as well .
While it won ’ t be practical to try and extract essential oils out of your own potted lemongrass , it ’ s worth looking into lemongrass essential oils anyway .
It ’ s well-known to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as to help with joint pains and headaches .
Is there anything to be careful with when it comes to lemongrass ?
As with anything else , extraordinarily high doses of lemongrass can be problematic .
There have been some anecdotal reports that inhaling too much of it can worsen certain lung conditions if you ’ re not careful .
There were also cases of children getting poisoned after swallowing lemongrass oil-based repellents .
When it comes to just growing the plant in a couple of pots at home , however , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant problems .
As for pregnant or breastfeeding women , there ’ s not enough evidence to suggest that lemongrass tea or culinary use can have negative effects but avoiding it during period may be advisable .
If you ’ re a cat owner and you start growing lemongrass at home you ’ ll quickly notice how strongly affected felines are with this plant .
Much like with catnip , most cats adore lemongrass and tend to eat its leaves .
This can make growing the plant challenging as your cat likely won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , once fully-grown , the lemongrass pot should be able to make up for what the cat consumes .
And , not to worry , lemongrass is not harmful to felines .
It ’ s possible that your cat eats so much at once that it throws up , but there shouldn ’ t be any negative effects on its health after that .
Be careful with lemongrass essential oils , however – those are exceptionally toxic to cats and still attract them with their scent .
Unlike humans and dogs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enzyme Glucuronosyltransferase that breaks down essential oils so keep the lemongrass essential oil bottles out of your feline ’ s reach .

Lemongrass is an example of a plant that looks almost too inconspicuous but is nevertheless amazing to grow at home. This tropical greenery is quite popular in Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Advertisement
Why you might want to grow lemongrass?
Named after its citrusy scent, lemongrass is also known as “citronella”. And it’s that strong fragrant component that is its most defining feature. Great as a potted plant, as a natural mosquito repellent, as well as for tea, here’s why you’d probably want to grow lemongrass in your home.
Mosquito-repellent properties
Most people love the scent and taste of citrus fruits. Mosquitoes, however, don’t. The pesky blood-suckers are known to avoid a lot of plants such as lavender, marigolds, rosemary, catnip, and citronella is certainly on that list as well.
Advertisement
Relying window nets is still the best way to protect your home from mosquitoes, of course, but lemongrass can still be very useful as well. Placing several pots of it outside your windows, on your porch or patio, or across your yard can make your outdoors safer as well.
Excellent decoration
Lemongrass is not a flamboyant and spectacular-looking plant like roses or tulips but it makes for a great decoration, both indoors and outdoors. The elongated green leaves and the bushes they grow into are very pleasing to the eye. Such greeneries have already been proven to have calming and relaxing effects on our psyche.
A pleasant scent
Another calming feature of lemongrass is its noticeable citrusy scent. Even just a couple of bushy pots in your living room or office can drastically improve the air quality and feel of the space.
Advertisement
Lemongrass tea
While not the most popular plant for tea, lemongrass has a lot to offer in that regard as well. It has great anti-oxidant properties, as well as strong antimicrobial characteristics. It’s also been shown to be effective against multiple types of fungus and bacteria.
Lemongrass tea also alleviates stomach cramping and has even been demonstrated to help against gastric ulcers. There are studies hinting at lemongrass reducing high systolic blood pressure too. As for cancer, while lemongrass has been rumored to help prevent various cancers, there’s not enough research about that as of today.
Cooking applications
Most of the lemongrass’s bodies are leaves which aren’t really usable for cooking. The tubular base of those leaves can be used for cooking, however. There are lots of Asian recipes that have used lemongrass for millennia for anything from curries to marinades, as well as for cocktails and stir-fries.
Advertisement
It’s especially good in soups and sauces because of its strong aroma and flavor. To prep your lemongrass for cooking just remember to:
Remove the tough outer leaves from the stalks Cut off the bulbs Remove the upper third of the stalks (around where it stops being yellow and flashy) Chop the soft lower halves of the stalks into little pieces and use them in your cooking
Lemongrass is very firm and fibrous too which makes it quite good for our digestive system as well.
Lemongrass essential oils
While it won’t be practical to try and extract essential oils out of your own potted lemongrass, it’s worth looking into lemongrass essential oils anyway. It’s well-known to reduce stress and anxiety, as well as to help with joint pains and headaches.
Advertisement
Is there anything to be careful with when it comes to lemongrass?
As with anything else, extraordinarily high doses of lemongrass can be problematic. There have been some anecdotal reports that inhaling too much of it can worsen certain lung conditions if you’re not careful. There were also cases of children getting poisoned after swallowing lemongrass oil-based repellents.
When it comes to just growing the plant in a couple of pots at home, however, there don’t seem to be any significant problems.
As for pregnant or breastfeeding women, there’s not enough evidence to suggest that lemongrass tea or culinary use can have negative effects but avoiding it during period may be advisable.
Advertisement
Lemongrass and cats
If you’re a cat owner and you start growing lemongrass at home you’ll quickly notice how strongly affected felines are with this plant. Much like with catnip, most cats adore lemongrass and tend to eat its leaves. This can make growing the plant challenging as your cat likely won’t even let it grow. However, once fully-grown, the lemongrass pot should be able to make up for what the cat consumes.
And, not to worry, lemongrass is not harmful to felines. It’s possible that your cat eats so much at once that it throws up, but there shouldn’t be any negative effects on its health after that.
Be careful with lemongrass essential oils, however – those are exceptionally toxic to cats and still attract them with their scent. Unlike humans and dogs, cats don’t have the liver enzyme Glucuronosyltransferase that breaks down essential oils so keep the lemongrass essential oil bottles out of your feline’s reach.
Advertisement
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-07--Tamarind Helps Reduce Blood Pressure and Cholesterol, Research Says

Tamarind is one of those fruits that are common across the world and yet is still underappreciated in Western cuisine .
It ’ s found mostly tropical regions around the globe .
Scientifically named Tamarindus Indica , it ’ s often referred to as “ the date of India ” .
With America ’ s ever-worsening cholesterol , diabetes , weight , and cardiovascular problems , a fruit like Tamarind can be a real godsend to many of us .
The many health benefits of Tamarind There ’ s quite a lot of research done on Tamarind and the conclusions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much “ a superfood ” given everything it has to offer .
Here are a few of the main health benefits Tamarind brings to our tables .
Tamarind is a great fruit for lowering one ’ s blood pressure .
That ’ s due mostly to its high magnesium content as well as generally high nutritional values .
The magnesium , in particular , is also great for its anti-inflammatory anti-diabetic effects .
Magnesium has long-ago been identified as one of the most lacking minerals in Western cuisine which seems to be at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health problems .
When eaten as an un-cooked fruit Tamarind offers a great deal of fiber .
This is great for a lot of different reasons .
