There are many debates about some food sources whether they are helpful or not to us – from dairy products to caffeine to eggs and now, there’s mustard oil.

For several years, mustard oil was considered dangerous to humans. However, these days, it has become a common ingredient in a number of dishes. But what is really the truth behind these scary stories about mustard oil?

Is Mustard Oil Really Toxic?

There is generally nothing wrong with how mustard oil is extracted from mustard seeds. The problem lies in the components of the seeds themselves, since they contain an enzyme known as myrosinase and sinigrin, a glucosinolate. When these two compounds are exposed to heat or pressure, they form substances that are noted to be as poisonous whether the contact is through ingestion by mouth or through the skin.

Aside from the mentioned problem, there are other risks when you consume mustard oil including the following:

  • It has erucic acid, which is a strange type of fatty acid as it is classified as a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. It is highly toxic and can cause various health problems, including respiratory issues, anemia, coma, diarrhea, and sometimes death.
  • It may increase your risk of developing lung cancer, especially through regular ingestion. Erucic acid can distress the lungs after it has affected the respiratory system. This can lead to troubled breathing and over time, lung cancer.
  • It is bad for pregnant women as it can affect the growing fetus and the mother. There are chemicals found in the oil that can be harmful for those with child and may result in miscarriage.

Does this mean you should give up on mustard oil? Not necessarily. The important thing is you know how to use it properly. In truth, there are some health benefits you can get when you consume mustard oil, including improved cardiac health, better skin and hair, and reduced pain due to inflammation.

When cooking with mustard oil, it should not be exposed to pressure and heat. However, most of the bottles of the oil sold in grocery stores today state that the product is for external use only. This is because of the erucic acid that it contains, although Walter Willet from Harvard University said that the levels of the acid in the oil are not dangerous. Still, more research is required. To be on the safe side, choose a much safer oil alternative such as coconut oil and olive oil.

As we age, we lose a lot of things and these include our sharp memory and clear vision. But thankfully, there are ways to prevent this or at least delay the aging process. And one method is really very easy: just by eating a tiny berry.

Fresh blueberries are among the most popular fruits, especially during summer. But you should eat it all year round, especially to improve your vision and memory.

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences discovered that not everyone knew about the benefits of blueberries. Out of the 2,000 participants from more than 31 states in the United States, most people who knew about the benefits of the fruit were those from high-income populations. But everyone should know about blueberries and how beneficial they are to our physical health.

Benefits of Blueberries

The fruits have the ability to revert the effects of aging, which can affect our vision and memory. We already know that blueberries have the ability to fight cancer and heart diseases. There are also previous studies that proved how the fruit has healthy amounts of antioxidants, which can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia. Alzheimer’s can affect memory and cognitive skills.

As for our vision, a study performed by researchers at the Agriculture and Agri-Food in Canada showed that blueberries can help the eyes to adjust to darkness faster. This benefit is possible with the help of anthocyanins, which are natural substances found in the fruit that give it its blue color. The human eyes use the pigments so that they can help regenerate the molecules of the receptors in the retina, which then enable us to see even at dark places.

The Canadian researchers also discovered that after the eyes are exposed to bright light during nighttime, the nutrients absorbed from blueberries can speed up recovery to normal night vision. The researchers also believe that blueberries can aid those with eye problems by bolstering their eye health.

Other Benefits of Blueberries

If memory and vision improvement are not enough to convince you to eat more blueberries, perhaps these other benefits will:

  • It can combat aging, making you feel and look more youthful.
  • It can boost the brain with the help of its gallic acid, which works as a neuro-protective agent.
  • It can fight cancer without killing healthy cells, which make the fruit even better than chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
  • It is rich in fiber to support digestion and gastrointestinal health.

So eat more blueberries daily and gain the benefits of these super healthy fruits.

It seems like there is a new health fad at least every week. When something becomes quite popular, all of a sudden everyone is into it. Some trends aren’t truly healthy, but there are also ones that are beneficial for us.

Right now, everyone seems to like teas. Just a few years ago, coffee was the favorite drink. Whether it’s Americano or espresso, everyone seemed to be into coffee. But these days, tea is the hot one even though this is quite ironic since it has been around for centuries.

Why is Tea Suddenly Superior?

Tea has a lot of health benefits, including being rich in antioxidants. It can help calm you down, especially when you’re stressed out. When it comes to caffeine, it won’t let you down as it slowly releases caffeine. It is the beverage that can improve your health, focus, and your life. While tea and coffee can still complement each other, there is something in tea that outplays coffee – and it’s where it really counts.

