11 Fascinating Health Benefits Of Honeydew And Its Nutritional Value

The honeydew melon, otherwise known as honey-melon belongs to the muskmelon group in the gourd family. Large and oval-shaped, the fruit belongs to the cucumis melo species. Interestingly, honeydew is the American name of white Antibes commonly found in Algeria and southern parts of France.

Honeydew is also found in the northwestern province of Gansu, China named as Bailan melons and in some parts of Chile, where it is called melon tuna (tuna melon). The fruit is a famous member of its family, along with watermelon and cantaloupe.

Tightly packed with minerals, nutrients and vitamins, honeydew is generally known for its pale green flesh in a smooth yellow rind. Usually incorporated in salads, the smooth fleshy fruit is a powerhouse of health benefits. Generally low in calories, honeydew has no fat and is zero cholesterol. Likewise, it is rich in potassium, calcium, zinc, iron, copper, phosphorus, and manganese. It is true that honeydew is the most neglected fruit in a fruit salad, but you may want to rethink your decision to avoid this tropical fruit the next time you eat a fruit salad

Health Benefits Of Honeydew 

1. Optimal for hypertension 

The high potassium content in honeydew is ideal for individuals who suffer from hypertension. The potassium content curbs the hike in the blood pressure level, and helps the body in maintaining a balance. Honeydew acts as an alternative to salt due to its sweet and sour nature.

 2. Beneficial to pregnant women 

The rich content of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants in honeydew has a direct impact on the immune system of the mother, as well as the unborn baby. The presence of folate in the fruit is extremely beneficial as it helps prevent neural tube defects and certain other birth defects. Consumption of honeydew provides energy, prevents leg cramps and anaemia, and maintains blood pressure levels. The fruit is not only beneficial during pregnancy but also after, as the presence of vitamin A (fat-soluble vitamin) helps in postpartum tissue recovery; which have been proven through fruits such as mangoes and grapes.

 3. Helps in weight loss 

High fibre content and low calories make honeydew an essential component in your diet, especially if you are planning to lose weight. The fibre helps the digestion process, reducing the occurrences of digestion-related issues such as constipation. The high content of water (about 90%) and low calories help keep your body satiated, thus avoiding the tendency of excess eating.

 4. Fights cholesterol

 Honeydew contains two types of fibre, soluble and insoluble. The soluble fibre helps balance the blood sugar, as it slow downs the carbohydrate absorption. The fibre content directly hits the LDL cholesterol, also known as the 'bad' cholesterol accumulated as a result of plaque. Likewise, this lush fruit lowers your cholesterol by flushing it out of your system.

5. Enhances bone & teeth strength 

As it contains a generous amount of calcium, consumption of honeydew can strengthen your teeth and bone. Incorporation of the fruit in your daily diet can ensure you stronger bones and teeth.

6. Nourishes the skin The vitamin C content in the fruit helps nourish your skin by improving the collagen levels. Collagen is a type of protein ensuring the enhancement of your skin cells and blood cells. Consuming honeydew juice can help fight signs of ageing, wrinkles and saggy skin. The fruit also possesses good moisturizing and energizing properties.

7. Improves digestion 

The insoluble fibre content in the oval-shaped fruit has a direct impact on your digestive system. A glass of honeydew juice can reduce bloating and constipation efficiently. The mineral and water content in the fruit eliminate acidity that causes digestion difficulties. 

8. Improves immune system

 By providing an ample amount of vitamin C, a glass of honeydew juice can improve your immune system. A stronger and better immune system acts as a strong wall against the unwanted and excess development of fat, disease-causing bacteria and any sort of illness. Studies have revealed that consumption of honeydew can suffice up to 34% of your body's vitamin C demand.

 9. Prevents diabetes 

Diabetes is the result of your body's inability to maintain or develop necessary insulin. The diuretic nature of honeydew balances and regulates insulin production. Thus, the consumption of the fruit from the melon family can help in avoiding fluid retention. The low glucose content in the fruit makes it easily consumable for people suffering from diabetes, as it will appease your sweet tooth without risking the glucose level.