It improves the effectiveness of our digestive tracts , helps with chronic diarrhea , speeds up digestion , and more .
Another benefit of Tamarind ’ s high fiber count is that it helps lower our LDL “ bad ” cholesterol .
The fiber in Tamarind and other fruits like it literally removes the cholesterol from our arteries .
Bananas may be famous for their potassium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only – or the best – sources of potassium .
Tamarind is incredibly rich in it as well .
And since potassium is a well-known vasodilator , it also helps with lowering our blood pressure .
An overabundance of vitamin C Vitamin C is well-known for its many health benefits – from helping with the neutralization of free radicals to just being generally great for battling respiratory illnesses .
Tamarind isn ’ t the only fruit rich in vitamin C but that ’ s still a major benefit nevertheless .
Even aside from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazing at weight loss and management .
Researchers have found that it contains hydroxycitric acid – an acid that inhibits the production of fat-storing enzymes in our bodies .
Tamarind also increases serotonin neurotransmitters and has been shown to suppress appetite .
Another beneficial content of Tamarind is Thiamine ( vitamin B1 ) which is great for improving the nerves ’ function .
It also adds to our muscle buildup potential as well .
In addition to the cholesterol and blood pressure benefits above , Tamarind has also been found to inhibit an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the proper absorption of carbohydrates .
In addition to being high in magnesium , potassium , and thiamin , Tamarind includes a lot of other precious contents as well .
Iron , calcium , phosphorous , folate , niacin ( vitamin B3 ) , riboflavin ( vitamin B2 ) , copper and selenium , pantothenic acid ( vitamin B5 ) , and more .
This tropical fruit can be eaten either raw , pressed as a juice , or dried as a snack .
Tamarind paste can also be used in cooking or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also be made with Tamarind paste .
Frozen Tamarind pulp can also be used for cooking as well as its sweetened syrup .
Tamarind is one of those incredible fruits that can transform our cuisine and our health .
It ’ s not without its risks , of course , but nothing is .
Eaten in moderation and with health-focused intent , Tamarind offers too many benefits to ignore .
Just be careful with Tamarind-rich supplements , especially if you ’ re on other medications as well .

Tamarind is one of those fruits that are common across the world and yet is still underappreciated in Western cuisine. It’s found mostly tropical regions around the globe.
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Scientifically named Tamarindus Indica, it’s often referred to as “the date of India”. With America’s ever-worsening cholesterol, diabetes, weight, and cardiovascular problems, a fruit like Tamarind can be a real godsend to many of us.
The many health benefits of Tamarind
There’s quite a lot of research done on Tamarind and the conclusions seem pretty indisputable – Tamarind is very much “a superfood” given everything it has to offer. Here are a few of the main health benefits Tamarind brings to our tables.
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Blood pressure management
Tamarind is a great fruit for lowering one’s blood pressure. That’s due mostly to its high magnesium content as well as generally high nutritional values. The magnesium, in particular, is also great for its anti-inflammatory anti-diabetic effects. Magnesium has long-ago been identified as one of the most lacking minerals in Western cuisine which seems to be at the root of a lot of our health problems.
High fiber count
When eaten as an un-cooked fruit Tamarind offers a great deal of fiber. This is great for a lot of different reasons. It improves the effectiveness of our digestive tracts, helps with chronic diarrhea, speeds up digestion, and more.
Cholesterol reduction
Another benefit of Tamarind’s high fiber count is that it helps lower our LDL “bad” cholesterol. The fiber in Tamarind and other fruits like it literally removes the cholesterol from our arteries.
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Rich in potassium
Bananas may be famous for their potassium content but they are far from the only – or the best – sources of potassium. Tamarind is incredibly rich in it as well. And since potassium is a well-known vasodilator, it also helps with lowering our blood pressure.
An overabundance of vitamin C
Vitamin C is well-known for its many health benefits – from helping with the neutralization of free radicals to just being generally great for battling respiratory illnesses. Tamarind isn’t the only fruit rich in vitamin C but that’s still a major benefit nevertheless.
Weight management
Even aside from all these benefits, Tamarind is also amazing at weight loss and management. Researchers have found that it contains hydroxycitric acid – an acid that inhibits the production of fat-storing enzymes in our bodies. Tamarind also increases serotonin neurotransmitters and has been shown to suppress appetite.
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Nerve function benefits
Another beneficial content of Tamarind is Thiamine (vitamin B1) which is great for improving the nerves’ function. It also adds to our muscle buildup potential as well.
Diabetes prevention
In addition to the cholesterol and blood pressure benefits above, Tamarind has also been found to inhibit an enzyme that’s known to stop the proper absorption of carbohydrates.
Other nutritional facts
In addition to being high in magnesium, potassium, and thiamin, Tamarind includes a lot of other precious contents as well. Iron, calcium, phosphorous, folate, niacin (vitamin B3), riboflavin (vitamin B2), copper and selenium, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), and more.
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How to eat Tamarind?
This tropical fruit can be eaten either raw, pressed as a juice, or dried as a snack. Tamarind paste can also be used in cooking or for candies. Condiments like chutney can also be made with Tamarind paste.
Frozen Tamarind pulp can also be used for cooking as well as its sweetened syrup.
In conclusion
Tamarind is one of those incredible fruits that can transform our cuisine and our health. It’s not without its risks, of course, but nothing is. Eaten in moderation and with health-focused intent, Tamarind offers too many benefits to ignore. Just be careful with Tamarind-rich supplements, especially if you’re on other medications as well.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-08--Two Tested Lysol Products Have Been Shown to Effectively Kill Coronavirus from Surfaces

One of the few good things that have come out of the Covid-19 pandemic is that many people have drastically improved their personal and home hygiene .
Remember those finger spots on your smartphone ?
A lot of people haven ’ t seen them in months as they are now disinfecting their phones several times a day .
But while just washing your hands and disinfecting your phone is simple , disinfecting frequently used surfaces in your home or at work can be a challenge .
We need to constantly be mindful of what we ’ ve touched , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where we left our backpack or handbag , and so on .
And then , there ’ s the issue of having the right disinfectant with you .
In the early months of the pandemic products like rubbing alcohol all but vanished from the pharmacies as people bought them in a frenzy .
Since then , we ’ ve learned that not only are there hundreds of EPA-approved disinfectants we can use to clean surfaces but cleaning with most soaps and water also works just fine .
Recently , however , the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinfectants specifically for the novel coronavirus .
The disinfectants recommended up until now were ones we knew worked against Covid-19 because they had been tested against similar types of viruses .
They are still recommended for use as they do work even on “ harder-to-kill ” viruses than coronavirus .
Nevertheless , recent tests for Covid-19 , in particular , have so far led to two Lysol products being officially approved by the EPA .
Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist have both been tested against SARS-CoV-2 , as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proven to be very effective .
According to agency , both Lysol products kill the virus within two minutes of contact with it .