Both tea and coffee are great pick-me-ups, but tea trumps coffee because of the following points:

  • It is true that coffee has many health benefits, just like tea. However, the problem with the former is that it has higher amounts of caffeine and at the same time, it is acidic. Too much acid can cause acid reflux and even worse problems, such as ulcer.
  • Tea is actually really diverse. There are more flavors than the regular ones you know about, including some really strange yet great-tasting flavors, such as carrot curry, fennel spice, spicy mango, and cotton candy.
  • Tea also has catechins, which are antioxidants that are truly beneficial for our health. The type of catechins you get from your tea will depend on the variety you drink. For example, matcha tea contains catechin epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCg), which has cancer-fighting properties.
The battle for the better drink is ON

When it comes to their raw forms, tea leaves contain more caffeine compared to coffee beans. But when they are prepared, most of us dilute tea more than coffee. Most of us throw away the tea leaves before we drink tea though, which is why we feel like coffee is more stimulating than tea.If you want more caffeine in your tea, do not let the tea bag sit in the water for a long time. Instead, use tea leaves and add more if you’re looking for a stronger jolt.




  • Relieves gastrointestinal cramps and spasms
  • Gives energy to new mothers
  • Provides calming or soothing effects
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Reduces fever
  • Detoxifies the body


Do You Have Arthritis? Use Pandan Leaves for Treatment



1. Through Pandan Leaf Tea


2. Through Liniment



With all the expensive drugs and treatments out there, it is no wonder that many of us look for alternative methods to cure certain health problems.

These methods require little to no money and can even be found at home. One is aluminum foil, which most of us already have to store leftovers or cook food. But it may not have crossed your mind to use it for some health issues, such as fatigue and painful joints. This shows that aluminum foil actually has many other uses beyond the kitchen, which include:

  • Treats neck pains
  • Soothes knee pains
  • Reduces shoulder aches
  • Treats stubborn heel pain
  • Heals muscular problems
  • Reduces inflammation

The good news about using aluminum foil for your aches and pains is that it is really easy to apply. All you have to do is to wrap the aluminum foil around the affected area, just like the ginger plaster. In about an hour, the pain will subside.

This isn’t a tin foil hat case – literally.

Why is This Treatment Effective?

The aluminum foil treatment has been used in many countries, but most especially in Russia and China. Aluminum foil is one product that is a special resource for energy structure. The human body has special stem cells that constantly interact with the energy field of the Earth. When this field is deformed, which is actually a natural occurrence, the energy supply for the stem cells of the body is disrupted. What the aluminum foil does is that it reflects the energy field of the Earth and amplifies it numerous times to successfully restore the disrupted interaction between the Earth’s energy field and stem cells.

Why You Should Use Aluminum Foil

Wrapping your feet with aluminum foil has therapeutic benefits. Many Chinese and even alternative medicine doctors believe that the ordinary foil can alleviate problems, such as pains in the back, arms, neck, and even joints. This means that even those who have rheumatoid arthritis can benefit from the use of aluminum foil, especially because this treatment also targets inflammatory responses of the body. Aluminum foil wrapping is also effective for people who have heel aches, gout, and sciatica. People who have just undergone surgery can also benefit from this treatment because it can relieve pain caused by post-operative scar tissues.

To use aluminum foil as a natural remedy for your pains, follow the steps below:

  1. Apply the foil onto the spot where you experience pain.
  2. Secure with a bandage or simply a Band-Aid.
  3. Don’t remove overnight. If possible, leave it on for the whole day.

Do this therapy for at least 10 days, and then stop for one to two weeks before resuming again if the pain is still there.

You’ve probably heard about juices made from vegetables, such as kale and cucumber. Several years ago, no one would probably imagine juicing leafy greens because fruit juices have always been all the rage.

Whether it is apple juice or orange juice, most people would prefer fruit juices over veggie juices. But now, there are manufacturers proposing about juices from exotic plants. These exotic plants come from various places in the world where many wouldn’t and couldn’t picture how they can be turned into delicious juices.

Currently, the popular exotic fruit choices are:

  • Pomegranate
  • Papaya
  • Guava
  • Lychee
  • Soursop or Guyabano
This African Cucumber is also a must try.

But those aren’t the only ones because there are many other beverages, such as coconut water-based juices, which have high demand from consumers. The so-called superfruits gain such popularity because of their richness in antioxidants, which are not only good for the health, but also for the skin and overall appearance. Even plants such as dandelions and nettles have their juices extracted, so people can consume them as beverages and reap the benefits, which may include the following:

Good for People with Impaired Digestion

If you have this problem, you can’t absorb the nutrients found in the food you eat. Juicing is a good solution for that as it can improve your ability to absorb nutrients, especially from vegetables.

Increased Vegetable Consumption

Juicing isn’t just for fruits, but for veggies as well. Most people avoid eating vegetables mainly because of the taste. But juicing makes it easier to consume vegetables. For carb types of people with 50 pounds of weight, eating one pound of raw vegetables is recommended, but difficult to achieve. With juicing, this becomes much easier with just one glass.