10. Improves eye health 

Honeydew is rich in zeaxanthin and lutein, which are essential for the overall health of your eyes. Daily consumption of the phytonutrients can help in reducing the risk of eye infections and cataract. 

11. Provides generous hydration 
The honeydew fruit is packed with an ample amount of water. Made up of 90% of water, consumption of the fruit can supply your body with important minerals, such as iron, zinc, magnesium and potassium.

Tips For Buying A Perfect Honeydew 

Skin colour - Before buying a honeydew, always make sure to check the skin colour of the fruit. Choose one with a dull looking appearance, duller the skin riper the honeydew is. The colour should be between pale yellow to light lemon yellow. 

Inspect for defects - Always, always make sure that you inspect the fruit thoroughly picking one. Check for spots, cuts or bruises. 

Check the size - The size of the fruit does matter. Yes. Choose a honeydew that is heavier for its size. 

Always tap - Before choosing the perfect honeydew to take home, make sure it passes the tap test. That is, tap the fruit with the palm of your hand and if it makes a hollow sound - take it home! 

Smell it - To make sure the honeydew you have selected is fresh, push your fingers around where the vine was attached. It should smell fresh with a slight hint of sweetness. Healthy & 

Hearty Honeydew Recipes 

1. Honeydew melon juice 

Ingredients 
¼ honeydew, 1 cucumber, 350 grams of spinach and 1 peeled lemon. 

Procedure 
Wash all the ingredients and chop it finely. 
Add the ingredients in the juicer. 
Extract the juice, strain any solid parts.
 Pour the juice in a glass, add some ice cubes and enjoy! 

2. Melon salsa 

Ingredients 

Red onion, cilantro, honeydew melon and lemon juice. 

Procedure 

Finely chop the ingredients. 

Pour the lemon juice over the chopped ingredients. 

Mix well and enjoy!

 How To Store Honeydew Melons 

It is preferable to store honeydew melons at room temperature.

 Once cut, you can store honeydew in the refrigerator. Not for a period longer than 1-2 weeks.

Keytruda may be a miracle cancer drug, but can those who need it afford it?

Keytruda (generic name pembrolizumab) is an immunotherapy drug manufactured by the company Merck & Co. It is most commonly used to treat melanoma, and was listed for this use by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration in April 2015.

In March 2017, the TGA extended approval for Keytruda to treat a specific type of lung cancer called non small-cell lung carcinoma. In the same month it was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for classical Hodgkin lymphoma, and the TGA later also approved it for this condition.

How it works

Immunotherapy drugs work by increasing the patient’s own immune response. The most successful examples of immunotherapies are drugs that act as antibodies, which are natural molecules made by the immune system to fight harmful intruders.

The immune system launches an attack on intruders by releasing killer cells called T-lymphocytes, or T-cells. When these T-cells attack cancer cells, a certain protein, called PD-1 accumulates on the T-cells. The cancer cells then have their own protein that binds to PD-1, and this interaction cleverly switches off the T-cells, stopping them from attacking the cancer.

Keytruda works by binding to PD-1 and therefore blocking the cancer cells from using their own protein to slot into the same spot and switch off the immune cells. So with Keytruda, the T-cells do their job and effectively attack the cancer. Keytruda is also known as an anti PD-1 immunotherapy.

History

Tasuku Honjo and his group at Japan’s Kyoto University identified the PD-1 protein in the early 1990s and established that it inhibits T-cells. This early research led to the development of the antibody in 2006 by scientists in the Netherlands.

Keytruda was approved by the FDA for advanced, inoperable or drug-resistant melanoma in 2014. It has seen additional indications added annually, including for particular head and neck cancers, non-small cell lung cancers, and metastatic urothelial carcinoma (a type of bladder cancer).

The FDA approval for Hodgkin’s lymphoma in adults and children came after a clinical trialfound that 22% of patients who were treated with Keytruda underwent complete remission. This is the first indication that some blood cancers can also benefit from Keytruda.