Lysol has also issued a statement , saying that they are currently testing other disinfectants as well .
“ In the face of the pandemic , Lysol continues to work with a wide range of scientific and health experts to educate the public on the importance of hygiene , ” said Rahul Kadyan , executive vice president of Reckitt Benckiser in North America , Lysol ’ s parent company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to some , as alcohol-based disinfectants and lots of soaps have already been shown to be effective on Covid-19 .
Yet , a lot of people keep reporting that they ’ re still unclear and uncertain about the best disinfecting practices , even months after the pandemic had started .
Hopefully , more extensive testing can help shed even more light on how best to treat surfaces against the virus .
The CDC and the EPA don ’ t necessarily recommend these two Lysol products over others on this list but they do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it ’ s always important to read the label and instructions of the product you ’ re using or purchasing as well as to wear rubber gloves and other protective gear .
Naturally , they also note that mixing cleaning chemicals is not advisable .

One of the few good things that have come out of the Covid-19 pandemic is that many people have drastically improved their personal and home hygiene. Remember those finger spots on your smartphone? A lot of people haven’t seen them in months as they are now disinfecting their phones several times a day.
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But while just washing your hands and disinfecting your phone is simple, disinfecting frequently used surfaces in your home or at work can be a challenge. We need to constantly be mindful of what we’ve touched, where we’ve put our groceries, where we left our backpack or handbag, and so on.
And then, there’s the issue of having the right disinfectant with you. In the early months of the pandemic products like rubbing alcohol all but vanished from the pharmacies as people bought them in a frenzy.
Advertisement
Since then, we’ve learned that not only are there hundreds of EPA-approved disinfectants we can use to clean surfaces but cleaning with most soaps and water also works just fine.
Recently, however, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has started to test disinfectants specifically for the novel coronavirus. The disinfectants recommended up until now were ones we knew worked against Covid-19 because they had been tested against similar types of viruses. They are still recommended for use as they do work even on “harder-to-kill” viruses than coronavirus.
Nevertheless, recent tests for Covid-19, in particular, have so far led to two Lysol products being officially approved by the EPA. Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist have both been tested against SARS-CoV-2, as the virus is officially called, and were proven to be very effective.
Advertisement
According to agency, both Lysol products kill the virus within two minutes of contact with it.
Lysol has also issued a statement, saying that they are currently testing other disinfectants as well.
“In the face of the pandemic, Lysol continues to work with a wide range of scientific and health experts to educate the public on the importance of hygiene,” said Rahul Kadyan, executive vice president of Reckitt Benckiser in North America, Lysol’s parent company.
Advertisement
All this testing can sound unnecessary to some, as alcohol-based disinfectants and lots of soaps have already been shown to be effective on Covid-19. Yet, a lot of people keep reporting that they’re still unclear and uncertain about the best disinfecting practices, even months after the pandemic had started.
Hopefully, more extensive testing can help shed even more light on how best to treat surfaces against the virus. The CDC and the EPA don’t necessarily recommend these two Lysol products over others on this list but they do advise caution when disinfecting. They note that it’s always important to read the label and instructions of the product you’re using or purchasing as well as to wear rubber gloves and other protective gear. Naturally, they also note that mixing cleaning chemicals is not advisable.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-09--How to Make Avocado Garlic Butter, The Healthy Condiment You Didn’t Know You Needed

Superfoods have had many people either excited or puzzled for quite some time .
Their definition can be a little loose but simply put , a superfood is anything with exceptionally high nutrition .
But what about some rare and special combinations and recipes of superfoods ?
Here ’ s something quite unique that can transform your entire kitchen – avocado garlic butter .
Whether you ’ re on a vegan diet , you ’ re lactose intolerant , or you just want to eat more healthy foods , avocado garlic butter isn ’ t just “ a vegan alternative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s much better in myriad ways .
There are only a few ingredients for avocado garlic butter and they are usually present in most people ’ s households anyway : Even if you don ’ t have some of these , they are all pretty easy to find in most if not all convenient stores .
And now that you have all the ingredients prepared , here ’ s the recipe : • Peel the avocados and remove the pits .
Grate the garlic and melt the coconut oil .
The amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how sharp their taste is and how spicy you want your butter to be .
• Combine all the ingredients into a smooth mixture with a food processor or a hand mixer .
Add some sea salt to your taste at the end .
• Places the aluminum foil and plastic wrap pieces on the counter – the wrap over the foil .
• Scoop the mixture in the middle of the plastic wrap and start rolling it up length-wise .
Roll the foil after that as well for more structure until you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm log .
• Refrigerate the butter for several hours ( at least three ) for the mixture to set and the flavor to come together .
And voila , it ’ s ready to serve !
Multiple reasons , including that it ’ s very delicious as well as fun to make .
Most importantly , however , as with all other superfoods – it ’ s incredibly healthy .
Explaining why that ’ s the case shouldn ’ t even be necessary .
But for a bit more context , here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garlic butter : Like butter , avocado has a smooth buttery texture and taste , and is very good at complimenting other flavors .
Some people have an aversion to the avocado taste and that ’ s understandable as it ’ s pretty unique and needs to be prepared adequately – that ’ s what the recipe above is for .
Once you make it just right , however , you can expect dozens of amazing health benefits from this unique fruit : • More nutritious than even many other superfoods ( 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nutrients in a standard 100-gram or 3.5-ounce avocado serving : – Folate – 20 % of the daily value – Vitamin C – 17 % of DV – Vitamin K – 26 % of DV – Vitamin E – 10 % of DV – Vitamin B6 – 13 % of DV – Vitamin B5 – 14 % of DV – Potassium – 14 % of DV ( more than bananas ) – Additional noteworthy amounts of magnesium , copper , iron , zinc , manganese , phosphorous , and Vitamins A , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – 15 grams of healthy fats and 7 grams of fiber .
• It ’ s amazing for the heart .
With cardiovascular issues and deaths being one of the biggest health problems in the U.S. ( 2 ) the avocado is even more important .
The avocado is a high-fat food ( 77 % of its calories are from fat ) .
However , that ’ s not just any fat .
Most of the fat in the avocado is oleic acid – a monounsaturated fatty acid that ’ s also common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very heart-healthy fat .
Plus , it ’ s relatively resistant to heat-induced oxidation , making it a healthy cooking option as well .
• Lots of fiber .
7 grams of fiber per 100 may not sound like much but it ’ s actually 27 % off your recommended daily allowance .
That ’ s great both for our metabolic health and for weight loss .
• It lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels .
This is another reason why avocados are so great for our heart health .
There are almost countless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this point but here a few ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) .
Their consistent conclusions are that avocados significantly reduce cholesterol levels by up to 22 % , reduce blood triglycerides b up to 20 % , and increase good cholesterol by up to 11 % .
Garlic may be known as a “ vampire deterrent ” but that ’ s likely just because it is symbolic with all its health benefits .