Offset Unhealthy Diets

You can enjoy your cheat days, but still be healthy. Juices have phytochemicals and vitamins that can protect you against diseases among many other health benefits. They can also help flush away toxins that come from the unhealthy food you eat. The juices are quite nutritious that they can help meet the daily recommended values of essential vitamins and minerals.

Juicing fans claim that you can juice anything. You can start with the fruits and vegetables that you already like, but it helps if you make the greens more dominant so as to avoid the high sugar content in fruits. If you’re going to try the juices from exotic plants, you’d be surprised at how pleasant the tastes are despite them being an unusual flavor for these healthy beverages.

Nature has a lot to offer when it comes to treating various diseases, including cancer. There are many foods that have been found to contain natural compounds that promote anticancer activities. However, there are only a few anticancer foods that can actually target and destroy cancer stem cells. These cells are the biggest reason for cancer malignancy.

One of which is turmeric, which has an active compound known as curcumin, which targets cancer stem cells. A recent study showed that curcumin has better and more positive effects than 5-fluorouracil, a chemotherapy drug, when it comes to killing stem cells of colon cancer. Another research displayed that that ginger has a compound that is more effective in targeting and destroying breast cancer stem cells, when compared to a chemo drug known as taxol. Other foods that are rich in ellagic acid, such as blueberries are also effective in killing stem cells of cancer.

Meanwhile, the new cancer research entitled Natural Products that Target Cancer Stem Cells, which is published in the journal known as Anticancer Research, gave a list of 25 substances that are naturally found in foods. Among these substances are the following:

  1. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which is found in green tea
  2. Beta-carotene found in carrots as well as in leafy greens
  3. Curcumin found in turmeric
  4. Ellagic acid which is also found in green tea and as mentioned, blueberries as well as other berries
  5. Baicalein which you can find in Chinese skullcap
  6. Delphinidin in blueberries and raspberries
  7. Glucoraphanin which you can find in cruciferous veggies, such as cabbage and broccoli
  8. Lycopene in tomatoes and grapefruits
  9. Indole-3-carbinol also in cruciferous veggies
  10. Guggulsterone from the myrrh tree
  11. Vitamin D3 in fish, beef, sunlight, and egg yolk
  12. Withaferin A from ashwagandha
  13. Resveratrol in red grapes, berries, and plums
  14. Ursolic acid from oregano and thyme
  15. Piperine in black pepper

The substances mentioned above are much smarter than chemotherapy. The primary reason why chemo and radiation therapy fail on some patients is because many cancer stem cells are resistant to treatments like them. In fact, there are some pieces of evidence that show how chemo and most especially radiation therapy make the stem cells of cancer even more aggressive. Aside from that, there are many side effects of these therapies and they can even damage the immune system. The listed substances could become the future of cancer treatment because they kill the stem cells, so that cancer survival rate is higher and patients will not experience many negative side effects.

Guava is one of the common fruits in many Asian countries, but it is also widely available in several parts of the world. It has a distinctive fragrance and flavor – and best of all, this fruit offers a ton of health benefits, including:

Rich in Vitamins A and C

It is not surprising that this fruit has vitamins A and C, but it may come as a pleasant surprise that it beats an average size orange when it comes to its vitamin C content as it has four times more of the vitamin. It also beats lemons because it has 10 times more vitamin A than the mentioned citrus fruit.

Rich in Other Nutrients

Guava contains several other vitamins, including B2, K, and E. It also has minerals, such as manganese, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and calcium.

What’s more, guava isn’t a fatty fruit and is one of the least treated fruits in the world. In some countries, it is used in cooking and turned into sauce. The juice is obtained as well and made into a refreshing drink. You can also find guava candies, jellies, and jams.

But aside from the fruit, the leaves also have medicinal uses including the following:

  • Oral Health: Avoid dental plaque by simply chewing one or two tender leaves every day. This can provide several oral health benefits, such as prevention of dental plaque, freshening and cleaning the breath, and curing toothaches, oral ulcers, and swollen gums
  • Heart Health: You can make guava leaf tea by simply gathering dried guava leaves and letting them steep in hot water. This tea can help lower bad cholesterol levels (LDL) and triglycerides, which can keep the heart and the vascular system in great shape.
  • Digestive Tract Health: If you’re suffering from diarrhea, guava leaf tea is one of the fastest and easiest remedies around. A 2008 study in Sao Paulo, Brazil showed that the extract from guava leaves can stop the growth of staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria that commonly cause diarrhea. Aside from diarrhea, guava leaves can also help eliminate abdominal pain, while cleaning the digestive tract and discouraging both microbial and bacterial growth.
  • Anti-Diabetes: A study in 1983 published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine discovered that guava is useful in treating diabetes mellitus. Similarly, a 2010 study concluded that guava leaf tea can help manage blood sugar levels.

