The Powerful Benefits of Mindful Walking.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to a different style of walking – one that isn’t focused on how fast you can go or how high you can get your heart rate up. It’s called mindful walking, also referred to as meditative walking.

I certainly didn’t invent the concept. In fact, there are books written on the topic. But, like any form of walking, it has health benefits. Not only does it involve movement – and movement is good – but it connects you with the natural world around you. 

Mindful walking is the antithesis of power walking. With power walking, you pump your arms and move your legs as hard as you can – speed demon style. The purpose of power walking is to get into better cardiovascular shape. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s not the only way. 

This post isn’t intended to slow you down on days you’re getting a cardiovascular workout but to introduce you to another style of walking that also has health benefits, especially if you’re a high-strung person who would benefit from a little inner calm.

I encourage you to continue to exercise in a way that gets your heart rate up a few times a week, but maybe slow it down sometimes and try another approach to walking.

Mindful Walking as a Stress Reliever

The purpose of mindful walking is to relieve stress. Who couldn’t use a little stress reduction every now and then? Mindful walking is a way to shift your focus away from the outside world and “reboot” your mind and body so you have more focus and energy.

If you’re sitting at your desk at work struggling to come up with a solution to a problem and the answer just won’t come or feeling so uptight that you’re no longer productive, a 10-minute mindful walk may be all you need to get back on track. I just started mindful walking myself two days a week and can say the benefits so far have been extraordinary.

It’s a welcome break from the high- intensity workouts I do most days that leave me soaked in sweat. Plus, mindful walking is accessible to anyone. You don’t have to change clothes or take a shower afterward since the goal isn’t to sweat but to find inner peace.

The best way to do mindful walking, what we also refer to as “meditative” walking, is outdoors where you can enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Save the treadmill for power walking, jogging, or running. Being outdoors has additional benefits you won’t get from walking on a treadmill.

Walk Your Way to Mental Clarity

According to the University of Michigan, walking outdoors has some of the same benefits as meditation. Although you may find walking outdoors more pleasant in the spring than in the dead of winter, even walking in the cold offers benefits. What type of benefits?

Not only is mindful walking outdoors a way to recharge your batteries, one study found spending time in nature improved memory and attention span by 20%.In terms of stress reduction, mindful walking helps to lower the stress hormone cortisol and stimulates the release of “feel good,” anti-stress chemicals produced by your brain called endorphins.

It simply FEELS good to walk outdoors without focusing on burning calories but on relaxing your mind.While we think of high-intensity exercise as having the most benefits, low-intensity exercise does too.

As Dr. Craig Weber M.D, an expert on high blood pressure points out,

“Though the new guidelines favor higher intensity workouts, low to moderate intensity sessions still decrease heart rate, body weight, and blood pressure especially systolic pressure (peak heart rate pressure). As long as your morning or after-dinner walk is at least 10 minutes, you are making a positive contribution to your long-term health.”

Mindful walking may also help reduce cravings for sugary foods, which can come in handy around the holidays when you’re tempted by an irresistible array of holiday treats. Meditation of any type helps build self-control and the ability to walk away from another handful of holiday cookies and eggnog.So, you’re still getting physical health benefits from low-intensity, mindful walks, even if it’s only a brief stroll.

How to Walk Mindfully

Like meditation, mindful walking is all about focus. When you walk, rather than focusing on what you have to do once the walk is over, focus on the sensation of walking – what it feels like when your feet touch the ground. If your mind wonders from that focus, gently bring it back to the movements of your feet. Feel your toes and heels connecting with the earth and the rhythm of your movements as you walk.

Once you’ve mastered this, shift your focus to your breath. Feel the air moving in and out of your mouth or nostrils. If you’re walking outdoors in the winter, note the texture of the cool air as it slides into your airways. Then, shift your focus to your skin – the feeling of the sun shining down on your face or the feeling of cool mist if it happens to be a wet or snowy day.

Embrace Nature

Finally, shift your attention to your surroundings. Soak up the beauty around you – the trees dancing in the wind, the brilliant orange of the sun as it warms the sky. If you’re walking at night, soak up the inky blackness of the nighttime sky and embrace it. You see these things every day, but how often do they register with you? This is your chance to feel a connectedness with nature.

