Socotra:The Island Of Strange Plants

Socotra is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean, near the Gulf of Aden. Situated some 250 miles off the coast of Yemen, the largest member of the archipelago, also called Socotra, is home to some of the weirdest looking plants that are found nowhere else on the planet. Like the Galapagos Islands, this island is teeming with 825 rare species of plants of which more than a third are endemic. Extremely high levels of endemism also occur in Socotra’s reptiles. 90% of its reptile species and 95% of its land snail species do not occur anywhere else in the world. The marine life of Socotra is also very diverse, with 253 species of reef-building corals, 730 species of coastal fish and 300 species of crab, lobster and shrimp, and well represented in the property’s marine areas.

1 Year In Hong Kong

Brian Yen has been photographing Hong Kong for six years. His long exposure series captures bright, cultural and festive scenes that epitomise the busy populated metropolis.

Help Your Heart With These 7 Foods That Can Lower Your Cholesterol

Unless you want to be choking down Lipitor pills like they’re candy in your older years, reigning in your cholesterol levels needs to be one of your health priorities. It is still a somewhat nebulous health factor for a lot of people, as we spend a good deal of time talking about things like obesity and calories — with cholesterol as an afterthought. But it’s interrelated, and too much of it can cause some serious health concerns.

So, what is it, anyway? Basically, it is “a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all cells of the body,” or so say the National Institutes of Health. “Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. However, cholesterol also is found in some of the foods you eat.”

Now, cholesterol comes in a couple of different forms: a good type, and a bad type. The good type, which is commonly referred to as HDL (high-density lipoprotein), helps protect against buildup in your arteries, and fights heart disease. The bad kind, LDL ((low-density lipoprotein), basically does the opposite — it collects in your arteries, making it harder for your heart to pump blood around the body. That’s why higher cholesterol levels lead to heart attacks.

The key is to watch your diet and make sure you’re not ingesting too much bad cholesterol. Again, your body produces it on its own — but when you add more to the mix, you’re asking for trouble. Bad cholesterol is typically found in animal-based products: meats and dairy. This is yet another reason to avoid them, and why doctors suggest sticking to a plant-based diet.

If you aim to lower your levels, you can adjust your diet accordingly. There are a number of foods that actually fight the levels of LDL in your body, helping you take back control. Read on to see seven of them.

1. Oatmeal 

Load up on the steel-cut oats if you plan to put your cholesterol levels in the crosshairs. The key ingredient in oatmeal is the soluble fiber, which is known to reduce bad cholesterol levels. Oatmeal is delicious, but can require some preparation. Also, if you load it up with too many trimmings — sugars, mostly — you can lose some of the overall nutritional benefit.

2. Fish 

Fish is loaded with all kinds of healthy stuff, and it’s also heavy on fats. So how can that help you? Fish is heavy with the good types of fat — Omega-3 — which actually helps your body break down and do away with cholesterol buildup. Your body doesn’t produce Omega-3 on its own, and fish is a great source of it. You can even replace other dietary staples like beef with fish as a much healthier alternative.

3. Nuts 

Put down the potato chips or chicken wings and snack on some peanuts or almonds instead. Nuts are high in unsaturated fat, the same types of fats found in fish. Again, these fats help your body break down and lower the levels of unhealthy cholesterol in your cells. Some nuts are better than others, but if you’re craving a salty snack, you’re much better off reaching for some nuts over almost anything else.

4. Beans 

They’re not merely the musical fruit, beans are also cholesterol killers. And it all comes down to what makes beans so “musical” — namely, the amount of soluble fiber. That fiber keeps your digestion moving, and helps move cholesterol out of your system. They’re also pretty cheap. So, if you’re on a diet and on a budget, beans should become your new best friend.

5. Leafy greens 

You should be eating plenty of greens as it is, but if you’re serious about lowering your cholesterol, you need to focus on eating as much as you can — specifically, foods like spinach, kale, and lettuce. Greens deliver big amounts of vitamins and minerals, and also hit you with a good dose of fiber, which we know helps take down cholesterol levels.

