Top 10 Foods to Take Care of High Blood Pressure Naturally

High blood pressure is the most deadly disease among women, while the second most for men. There are many causes and factors for high blood pressure that include genetics, lifestyle and diet. More Top10 Facts and Trends at www.top10reviews.in . Food is an essential instrument to control high blood pressure as it provides nutrients that play an integral role in keeping them in a healthy range. Here are the top 10 foods that are important for patients with high blood pressure levels:

10. Green Tea

Relatively lower on the list, but very effective, this tea comes with many advantages that make it truly effective for lowering high blood pressure. Green tea is rich in antioxidants that help protect your heart and fights off the free radicals that cause high blood pressure. A study conducted on over 1500 Taiwanese men and women revealed that those who consumed green tea regularly were almost half as likely to develop the condition of high blood pressure, compared to those who didn’t. Replace your morning coffee with a cup of green tea and follow up your dinner with another one to get the maximum from this great drink.

9. Dark Chocolates

Not only it is great in taste, but is also gaining fame all over as a healthy food item. Dark chocolates are rich in antioxidants as well as other nutrients and just half an ounce of this delicious goody can help bring your high blood pressure to a normal range. It is the flavonoids in these chocolates that help reduce blood pressure. Flavonoids stimulate the production of nitric oxide which relaxes your muscles and increases the blood flow. Dark chocolate also helps lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) level. However, it is essential to eat only a small piece of it every day as these are rich in calories too.

8. Nuts, beans and seeds

Unsalted nuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds contain a lot of nutrients to fight high blood pressure. Sunflower seeds have magnesium and phytosterols that keep both high blood pressure and cholesterol levels within the normal range. Beans too, including soybean, are rich in fiber, magnesium and potassium and contain many other nutrients that make them an excellent food for lowering blood pressure naturally. Brazil nuts are known for their richness in magnesium, while cashews, almonds and mixed nuts come next. A handful of these every day makes a great and healthy snack.

7. Baked Potatoes

Potatoes are often looked upon as an unhealthy food. However, it is the cooking technique that makes them harmful for our bodies. In fact, potatoes contain high amounts of fiber and potassium, both of which have significant health benefits. These are one of the richest sources of potassium, said to be highly effective for treatment of high blood pressure. They are cholesterol and fat free and also contain magnesium. This vegetable is a starch which gives you a feeling of satisfaction earlier than other foods. Incorporating baked potatoes in your regular diet will keep the potassium level in your body high, while reducing the sodium level. For flavor, add some minced garlic and herbs and enjoy the goodness of both.

6. Fish

Be it tuna, salmon, halibut or cod, all of these are rich in potassium, magnesium and calcium. They also contain omega-3 acids which are essential for a healthy heart. As these also make excellent choices in lean meat, they are low in fat and those present in these are the healthy type. Salmon also has a large amount of Vitamin D. It’s important to select a healthy method to cook these which could be baking, grilling or boiling. Also, use olive oil, herbs and black pepper for flavoring, rather than the sodium variant.

5. Low fat dairy products

Skimmed milk and yoghurt are rich in calcium, vitamin D, magnesium as well as potassium, all of which help in reducing blood pressure levels in your body. When these nutrients are taken together, their efficacy increases. Moreover, it is extremely important for us to maintain the calcium level in our body as its deficiency leads to high blood pressure. Therefore, add skimmed milk to your breakfast or eat your oats and cereal in a cup of fat free yoghurt. Yoghurt also contains bacteria which are beneficial for our body as it helps in digestion, while building immunity to various infections.

4. Garlic

This is truly a wonder drug when it comes to high blood pressure levels and it’s amazing how effective a single clove of garlic can be. The presence of sulphur compounds in garlic plays a vital role in maintaining your blood pressure levels. Garlic helps ease the spasm in your arteries, relaxes your pulse and moderates your heart rhythm. It also relieves you of other high blood pressure symptoms such as flatulence, shortness of breath and dizziness, while reducing the blood lipid levels. You can add these to your meals, eat them crushed or opt for capsules readily available in the market.

