The benefits of Cod Liver Oil

Since time immemorial nature has provided us with bountiful gifts that have proven their usefulness for our body. As time progresses, there is a lot of research being carried out to find out the benefits of various natural ingredients. One such medicine that has proved its usefulness time and again is Cod liver oil, which is made from the extract of the cod fish.

Many people use this natural extract to cure themselves of their ills. There are a lot of benefits of this nutritional supplement, and thus, it is taken in many forms by people.

Some of the major benefits of cod liver oil are:

Get the benefits of Omega 3 and Vitamin D with Cod Liver Oil:

Omega 3 is a fatty acid that the body requires but cannot essentially produce thus making its intake very important for our body. Oily fish such as the cod fish are the best sources for this medicine. That is the reason why, the oil of the cod fish liver is taken as a nutritional supplement by many people around the world. Vitamin D is essentially required to build up on our immune system and to maintain our bones, muscles and our teeth. This oil contains Vitamin D in heaps and that is why, people who suffer from the problem of weak bones take this medicine.

Using Cod Liver Oil is recommended for all ages:

As it is a natural medicine, it does not have any chemicals like allopathic medicines do and hence, this medicine is universal to all ages. In young children, Cod Liver Oil is used as a medicine for curing cold and cough and building up immunity. Pregnant women take this medicine to regulate their blood flow and senior citizens use it to strengthen their bones. As long as it is taken in the prescribed doses, there is not really any danger from this medicine for anyone.

Available Universally:

This, being a natural remedy, is available at all your local drugstores. There are a lot of brands that cater to this market and you will find many brands selling this medicine. This is an over the counter drug which means that you do not require a prescription for this medicine. But despite this, it is always recommended that you confirm with your doctor before you go and consume this medicine. In hindsight, most doctors will themselves recommend this medicine to you.

Contains no mercury content:

When it comes to sea food, a lot of people are concerned about the mercury content present in it. Because of rising mercury contamination in water bodies, fishes have become very exposed to this risk. But when it comes to cod liver oil, there is a very precise and elaborate filtering process followed by a cleaning process which makes sure that the medicine is well within the required mercury limits. As it falls into the category of medicines, there are strict norms that manufactures have to follow, so the customer can know that they are completely safe.

These are some of the benefits of this wonderful natural suppository. Using cod liver oil on a daily basis can keep you healthy and happy!

Author: Susan Crasto

Fun Facts About the Kiwi Fruit

Even though it has a larger size and an outer skin with fuzz, the kiwi fruit is really a berry. Chinese khans in ancient days used to consider the kiwi to be an aphrodisiac. Kiwis aren't bothered by very many irritants, so crops don't require much pest control. Kiwi pickers in California wear cotton gloves so they don't bruise the kiwis.
The original name of the kiwi was the Chinese Gooseberry. It was originally grown in China, over seven hundred years ago. Later on, it was introduced to New Zealand, and then California. California kiwi were first grown in about 1960. The average kiwi fruit is about three inches long, and weighs about 2.5 ounces. Nearly ten percent of kiwi grown in California are grown organically.
The vines of the kiwi are deciduous. They will remain dormant from November until March, and the foliage falls off, which makes the pruners' job easier. All of the pruning on a kiwi plant is done by hand. New leaves start coming out in March. The canes of the dormant kiwifruit are great for flower arrangements.
Kiwis grow like grapes, on shrubs like vines, which are trained to grow on trellises. Their height ranges from five and a half feet to six feet. The vines of the kiwifruit drink in water in the summertime. Each vine drinks about forty one gallons of water a day, in the growing season. Kiwi fruit continue to grow after they are picked. It will ripen as it heads off to the sales markets.
The kiwifruit was originally found in Northern China, in the Yangtze River valley. Missionaries took seeds to New Zealand in their travels, at the turn of the century. It became a popular plant there, and several vines were sent to California. Those very vines are still growing in the Chico Plant Introduction Station. Kiwi are also grown for resale in areas like Chile, South Africa and Italy.
The kiwi plant needs a relatively long growing season, including at least two hundred and forty days without frost. Therefore, there are many areas in the United States where it is not possible to grow them. When the kiwi vine is in its dormant stage, in the winter, it can withstand temperatures as low as 10 degrees F. But they need to be acclimated to the cold slowly, not hit with it all at once. If a sudden and deep freeze hits, the freezing may cause the vines to split, and the plant will die.
Temperatures in the freezing range will kill any kiwi fruit buds that are exposed, so care must be taken to select an area with a mild winter season.

