Mangoes are good for health, but don't eat
too many
Due to high sugar content, mangoes are high in
calories. But does this mean that diabetics and weight watchers should be
banned from having it? The answer is no, if one adjusts for calories, i.e.
substitutes it with an equivalent amount of calories and carbohydrates in the
meal.
Better still, combine it with a low-glycemic
food. This could mean substitution of the carbohydrate in the grain or staple
(bread, rice, chapati, etc). Low glycemic foods include pulses, legumes,
low-fat dairy (milk, curd), vegetables, nuts and seeds. In fact, the glycemic
load (a useful measure of the ability of a food to spike blood sugar and
insulin levels) of mangoes is low-medium, specially compared to bananas and
potatoes. So mangoes can make a safe entry into the diet, if one is able to
keep the caloric intake and carbohydrates constant, i.e. take the right
amounts. With over 2,500 varieties around the world, the popularity of mangoes
clearly lies in its aromatic sweetness. This tropical fruit also can boast of a
huge array of impressive health benefits.
The mango is known to be an excellent source of
many vitamins such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), B vitamins (thiamine,
riboflavin, and niacin), and Vitamin A (ß-carotene). Mangoes are also high in
non-nutrient phytochemical compounds. Reports suggest that the phytochemical
content of mango pulp consists of gallic acid, mangiferin, quercetin and many
tannins. Ripe mangoes generally possess a higher number of phenolics,
researchers say. This makes mangoes a good source of antioxidants with
anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. With reasonably good fibre
content, it provides a good combination of soluble and insoluble fibre. Soluble
fibre is good for digestion and its insoluble variant is good for management of
blood cholesterol and sugar levels.
Source: www.indianexpress.com
16.05.2013
Women's immune systems remain younger for longer
Women's immune systems age more
slowly than men's which may contribute to them living longer, according to a
new study.
Researchers looked at the blood of healthy volunteers in
Japan, ranging in age between 20 and 90 years old and found that in both sexes
the total number of white blood cells per person decreased with age.
The number of neutrophils decreased for both sexes and
lymphocytes decreased in men and increased in women. Younger men generally have
higher levels of lymphocytes than similarly aged women, so as ageing happens,
the number of lymphocytes becomes comparable.
The rate in decline in T cells and B cells was slower for
women than men, researchers said.
The study found CD4+ T cells, white blood cells that are an
essential part of the human immune system, and NK cells, a type of lymphocyte,
increased with age, and the rate of increase was higher in women than men.
Similarly an age-related decline in IL-6 and IL-10 – a group
of signaling molecules - was worse in men. There was also an age-dependent
decrease in red blood cells for men but not women.
This difference in the ageing of immune systems between men
and women is one of many processes which alter as we grow older.
"The process of ageing is different for men and women
for many reasons. Women have more oestrogen than men which seems to protect
them from cardiovascular disease until menopause," Professor Katsuiku
Hirokawa from the Tokyo Medical & Dental University Open Laboratory
explained.
"Sex hormones also affect the immune system, especially
certain types of lymphocytes. Because people age at different rates a person's
immunological parameters could be used to provide an indication of their true
biological age," Hirokawa said.
Source: www.indianexpress.com
16.05.2013
Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect
VINCE LOMBARDI
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