While most of conditions for which it has been approved require the cancer to have resisted previous therapies, Keytruda was approved as the first line therapy for a subset of metastatic non-small cell lung cancers. This means patients have access to Keytruda before even receiving chemotherapy.

Trials in first-line treatment for these patients show Keytruda resulted in a 50% reduction in risk of disease progression and 40% reduction in risk of death compared to chemotherapy.

Keytruda is currently being evaluated in close to 400 clinical trials covering numerous solid and blood tumour types. It is likely that more indications for Keytruda treatment will be approved in the near future.

How is it used?

Keytruda is administered as an intravenous infusion every three weeks. The way the cancer, and the patient, responds to treatment, will dictate its duration. But typically, treatments last up to 24 months in patients without disease progression.

How much does it cost?

Cost of treatment is a key issue around immunotherapies like Keytruda. Merck & Co do offer some subsidies and financial assistance. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) also subsidises Keytruda for a subset of melanomas and non-small cell lung cancers, costing patients A$39.50 per treatment.

As more clinical data becomes available on the benefit of Keytruda, there is likely to be more lobbying for the government to include additional indications on the PBS.

Australian patients who don’t have any of the indications listed on the PBS, could pay A$150,000 per year.

What are the side effects?

The most common side effects of Keytruda include feeling tired, pain in muscles, bones or joints, decreased appetite, itching, diarrhoea, nausea, rash, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and constipation.

Because Keytruda boosts your immune system, it can also cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become serious or life-threatening and can lead to death.

Other points of interest

The impact of the role of PD-1 in immunotherapy is profound and those responsible for its discovery are potential winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in the near future.

The efficacy of Keytruda in metastatic melanoma has helped transform the landscape of the pharmaceutical industry and now most large pharmaceutical companies have similar, anti PD-1 products, and are investing in developing new and improved drugs to gain the competitive edge. The immunotherapy market is tipped to be worth more than US$100 billion by 2020.

Six Surprising Drug Interactions you should know about

1. Statins and grapefruit juice

Many people are prescribed drugs from the statin family to prevent heart attacks and strokes. 

Statins are the mainstay of cholesterol management but are not free from drug and food interactions. 

One particularly important interaction to note is that of certain statins with grapefruit juice.

People who have been told that they have high cholesterol often make lifestyle changes, which may involve increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables in their diet. 

Although this is encouraged, it’s important to be aware that grapefruit juice can slow down the breakdown of statins in the body, thereby increasing their presence in the blood, resulting in more side effects. Known side effects from statins include liver damage.

2. Warfarin and green leafy vegetables

Warfarin, a drug used to prevent and treat blood clots, is commonly prescribed in the UK. 

People taking warfarin need to go for regular blood tests to make sure that they are taking the right dose to treat their particular condition. An interaction of note with this drug is that with vitamin K.

Supplements and foods that contain vitamin K, such as green leafy vegetables and green tea, can reduce the effect of warfarin by speeding up its removal from the body, meaning that those taking it may suffer serious consequences, including an increased risk of strokes or deep vein thrombosis. 

You should let your prescriber know if you are making any changes to your diet so that your dose of warfarin can be adjusted accordingly.

3. Antidepressants and ibuprofen

Taking a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as citalopram, alongside anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen, can increase the risk of internal bleeding. 

This is usually associated with the stomach and symptoms can include dark stools, stomach cramps, feeling tired, blood in vomit and feeling faint or dizzy.

This side effect can be avoided by taking a stomach protecting drug, such as lansoprazole. 

It’s important to note, however, that certain other stomach protecting drugs may also interact with antidepressants, so it’s important to choose wisely.

4. Metronidazole and alcohol

Metronidazole is a commonly prescribed antibiotic, particularly for dental infections. Although your pharmacist may often encourage you not to drink alcohol while taking prescribed medication, this advice is particularly important with metronidazole.

Drinking alcohol while on metronidazole can lead to severe nausea and vomiting. Not only should you avoid alcohol while taking metronidazole, you should wait for at least two days after your course has finished. 

This is to make sure that all of the drug has left your body.