6. Avocados 

Avocados are an odd food, and one that some people simply can’t stand. But they’re quite nutritious, and can offer up a good serving of healthy vitamins, minerals, and fats. The main ingredients present in the avocado that help battle cholesterol are the healthy, unsaturated fats — though there are other things at work as well.

7. Tea 

You need something to wash all of these foods down with, right? Well, stow the milk and cream-heavy coffees, and stick to tea instead. Teas contain certain phytochemical antioxidants that help your body lower bad cholesterol levels. Tea is also an incredibly versatile beverage. Drink it hot, drink it iced, and add almost anything you want.

10 Truths (and Lies) You Should Know About Apple Cider Vinegar

While you may be familiar with the uses of white vinegar around your house for cleaning, or you may find yourself using a little bit of balsamic vinegar on your salad, there is one vinegar that you should start paying particular attention to. If you’re constantly looking for the best way to give your body a health boost and detox, adding a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar to your water each day may be beneficial — but you should also be wary of false health claims. While apple cider vinegar can be great for some ailments, it is not necessarily the miracle worker that it’s often advertised as.

Not all apple cider vinegars are created equal, either. Apple cider vinegar is made from fermented apples as the name suggests, and you’ll want to ensure that your particular brand of vinegar contains “the mother.” As Dr. Mercola states, mother is an amino-acid based accumulation that is only found in vinegars that have been fermenting for longer periods of time. It shows that the vinegar has been unprocessed and unfiltered, giving you the most health benefits that you can possibly gain — pasteurized apple cider vinegar will not have the same benefits.

Here are 10 facts about apple cider vinegar that can help you determine if you should be adding more of this ingredient into your diet.

1. True: Helps clear troubled skin 

If you have acne woes or dandruff, look no further than your local grocery store for the perfect remedy. While prescription medication can be tough on the skin and cause you flaking, dryness, and bigger skin issues than you had before, a little bit of apple cider vinegar mixed with water on a cotton swab makes for an excellent natural toner. Dr. Karen Hammerman, cosmetic dermatologist at Vanguard Dermatology in New York City, told InStyle, “Skin is naturally acidic but when vinegar is used as a toner, it helps skin find the ideal balance between dry and oily.” To try using apple cider vinegar to treat your skin, InStyle recommends diluting one tablespoon of it with a few drops of water before applying.

2. True: Strengthens the immune system 

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, and a tablespoon of apple cider a day might have the same effect. Livestrong states that combining a small amount of apple cider vinegar in with your water every day may be the key to curing your gastrointestinal issues and ultimately boosting your immune system.

If you’re consuming apple cider vinegar that’s unfiltered and unprocessed, this is even better for your immune system, as the mother can benefit your lymphatic system and cleanse your lymph nodes. If you’re prone to sinus congestion and allergies in the spring, apple cider vinegar may help alleviate those symptoms. There are also probiotics found in unfiltered apple cider vinegar that support a healthy digestive system, and probiotics can also help destroy bad bacteria and viruses that are found in your intestines.

3. True: Helps your digestive system 

Proper digestion is key to an overall healthier you — it’s the way we obtain nutrients from our food, and if your digestive system is not adequately processing the foods you eat, you certainly are not taking in as many nutrients as you should be. Branch Basics describes how hydrochloric acid is incredibly important to our stomach cells, as it is responsible for protein digestion and the absorption of carbohydrates, fats, and certain vitamins and minerals. Without an adequate amount of this stomach acid, you aren’t fully digesting your food and taking these nutrients in.

So, how does apple cider vinegar help? Drinking a glass of water with a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed in before a meal can help you digest your proteins, which can help your HCl stay at a healthy level. Also, marinating your meats in apple cider vinegar can help you digest them better. Be sure to drink this mixture around 20 minutes before you plan on eating. This can assist your digestive system immensely, and you’ll be absorbing even more nutrients than you were before.

4. True: Helps control blood sugar levels 

If you’re a diabetic and looking for a natural way to control your blood sugar levels, apple cider vinegar may be your ticket. Carol Johnston, Ph.D., director of Arizona State University’s nutrition program, states in a WebMD story that apple cider vinegar is comparable to certain medications when it comes to its effects on blood sugar. This vinegar has an anti-glycemic effect that can block some starch from being digested. Starch can raise your blood sugar significantly once digested, so even blocking a bit of the starch is helpful in controlling blood sugar levels.

