Monica Mathis

Found in central and western India, tropical Africa and Australia, Gymnema sylvestre is a medicinal climbing plant used in traditional, homeopathic models of medicine. It's a slow growing plant, and its leaves are usually elliptical or oval and its flowers are small and yellow. With anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and sweet suppressing qualities, it has been used for numerous ailments. Primarily, research has been directed towards its sweet suppressing properties as an antidiabetic [3]. In Hindi, Gymnema sylvestre is known as Gurmar, which literally means “sugar destroyer” [2].  Uses Diabetes - a common complication caused by the body’s inability to use or produce insulin appropriately [1].  The antidiabetic molecules have been identified as a group of gymnemic acids after isolating from the leaves of the plant [3].  Gymnemic acids have the ability to delay the absorption of glucose in the blood as the atomic arrangement of the molecules is similar to gluc...

Believe it or not, your skin is permeable and absorbs pretty much everything you apply to it, which explains why "transdermal" skin patches exist. These patches are 95% even more reliable than certain medications orally. Drugmakers know the fastest way to introduce a drug into your blood is through your skin. Certain skin areas are more effective than others – especially those with high blood flow and bigger sweat pores. Your armpits are good examples, and this is why you should be careful about the deodorant you choose. Here are ingredients to avoid. # 1) Aluminum: It stops sweat by swelling cells to close your sweat ducts. Be aware of aluminum chlorohydrate, lightweight aluminum zirconium, and any phrase with "aluminum" in it. This metal may accumulate in your body over time and may lead to Alzheimer's. # 2) Triclosan. You can easily find this in air fresheners. It is a carcinogenic chemical that can reside in your body fat. Even though it is antibacteri...

Like kale and coconut oil, apple cider vinegar (ACV) has a long history of benefits that led to its popular reputation. More healthy than dressings on salads and foods, apple cider vinegar is loaded with good bacteria and healthy nutrients for cholesterol balance, glucose moderation, and improved nutrients absorption. Let's review the benefits of apple cider vinegar, including its weight-loss and overall wellness benefits. WHAT IS ACV? Proclaimed by many health experts as a magic bullet for health and an effective wellness potion, apple cider vinegar has long been used as a solution for a wealth of issues from battling growths to boosting cardio health.  Apple cider vinegar is a hard cider made from fermented apple juice that then turns into vinegar. Fermentation utilizes bacteria and yeast to transform carbohydrates or alcohol directly into acids. ACVs extensive dual fermentation breaks down almost all sugar from the apples and creates one of the cider's most important sub...

Ashwagandha is an herb that has been widely used in Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medicine based on natural remedies, for over 3000 years. Having a botanical name,  Withania Somnifera , Ashwagandha is also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry. It grows in Africa, the Mediterranean, and India and grows to 30-150cm in height. [1] The whitish brown root of Ashwagandha is the main therapeutic ingredient, historically used for anti-inflammatory effect, rejuvenation, disease prevention, and treatment for various infections. [2] Currently, much research has scientifically shown the promising effects of Ashwagandha.  Anti-stress, anti-anxiety, anti-depression Several pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown that Ashwagandha has strong anxiolytic effects potential. In a pre-clinical study with rats, extracts from Ashwagandha roots were orally administered to the rats for 5 days and compared with current anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs (lorazepam, imipramine). Ashwagandha e...

Before people have thought of protecting themselves from COVID-19, people have been working hard to avoid swine flu. No one wants to be ill, but swine influenza brings symptoms that you definitely want to avoid at all cost, such as excessive aches and pains, fevers that go through the roof, and in some cases, death. Many people try to guard themselves against winter cases of swine flu. Vaccination is always an option. Antibacterial and antibiotic solutions are other options, and quarantining is also helpful, but your job may not allow for these options. Another answer is to strengthen the body’s defences to allow the body to naturally fight the flu more effectively - so well, in fact, that the other solutions above wouldn’t be needed.   What You Need Comes Naturally Like members of a music group, there are many elements of your immune system that play their part to maintain optimal performance: Lymphocytes, or T-cells, attack invaders B-cells create antibodies that quic...

It’s amazing what diet tricks can accomplish. With some simple planning, you can maintain a healthy weight without significantly affecting the portions of food you eat. Here are some tricks that are easy enough for anyone to do, and that you can start right away. You won’t even know you’re doing them.   Let’s dive right in! Calorie Trick # 1: Smaller Dinnerware When it comes to dinnerware, size matters! The dimensions of a plate, bowl, and spoon affect how much food you consume. This strategy may seem overly simple, but people don’t think to adopt it. And it works! In one study, 85 nutrition experts were given ice cream and different sized bowls and scoopers. Results showed that the bowl size changed the size of the scoops by as much as 31%. And a second study at Pennsylvania State University showed that changes in the number of M&M’s in a bowl affected how much was eaten. The more that was in a bowl, the more people ate. So next time it’s time for dessert, break out...

Two faces of cholesterol According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), 93 million U.S adults age 20 or older have a total cholesterol level of over 200mg/L which is the baseline for healthy cholesterol levels. If you are living in a place with lots of fatty diets, you probably have heard that cholesterols can block blood vessels. But you might have also heard that cholesterol is necessary for proper cell functions. In fact, cholesterol is crucial for hormones and cell membrane functions [1]. Well, is cholesterol toxic to our body or is it not? The answer is, it is essential in our body but increases the risk of heart diseases if it goes over a certain level. Not all cholesterol is the same either. There are largely two types of cholesterols: HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein). LDL is more abundant between the two, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke by narrowing blood vessels. HDL, on the other hand, is considered good cholesterol. I...