5. St John’s Wort and the contraceptive pill

St John’s Wort is a popular herbal remedy, used to treat the symptoms of mild depression. Some people assume that because it is a herbal remedy, it must be harmless. Quite the opposite.

St John’s Wort is an example of an enzyme inducer, a substance that speeds up the breakdown of another substance. 

By encouraging the breakdown of the other drug at a faster rate than normal, this means that the other drug becomes less effective.

While St John’s Wort can have this effect on many drugs, one of particular note is the contraceptive pill. 

St John’s Wort decreases the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill, increasing the chance that the person taking it will become pregnant.

The interaction is so severe that the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has advised that the combination of St John’s Wort and the combined hormonal contraceptive pill should be avoided altogether.

6. Calcium supplements and other medications

As we get older, our bones become weaker, so many people are prescribed calcium and vitamin D supplements to strengthen their bones and prevent fractures. 

While these products benefit many, it is important to understand that they may affect how the body absorbs other drugs.

These include drugs to prevent malaria, certain antibiotics and those used to treat an underactive thyroid.

For most drugs, this interaction can be overcome by leaving time between taking the calcium product and the other drug. A gap of between two and six hours between taking calcium and other drugs is usually enough.

It is very important that if you are taking any of the drugs mentioned in this article that you do not stop taking any of them until you have consulted with your doctor. 

Any sudden changes to medication may have more severe consequences than any of the interactions listed in this article.

Unusual Statues Of Jesus Christ (10 Pics)

Black Jesus

There is a statue of a black Jesus at the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. The statue used to be white but was repainted black during the Detroit race riots of 1967.It was no surprise that the statue was repainted black. Blacks were rioting for increased representation and an end to discrimination at the time. And the seminary was located in a black neighborhood. 

So the statue quickly became an object of interest. On July 23, 1967, three men redid the face, hands, and feet of the statue in brown or black. The clothing was left white. The seminary made it white again, but someone repainted it black during the night of September 14, 1967.The statue has remained black ever since—even during restorations. 

The act was not considered vandalism because the men did not deface the sculpture. Some believe that it was repainted to signal to black rioters not to destroy the statue.

Homeless Jesus

Homeless Jesus refers to several bronze statues depicting a homeless man sleeping on a bench. They were created by artist Timothy Schmalz to highlight the problem of homelessness. The man’s face is covered, but we know he is Jesus because of the nail holes in his feet. 

The first Homeless Jesus was installed outside Regis College at the Jesuit School of Theology at the University of Toronto. About 40 more statues have been commissioned and placed in several locations around the world, including the Vatican.The statues look so real that some uninformed people called 911 thinking that it was a real homeless man sleeping out in the cold. 

These depictions are so controversial that the city council of Westminster, London, stopped Schmalz from installing one in the city.


Christ Of The Abyss

Il Cristo Degli Abissi (“Christ of the Abyss”) refers to three underwater bronze statues of Jesus. All of them were made by Italian artist Guido Galletti. The first was completed in 1954 and installed at San Fruttuoso Bay, Italy. 

The second statue was completed in 1961 and placed at St. George’s Harbor, Grenada, in memory of the survivors of the sinking of the Italian ship Bianca C. The vessel had been anchored at the harbor when it sank after a fire.Galletti created the third statue for Egidio Cressi, an Italian company that makes diving equipment. Egidio Cressi gifted the sculpture to the Underwater Society of America.

All three statues are identical because they were made from the same cast. The original clay positive was missing until 1993 when it was found with its arms missing. The arms were later discovered in a box. Even so, new hands were sculpted for the statue before it was sent to the Italian National Museum of Underwater Activities.

Veiled Christ

Veiled Christ depicts a dying Jesus lying on a bed and covered with a transparent veil. It is so transparent that Jesus is clearly visible to a person looking at the statue. The sculpture was created by Guiseppe Sanmartino for Prince Raimondo di Sangro. Sanmartino completed it in 1753. It is currently displayed inside Sansevero Chapel in Naples, Italy. Veiled Christ was controversial at the time it was commissioned and remains so today due to the transparent veil. Most people could not understand how Sanmartino did it. 