Be sure you’re doing this in a safe place where you won’t be run over by a passing car. Like other forms of meditation, walking meditation is a way to greater awareness. Some people refer to it as “defragmenting” our minds, much like we defrag our computers when they start to run slowly. I’ve also heard people compare mindful walking to “walking yoga.” However you look at it, it’s deeply relaxing once you get the hang of it.

Developing a mindfulness approach to walking, and exercise, in general, can help you overcome the barriers to exercise – like not wanting to do it. Turning walking into a meditative, stress-relieving experience rather than a high-powered sweat session means you’re less likely to find an excuse not to do it and actually WANT to do it.

The Nature Walk

Another way to turn walking into a restorative experience is to take a walk through a park or an area with lots of trees and nature scenes and focus in on the beauty of nature as you walk – hear the sounds and breathe in the sounds of nature without allowing yourself to be distracted. So many of us work in front of a computer or in an office with few windows and were cut off from nature.

Not only is being inside under artificial lights all the time not healthy, it can actually affect our body’s internal clock. During daylight hours, our bodies crave natural light and so few of us get it.

Even a 10-minute walk during the day can have physical and mental health benefits. With this type of walk, your focus is outward, not on your breathing or your footsteps, but on your surroundings and the expansiveness of nature.

The reality is even when we step outdoors for a walk, our minds are so focused on what we have to do afterward that we don’t notice the greenery around us or the cool breeze blowing against our face.

By increasing our awareness, we get closer to nature and that’s one of the best stress relievers there is. By doing this, you also learn to appreciate the vastness of nature and how the problems we think of as so important are actually quite small in the bigger scheme of things.

Take a Gratitude Walk

Another approach is to take a gratitude walk. I read somewhere that we have 7,500 opportunities to practice gratitude every day – with every step we take – but how often do we do that? According to research, you can’t be stressed out and grateful at the same time.

So, a gratitude walk is a chance to break the stress cycle and think about what you’re grateful for. To take a gratitude walk, find a tranquil walking path, in a park or other peaceful area, and think about what you have to be grateful for as you walk.

Even if you’re going through a tough time, you still have things to be grateful for – the support of family or friends, pets, enough food to eat etc.Focus on the things you’re grateful for during your walk. Yes, thoughts really do have power over you. When you focus on what you’re grateful for, rather than your problems, you actually alter your brain chemistry and lower levels of stress hormones.

Thoughts Have Power

The goal of all of this is to step outside yourself and gain a new perspective. According to an article in Psychology Today, every thought releases brain chemicals that affect your actions and how you feel. Expressing gratitude will make you more positive and optimistic. This, in turn, can improve your mental and physical health.

Research shows optimists perform better on the job, have healthier relationships, and live longer. Who can argue with those things?

The Bottom Line

This post is a bit different from most of our posts that focus on nutrition and high-intensity exercise, but you have to balance that by cultivating strong mental and spiritual health – to be a WHOLE, healthy person.

We hope you can use these ways of walking to stay active and to reduce your stress level when you feel like you have too many things going on.

You don’t need a lot to do this – a good pair of walking shoes and a little motivation. Let us know how you do. 

References: 

AZ Central. “How to Walk to Relieve Stress”
Huffington Post Healthy Living “National Walking Day: 5 Ways Walking Helps To Relieve Stress”
University of Michigan News. “Going outside—even in the cold—improves memory, attention”
About.com. “Walking for Blood Pressure Maintenance and Weight Control”
Psychology Today. “Walking Meditation: The Perfect Ten Minute Willpower Boost”
Psychology Today. “Happy Brain, Happy Life”                  

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Top 7 Natural Remedies For Cancer Treatment.

Overview.

Cancer begins in your cells, which are the building blocks of your body. Normally, your body forms new cells as you need them, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes this process goes wrong. New cells grow even when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass called a tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancer while malignant ones are. Cells from malignant tumors can invade nearby tissues. They can also break away and spread to other parts of the body.

Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for where they start. For example, lung cancer starts in the lung, and breast cancer starts in the breast. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis. Symptoms and treatment depend on the cancer type and how advanced it is. Most treatment plans may include surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy. Some may involve hormone therapy, immunotherapy or other types of biologic therapy, or stem cell transplantation.

