Health

12 Amazing Foods That Will Improve Your Resistance to Disease

Twelve Amazing Foods That Will Improve Your Resistance to DiseaseWe all get ill sometimes, but many people underestimate the significant role that diet can play in improving the body’s ability to fight infection. Read on to discover twelve fantastic foods that have been proven to boost the immune system and improve resistance to disease.

1) Garlic: The reason why garlic gives you particularly malodorous breath is that it contains certain oils that your digestive system simply cannot break down. Instead, these oils make their way out of your body through your mouth, and so they have to pass through your respiratory tract. As they do so, they kill harmful viruses and bacteria found lurking there. In addition, one fascinating study performed in the United Kingdom showed that people who took garlic extract for twelve weeks were two thirds less likely to catch a cold than people who were taking a placebo.

2) Barley and oats: Barley and oats are a source of beta-glucan, a type of fiber that has powerful antimicrobial properties. Studies conducted on animals have shown that a diet high in beta-glucan is linked to a markedly decreased likelihood of contracting influenza viruses and herpes viruses. There is also some evidence that eating food that contains beta-glucan can enhance the ability of antibiotic drugs.

3) Pineapples: Pineapples provide you with a chemical called bromelain, and this improves your resistance to disease in a couple of different ways. Firstly, it reduces sinus inflammation when you have a cold, flu or sinus infection. Secondly, it lowers levels of unwanted inflammation associated with diseases such as arthritis and asthma.

4) Honey: All honey is capable of reducing the duration and severity of the main symptoms that are associated with upper respiratory infections. This is because honey erodes and destroys any bacteria that it encounters in your throat. However, there is one particular kind that is especially good at fighting infection. Manuka honey has been the subject of nutritional research for quite some time, and studies have shown that it contains a special compound capable of fighting bacteria throughout the entire body. Unlike regular honey, which can only kill bacteria it physically touches, manuka honey helps to fight bacteria everywhere inside you.

5) Goji berries: Goji berries are an infamous superfood, bursting with different chemicals that can improve your quality of life by enhancing a whole host of bodily functions. When it comes to fighting disease, the polysaccharide sugars found in goji berries help by encouraging your immune system to produce more white blood cells (which are vital when it comes to fending off viral and bacterial infections).

 6) Black tea:One study conducted by scientists at Harvard discovered that people who drank at least five cups of black tea for two weeks had ten times the normal amount of interferons in their blood. Interferons are proteins that fight viral and bacterial infections by inhibiting their ability to replicate. This means that steady consumption of black tea is likely to make you less vulnerable to infection.

7) Blueberries: Blueberries are a source of copper, and copper has antibacterial properties that will help you to fight certain infections. Further, blueberries provide you with a large chunk of your recommended daily intake of iron, and this increases the amount of hemoglobin in your blood (making sure that the right amount of oxygen reaches all the important parts of your body).

8) Shiitake mushrooms: Shiitake mushrooms can help your body effectively resist disease by improving immune system function. Like goji berries, they are a source of polysaccharide sugars that promote the production of white blood cells, and your body is more capable of fending off infections when it has a large supply of white blood cells.

9) Chili: When you have a cold or flu, try adding plenty of chili to your food. It thins out mucus, reducing the discomfort of a blocked nose and speeding recovery from infection.

10) Ginger: Ginger is a popular traditional treatment for nausea and vomiting, but it is also capable of lowering levels of inflammation. This is due to the presence of gingerols, chemicals that stop certain enzymes from raising inflammation in the body. Given this property of ginger, it is an ideal part of your diet if you happen to suffer from inflammatory diseases like ulcerative colitis, arthritis and asthma.

11) Strawberries: Strawberries are awonderful source of vitamin C, with one serving providing you with a massive 136% of your recommended daily intake. It is well documented that high levels of vitamin C are associated with better resistance to disease.

12) Pumpkin seeds: Pumpkin seeds are an ideal snack when you are suffering from a gastric flu or related viral infection, as they contain a powerful antiviral chemical called cucurbitin. In addition, it is a good idea to eat pumpkin seeds even when you are perfectly healthy, as they will reduce your likelihood of falling ill in the future. This is because they contain zinc, and zinc is necessary to ensure proper white blood cell function. When your white blood cells are functioning well, you are more resistant to disease.


Eating plenty of all of the above foods will improve your resistance to disease and make you less likely to contract annoying bacterial and viral infections.