While there is not enough evidence yet, a number of clinical studies found that guava fruit and guava leaves have the potential to inhibit cancers, such as gastric and prostate cancers.

Pineapples are juicy with the fruit and the juice as favorites of many people. They are quite versatile as they can be eaten raw and can be an ingredient for cooking. And if you haven’t heard about pineapple tea, it is also one of the products of this widely consumed fruit.

To make pineapple tea, pineapple skin is dried first and sometimes the leaves are added as well. A ripe pineapple is also an important ingredient of the tea. Unripe pineapples are avoided because this can be toxic.

Pineapple tea is quite sweet and takes on the natural flavor of the fruit itself. It is refreshing and delicious, but best of all, it has health benefits. Just one cup of pineapple tea, you can experience how beneficial the drink is for you as it is good for your physical and mental well-being for the following reasons:

  • Promotes weight loss
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Enhances mood
  • Maintains bone health
  • Boosts the immune system

Pineapple tea is rich in bromelain, vitamin C, dietary fiber, and manganese, which give the tea its many healing properties, such as:

1. Good for People with Arthritis

Pineapples are known for their bromelain content, which is an enzyme that can help reduce inflammation. If you have arthritis, you can improve your condition with the help of bromelain.

2. Fight Stress

A study showed that patients who are deficient in vitamin C experienced depression and fatigue. There are many other studies that support this finding, making it easy to conclude how essential the vitamin is when it comes to fighting stress and feeling better.

I got a pineapple! Pineapple tea!

3. Improve Metabolism

You may have stumbled into claims about pineapple weight loss teas. While this isn’t as popular as the other weight loss drinks, pineapples are naturally rich in manganese, which is a mineral with many health benefits, such as improved blood clotting and bone growth. But most of all, it is popular as a weight loss aid. It has the ability to boost metabolism of both fat and carbohydrates, according to the study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center.

4. Enhance Health

Pineapples and the tea itself contain high amounts of antioxidants, including vitamin C. Antioxidants can fight oxidative stress that can cause different diseases, such as arthritis, heart disease, and cancer. Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that can also repair damaged tissue, collagen, blood vessels, and ligaments. It can also improve how our body absorbs iron.

Pineapple tea offers pleasurable taste and aroma. It can be paired with other teas, such as green tea, ginger, and chamomile. Many people view it as a diet tea, but it also contains other benefits that can definitely improve our health.

Our face is the most remarkable part of the human body because it is usually the first thing that other people notice. Many of us focus on losing body weight that we forget our faces.

If you already have a slim body, but you still have your chubby cheeks left, you don’t have to go through any kind of procedure. Just by being patient with regularly doing facial exercises, you can achieve the look you’ve always dreamed of. Here are the best yoga exercises that are easy to do and can reduce double chin and fat cheeks:

The Cheek Workout

This exercise will help reduce your chubby cheeks:

  1. With your mouth closed and your lips pressed together, start blowing air for 10 seconds.
  2. Move the air to your left cheek and hold it there for 10 seconds.
  3. Do the same thing on the right cheek.

Repeat the exercise for 10 to 15 cycles.

Cheek Workout Version 2

This will tone the muscles in your face and eventually help reduce facial fat. Follow the steps below:

  1. Inhale deeply using your mouth.
  2. Then fill your mouth with air.
  3. Make sure that you close your mouth as fast as you can.
  4. Move the air from one cheek to another as if you’re swishing your mouthwash around your mouth.

Repeat the exercise for 15 cycles.

Fish Face

This is a really easy exercise that most people do without even realizing it:

  1. Suck your cheeks in, while pursing your lips together.
  2. Hold the pose as you try your best to smile.
  3. Maintain that pose for about five seconds.

Continue doing this 10 times to help tone the cheek muscles and reduce face fat.

These yoga steps are guaranteed to improve the way you look / PicHelp

Chin Lifts

If you have double chin problems, here’s an exercise that can decrease it:

  1. Gaze upwards and maintain that position with your head toward the ceiling.
  2. Your lips should be pulled together tightly.
  3. Maintain the position for 10 seconds.
  4. Relax and repeat the exercise 10 times.

In this exercise, you should ensure only your lips are used and no other facial muscles.

These days, the ideal face has high cheekbones, chiseled jawline, and a face that looks slim. It’s not enough to simply pamper your skin. You don’t have to keep wearing makeup to contour your face or even have facial treatments that could have negative side effects. Instead, the facial exercises mentioned above can help you tone the shape of your face and get rid of unnecessary fats.