Modern Life Causes of Cancer.

• Genetically modified food

• Most laundry detergents

• Commercial hair dyes

• Air pollution (including carbon monoxide, methylene
chloride, and acrolein)

• Granite counter-tops (which emit radon)

• Rancid peanuts and seeds

• Canola oil

• Canned tomatoes

• Food laced with pesticides

• Chemicals from aerosol cans

• Mammograms

• X-Rays

• Food microwaved in plastic containers (including plastic wrap, the plastic trays that come with frozen TV dinners, and even plastic baby bottles)

• Environmental pollutants (such as asbestos, benzene, and formaldehyde)

•Tobacco (including second-hand and third-hand smoke)

Top 7 Natural Remedies For Cancer Treatment.

 Regular Exercise

It’s easy to stop wanting to exercise when you’re not feeling well. However, statistics show that if you do exercise, you’re going to feel better faster.

Exercise helps to lower insulin levels and this in turn can make the environment for cancer not so friendly. When cells have lower insulin they are far better equipped to fight off cancer cells.

Regular exercise is imperative to help fight off cancer and stop it in its tracks. Even a short walk is better than not getting any exercise at all.

In time, that short walk can be expanded upon and more intense walks can be taken. If you can add in aerobic exercises all the better. Just remember to start out slowly and gradually increase the intensity.

As you recover your health exercise will become easier and easier and you’re going to feel the difference. Focus on simple exercise when you’re not feeling up to a full blown workout.

Vitamin D

According to scientific evidence, you can lower your risk of cancer and help stop cancerous growths by adding a good vitamin D supplement to your diet.

For those undergoing cancer treatment, you’ll require approximately 30 to 90 mg/ml for the most benefit of the supplement.

It’s important to have the doctor monitor your vitamin D levels at regular intervals. You can also get more Vitamin D in the sunshine and by drinking Vitamin D fortified milk and other products.

Ask your doctor what your optimum Vitamin D level is and have them check it for you. It’s a quick easy blood test and will be very informative.

Sometimes levels are so low that a doctor will actually prescribe a very large dose of Vitamin D to be taken in one large dose with a second dose taken a week later.

Ask your doctor how much Vitamin D you require per day and how you should be getting your Vitamin D.

Sleep

Perhaps the easiest natural remedy of all for treating cancer, sleep is important. If you’re not getting enough restorative sleep, your body won’t have time to fight off the cancer.

Poor sleep interferes with your production of melatonin. Poor melatonin levels can leave you at risk for insulin resistance as well as weight gain which in turn can increase your cancer ability to multiply. Get your rest. It will give your body a chance to fight off the cancer.

A healthy adult requires six to eight hours of sleep per night. If you’re battling cancer, you may require even more. Get your rest.


If you can’t get six to eight hours of sleep in per night consider taking a short nap once or twice per day. This will help to improve your immune system and help you to fight off the disease.

Limit Exposure To Toxins

To help combat your cancer, stay away from as many toxins as you possibly can. This list should include all pesticides, all herbicides as well as household cleaners that contain chemicals.

This also includes air fresheners such as the synthetic ones and toxic cosmetics, shampoos and chemicals (yes, this would include hair dyes).

Be a label reader and if you can’t pronounce something that is in a product you buy, do your research and find out what it is and if there is anything that can cause cancer in the product.

A good rule of thumb is that if you can’t pronounce it, it might be hazardous to your health. Focus on all natural products that have just a few ingredients in them vs a long list of ingredients with many chemicals or toxins.

Limit Radiation Exposure

Even if you’re receiving radiation therapy for your cancer, you need to limit your other sources of radiation. Other sources of radiation include cell phones, cell phone towers and bases.

Base stations for all radio communications, Wi-Fi stations, dental X rays and other X rays that you may require. If you can avoid them, by all means, do so.

If you do have any upcoming tests that involve radiation, be sure to let the technologist know that you’re undergoing cancer treatments and ask them to minimize any excess exposure to radiation.

In some cases, they can postpone the exposure to radiation to a time when you’re cancer free. While diagnostic tests are important to health, they may increase the risk to cancers in some people.

Talk with the technologist on how you can minimize your exposure while still getting the medical benefits that you require.

