Common diet mistakes to avoid - 3

In our daily life, we commonly do some diet mistakes and should know how to avoid them. Broccoli is high in vitamin C, as well as dietary fiber; it also contains multiple nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties, and is a potent modulator of the innate immune response system with anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-cancer activity. Benefits of broccoli are greatly reduced if the vegetable is boiled. Boiling broccoli reduces the levels of suspected anti-carcinogenic compounds, such as sulforaphane, with losses of 20–30% after five minutes, 40–50% after ten minutes, and 77% after thirty minutes. However, other preparation methods such as steaming, microwaving, and stir frying had no significant effect on the compounds. Broccoli is also an excellent source of indole-3-carbinol, a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and appears to block the growth of cancer cells. A high intake of broccoli has been found to reduce the risk of aggressive prostate cancer and beneficial in the prevention of heart disease.

Compared to green peppers, red peppers have more vitamins and nutrients and contain the antioxidant lycopene. The level of carotene, like lycopene, is nine times higher in red peppers. Red peppers have twice the vitamin C content of green peppers. Also, one large red bell pepper contains 209 mg of vitamin C, which is three times the 70 mg of an average orange pepper. Red peppers are simply ripened green peppers. Green peppers are less sweet and slightly more bitter than yellow or orange peppers, with red bell peppers being the sweetest.

Source : Wikipedia

Finger nails indicate health conditions

Most of the times, by observing our body parts, we can identify the problems or diseases that we may get or going through. Finger nails also indicate us about our health conditions.

• When there is an excessive dryness with tendency to break, split, and crack in the nails, then they are called as Brittle nails. Reasons for getting brittle nails are dehydration, hands often in water, wearing dark nail polish without base coat, nail polish remover, aging, poor circulation, etc. They also indicate that the body is in need of vitamin A, vitamin B, calcium and Biotin.

• When the whole or part of nail is yellowish in color, they are called as yellow nails. Yellow nails are occurred due to tobacco stains, frequent use of dark nail polish without base coat, self- tanning products, Psoriasis, slower nail growth as we age.

• If the nail lifts up from skin underneath i.e., separation of nail from nail bed, then the possible causes are due to some oral contraceptives, psoriasis, impaired circulation, fungal infection, etc.

• Spoon-shaped nails i.e., nails curve upward in shape of spoon, instead of downward are caused due to anemia or iron deficiency.

• Blood in nail bed, cracked or split nail, ridging can be caused due to injury. For example, hitting on nail with hammer can cause temporary abnormality, but injury to the matrix where the nail develops can cause permanent deformity.

• Vertical ridges (grooves extending from nail base to tip) are caused due to slower circulation as we age. They also indicate that the body is in need of iron, vitamin B 12, folic acid.

• White bands or horizontal bands on nails are formed due to damage transmitted to matrix via nail, caused by overzealous manicures, typing, playing some musical instruments, etc.

• Horizontal ridges indicate that the body is stressed and in need of calcium and B complex.

• White spots on nails indicate zinc deficiency. These are caused may be due to trauma to the nail.

• Slow growth of nail indicates that we should increase amino acids in our diet.

• If the skin around nail is red, swollen and inflamed, then the condition is called as Paronychia. It is caused due to bacterial or yeast infection in nail.

• Dark band i.e., isolated dark band in nail, especially of concern to light-skinned people is caused due to melanoma and medications such as some antibiotics, etc.

• Beau’s lines (deep, horizontal ridges) are caused due to crash dieting, high fever, surgery, malnutrition, etc.

Faith in any situation

In our daily life, we come across many situations in which some can be handled and some may not be handled. Most of the times, we lose our hope or faith in God when the situations arise that cannot be handled by us. Job 2:9-10 His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.  For example, when we lost our job or a best-friend or dear ones suffering from a disease, we immediately think why it is happening to me only? Where is the God? Why the God did allowed these painful situations in my life? So on...... Even if we are standing strong in God, like Job's wife, other people or situations may distract our faith in God. So we should always be with God, no matter what happens.

 Matthew 14:28-33

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 

Just like Peter asked Jesus to show a sign that it’s him, we also ask Jesus to show some miracles in our life to prove that he is the Son of God. When we ask something to provide or help in some situations, God will definitely help us if it is not against the word of God. We should remember that God wants to see his children always as a head but not as a tail.
  
Job 42:12-13 The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. 
We may get some problems in our life but we should never doubt on God’s love. In those situations, we should have a strong faith on God. If God allowed some problems in our life means that is only to allow us to grow spiritually or to achieve better life. When it is in the ground, diamond is only a rock. But when it is heated under several degrees of temperature, it turns into diamond. Same way, if God allowed some problems in our life means, by going through those problems, we may rectify our errors or grow strong spiritually. Like God blessed Job abundantly, he will bless us also. The only thing we should do is, stand for the God’s word whatever the situation is. When Peter asked Jesus to save him, Jesus saved Peter. In the same way, we also should ask God for his help. We should confess to God about all of our sin. Then Jesus will definitely forgive us and save us. 

Romans 10:9-11 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. " There are no barriers for God’s love. He will never see which country we belong to, which job we are doing or how rich we are? Everyone is same in the God’s eyes.