3. Bananas

Another top contender on the list, settling on the third spot is the good old banana. This humble fruit is gifted with loads of potassium, which, as mentioned earlier, is extremely important for lowering high blood pressure levels. Researches have proved how bananas can impact your blood pressure. When the level of potassium in your body plunges, the body tends to hang on to sodium which results in your blood pressure shooting up. Similarly, when you supply potassium in your body, it will release the sodium, reducing the blood pressure consequently. A single banana provides you with 422 mg potassium and 17% of the recommended value of vitamin C. Slice it up and add it your oatmeal for breakfast for double the benefit!

2. Whole grains

Whole grains that are not refined and have their natural components intact come close to taking the top slot among the best foods for lowering high blood pressure. They are packed with abundant magnesium and potassium, two vital nutrients helpful in dealing with high blood pressure. As whole grains are not refined, they retain the grain kernel which makes them a rich source of fiber along with plenty of other nutrients. Some examples of whole grain food which have stood the test of time in their efficiency to lower high blood pressure and are highly recommended are whole grain bread and oats.

1. Spinach

Being a high source of folate, iron, magnesium and vitamin C make spinach the undisputed winner when it comes to combating high blood pressure. It is also an extremely rich source of potassium which is helpful in eliminating the harmful effects that sodium has on your body and blood pressure levels. Moreover, the magnesium present in it helps lowering high blood pressure. Hence, regular consumption of spinach keeps your blood pressure in check. You can have it fresh or opt for the frozen or canned variety. Add it to your regular meals by tossing some leaves in your breakfast sandwich or egg whites or mixing them with your salad for lunch.

As you add these wonder foods to your diet to combat high blood pressure, remember to reduce your intake of salt which is high in sodium. Instead, flavor your food with other spices, herbs, pepper and garlic for taste as well as good health. More Health and other facts at www.top10reviews.in

Top 10 Reasons to be Proud of West Bengal

Every community is proud of the things that they hold dear but some communities are more proud as others is how George Orwell might have described the sort of pride that the Bengalis have for things that are only appreciated by those who are born and bred Bengalis, preferably born and bred in Bengal. West Bengal is one of the desired destinations if you are travelling to India and want to bask in its heritage. The capital of the state of West Bengal is Kolkata (used to be called Calcutta).  This article looks at the top 10 reasons why one should be proud of being a Bengali. 

Top10: Mother Teresa

The woman who inspired the world into caring for the poor, the sick and the needy might have been an Albanian nun but became as much a part of Calcutta and the Bengali community through her tireless work for those about whom no one cared. When she got the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, the city rejoiced as if one of their own had won it and to this day Bengalis are immensely proud of the fact that an individual of such staggering influence worked among them. When she died on September 7, 1997 at the age of 87, the streets of Calcutta were filled with people of all ages and the procession went on for more than an entire day.

9. Architecture in Calcutta

It is a well known fact that most Bengalis are Anglophiles in one way or the other due to the fact that the city of Calcutta was the capital of the British Raj for more than a century and that is why the architecture in the city is completely different from the sort of architecture that you would find in other Indian cities. Admittedly the Calcuttans and Bengalis at large are proud of the specimens of Victorian architecture like the Writer’s Building, Governor’s House as well as the other noted locations of the city. If you ever visit Calcutta, you must take a look at these buildings.

Reason 8: The Book Fair

Nowadays the Jaipur Lit Fest might be the flavour among the intellectuals or wannabe intellectuals of India, but a Bengali still swears by the annual Book Fair in Calcutta that is organised by the Publishers and Booksellers’ Guild every year in February. The reason why Bengalis are proud of the Calcutta Book Fair is because of the fact that there is a sharp focus on Bengali authors and books written in Bangla, which is something that is impossible to experience in any other book fair. The fact that the Book Fair celebrates Bengali Literature as well as the best books from around the world and the country makes it a source of great pride for any true blue Bengali.