Reduce Your Stress Levels

When your body is stressed you’re at a higher risk for fighting off anything, especially cancer. Stress has long been associated with putting people at a higher risk for disease.

Find ways to reduce your stress levels. Unresolved issues in your life can create emotional distress which in turn can cause your body to be at a higher risk for diseases including cancers.

Address these issues and find a way to resolve them as quickly as possible. Lower your stress levels and avoid situations that can create more stress in your life.

If your job is stressing you out, consider changing jobs to something less stressful. Find ways to remove yourself from stress and watch how much better you begin to feel.

Consider meditation and physical activity as ways of dealing with stress as well. The body is an amazing machine and if you’re keeping busy you’ll be dealing better with the stress.

Just make sure that you’re not keeping so busy that you’re adding to the stress. There is a happy medium of being busy so seek to strive for that level and maintain it for the best possible results.

Restore Your Immune System

One of the key’s to treating cancer is to restore your immune system. Many people get so caught up in the latest diet trends and the latest treatment protocols that they forget how important their immune systems are.

Limit your exposure to toxins and chemicals. Limit your stress and be concerned about what is in the foods you’re consuming.

Focus on healthy living and staying away from things that simply aren’t healthy for you. Decades ago cancer was virtually unheard of. If you did hear about it you were sure to be given a death sentence.

Thanks to more information and modern technology, more and more people are surviving cancer diagnosis.

Thanks to learning natural methods of treating cancer, more and more people are finding even healthier and better ways of treating cancer.

Today the long term diagnosis of cancer is far better than that of ten years ago. More and more people are focusing on natural cures and finding healthier alternatives to chemotherapy that can weaken the entire body not just the cancer cells.

Today, more than ever before, cancer patients have options. They have a better chance of survival and a better opportunity to treat their conditions.

With modern medicines more people are being diagnosed early which gives them a better chance at recovery.

The sooner a condition is diagnosed the sooner patients can begin healthier living which in turn is a way of natural remedies for cancer.

Cancer is no longer the death sentence that it once was. Thanks to modern technology it can be diagnosed earlier and by implementing these healthy natural changes in lifestyle it can be cured much more quickly than ever before.

Related Articles.

Boost your immune system.

Did you know Figs regulates your blood pressure?

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Natural & Home Remedies for Stomach Ulcers.

Overview

Stomach ulcers, also known as gastric ulcers, are open sores within the lining of the stomach. They are a type of peptic ulcer, meaning having to do with acid. Because of the amount of acid present in the stomach and the damage that can occur, they are often extremely painful. The most common cause of stomach ulcers is the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori.

Ulcers may also be caused by overuse of painkillers, such as aspirin (Bayer), and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen(Naprosyn).

Stomach ulcers are treated with antibiotics and medications to reduce and block stomach acid. In addition to this well-proven treatment plan, research has shown that there are also some natural home remedies that may be useful in managing a stomach ulcer and helping it heal. Talk with your doctor about adding these foods to your diet.

Flavonoids

Research suggests that flavonoids, also known as bioflavonoids, may be an effective additional treatment for stomach ulcers. Flavonoids are compounds that occur naturally in many fruits and vegetables. Foods and drinks rich in flavonoids include:

• soybeans
• legumes
• red grapes
• kale
• broccoli
• apples
• berries
• teas, especially green tea

These foods may also help the body fight against the H. pylori bacteria. Flavonoids are referred to as “gastroprotective,” which means they defend the lining of the stomach and could allow ulcers to heal. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, there are no side effects of consuming flavonoids in the amount found in a typical diet, but higher amounts of flavonoids may interfere with blood clotting. You can get flavonoids in your diet or take them as supplements.

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice

Don’t let that long first word give you a stomach ache. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice is just plain old licorice with the sweet flavor extracted. One study showed that deglycyrrhizinated licorice might help ulcers heal by inhibiting the growth of H. pylori.

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice is available as a supplement. You can’t get this effect from eating licorice candy, though. Too much licorice candy can be bad for some people. Consuming more than 2 ounces daily for more than two weeks can make existing heart problems or high blood pressure worse.