For this reason, apple cider vinegar may be of particular use for diabetics, but don’t ditch your medication for this holistic approach just yet. While apple cider vinegar is helpful in keeping blood sugar levels balanced, its affect on the increased production of stomach acid can still put a strain on your kidneys and bones. Focus on your overall diet to help with your diabetes at first. Then, consult your doctor to see if consuming this vinegar is a good idea for you.

5. True: Keeps the heart healthy 

Good news for those looking for a natural way to lower cholesterol — taking just one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar diluted with water a day may lower your cholesterol. A study published in the British Journal of Clinical Nutrition and presented on Dr. Axe’s page shows apple cider vinegar can increase bile production and offer liver support, which has an overall effect on your cholesterol levels.

Consuming apple cider vinegar may also reduce your blood pressure — while studies are currently showing that this vinegar reduces the blood pressure in rats, scientists are leaning toward the idea that this may also translate to humans, though more studies are necessary for a concrete conclusion. When rats were given apple cider vinegar, the acetic acid in the vinegar significantly lowered their blood pressure compared to the rats that were not given the substance.

If you suffer from acid reflux or heartburn and you’re concerned about the acidity when drinking apple cider vinegar, you can combine your apple cider vinegar and water mixture with a teaspoon of baking soda. This vinegar is also available in capsule form if you would rather ingest it this way.

6. False: Great for whitening your teeth 

While scrubbing your teeth with vinegar may seem like the perfect way to remove those coffee stains, you may want to reconsider. The Huffington Post explains that while brushing with apple cider vinegar may seem like a healthy and natural alternative to toothpaste, you’re ultimately doing serious damage to the enamel.

Apple cider vinegar is about as acidic as lemon juice, and even drinking this vinegar is likely to do damage to the teeth. If you are choosing to drink apple cider vinegar as part of a healthy diet, be sure to wait at least a half hour before brushing your teeth, even if you’re using toothpaste. The acidity from the vinegar being in your mouth combined with the brushing is likely to wear away at your enamel. Brush twice daily and use mouthwash recommended by your dentist, but do not rinse with apple cider vinegar.

7. False: Contains many vitamins and minerals 

Many fans of love apple cider vinegar also claim that it boasts a heavy dosage of vitamins, minerals, fiber, complex carbs, and amino acids, and this is why the vinegar has such an incredible ability to heal the body. While this is a nice idea, it’s not based in any truth — Sandy Szwarc, a registered nurse, debunks the idea that apple cider vinegar is full of vitamins and minerals. In fact, apple cider vinegar has only trace amounts of any nutrients at all.

When looking at an analysis of what’s really in a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, there is no protein or fiber and only a minuscule amount of carbs, and there are only trace amounts of calcium, iron, zinc, and manganese. With the average adult needing 1000 milligrams of calcium a day, the mere 1 gram that apple cider vinegar offers will not be helpful in reaching that goal. The multiple helpful acidic properties of the vinegar are what offer the health boost, but if you’re looking for a way to add more nutrients into your diet, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

8. False: Will worsen your heartburn 

When your chest aches with the familiar feeling of heartburn, you probably think that fighting acid with vinegar will never work, right? Actually, apple cider vinegar can be a safe natural remedy for heartburn, even though it is highly acidic. Though more research needs to be done Healthline reports a dose of apple cider vinegar may be useful for those dealing with heartburn, but it also depends on what’s causing the problem.

Apple cider vinegar works to fight heartburn by restoring acidity to your stomach. Drinking a tablespoon diluted in water will work better than any antacid, because it does exactly the opposite of an antacid — it provides your stomach with what it naturally needs to work properly.

9. False: Works best when undiluted 

Though you may be tempted to reap all of apple cider vinegar’s benefits by drinking it straight up, you could be doing serious damage to your esophagus. Livestrong suggests a small amount of this vinegar (from a teaspoon to a tablespoon depending on personal preference) should be diluted in a full 8-ounce glass of water before drinking. The water will help protect your esophagus from the acidic burn.

Don’t go above the recommended dosage, either — though apple cider vinegar has its benefits, drinking too much can cause potassium levels to drop and it can interfere with certain medications like blood-thinners, diuretics, or insulin.