They suspected that the veil was actually created by Prince Raimondo using a secret process he derived from his alchemy experiments. Raimondo was renowned for his interest in alchemy. He was a very controversial person with equally contentious writings. After Raimondo’s death, the Catholic Church forced his relatives to destroy his scientific writings. However, no alchemy or magic was involved in creating the transparent veil. It is just art. The veil and the body of Jesus are part of a single marble sculpture.

Pieta

Pieta depicts the Virgin Mary carrying a dying Jesus. It is displayed inside St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Pieta was completed by Michelangelo in 1498 and was intended for a French cardinal who wanted to put it on his tomb. Michelangelo created the sculpture such that Mary was bigger and younger than Jesus. 

Michelangelo said that he created Mary with a childish face because she was a virgin. According to him, virgins did not age because they were “free from desire.” As for size, it was normal for Renaissance statues to make a person unusually large to “balance the art.” In this instance, it would have been odd for a smaller Mary to carry a bigger Jesus, so Mary had to be bigger. Pieta holds the distinction of being the only sculpture ever signed by Michelangelo. 

He etched his name into the statue after he heard some men say that it was made by another artist.Michelangelo was not yet famous and was afraid of someone stealing his work. He later regretted etching his name into it, though.

The Resurrection

Inside Paul VI Audience Hall in Rome lies a statue of Jesus floating out of a nuclear crater. The bronze-and-copper statue was created by Pericle Fazzini and unveiled in 1971. Fazzini used the statue to depict the reality of our nuclear-armed world and what would happen if a nuclear war ever broke out.

The crater was created over the Garden of Gethsemane, the last place Jesus prayed before he was crucified. However, some think that the statue has other meanings. They do not even believe that the representation is of Jesus. They say that it is Baphomet, a goat-headed deity that frequently pops up in occult symbols.


Kings Of Kings

The Kings of Kings was a statue of Jesus that used to be outside Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio. The sculpture was unusual because it showed Jesus from the torso up as if the remaining part of his body was underground. 

The top of a cross was also visible. Kings of Kings was called “Touchdown Jesus” because it depicted Jesus lifting his arms toward the sky in the exact way that football officials raise their arms when they want to declare a touchdown. The statue was ruined after it was struck by lightning in June 2010. The lightning started a fire that totally destroyed the plastic foam and fiberglass statue, leaving only its steel frame.


The Deposition

The Deposition depicts Mary Magdalene, the Virgin Mary, and Nicodemus carrying the body of Jesus for embalming. As the original story in the Bible had Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea carrying Jesus, some say that Nicodemus was actually Joseph. Although the sculpture was created by Michelangelo, it was completed by his friend Tiberio Calcagni.Michelangelo started working on the statue in 1550. He stopped in 1555 when he angrily used a hammer to destroy it. 

No one knows why Michelangelo destroyed the sculpture. He had been using veined marble, which was exceptionally difficult to work with, so he must have become frustrated. It may have also been because his servant, Urbino, kept urging him to complete it.

Others suspect it was because Michelangelo did not want people to think that he followed the more Protestant teachings of Nicodemus when the majority of Italians were Catholic. Michelangelo sold the incomplete statue, and the new owner commissioned Calcagni to complete it. He reattached broken parts and made several other adjustments before completing the statue. However, he never added a new left leg for Jesus.

The Stolen Head Of Jesus

That is not the real name. The possibly nameless statue depicts the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. It was installed outside Sainte Anne des Pins Catholic Church in Sudbury, Canada. The head of baby Jesus was detachable, and people often removed it. Most of the time, they left it on the floor. That changed in 2015 when someone took the head away. Artist Heather Wise agreed to create a new head for Jesus. However, she first created a temporary one so that the statue would not look awkward. 

The temporary head was just so hilarious that it quickly became the butt of jokes. If anything, it alerted more people that the sculpture of Jesus was missing a head. It also made the statue look awkward.Besides being a different color, the temporary head had spiky hair that looked more like Maggie Simpson than Jesus. However, it created awareness about the missing head, which was promptly returned. The woman who brought it back said that she had seen it in her office but had not known it was stolen.