Reason 7: Top Singers in Bollywood

Nowadays it might only be Shreya Ghoshal who is flying the flag proudly for Bengalis in the pre eminent Hindi film industry but over the years the top male singers in Bollywood used be from Bengalis and it is often said that it is because of these singers that Bengalis took an active interest in Hindi films. After all, why would a community not be proud of the fact that some of the giants of playback singing in Hindi films like Kishore Kumar, Hemanta Mukherjee, Abhijeet and Kumar Sanu belong to them? The procession of Bengali Bollywood playback singers is without a cause of great pride for all Bengalis.

Reason 6: Park Street

At number 6 is the area in Calcutta that is every Bengali’s favourite hangout whether it is for a quick drink after work or a long dinner during the weekend. However, the reason why they are proud of bright lights of Park Street is the fact that the restaurants in this area were the first ones that introduced the whole of India to fine dining and the experience of listening to superb music while eating. Pam Crain, the famous singer lit up places like Trincas in Park Street with her soulful music. Although that era is not going to be back, it cannot be denied that Calcuttans still believe that Park Street is the best area for partying and eating out in India.

Reason 5: Shantiniketan

Not many places in India can be regarded as ‘University towns’ like it is the case in places like the US and UK, but in West Bengal Shantiniketan is a town that is a seat of learning for people from all over the country. Rabindranath Tagore founded the Visva Bharati University after he was awarded the Nobel Prize. Some of the people who have studied there include ace Economist and Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen, Satyajit Ray and many others. Bengalis are quite justifiably proud of this little university town that is also the pride of the country.

Reason 4: The Film Fraternity

Their film fraternity is one thing about which that Bengalis have a sort of pride that borders on arrogance and in that regard it must also be pointed out that their pride laced with arrogance is not entirely unfounded. Over the years Bengali films have been the subject to critical acclaim in home and overseas and in addition to that the procession of outstanding Bengali filmmakers seems to be unrelenting. If it was the trio of Ray, Sen and Ghatak in the past then the likes of Tapan Sinha, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, the late lamented Rituporno Ghosh have kept the flag flying.

Reason 3: Bengali Cuisine

Well, almost all communities in India are proud of their home grown cuisine but as far as Bengalis are concerned it is a bit different since the sort of variety that is on offer is absolutely mind boggling and it is often said that Bengali cuisine is perhaps the most versatile in India. The cuisine is influenced by English and Portuguese cuisines and the fast food items like Mughlai Parantha or Kathi Roll are famous all across the country. Fish which may be considered non vegetarian else in country is called "Jal Turai" and is big part of Bengali cuisine. It is not a surprise that Bengalis look for Bengali restaurants whenever they travel in another part of the country. 

Reason 2: Satyajit Ray

The greatest Indian filmmaker ever and perhaps one of the greatest filmmakers in the world, Satyajit Ray is another source of immense pride for Bengalis and it is not rare to see a Bengali who speaks of the movies Ray has made like an expert whenever the subject is broached. In addition to that, Ray has won the Golden Bear award for his movies and was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Oscars that has made him into an even bigger source of pride. Although it is true that he is a source of pride for all Indians, the fact that all but one of his films were in Bengali makes the Bengalis slightly more proud about him.

Reason 1: Rabindranath Tagore

The man who wrote India’s national anthem as well as the one for Bangladesh, wrote countless novels, short stories, songs and plays in Bengali, won the Nobel Prize and then declined the Knighthood as a show of protest is the greatest source of pride for Bengalis from all over the world. Although he has only written in Bengali, his work has been translated into almost all Indian languages so that it can be enjoyed by those who do not read Bengali. It is not a surprise that a Bengali’s heart swell with pride whenever he thinks of the achievements of the great litterateur and patriot.
For younger generation it is will be noteworthy to point out that Sharmila Tagore, Saif Ali Khan  and Soha Ali Khan; who are celebrities in their own right can boast of Rabindranath Tagore's lineage. 

So, those are some of the things that make one of the most vibrant communities in the country proud of themselves. Hopefully enjoyed the article and do not forget to share it with your friends.