Because of those health benefits garlic has been used as medicine in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Egypt and Babylon , through Greece and Europe , all the way to China .
Today , we have a better understanding of why garlic is so healthy : • Sulfur compounds .
When chewed , chopped , or crushed , garlic produces a cocktail of various sulfur compounds .
The most famous one of them is allicin but other healthy compounds include diallyl disulfide and s-allyl cysteine .
Once digested , these sulfur compounds have medicinal benefits all across our bodies ( 7 ) ( 8 ) .
• Very high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like avocado , garlic includes a lot of goodies from our recommended daily allowance ( 9 ) .
Here ’ s what you get from a single 3-gram garlic clove : – Vitamin B6 – 2 % of the daily value – Vitamin C – 1 % of DV – Fiber – 0.06 grams – Manganese – 2 % of DV – Selenium – 1 % of DV ( 10 ) • Sickness-combating capabilities .
Garlic is very famous as a common cold remedy and it does help against all kinds of diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the placebo-effect too , as studies have shown ( 11 ) .
It has also been shown that high doses of garlic extract reduce the flu and cold sickness length by 61 % ( 12 ) .
• It ’ s also great for your blood pressure and general cardiovascular health .
Multiple studies have investigated the positive effects of garlic on our blood pressure and heart health ( 13 ) ( 14 ) ( 15 ) .
One study ( 16 ) , in particular , found that a daily intake of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective as the drug Atenolol at reducing blood pressure over a 24-week period .
• Garlic helps with cholesterol too .
Multiple studies ( 17 ) ( 18 ) ( 19 ) have shown that garlic consumption lowers both bad and total cholesterol levels .
It doesn ’ t seem to have any reliable effect on “ good ” cholesterol but that ’ s what the avocado is for .
• Contains a lot of antioxidants .
Like avocado , garlic is also rich in antioxidants .
This is great for Alzheimer ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against a lot of other health conditions , including cancer .
Don ’ t worry , we ’ re not going to throw dairy butter under the bus just so we can talk avocado garlic butter up .
Dairy butter has been a staple in a lot of cuisines for millennia as well and it does have a lot going for it .
It ’ s flavorful , it contains a lot of nice nutrients such as vitamins A , B12 , E , K , and others .
It ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( CLA ) which has been linked with the prevention of certain types of cancer ( 20 ) ( 21 ) .
Dairy butter is likely still here to stay and that ’ s perfectly fine .
However , avocado garlic butter can add a lot to your kitchen as well and is definitely worth trying out !

Superfoods have had many people either excited or puzzled for quite some time. Their definition can be a little loose but simply put, a superfood is anything with exceptionally high nutrition.
Advertisement
But what about some rare and special combinations and recipes of superfoods? Here’s something quite unique that can transform your entire kitchen – avocado garlic butter.
Whether you’re on a vegan diet, you’re lactose intolerant, or you just want to eat more healthy foods, avocado garlic butter isn’t just “a vegan alternative” to normal butter – it’s much better in myriad ways.
Advertisement
Avocado garlic butter – the recipe
There are only a few ingredients for avocado garlic butter and they are usually present in most people’s households anyway:
2 ripe avocados
1-4 grated garlic cloves
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp melted coconut oil
A pinch of chopped cilantro
Sea salt to taste
Aluminum foil and plastic wrap
Even if you don’t have some of these, they are all pretty easy to find in most if not all convenient stores. And now that you have all the ingredients prepared, here’s the recipe:
Peel the avocados and remove the pits. Grate the garlic and melt the coconut oil. The amount of garlic you should use depends entirely on how sharp their taste is and how spicy you want your butter to be. Combine all the ingredients into a smooth mixture with a food processor or a hand mixer. Add some sea salt to your taste at the end. Places the aluminum foil and plastic wrap pieces on the counter – the wrap over the foil. Scoop the mixture in the middle of the plastic wrap and start rolling it up length-wise. Roll the foil after that as well for more structure until you form the butter into a nice, firm log. Refrigerate the butter for several hours (at least three) for the mixture to set and the flavor to come together. And voila, it’s ready to serve!
Why make avocado garlic butter?
Multiple reasons, including that it’s very delicious as well as fun to make. Most importantly, however, as with all other superfoods – it’s incredibly healthy. Explaining why that’s the case shouldn’t even be necessary. But for a bit more context, here’s what you get with avocado garlic butter:
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Avocado’s awesome health benefits
Like butter, avocado has a smooth buttery texture and taste, and is very good at complimenting other flavors. Some people have an aversion to the avocado taste and that’s understandable as it’s pretty unique and needs to be prepared adequately – that’s what the recipe above is for.
Once you make it just right, however, you can expect dozens of amazing health benefits from this unique fruit:
More nutritious than even many other superfoods (1). Here are just some of the nutrients in a standard 100-gram or 3.5-ounce avocado serving:
– Folate – 20% of the daily value
– Vitamin C – 17% of DV
– Vitamin K – 26% of DV
– Vitamin E – 10% of DV
– Vitamin B6 – 13% of DV
– Vitamin B5 – 14% of DV
– Potassium – 14% of DV (more than bananas)
– Additional noteworthy amounts of magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, phosphorous, and Vitamins A, B1, B2, and B3.
– 15 grams of healthy fats and 7 grams of fiber.
– Folate – 20% of the daily value – Vitamin C – 17% of DV – Vitamin K – 26% of DV – Vitamin E – 10% of DV – Vitamin B6 – 13% of DV – Vitamin B5 – 14% of DV – Potassium – 14% of DV (more than bananas) – Additional noteworthy amounts of magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, phosphorous, and Vitamins A, B1, B2, and B3. – 15 grams of healthy fats and 7 grams of fiber. It’s amazing for the heart. With cardiovascular issues and deaths being one of the biggest health problems in the U.S . (2) the avocado is even more important. The avocado is a high-fat food (77% of its calories are from fat). However, that’s not just any fat. Most of the fat in the avocado is oleic acid – a monounsaturated fatty acid that’s also common in olive oil. This is a very heart-healthy fat. Plus, it’s relatively resistant to heat-induced oxidation, making it a healthy cooking option as well.
. (2) the avocado is even more important. The avocado is a high-fat food (77% of its calories are from fat). However, that’s not just any fat. Most of the fat in the avocado is oleic acid – a monounsaturated fatty acid that’s also common in olive oil. This is a very heart-healthy fat. Plus, it’s relatively resistant to heat-induced oxidation, making it a healthy cooking option as well. Lots of fiber. 7 grams of fiber per 100 may not sound like much but it’s actually 27% off your recommended daily allowance. That’s great both for our metabolic health and for weight loss.
It lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels. This is another reason why avocados are so great for our heart health. There are almost countless studies proving the cardiovascular effects of avocados at this point but here a few (3) (4) (5) (6). Their consistent conclusions are that avocados significantly reduce cholesterol levels by up to 22%, reduce blood triglycerides b up to 20%, and increase good cholesterol by up to 11%.
Garlic’s awesome health benefits
Garlic may be known as a “vampire deterrent” but that’s likely just because it is symbolic with all its health benefits. Because of those health benefits garlic has been used as medicine in ancient cultures all across the globe – from Egypt and Babylon, through Greece and Europe, all the way to China. Today, we have a better understanding of why garlic is so healthy:
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Sulfur compounds. When chewed, chopped, or crushed, garlic produces a cocktail of various sulfur compounds. The most famous one of them is allicin but other healthy compounds include diallyl disulfide and s-allyl cysteine. Once digested, these sulfur compounds have medicinal benefits all across our bodies (7) (8).
Very high nutritious benefits with very few calories. Like avocado, garlic includes a lot of goodies from our recommended daily allowance (9). Here’s what you get from a single 3-gram garlic clove:
– Vitamin B6 – 2% of the daily value
– Vitamin C – 1% of DV
– Fiber – 0.06 grams
– Manganese – 2% of DV
– Selenium – 1% of DV (10)
– Vitamin B6 – 2% of the daily value – Vitamin C – 1% of DV – Fiber – 0.06 grams – Manganese – 2% of DV – Selenium – 1% of DV (10) Sickness-combating capabilities. Garlic is very famous as a common cold remedy and it does help against all kinds of diseases. It’s more than just the placebo-effect too, as studies have shown (11). It has also been shown that high doses of garlic extract reduce the flu and cold sickness length by 61% (12).
It’s also great for your blood pressure and general cardiovascular health. Multiple studies have investigated the positive effects of garlic on our blood pressure and heart health (13) (14) (15).
One study (16), in particular, found that a daily intake of 600-1500 mg of aged garlic is as effective as the drug Atenolol at reducing blood pressure over a 24-week period.
One study (16), in particular, found that a daily intake of 600-1500 mg of aged garlic is as effective as the drug Atenolol at reducing blood pressure over a 24-week period. Garlic helps with cholesterol too. Multiple studies (17) (18) (19) have shown that garlic consumption lowers both bad and total cholesterol levels. It doesn’t seem to have any reliable effect on “good” cholesterol but that’s what the avocado is for.
Contains a lot of antioxidants. Like avocado, garlic is also rich in antioxidants. This is great for Alzheimer’s and dementia prevention as well as against a lot of other health conditions, including cancer.
How does normal dairy butter compare?
Don’t worry, we’re not going to throw dairy butter under the bus just so we can talk avocado garlic butter up.
Dairy butter has been a staple in a lot of cuisines for millennia as well and it does have a lot going for it. It’s flavorful, it contains a lot of nice nutrients such as vitamins A, B12, E, K, and others. It’s also a good source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which has been linked with the prevention of certain types of cancer (20) (21).
In conclusion
Dairy butter is likely still here to stay and that’s perfectly fine. However, avocado garlic butter can add a lot to your kitchen as well and is definitely worth trying out!
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-10--Scientists Reveal Why Living a Simple Life Makes People Happier

When asked what they want from life , the vast majority of people say “ happiness and peace ” first and then go on to list other things such as love , success , and so on .
Yet , despite this supposed focus on happiness and peace , we live in neither a happy ( 1 ) nor a peaceful ( 2 ) world .
Could it be possible that we ’ re doing something wrong ?
According to the World Happiness Report index ( 1 ) , a lot of the more economically powerful countries in the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – are lagging behind in terms of their people ’ s happiness levels .
Why is that the case ?
Shouldn ’ t the people in the richest , most advanced , and most powerful countries in the world be unimaginably happier than all others ?
How come we can have so many opportunities at our disposal and yet be so unhappy ?
On one hand , it ’ s highly likely that the economic disparity between people in the U.S. is a major part of the equation there ( 4 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ societal problem , however , and isn ’ t something that any one of us can fix on our own .
So , what ’ s something we can tweak in our individual lives that can make us at least a bit happier ?
Well , one good guess for something that can bring us both happiness and the aforementioned peace that often precedes it is “ simplicity ” .
Or more precisely , simplifying our lives .
This isn ’ t a new notion either .
Both psychologists and philosophers have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life means a happy life .
And yet , a lot of us still fail to understand this or , even when we do , we fail to act on it .
Thankfully , more and more scientific research proves the relationship between simplicity and happiness , so , hopefully , more of us will start taking action and taming the complex chaos that is the modern Western life .
1 .
Having a simpler life means having more time for yourself We ’ ve all heard the old saying that “ Happiness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that mean , however ?
Author Denis Waitley ( 5 ) puts it in another way : “ Happiness can not be traveled to , owned , earned , worn or consumed .
Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love , grace , and gratitude.
” And in case the word “ spiritual ” freaks you out , let ’ s explain it another way – happiness requires that you give yourself the time and space to focus on the love , grace , and gratitude in your life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , countless tasks and obligations , as well as empty entertainment and distractions , we deny ourselves said time and space .
Leading a simpler life , however , gives us the precious bit of solitude we all need .
And this isn ’ t “ an introvert thing ” either – research has shown ( 6 ) that having at least a bit of time for solitude and personal introspection is vital for everyone .
And while modern advancements have simplified our lives in many ways such as not having to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also filled those now free hours of the day with other complications .
2 .
A simple life means having more time for those close to you too Happiness is about more than ourselves , of course .
While it is internal and it ’ s something that we all experience within ourselves , we ’ re still a social species .
As such , a lot of the positive stimuli in our lives ( should ) come from our close family and friends .
That is , if we have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with them .
Sociologist Amitai Etzioli postulates in his essay Voluntary Simplicity : Characterization , Select Psychological Implications , and Societal Consequences ( 7 ) that many of us don ’ t have the time to “ foster healthy relationships ” precisely because we dedicate too much time accumulating meaningless possessions and unnecessarily complicating our lives .
Working and taking care of the home is one thing – of course , we still need to take care of ourselves .
However , when you add all other distractions , we ’ re usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaningfully bond with our closest people .
And it ’ s about more than just happiness too – lots of research such as this Harvard study from 2017 ( 8 ) shows us that having healthy and fulfilling relationships with our friends and family improves our mental health and longevity as well .
The big irony here , however , is that failing to maintain healthy relationships with our closest people is what usually drives us to overcomplicate our lives with meaningless possessions , materialism , and unfulfilling hobbies .
3 .
Leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and concentration as well Another thing simplicity gives us is focus and concentration .
Having fewer distractions and complications around us allows us to focus not only on ourselves and our family but to just focus more easily in general .
This can seem trivial at first but it ’ s a key to achieving at least a modicum of happiness .