Risen Christ

Back to Michelangelo and his habit of sculpting unusual statues of Jesus. Risen Christ depicts a naked Jesus holding a large cross. However, Michelangelo actually made two statues.He started working on the first one in 1514. But he stopped midway after finding that the marble contained black impurities that would have cut across the cheek. He completed a second one in 1521. Then Michelangelo gave both statues to Metello Vari, who had commissioned the work. The uncompleted sculpture was forgotten soon after Vari died in 1554. 

Most people did not know that it was a work of Michelangelo. It was usually dismissed as an incomplete imitation of Michelangelo’s Risen Christ.The work was finished by another artist in 1644 and taken to San Vincenzo Martire church in Bassano Romano, Italy. The one completed by Michelangelo was kept at Santa Maria Sopra Minerva church where Jesus’s penis was covered with a bronze cloth. The statue that was finished by another artist probably survives because it was forgotten. It was untouched when Napoleon invaded Bassano Romano in the 18th century and when the Nazis arrived in the area during World War II. When the church was donated in 1941, the new owners left the sculpture alone even though they took other artifacts. The statue was only rediscovered in 1997.

Guarana: Benefits Of The Exotic Seeds Of Energy

 Native to the Amazon, Guarana is a Brazilian climbing plant valued for its fruit and its seed. A member of the maple family, Guarana belongs to the Sapindaceae and is scientifically termed as Paullinia cupana. 

Although the plant is commonly found in Brazil, the seeds are largely produced in parts of Paraguay as well. The guarana fruit resembles the human eye in its shape, and has an attractive red shell encasing the white aril covered black seed.  The properties of the Amazonian fruit is not limited to brewing but extends to the medicinal application as well.

In the contemporary health-conscious society, Guarana's medicinal properties are exceptionally valued. Guarana was widely used as an 'energy drink' by the Amazonian tribes during the hunting season due to the exuberance of caffeine, and the scant amount of theophylline and theobromine present in it. Fairly small in size, you should not mistake the guarana berries for any ordinary berry. The exotic berries encompass a plethora of benefits that can do good to our bodies. The red exotic berry is a natural source of immense energy, making it a favoured ingredient in various beverages, especially energy drinks.

Health Benefits Of Guarana A natural source of energy, the benefits of guarana on the human body are plenty. Check them out below. 


1. Helps in weight loss & maintenance 

The critical role played by caffeine in the journey of weight loss is globally known. The exotic fruit from Brazil has the dual property of not only aiding the process of weight loss but also helps in maintaining weight, which you do not usually see in fruits of similar nature.The high caffeine content of the guarana seeds acts as the catalyst for weight loss. Studies reveal the impact of the seeds on the nervous system causing the generation of lipolysis, where the fats released during exercise are converted to energy; thereby helping you in maintaining the weight. Likewise, the fruit is said to possess appetite-suppressing properties, thus limiting you from constant binging.

 2. Eliminates menstrual problems 

A godsend for women suffering from constant menstrual pain and irregular cycle, the guarana seeds work wonders. Incorporation of guarana seeds into your daily diet can help you get rid of the tiredness and the premenstrual symptoms. Although there has been no scientific proof for this, the age-old practices with positive results accord to its effectiveness.

 3. Promotes better mental health 

The guarana seeds possess the ability to improve your blood flow and circulation, thereby enhancing and promoting your mental health. An efficient system of blood circulation helps in eliminating fatigue, migraine and headaches.

4. Improves quality & appearance of skin 

The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the guarana seeds make it the most favourite ingredient of the cosmetic industry. It is commonly found in antiageing lotions, creams, soaps and hair products. The caffeine content in guarana also contributes to the appearance of your skin by abating skin troubles such as wrinkles and saggy skin, which has been proven by scientific studies.

 5. Improves digestion 

The natural detoxifying nature of guarana helps in improving your digestive system. The presence of tannins (plant-based antioxidants) that have the ability to bind and contract the tissues aids in relieving chronic diarrhoea. In a way, guarana has the dual property of a laxative and astringent. The caffeine and the tannins work separately to improve your digestion. That is, the caffeine works in relieving constipation through the stimulation of your colon and intestines.