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Top 10 Reasons to be Proud of India

TOP 10 REASONS TO BE PROUD OF INDIA

One can locate an Indian almost anywhere in today’s world and with the generations growing up and identifying themselves in their new habitat, along with the importance of learning and loving our new home we need to remember the great things that are associated with Indian heritage. Along with the flow of beautiful Indian silks, vibrant music, spicy flavorful food; India’s contribution and achievement is not something limited to last few hundred years but thousands of years. One of the oldest civilizations of the world has given a lot to people around the globe. Everyone who plans to travel to India must know the following Top 10 facts about India. Following are some of the achievements that Indians can be proud of:

10.  World Shined with Silk because of India : Though the new fabrics of Polyster etc are quite practical to use in this new age, it is no surprise that natural fabrics still steal our heart and are the most comfortable go to materials. Cashmere wool/ Pashmina, Cotton and Jute were cultivated in India in ancient times. Cotton was cultivated during Indus Vally Civilization in 5^th -4^th BC. Indigo Dye also called “Neel” to bring the brightness in the white cottons was produced and processed in India and considered a luxury item in Europe and was used all the way in Greece and Rome. Indian silk is famous for its shine and colors! And the variety of Silk and cotton produced in India varies from region to region as well due to difference in weaving. The term “Seidenstrassen” or “Silk Roads” was coined by German geologist Richthfen in 1877 as a metaphor used for Asian and European cultural exchange.
It seems that the emergence of Silk in India was around the same time it did in China. It is debatable who learnt from whom but undoubtedly the Indian Silk is quite different from Silk produced in any other country. India is not only the second largest producer but the largest consumer of silk in the world. Cotton is native plant to Americas, Africa and India. It seems that the fabric of cotton was developed in these areas around the same time. Mahatma Gandhi used to spin his own cotton for his clothes as a gesture not to buy anything foreign made.

9-IndianDoctors a pride to the World
India’s achievements in traditional medicine are acknowledged till date and Indian doctors are world famous and present in almost every country.  These can not be summarized in a couple of paragraphs. From ancient medicine to today’s innovative medical technology not only to be used throughout the world but made to order for Indian scenario. Whether it is cataract surgery, plastic surgery or cure of leprosy; they were well versed and quoted in medical treatise by number of modern medicine practitioners. Concept of Vaccine was mentioned- A Material producing a disease can prevent or cure the disease in minute quantity- S-Bhagwat(1-5-33) Haneman, 18^th Century.
In this new age of global travel, people who want quality medical care at a fraction of cost are going to India for their medical procedures. The most intricate procedures of liver and heat transplant are being done in India. Some of the medical insurance companies even cover the cost of getting treatment in India making it convenient for patients to look for more cost effective options and reach out to India for their treatment.

8.Bollywood/Tollywood/KollywoodEntertain World with Highest Number of Films : If you see a movie where actors are lip synching a song, bursting into dance; chances are you are watching an Indian movie.  India just celebrated its 100 years of film making, starting from filming of “Raja Harishcandra” in 1913.  India makes movies in the most languages, compared to any other country. Last century saw the blooming of Bollywood, Nollywood (Cinema of Nigeria), Hollywood and Chinese film industry. At the end of last decade, India ranked first in its output of number of movies, producing a total of 2961 films that include 1288 feature films, in 2009.
There have been numerous Oscar nominations starting from Mehboob Khan in 1958 for Mother India to Best Original Song nomination for Bombay Jayashri for Life of Pi. The best year being 2009 when Slumdog Millionaire won for Best Sound Mixing, Best Original Score and Best Original Song. He was awarded Honorary Award for life time achievement in 1992 just before he passed away.
One cannot talk of Indian Cinema and not mention Satyajit Ray who was an institution in himself.
Lata Mangeshkar