A recent study from Stanford shows us how having to focus on multiple things at once and multitask non-stop not only slows us down but also lowers our IQ and energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers also found that people who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information can not pay attention , recall information , or switch from one job to another as well as those who complete one task at a time.
” The report estimates that constantly having to split our attention decreases our productivity by ~40 % and drastically increases our stress levels .
This coupled with the fact that younger generations are reportedly suffering from more and more concentration problems and lack of focus ( 10 ) and the need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one thing , but physical health also often alludes us because of how needlessly complex our lives are .
Do you find yourself thinking that you need to start doing something for your life – exercising more , cooking more healthy food , going for routine medical check-ups , etc .
– and yet , you constantly lack time for them ?
You want to start getting up earlier in the morning for some cardio , yet you stay up all night scrolling through social media ?
That ’ s just one way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from improving our health .
There are also the links between materialism and poor health established by studies such as this 2014 study ( 11 ) in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology .
On the other hand , research such as this survey from the University of the Sciences in Pennsylvania ( 12 ) has determined that simplifying your lifestyle almost always leads to improved physical health .
And it ’ s all a simple consequence of freeing up more time for taking better care of yourself .
One of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic and ensuing mass quarantine ( 13 ) has been the positive environmental impact of it all ( 14 ) .
Although there have been certain negative effects as well , one of the key takeaways was that when large numbers of us simplify our lifestyles , we can cut our emissions and consumption by a lot .
This can be a big deal for the environment given how significant the impact of people in the West is , in particular ( 15 ) .
This may not have a direct impact on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the world around them .
For the majority of us , however , knowing that we live a more environmentally-friendly life and we ’ re quite literally on the right side of history , is a pretty nice happiness boost .
6 .
Less clutter means fewer things to stress you out Simplifying your life doesn ’ t just mean that you ’ ll have time to focus on more meaningful things .
It also means that you ’ ll have fewer things to worry about .
You ’ ve no doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to your possessions ” – it refers to exactly that .
There are so many appliances and tools nowadays that are meant to help us with our daily lives that we often find ourselves investing more time choosing , buying , maintaining , fixing , paying off , and replacing them than the time these same appliances actually “ save ” us .
Sure , things such as stoves , washing machines , and refrigerators are wonderful tools with lots of benefits but how about all the other non-essential technology around us ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we tend to pile up in our cabinets and on our walls ?
More and more studies and reports ( 16 ) show us that the hyper-consumerism of the 21st century is not that great for our mental well-being .
7 .
To have a simple life also means having more money It ’ s a common saying that “ A simple life is a rich life ” but that usually refers metaphorically to the other points above .
And while that ’ s ’ true as well , leading a simpler life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your disposal .
When we ’ re talking about simplifying your lifestyle we don ’ t mean quitting your job and going off the grid , after all .
Money makes the world go round and working for a living is perfectly normal .
However , wasting said money on countless meaningless possessions and distractions is one of the easiest ways to waste said money .
All the steaming and TV subscriptions , home accessories , needless appliances , and unnecessarily expensive consumables we ’ re used to often sum up to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This doesn ’ t mean getting rid of all our possessions or entertainment either .
No one is saying that going to a restaurant or on a vacation is a bad thing .
But going overboard with pointless yet expensive distractions can be as disastrous to our wallets as it is to our stress levels .
So , should you ditch everything and just become a monk in a mountain sanctuaries ?
No , not necessarily .
There ’ s nothing wrong with enjoying a bit of TV or a video game , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar .
But , as with all things in life , balance is important .
And the sad reality is that we all tend to focus much more on the easy-to-consume entertainment that ’ s in front of us rather than address the more meaningful aspects of our lives first .
Having enough time to maintain your health , to contemplate your needs and wants , and to improve your relationships – those things are shown to bring much more happiness than most of the other things we do on a daily basis @

When asked what they want from life, the vast majority of people say “happiness and peace” first and then go on to list other things such as love, success, and so on. Yet, despite this supposed focus on happiness and peace, we live in neither a happy (1) nor a peaceful (2) world. Could it be possible that we’re doing something wrong?
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According to the World Happiness Report index (1), a lot of the more economically powerful countries in the world – including the U.S. (3) – are lagging behind in terms of their people’s happiness levels.
Why is that the case? Shouldn’t the people in the richest, most advanced, and most powerful countries in the world be unimaginably happier than all others? How come we can have so many opportunities at our disposal and yet be so unhappy?
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On one hand, it’s highly likely that the economic disparity between people in the U.S. is a major part of the equation there (4). That’s a rather complex mass societal problem, however, and isn’t something that any one of us can fix on our own. So, what’s something we can tweak in our individual lives that can make us at least a bit happier?
Well, one good guess for something that can bring us both happiness and the aforementioned peace that often precedes it is “simplicity”. Or more precisely, simplifying our lives.
This isn’t a new notion either. Both psychologists and philosophers have been telling people for millennia that a simple life means a happy life. And yet, a lot of us still fail to understand this or, even when we do, we fail to act on it. Thankfully, more and more scientific research proves the relationship between simplicity and happiness, so, hopefully, more of us will start taking action and taming the complex chaos that is the modern Western life.
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1. Having a simpler life means having more time for yourself
We’ve all heard the old saying that “Happiness comes from within”. What does that mean, however? Author Denis Waitley (5) puts it in another way:
“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.”
And in case the word “spiritual” freaks you out, let’s explain it another way – happiness requires that you give yourself the time and space to focus on the love, grace, and gratitude in your life. When we clutter our lives with work, countless tasks and obligations, as well as empty entertainment and distractions, we deny ourselves said time and space.
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Leading a simpler life, however, gives us the precious bit of solitude we all need. And this isn’t “an introvert thing” either – research has shown (6) that having at least a bit of time for solitude and personal introspection is vital for everyone.
And while modern advancements have simplified our lives in many ways such as not having to work in the fields 16/7, they have also filled those now free hours of the day with other complications.
2. A simple life means having more time for those close to you too
Happiness is about more than ourselves, of course. While it is internal and it’s something that we all experience within ourselves, we’re still a social species. As such, a lot of the positive stimuli in our lives (should) come from our close family and friends. That is, if we have the time and freedom to maintain healthy relationships with them.
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Sociologist Amitai Etzioli postulates in his essay Voluntary Simplicity: Characterization, Select Psychological Implications, and Societal Consequences (7) that many of us don’t have the time to “foster healthy relationships” precisely because we dedicate too much time accumulating meaningless possessions and unnecessarily complicating our lives.
Working and taking care of the home is one thing – of course, we still need to take care of ourselves. However, when you add all other distractions, we’re usually left with little to no time to meaningfully bond with our closest people.
And it’s about more than just happiness too – lots of research such as this Harvard study from 2017 (8) shows us that having healthy and fulfilling relationships with our friends and family improves our mental health and longevity as well.