Honey

Honey is far from simply sweet. Depending on the plant it’s derived from, honey can contain up to 200 elements, including polyphenols and other antioxidants. Honey is a powerful antibacterial and has been shown to inhibit H. pylori growth. As long as you have normal blood sugar levels, you can enjoy honey as you would any sweetener, with the bonus of perhaps soothing your ulcers

Probiotics

Probiotics are the living bacteria and yeast that provide healthy and important microorganisms to your digestive tract. They are present in many common foods, particularly fermented foods. These include:

• buttermilk
• yogurt
• miso
• kimchi
• kefir

You can also take probiotics in supplement form. Studies have shown that probiotics may be helpful in wiping out H. pylori and increasing recovery rate for people with ulcers when added to the traditional regimen of antibiotics.

 Garlic

Garlic extract has been shown to inhibit H. pylori growth in lab, animal, and human trials. If you don’t like the taste (and lingering aftertaste) of garlic, you can take garlic extract in supplemental form. Garlic acts as a blood thinner, so ask your doctor before taking it if you use warfarin (Coumadin), other prescription blood thinners, or aspirin.

Cranberry

Cranberry has been shown in some studies to help decrease urinary tract infections by preventing bacteria from settling on the walls of the bladder. Cranberry and cranberry extract also may help fight H. pylori. You can drink cranberry juice, eat cranberries, or take cranberry supplements.

No specific amount of consumption is associated with relief. Too much cranberry in any form may cause stomach and intestinal discomfort due to its high sugar content, so start with small amounts and increase gradually. Many commercial cranberry juices are heavily sweetened with sugar or high fructose corn syrup, which can also add empty calories. Avoid those juices by buying juice sweetened only by other juices.

Mastic

Mastic is the sap of a tree grown in the Mediterranean. Studies of the effectiveness of mastic on H. pylori infection are mixed, but at least one small study shows that chewing mastic gummay help fight H. pylori, getting rid of the bacteria in about 3 out of 10 people who used it. However, when compared to the traditional combination of antibiotics and acid-blocking medications, the medications were significantly more effective than the gum. The traditional treatment got rid of the bacteria in more than 75 percent of the people studied. In this study, the mastic gum was not associated with any side effects. You can chew the gum or swallow mastic in supplement form.

Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

A diet centered on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is not just good for your overall health. According to the Mayo Clinic, a vitamin-rich diet can help your body heal your ulcer. Foods containing the antioxidant polyphenols may protect you from ulcers and help ulcers heal. Polyphenol-rich foods and seasonings include:

• dried rosemary
• flaxseed
• Mexican oregano
• dark chocolate
• blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, elderberries, and blackberries
• black olives

Foods to limit or avoid with ulcers and acid reflux

Some people with ulcers also have acid reflux disease. Certain foods, in certain people, can affect the lower part of the esophagus, called the LES (lower esophageal sphincter), allowing acid and stomach contents to back up into the esophagus. This can cause injury to the esophagus, as well as heartburn, indigestion and other discomfort.

To reduce acid reflux pain, you may want to limit:

• coffee, and other caffeinated beverages
• carbonated beverages
• chocolate
• chilies and hot peppers
• processed foods
• high-salt diet
• deep-fried foods
• acidic foods like citrus and tomatoes

Overeating and eating within two to three hours of going to bed may also worsen the symptoms of acid reflux. But not every food acts the same is every person, so keeping track of which foods seem to make acid reflux symptoms worse can be helpful.

Alcohol

Having more than one drink a day for women and more than two for men is considered excessive drinking. If a couple of drinks after work is how you unwind, you might want to consider a healthier alternative. Regular alcohol use cause significant stomach inflammation. Also, alcohol is another substance that can relax the lower part of the esophagus, increasing your risk for acid reflux.

Outlook

It can take some time, teamwork, and determination to find the right treatment for your ulcers, but please keep in mind that ulcers can be cured. In addition to a treatment plan agreed upon by you and your doctor, you can incorporate natural approaches with healthful foods that may give you some relief and accelerate healing. Adding plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet and reducing alcohol intake will almost certainly get you on the road to health.

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Health Benefits of Figs

Often mentioned in the Bible as a sign of peace and prosperity, the fig tree is so ancient, remnants of the fruit have been discovered in Neolithic excavations sites circa 5,000 B.C. Thought to be native to Western Asia or Egypt, figs were cultivated very early throughout the Middle East and Europe and finally reached England and China by the mid-1500s. Spanish missionaries planted orchards in California in the late 19th century, where they still thrive today.