10. False: Fights cancer 

There are various studies that have tested to see if apple cider vinegar could possibly be a natural cancer fighter, but these studies are inconclusive, and they yield slightly conflicting results. Worldhealth.net notes that while consuming apple cider vinegar could lead to a reduced risk of developing esophageal cancer, another study found that this vinegar can lead to an increased risk of bladder cancer. The acidic properties of apple cider vinegar could mean that your digestive tract is cleaner and the chances of colon cancer and prostate cancer are slimmer, but this has yet to be proven as well.

Overall, it is suggested that regularly adding apple cider vinegar into your diet could help prevent cancerous cells from forming, but if you have a history of bladder cancer in your family, then it may be best to avoid it altogether.

7 Reasons To Have Fish Oil

Fish oil is one of those wonder foods that is being much talked about by health experts. It is among the top 5 healthy oils that are known to us. We all know that fish oil contains tons of good cholesterol. However, there are many more health benefits of fish oil other than controlling your cholesterol levels. People often have many misconceptions about this healthy oil. Lets break the myths first.

What is Fish Oil?
This oil is derived from the tissues of fatty or oily fish. Fatty fish we do not literally mean fish that are fat. Fatty fish are bigger fish like whale. The oil extracted from these fish are not used for cooking but eaten as vitamin tablets. It is usually available in translucent capsules.

Here are some reasons to have fish oil regularly.

1. Betters Your Lipid Profile: Lipid profile is a blood scan to know the types of lipids (fats) present in your bloodstream.. Triglyceride is a lipid that is very harmful for your heart. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil helps in reducing triglyceride.

2. Oily Way To Slim Down: Could you actually believe that an oil will help you lose weight? But this oil does help you slim down by preventing the pre-fat cells from becoming fats. Thus it slows down the process of putting on flab.

3. Kills Depression: This oil is great for your mood. EPA is an anti-inflammatory substance present in fish oil that is very good for raising your spirits. It also helps in curing post-partum depression.

4. Relieves Aches & Pains: As we just said, this oil has EPA that reduces inflammation in the body. The health benefits of this oil includes relieving joint pain in adults. Women tend to develop some form of calcium deficiency pains. This oil can help in relieving post-menopausal bone ache.

5. Great For Asthmatics: One of the most bizarre treatments for asthma is to swallow a whole live fish. We don't know if that works but the oil extracted from seafish certainly helps in curing asthma. It has been seen that kids who grow up on a diet rich in fatty fish, tend to have lesser occurrences of respiratory disorders.

6. Protection Against Cancer: Cancer is the worst killer disease in the 22nd century. So, if there is anything that we can do to protect ourselves against cancer then we should do it. The omega-3 fatty acids in this oil helps us to get protection against cancer.

7. Would-Be Mom's Diet: This oil is sometimes prescribed to pregnant women. This is because the DHA present in this oil helps to develop the eyes and brain functions of the unborn child.

These are some of the most vital health benefits of fish oil. Other than these health benefits it also gives you glowing skin and lustrous hair.

10 diet foods that can make you fat

Granola

It’s marketed as a health food, is sold in health food stores and even looks remarkably healthy, so it must be a diet food, right? In the case of granola, sadly the answer is no. While granola is undoubtedly nutritious and full of fibre, it also contains high quantities of sugar and oil, making it extremely high in fat and calories. To help save your waistline, try eating granola in small portions or, better yet, switch to a lower fat sugar-free muesli which will deliver the same health benefits without the calories. Read more on realbuzz.com... Makeover your diet Top 10 worst fat traps Top 10 reasons why you’re not losing weight

It’s marketed as a health food, is sold in health food stores and even looks remarkably healthy, so it must be a diet food, right? In the case of granola, sadly the answer is no. While granola is undoubtedly nutritious and full of fibre, it also contains high quantities of sugar and oil, making it extremely high in fat and calories. To help save your waistline, try eating granola in small portions or, better yet, switch to a lower fat sugar-free muesli which will deliver the same health benefits without the calories.