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The big irony here, however, is that failing to maintain healthy relationships with our closest people is what usually drives us to overcomplicate our lives with meaningless possessions, materialism, and unfulfilling hobbies.
3. Leading a simple life helps with our focus and concentration as well
Another thing simplicity gives us is focus and concentration. Having fewer distractions and complications around us allows us to focus not only on ourselves and our family but to just focus more easily in general.
This can seem trivial at first but it’s a key to achieving at least a modicum of happiness. A recent study from Stanford shows us how having to focus on multiple things at once and multitask non-stop not only slows us down but also lowers our IQ and energy levels (9).
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“The researchers also found that people who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information cannot pay attention, recall information, or switch from one job to another as well as those who complete one task at a time.”
The report estimates that constantly having to split our attention decreases our productivity by ~40% and drastically increases our stress levels. This coupled with the fact that younger generations are reportedly suffering from more and more concentration problems and lack of focus (10) and the need for change becomes clear.
4. Simpler lives are healthier lives
Mental health is one thing, but physical health also often alludes us because of how needlessly complex our lives are. Do you find yourself thinking that you need to start doing something for your life – exercising more, cooking more healthy food, going for routine medical check-ups, etc. – and yet, you constantly lack time for them? You want to start getting up earlier in the morning for some cardio, yet you stay up all night scrolling through social media?
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That’s just one way of how needless distractions can prevent us from improving our health. There are also the links between materialism and poor health established by studies such as this 2014 study (11) in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
On the other hand, research such as this survey from the University of the Sciences in Pennsylvania (12) has determined that simplifying your lifestyle almost always leads to improved physical health. And it’s all a simple consequence of freeing up more time for taking better care of yourself.
5. Simple life = environmentally friendly life
One of the few silver linings of the current Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing mass quarantine (13) has been the positive environmental impact of it all (14). Although there have been certain negative effects as well, one of the key takeaways was that when large numbers of us simplify our lifestyles, we can cut our emissions and consumption by a lot.
Advertisement
This can be a big deal for the environment given how significant the impact of people in the West is, in particular (15). This may not have a direct impact on the happiness of someone with no regard for the world around them. For the majority of us, however, knowing that we live a more environmentally-friendly life and we’re quite literally on the right side of history, is a pretty nice happiness boost.
6. Less clutter means fewer things to stress you out
Simplifying your life doesn’t just mean that you’ll have time to focus on more meaningful things. It also means that you’ll have fewer things to worry about. You’ve no doubt heard the expression “becoming a slave to your possessions” – it refers to exactly that.
There are so many appliances and tools nowadays that are meant to help us with our daily lives that we often find ourselves investing more time choosing, buying, maintaining, fixing, paying off, and replacing them than the time these same appliances actually “save” us.
Advertisement
Sure, things such as stoves, washing machines, and refrigerators are wonderful tools with lots of benefits but how about all the other non-essential technology around us? How about all the other material possessions we tend to pile up in our cabinets and on our walls? More and more studies and reports (16) show us that the hyper-consumerism of the 21st century is not that great for our mental well-being.
7. To have a simple life also means having more money
It’s a common saying that “A simple life is a rich life” but that usually refers metaphorically to the other points above. And while that’s’ true as well, leading a simpler life also literally means having more money at your disposal.
When we’re talking about simplifying your lifestyle we don’t mean quitting your job and going off the grid, after all. Money makes the world go round and working for a living is perfectly normal. However, wasting said money on countless meaningless possessions and distractions is one of the easiest ways to waste said money.
Advertisement
All the steaming and TV subscriptions, home accessories, needless appliances, and unnecessarily expensive consumables we’re used to often sum up to a large 2-digit percentage of our income.
This doesn’t mean getting rid of all our possessions or entertainment either. No one is saying that going to a restaurant or on a vacation is a bad thing. But going overboard with pointless yet expensive distractions can be as disastrous to our wallets as it is to our stress levels.
In conclusion
So, should you ditch everything and just become a monk in a mountain sanctuaries? No, not necessarily.
Advertisement
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a bit of TV or a video game, having a fun hobby, or something similar. But, as with all things in life, balance is important. And the sad reality is that we all tend to focus much more on the easy-to-consume entertainment that’s in front of us rather than address the more meaningful aspects of our lives first.
Having enough time to maintain your health, to contemplate your needs and wants, and to improve your relationships – those things are shown to bring much more happiness than most of the other things we do on a daily basis.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-13--Eat Real Whole Foods Rich in Color to Protect Your Brain from Alzheimer’s Disease

Each year , the number of Americans living with Alzheimer ’ s is growing — and growing fast .
According to the Alzheimer ’ s Association , more than 5 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer ’ s .
An estimated 5.8 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer ’ s in 2020 .
If you ’ re concerned with this neurodegenerative disease , there is hope .
There ’ s a simple way to protect your brain from the ravages of time…and even dementia .
All you need is some colorful , whole foods you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Researchers have found that a diet low in flavonoids was associated with higher Alzheimer ’ s risk .
The April 2020 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found , “ higher long-term dietary intakes of flavonoids are associated with lower risks of Alzheimer ’ s disease and related dementias ( ADRD ) in U.S. adults.
” According to Oregon State University , certain flavonoids have been shown to , “ cross the blood-brain barrier and exert preventive effects towards cognitive impairments in animal models of normal and pathological aging.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed them for 20 years .
Those who stayed away from apples , pears and teas had twice the risk for developing Alzheimer ’ s .
And those consuming the least amount of blueberries , strawberries and red wines had four times the risk of developing Alzheimer ’ s .
What You Eat Really Matters Flavonoids are a group of plant nutrients found in a variety of fruits and vegetables .
There are more than 6,000 types of flavonoids , and they are responsible for the bright colors plants have .
Not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they also offer many health benefits .
The majority of flavonoids fight off inflammation by acting as antioxidants .
You don ’ t have to make drastic changes to your diet .
Start small .
Add a few berries to something you are eating or start drinking some tea ( green tea or matcha has a lot of flavonoids ) .
And if keeping your brain healthy isn ’ t enough for you , a 2019 study published in Nature Communications also found that foods rich in flavonoids could decrease the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a matter of time before new research confirms how flavonoid rich foods help keep us young .
In the meantime , make sure you eat plenty of colorful foods such as apples , berries , cocoa-based products , red grapes , and tea .

Each year, the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s is growing — and growing fast. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer’s. An estimated 5.8 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in 2020. If you’re concerned with this neurodegenerative disease, there is hope. There’s a simple way to protect your brain from the ravages of time…and even dementia. All you need is some colorful, whole foods you can get on your next grocery trip.