Belonging to the mulberry family, there is a plethora of fig tree varieties. Most of them are small at 10-30 feet and thrive in warm, dry climates. Pollinated by a tiny wasp, fig trees never blossom because the flowers are on the inside, producing dozens and sometimes hundreds of miniscule seeds that give figs their unique, crunchy texture.

Considered exotic in some areas of the world, figs are sweet and juicy when ripe. They can be red, yellow, or purple-skinned or green-striped, each with their own unique flavor. But before they reach optimal ripeness, figs are gummy with “latex,” which contains serious skin irritants, so protective measures for workers are sometimes mandated for fig production operations.

Dried figs are sometimes roasted and ground as a coffee substitute or converted into alcohol as a liqueur or tobacco flavoring.

Figs are quite perishable and should be refrigerated if not eaten within a few days. Like apples, figs are a great snack by themselves, but also can be added either peeled or unpeeled to many recipes. It's interesting that the seeds only add to the satisfying, tasty chewiness. Best at the firm-to-tender stage, the more ripe they are, the more antioxidants they provide.

Health Benefits of Figs

1. Enhance Digestive Health 

Figs relieve constipation and improve the overall digestive health. Soak 2-3 figs in water overnight and consume them with honey the next morning, and you can bid goodbye to your constipation woes.

Fiber is great for digestion, and figs are loaded with dietary fiber, which aids healthy bowel movement and relieves constipation . It adds bulk to the stools and promotes their smooth passage through the body. The fiber in figs also treats diarrhea and soothes the entire digestive system.

A high fiber diet is what you need to set your digestive system right, and figs are a must-have as they make you feel full and stop you from overeating

2. Improve Heart Health 

Figs reduce the triglyceride levels in your blood and contribute to improving your heart health.

Triglycerides are fat particles in the blood that are a leading cause of heart diseases. Also, the antioxidants in figs get rid of the free radicals in the body, which block the coronary arteries and cause coronary heart disease .

Figs also contain phenols and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that decrease the risk of heart disease.

3. Lower Cholesterol

Figs contain pectin, a soluble fiber that is known to reduce cholesterol levels . The fiber in figs clears the excess cholesterol in your digestive system and carries it to the bowels to eliminate it.

Figs also contain vitamin B6 that is responsible for producing serotonin. This serotonin boosts your mood and lowers cholesterol.

Dry figs reduce the overall cholesterol as they contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and phytosterols that decrease the natural cholesterol synthesis in the body.

4. Prevent Colon Cancer

Regular consumption of figs can lower the risk of colon cancer . The fiber in figs helps to eliminate the waste in the body quickly, which works well for the prevention of colon cancer.

The numerous seeds in figs contain high levels of mucin that collects wastes and mucus in the colon and flushes them out.

5. Cure Anemia

Lack of iron in the body can cause iron-deficiency anemia. Dried figs contain iron, which is a key component of hemoglobin. Consuming dried figs was found to improve the hemoglobin levels in the blood .

Growing children, adolescents, and menstruating and pregnant women specifically should monitor their iron levels to avoid complications. Also, if you are ill or have undergone surgery, include figs in your diet to increase the iron levels in your body and deal with the problem efficiently .

6. Lower Sugar Levels In Diabetic Patients 

Not just the fruit, but the leaves also have benefits for your health. Fig leaves have amazing properties that help regulate your blood glucose levels. According to a study, including fig leaves in the diet helped control the rise in blood sugar post a meal in insulin-dependent diabetics .

You can consume fig leaves in the form of tea. You can boil 4-5 fig leaves in filtered water and drink this as tea. You can also dry fig leaves and grind them to obtain a powder. Add two tablespoons of this powder to a liter of water and boil it. Voila! Your tea is ready!

7. Prevent Breast Cancer

 Figs are amongst those fruits that contain the highest amount of fiber. And it was found that women who consumed more dietary fiber during adolescence and early adulthood were at a lesser risk of falling prey to breast cancer .

High intake of fiber was associated with 16% lower risk of overall breast cancer and 24% lower risk of breast cancer before the onset of menopause .