Vegetable crisps
Many people view vegetable crisps as the “healthy” alternative to the potato variety. However, while some vegetable crisps contain slightly more fibre and vitamins than potato crisps, this is not always the case and the difference is generally very slight, with most of the vitamins derived from fresh veggies being lost in the process of making them into crisps. On top of this, vegetable crisps are often just as high in fat and calories as potato ones and contain just as much salt.

Dips
Hummus is often perceived as the perfect diet-friendly dip. However, while the healthy snack is undoubtedly nutritious, it is also packed with calories and fat from its principle ingredients of oil and tahini. Another dip for dieters to watch out for is guacamole which, while traditionally packed with nutrients and good fats, often contains calorie-laden double cream. While most dips can be eaten in moderation, if you want to splurge guilt-free go for a homemade tomato salsa which is packed with nutritious ingredients and is almost fat-free.

Diet drinks
Many of us turn to sugar-free versions of our favourite drinks to help stay trim, yet diet drinks may actually be causing you to pile on the pounds. Research by the Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio found that those who consumed diet drinks daily experienced a 70 per cent greater increase in waist circumference than those who drank none, while a previous study showed that obesity risk increased by 41 per cent for each diet drink consumed. A suggested reason for this is that artificial sweeteners trigger appetite, and they may also inhibit the brain cells that make you feel full.

Dried fruit
As with smoothies and juices, dried fruit has many beneficial properties and counts towards your daily intake of fruit. However, due to the concentration of sugars that occurs when fruit is dehydrated, it is also very high in calories and sugar when compared to the same amount of fresh fruit, and is much lower in fibre and nutrients. On top of this, many brands add sugar to dried fruit to improve the flavour, which boosts the calorie content even further.

As with smoothies and juices, dried fruit has many beneficial properties and counts towards your daily intake of fruit. However, due to the concentration of sugars that occurs when fruit is dehydrated, it is also very high in calories and sugar when compared to the same amount of fresh fruit, and is much lower in fibre and nutrients. On top of this, many brands add sugar to dried fruit to improve the flavour, which boosts the calorie content even further.

Salads
When eating out or buying food on the go, salads are generally presented as the “healthy option”. However, often this is not the case. While salads contain vegetables and other healthy ingredients, these are often buried under a layer of oily, sugary dressings which can be high in both fat and calories. Many salads do contain good fats that can help with weight loss (such as in the case of avocados and olive oil), yet this is not always so. Avoid those sneaky calories by drizzling your salads with a light dressing such as balsamic vinegar, or skipping the dressing entirely.

Soup
While soup can be the perfect weight loss food when prepared correctly, not all soups fall into the diet food category. In fact, many soups can rack up a significant amount of fat and calories, particularly those containing dairy products such as cream or cheese. On top of that, many soups are very high in salt, which can lead to bloating. To help stay trim and cut calories, try purchasing (or better yet, making your own) vegetable-based and cream-free soups.

Popcorn
Air-popped popcorn is a great nutritious, high-fibre and diet-friendly snack. However, when butter is added into the equation, the tasty snack can quickly lose its healthy credentials. Store-bought and cinema popcorn can be extremely high in fat and calories due to its liberal coating of butter and/or sugar, and is often also served in large quantities. Furthermore, as the TV-friendly snack is often eaten in front of a screen, we can easily consume far more than we intend to due to mindless snacking.

Juices and smoothies
When totting up our daily intake of calories, many of us forget to take into account those that come in liquid form. However, the drinks you consume throughout the day can vastly contribute to weight gain. While smoothies and juices count towards your daily intake of fruit (and swapping fry-ups for a morning smoothie would certainly do wonders for your waistline!) supplementing meals with these sugary fruit drinks could add hundreds of extra calories on to your daily intake. Smoothies and juices contain more sugar but less fibre than whole fruit, making fresh fruit a much better snacking option.

Cereal bars
Many of us believe that cereal bars are the perfect healthy snack and breakfast-on-the-go. However, most breakfast bars are packed with cane sugar and corn syrup, not to mention high levels of fat. In fact, despite their healthy image, cereal bars can contain as much fat, sugar and calories as an average chocolate bar, and can cause crashes in blood sugar levels which will leave you craving more food.

A Little Inspiration Goes A Long Way (22 Pics)