By  Jenny Styles

7 Super Anti-Aging Foods

Antiaging food has been a hot topic recently. Everybody knows that you are supposed to eat more fruit and vegetables to protect yourself from aging. But are all fruits and veggies equally good? Find what specific foods are considered best when it comes to anti-aging diet.
1. Avocado for younger looking skin
People who keep low fat diet usually avoid avocado because it contains a lot of fat. But actually it is high in monounsaturated fat which reduces cholesterol level in the body. Avocado is a very good source of Vitamin E, which is essential for keeping your skin smooth and young.

Also avocado contains potassium which prevents high blood pressure. Avocado is great to use in sandwiches instead of butter spread.
2. Berries as antiaging antioxidants

Most berries especially blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants contain phytochemicals which are powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants help to protect your body against damage caused by free radicals so they are very important for antiaging nutrition. Red grape is technically not a berry, but it has similar properties.
3. Fish for protein and Omega 3 fats

Your body needs quality proteins and some fat, and it is much better to take fish as a source of these and not red meat. Fish supplies us with Omega 3 fatty acids which stimulate the immune system and lowers risk of heart disease. Some studies have shown that people who eat a lot of fish have lower risk of colorectal, esophageal and stomach cancers.
4. Carrots for cancer protection

Carrots are an excellent source of beta carotene which is a powerful antioxidant that fights aging and many diseases. Studies have shown that people who eat one medium carrot a day significantly reduced risk of lung cancer. Beta carotene also keeps your vision sharp protecting your eyes from age related diseases. It is also important for keeping your immune system strong.
Carrots give you most benefits if eaten uncooked. If you don't feel like eating a row carrot, try adding it to your salads, it gives slightly sweet taste to a salad. Alternatively drink carrot juice once in a while - the juice is a concentrated source of beta carotene.
5. Nuts to bust your immune system

Raw nuts are very high in fiber; they are also a good source of vitamins and potassium, zinc, iron, magnesium, copper and selenium. They control cholesterol level and strengthen your immune system. The only draw back of nuts is that they are high in fat, so a couple table spoons a day is good but not more.
Only row nuts are good anti-aging food. Avoid salted and roasted nuts, they do more damage to your health than bring benefits. A good way to add nuts to your everyday diet is to sprinkle them over a salad or to add them to cereals.
6. Whole meal pasta and brown rice for energy

These contain complex carbohydrates, to insure that you feel full of energy all day. Brown rice is high in fiber and B group vitamins. Only don't make fried rice out of it - steamed brown rice is the best choice. Whole meal pasta is high in fiber and iron.
7. Water to detoxify and keep smooth skin

Water is absolutely essential for our health. You probably have heard that you should drink 8 glasses of water every day, but do you follow the advice? Water helps to get rid of toxins. Also adequate intake of water insures that your skin looks young and healthy. Moisturizing anti-aging creams and lotions are good, but if you drink enough water your skin will be less dry without creams.
Pure bottled water is very good for you, but not exciting. So you can replace it with other nutritious liquids - juices with no added sugar, herbal teas or mineral water. Fresh fruits also are good source of water, for example watermelon is basically 90% water. 8 glasses a day is a rule of thumb, but in hot or windy weather you might need more.
Include these products in your diet on a regular basis and you will see that soon you will feel and look younger than your physical age.
By Tanya Turner