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5 steps for preventing kidney stones

Preventing kidney stones means preventing the conditions that support their formation. I asked Dr. Melanie Hoenig, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, for the top ways to prevent kidney stones. Here are her recommendations:
Drink plenty of water: Drinking extra water dilutes the substances in urine that lead to stones. Strive to drink enough fluids to pass 2 liters of urine a day, which is roughly eight standard 8-ounce cups. It may help to include some citrus beverages, like lemonade and orange juice. The citrate in these beverages helps block stone formation.
Get the calcium you need: Getting too little calcium in your diet can cause oxalate levels to rise and cause kidney stones. To prevent this, make sure to take in an amount of calcium appropriate to your age. Ideally, obtain calcium from foods, since some studies have linked taking calcium supplements to kidney stones. Men 50 and older should get 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day, along with 800 to 1,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D to help the body absorb the calcium.
Reduce sodium: A high-sodium diet can trigger kidney stones because it increases the amount of calcium in your urine. So a low-sodium diet is recommended for the stone prone. Current guidelines suggest limiting total daily sodium intake to 2,300 mg. If sodium has contributed to kidney stones in the past, try to reduce your daily intake to 1,500 mg. This will also be good for your blood pressure and heart.
Limit animal protein: Eating too much animal protein, such as red meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood, boosts the level of uric acid and could lead to kidney stones. A high-protein diet also reduces levels of citrate, the chemical in urine that helps prevent stones from forming. If you’re prone to stones, limit your daily meat intake to a quantity that is no bigger than a pack of playing cards. This is also a heart-healthy portion.
Avoid stone-forming foods: Beets, chocolate, spinach, rhubarb, tea, and most nuts are rich in oxalate, and colas are rich in phosphate, both of which can contribute to kidney stones. If you suffer from stones, yourdoctor may advise you to avoid these foods or to consume them in smaller amounts.

For everyone else, particular foods and drinks are unlikely to trigger kidney stones unless consumed in extremely high amounts. Some studies have shown that men who take high doses of vitamin C in the form of supplements are at slightly higher risk of kidney stones. That may be because the body converts vitamin C into oxalate.
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Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO.The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests ecoregion, was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility, and was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988. The reserve's name translates as Kingdom of the Lion.The reserve is only 21 km (13 mi) from east to west, and a maximum of 7 km (4.3 mi) from north to south, but it is a treasure trove of endemic species, including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.Because of the dense vegetation, wildlife is not as easily seen as at dry-zone national parks such as Yala. There are about 3 elephants and the 15 or so leopards are rarely seen. The most common larger mammal is the endemic purple-faced langur.

Location               Sabaragamuwa and Southern Provinces, Sri Lanka
Established         April, 1978
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Designated         1988 (12th session)
State Party          Sri Lanka
Region  Asia-Pacific

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Dubai Creek



Dubai Creek is a saltwater creek located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). It ends at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Some sources say that the creek extended as far inland as Al Ain, and that the Ancient Greeks called it River Zara. Historically, the creek divided the city into two main sections – Deira and Bur Dubai. It was along the Bur Dubai creek area that members of the Bani Yas tribe first settled in the 19th century, establishing the Al Maktoum dynasty in the city. In the early 20th century, the creek, though incapable then of supporting large scale transportation, served as a minor port for dhows coming as far away as India or East Africa. Although it impeded the entry of ships due to current flow, the creek remained an important element in establishing the commercial position of Dubai, being the only port or harbour in the city. Dubai's pearling industry, which formed the main sector of the city's economy, was based primarily on expeditions in the creek, prior to the invention of cultured pearls in the 1930s.Dubai Creek's bank, north of Al-Maktoum Bridge. Still used by small traders from across the Gulf, some of the dhows anchored here are well over 100 years old. You can visit here, watching cargo being loaded and unloaded on and off the dhows. Dhow workers often invite visitors onto the vessels for a tour, where you can gain insight into the life of these traditional sailors. Many of the dhows here travel onwards to Kuwait, Iran, Oman, India, and down to Africa's horn. This tiny remnant of Dubai's traditional economy is still a bustling and fascinating place to wander around.To travel across the creek you can either take a trip on one of the many dhows that have been restored as tourist cruise boats or take an abra (small wooden ferry) between the ferry points on the creek's Bur Dubai and Deira banks.
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