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Researchers have found that a diet low in flavonoids was associated with higher Alzheimer’s risk. The April 2020 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found, “higher long-term dietary intakes of flavonoids are associated with lower risks of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in U.S. adults.” According to Oregon State University, certain flavonoids have been shown to, “cross the blood-brain barrier and exert preventive effects towards cognitive impairments in animal models of normal and pathological aging.” The study included 2,800 participants and followed them for 20 years. Those who stayed away from apples, pears and teas had twice the risk for developing Alzheimer’s. And those consuming the least amount of blueberries, strawberries and red wines had four times the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
What You Eat Really Matters
Flavonoids are a group of plant nutrients found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. There are more than 6,000 types of flavonoids, and they are responsible for the bright colors plants have. Not only do flavonoids make fruits and vegetables colorful, they also offer many health benefits. The majority of flavonoids fight off inflammation by acting as antioxidants. You don’t have to make drastic changes to your diet. Start small. Add a few berries to something you are eating or start drinking some tea (green tea or matcha has a lot of flavonoids).
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And if keeping your brain healthy isn’t enough for you, a 2019 study published in Nature Communications also found that foods rich in flavonoids could decrease the risk of cancer. It’s only a matter of time before new research confirms how flavonoid rich foods help keep us young. In the meantime, make sure you eat plenty of colorful foods such as apples, berries, cocoa-based products, red grapes, and tea.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-07-14--Animal Protein Becomes Increasingly More Important for Muscle Health as we Age, Study Says

The meat-based vs plant-based protein debate has been going on for years .
Proponents of both types of diets have their good and bad arguments and there are indeed benefits to both vegan and meat-eating diets .
The general consensus most research seems to boil down to : 1 .
Meat-sourced protein is more abundant and easy to consume .
This means that if you require increased protein consumption , meat is usually the easiest and most effective way to go about it .
2 .
Plant-based proteins require the consumption of more food as there ’ s less protein-per-pound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the case even in protein rich foods such as hemp seeds , peas , almonds , brussel sprouts , broccoli , pumpkin seeds , and others .
While most vegans quit meat and dairy for a number of reasons – including health , animal welfare and to protect the environment – one study suggests they may be better off balancing their diet with both animal and plant proteins .
A new study from The King ’ s College London has found that animal protein is more effective than plant protein in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Old age comes with a lot of health problems and one of them is muscle loss ( sarcopenia ) .
Even physically active and health-minded individuals tend to lose ~3-5 % of their muscle mass each decade after 30 .
And while eating lots of vegetables and grains is crucial not just for their protein content but overall nutrients , the research suggests that cutting animal protein entirely might be a bad idea if you want to prevent or slow down muscle loss .
The more lean muscle tissue you lose , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your metabolism , the easier it is to gain weight and develop health problems such as obesity , diabetes and heart disease .
The King ’ s College report put it like this : “ While we know plant-based diets are beneficial for the environment , we don ’ t know how healthy these diets are for keeping muscles strong .
Transitioning from an animal-based protein diet to a plant-based diet is likely to be detrimental to muscle health during ageing.
” There are three main components to maintaining lean muscle tissue – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and physical stress via exercises .
As our bodies age , they need extra help in virtually all areas .
And since animal protein is a more effective source , especially per pound , they become even more important as we get older .
The research team conducted their study by giving participants either animal-based proteins or soy- and wheat-based proteins .
After that , the team monitored the participants ’ isotopes , took blood samples , and made muscle biopsies to examine the muscle growth as comprehensively as possible .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still points out that plant-based proteins are nevertheless important and shouldn ’ t be ignored .
Transitioning to a fully or predominantly meat-based diet may have its benefits but it will have its drawbacks too .
Instead , the researchers recommend a balanced meat & plant diet for most people .
“ A more balanced and less extreme approach to changing dietary behaviour , meaning eating both animal and plant-based proteins , is best .
Further tests on alternative plant based proteins such as oat , quinoa and maize are to be carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective on a gram for gram basis.
” Witard added that “ This research challenges the broad viewpoint that plant proteins don ’ t help build muscles as much as animal protein by highlighting the potential of alternative plant-based protein sources to maintain the size and quality of ageing muscles.
” Hopefully , the report will offer some food for thought to people on both sides of the “ vegan vs meat-eaters ” debate .

The meat-based vs plant-based protein debate has been going on for years. Proponents of both types of diets have their good and bad arguments and there are indeed benefits to both vegan and meat-eating diets. The general consensus most research seems to boil down to:
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1. Meat-sourced protein is more abundant and easy to consume. This means that if you require increased protein consumption, meat is usually the easiest and most effective way to go about it.
2. Plant-based proteins require the consumption of more food as there’s less protein-per-pound in grains and plants. This seems to be the case even in protein rich foods such as hemp seeds, peas, almonds, brussel sprouts, broccoli, pumpkin seeds, and others.
Advertisement
While most vegans quit meat and dairy for a number of reasons – including health, animal welfare and to protect the environment – one study suggests they may be better off balancing their diet with both animal and plant proteins.
A new study from The King’s College London has found that animal protein is more effective than plant protein in preventing muscle loss as we grow older.
Old age comes with a lot of health problems and one of them is muscle loss (sarcopenia). Even physically active and health-minded individuals tend to lose ~3-5% of their muscle mass each decade after 30. And while eating lots of vegetables and grains is crucial not just for their protein content but overall nutrients, the research suggests that cutting animal protein entirely might be a bad idea if you want to prevent or slow down muscle loss.
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The more lean muscle tissue you lose, the slower your metabolism. The slower your metabolism, the easier it is to gain weight and develop health problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
The King’s College report put it like this:
“While we know plant-based diets are beneficial for the environment, we don’t know how healthy these diets are for keeping muscles strong. Transitioning from an animal-based protein diet to a plant-based diet is likely to be detrimental to muscle health during ageing.”
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There are three main components to maintaining lean muscle tissue – amino acids (building blocks of protein) and physical stress via exercises. As our bodies age, they need extra help in virtually all areas. And since animal protein is a more effective source, especially per pound, they become even more important as we get older.
The research team conducted their study by giving participants either animal-based proteins or soy- and wheat-based proteins. After that, the team monitored the participants’ isotopes, took blood samples, and made muscle biopsies to examine the muscle growth as comprehensively as possible.
The study’s lead researcher Oliver Witard still points out that plant-based proteins are nevertheless important and shouldn’t be ignored. Transitioning to a fully or predominantly meat-based diet may have its benefits but it will have its drawbacks too. Instead, the researchers recommend a balanced meat & plant diet for most people.
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The report concluded that:
“A more balanced and less extreme approach to changing dietary behaviour, meaning eating both animal and plant-based proteins, is best. Further tests on alternative plant based proteins such as oat, quinoa and maize are to be carried out to see if they are more effective on a gram for gram basis.”
Witard added that “This research challenges the broad viewpoint that plant proteins don’t help build muscles as much as animal protein by highlighting the potential of alternative plant-based protein sources to maintain the size and quality of ageing muscles.”
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Hopefully, the report will offer some food for thought to people on both sides of the “vegan vs meat-eaters” debate.
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