Fig extracts and dried figs are known to contain elements that help in preventing postmenopausal breast cancer.

8. Strengthen Bones

Figs contain calcium, potassium, and magnesium, all of which aid bone health . Figs improve bone density and decrease the breakdown of bones, which begins as you age. Calcium is crucial to maintaining healthy bones and figs are one of the best sources of it .

Figs contain potassium that counteracts the increased urinary calcium loss caused by high-salt diets . This prevents your bones from thinning out.

9. Rich In Antioxidants

Figs are a powerhouse of antioxidants, and they neutralize the free radicals in your body and fight diseases. The riper a fig is, the more antioxidants it contains.

Figs are a rich source of phenolic antioxidants. The antioxidants in figs enrich the lipoproteins in plasma and shield them from further oxidation .

10. Regulate High Blood Pressure

Studies show that including figs in your daily diet helps to lower blood pressure . The fiber in figs lowers the risk of high blood pressure whereas the potassium content of figs helps maintain it .

Apart from potassium, the omega-3s and omega-6s in figs also help in maintaining blood pressure.

11. Prevent Hypertension

When you consume less of potassium and more of sodium, it disturbs the sodium-potassium balance in your body, paving the way for hypertension . Figs help restore this balance as they are rich in potassium.

12. Increase Sexual Stamina

Figs are considered to be a great fertility and sexual supplement. They are rich in calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc. They are also rich in magnesium, the mineral that is required to produce the sex hormones androgen and estrogen .

Figs help with various types of sexual dysfunction like sterility, erectile dysfunction, and sexual appetite. There is no strong science backup, but in many cultures, figs are considered as symbols of fertility. They also produce an amino acid that is responsible for increasing the production of nitric oxide, which expands the blood vessels and increases blood flow to all parts of the body, including the sexual organs.

Soak figs in milk overnight and eat them the next day to enhance your sexual abilities.

13. Treat Asthma

An efficient method to deal with bronchial asthma is to consume a mixture of powdered fenugreek seeds, honey, and figs. You can also consume fig juice to obtain relief from asthma.

Figs moisturize the mucous membrane and drain the phlegm, thereby relieving asthma symptoms. They also contain phytochemical compounds that fight the free radicals, which otherwise trigger asthma.

14. Prevent Venereal Disease

The consumption or application of fig extracts is known to provide relief from sexually transmitted diseases in many cultures. Figs are known to have been used as a calming balm for venereal diseases.

15. Reduce Throat Pain

Figs contain high mucilage that heals and protects against sore throat. These fruits are soothing to the throat, and their natural juices relieve pain and stress in the vocal chords.

Also, figs are a natural cure for tonsillitis. They help in reducing the swelling and irritation caused due to the condition. Make a paste of the figs with warm water and apply it on your throat. It will reduce pain and soothe your throat.

16. Prevent Macular Degeneration

Figs can help prevent macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of vision loss in older people.

Figs enhance your vision and prevent macular degeneration as they contain a high amount of vitamin A . Vitamin A is an antioxidant that improves eye health. It protects the eyes from free radicals and prevents retinal damage .

17. Improve Liver Health

Figs clear obstructions in the liver, thereby enhancing its health. A study showed that an extract prepared from fig leaves exhibited hepatoprotective activity in mice, paving the way for its use in preventing hepatic damage in humans .

18. Effective Natural Laxative

Figs, due to their high fiber content, act as a natural laxative. They make your stool softer, enabling easy digestion . Figs make for great ingredients in laxative syrups.

19. Treat Piles

Dry figs are the best to treat piles. They soften the stools, reducing the pressure on the rectum. Consume them twice a day by soaking three to four figs in water. You can also drink the water in which they are soaked. The seeds in the figs are the active agents that fight the piles .

Soak the figs in a glass of water for about 12 hours before consuming them. Eat them once in the morning and then in the night. It works best when you begin your day by eating figs and end it with the same.

20. Prevent Coronary Heart Disease

The antioxidants in figs, as well as their blood pressure lowering properties, eliminate the free radicals in the body, which otherwise block the coronary arteries, leading to coronary heart disease .

Also, the presence of potassium, omega-3s, and omega-6s in figs help in preventing heart attacks .

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