6. Reduces stress & anxiety 

Guarana seeds have been widely known for its role in relieving stress and anxiety. Although there is no scientific evidence to back this up, the seeds are known for its calming properties. The caffeine content in guarana seemingly improves your mood and feelings of well-being. Anyhow, the dosage of intake has to be controlled, or else can negatively impact your level of anxiety. 

7. Promotes heart health 

The antioxidants present in the guarana seeds play a major role in your heart's health, by improving the blood flow and removing the blood clots. Several studies have shown the impact it has on diminishing the oxidation levels of 'bad' LDL cholesterol that causes the development of plaque in your arteries. Basically, the consumption of the seeds shields one against the heart diseases; keeping them at bay.

 8. Acts as an energy booster 

The ample amount of caffeine in the red wonder acts as a natural source of energy. The role of caffeine as an energy booster is obviously acknowledged. Considered to be a natural stimulant, guarana prevents fatigue and supplies energy to your brain by blocking the impact of adenosine which helps your brain relax. It is also known as 'nature's rocket fuel', as the flavonoids and alkaloids present in guarana stimulate your central nervous system and myocardium; thereby enhancing your alertness and reducing fatigue.

 9. Possesses antibacterial properties 

The guarana seeds are encompassed of components that possess antibacterial properties. Studies have revealed the guarana seeds' capability to diminish the growth of harmful bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli etc. It is believed that the combined role of catechins or tannins (caffeine and plant-based compounds) are responsible for the antibacterial nature of guarana seeds.

 10. Acts as a painkiller 

The caffeine in the guarana seeds acts as an analgesic. That is, by stimulating the circulation of blood, the caffeine present in seeds aids in reducing any sort of physical pain. It is mostly used to gain relief from constant migraines, headaches and menstrual pain.

11. Increases libido 

The presence of caffeine in the guarana seeds acts as a natural aphrodisiac. The inclusion of guarana in your diet can enhance and stimulate your libido, thereby help you to lead a euphoric, passionate life.

Guarana - How To Use It?

 You may think that as guarana is a berry, it can be consumed as it is. Well, that's where you are mistaken! The exotic texture and look of the berry can confuse you into consuming it right off the bat. Customarily, the seeds of the guarana berry are used by people to acquire the benefits of it. Guarana seeds are available in the form of powder, capsules, liquids and even chewing gum. The powder can be infused in your daily beverages such as tea, coffee or even smoothies. You must be careful to limit the use of the powder to 3 to 6 g per day, which should be equally divided among three or four doses.  The guarana seed powder can be incorporated in your daily diet in various ways, such as; 

• You can mix 1 tsp guarana powder into any juice you prefer. 

• 1 tsp of powder can be mixed with yoghurt or fruit smoothies. 

• You can make guarana tea or coffee by adding boiling water, coffee powder/tea bag, sugar and milk (optional), and 1 tsp of guarana powder. 

Precautions While Using Guarana 

Like any other herb or fruit, guarana also comes with certain side effects. Although it is safe when consumed in the correct proportion, the following cautions have to be taken into notice. 

1. May affect pregnant women and lactating mothers It is applicable to consume guarana seeds during pregnancy, however, taking it in high doses (more than 200 mg) may result in miscarriage and healthy development of the fetus. It is advised that lactating mothers stay away from consumption as it can negatively impact the health of your newborn.

 2. Can cause extreme anxiety Though it has been advised that guarana seeds can reduce the level of anxiety, the increased consumption can trigger anxiety due to the overdosing of caffeine.

 3. Could be harmful to diabetes patients Studies have revealed that the consumption of guarana can hinder the way individuals with diabetes are processing sugar (glucose), complicating their blood sugar control.

 4. Can cause seizures Individuals prone to episodes of seizures are advised against the consumption of guarana, due to the presence of caffeine. The caffeine has the possibilities of hindering the proper functioning of the medications used to limit and control seizures.