7. Astrology a Gift toHumanity: India’s contribution to Astrology is insurmountable. Though there is direct controversy as to where Astrology originated. Some scholars think that it started in Babylon but Indian Vedic Astrology has its own roots and takes into account even precession (conical wobbling of the earth while it carves out the celestial circular path of its movement around the sun) of the earth.
Astrology and astronomy were synonyms to each other in ancient days. Some of the mountain cave dwelling ancient cultures will make openings to coincide with the solar events and to see certain stars and was related more to agriculture and long travels (proper seasons, so they are not caught in heavy rains or snow). To give credit to western civilization regarding the origin of Astrology is a very Eurocentric view, in writer’s view. Lot of parallel roads to a certain knowledge have evolved in different continents. As is understood, Vedic astrology is explained in one of the oldest recorded documents on earth, the Rigveda. The Vedic Astrology is based on Lunar calendar/ Nakshatras as well as movements of planets around the sun. Indian culture evolved around it.Today’s method of knowing your horoscope is all based on mathematics involving movement and influence of planets on a person, so much so, that they are sometimes generated by computer! Talk about an old science getting a new face!
image:navgrahmandir.blogspot.com

6.India realized theValue of Education much Before anyone else : University Indian system of education in ancient times was famous not just in India but in other countries as well. Scholars and students came from all over the world to learn. There were several universities;Nalanda, Takshila etc. Nalanda was the first great university as recorded in history and had dormitory to house its students. There were scholars from China who came there not only to study but to teach as well. To destroy a culture, as it was thought, you need to take away its educated and education so they may not sustain their values, resulting in destruction of Nalanda three times out of which it was rebuilt twice.
Nalanda University is emerging again in new garb and its new session starts from 2014. Indian culture has relied heavily on education and it is ingrained in our genes. Where the literacy rate in India has grown to over 74%, and still more to go to get complete literacy in the country; people who are educated are among the most educated in the world. There is hardly any international university that does not have Indian students and quite a few have Indian scholars teaching there as well. Education is so much so a part of Indian heritage and culture that no matter what you do to earn your living.. when the parents are looking for suitable match for their child, education is one of the primary considerations.
Below is shown the image of remains of Ancient university Nalanda

5.Zero isIndia’s Hero to the World: You will not be reading this if Zero would not have been discovered, since the binary system used in computer is based on it intricately. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta and Sanskrit, the mother of most European languages, is reportedly the most suitable language for computer software(report in Forbes magazine, July 1987). Before the modern world could find that Earth is the one orbiting the Sun and not vice versa, Bhaskaracharya had calculated the time it takes earth to revolve around the sun, 365.258756484 days. Not only that, before Newton could come up with Law of Gravitation, Bhaskaracharya had written in his treatise Surya Siddhant,” "Objects fall on earth due to a force of attraction by the earth. Therefore, the earth, planets, constellations, moon, and sun are held in orbit due to this attraction."
Algebra, Calculus and Trigonometry came from India as well as value of Pi without which none of the space travel will be possible. We will not be able to understand the Curved space without understanding Pi, which was again derived in India. The decimal and place value system was invented in India around 100 BC. These are just few of the notable mentions.
As Einstein said: We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.
image:greatbiharis.blogspot.com

4.India’s IT Engineersare big Contributors to Scientific inventions: If there is one sector that has grown in leaps and bounds in last few decades it is Information Technology and India’s share in this is absolutely undeniable and makes it one of the fastest growing IT markets. IT (Information Technology) and ITeS (Information Technology enabled Services) are a major part of growing India. Whether it is outsourcing of services to India from western countries, its huge middle class ready to gobble the products created or the out flux of Indian workforce to different countries to satisfy the demands of this sector, India has a huge impact in today’s interconnected world.
Indian companies are partnering with western companies to provide labor as well as market. India takes a major share in the sourcing world, taking up almost 52 percent of the US $ 124-130 billion market. Part of the reason is not only the emphasis on education in Indian culture but also the prevalence of English as a spoken or learning language. This makes it so much easier for Indian workforce to get assimilated in this International market.
image:virtualemployee.com, second image:engineerjobs.com

3.India taught World to be Balanced while Enjoying fruits of Diversity:  Just like a rainbow ranging from one color to another but tied together in one single stream of white light, the Indian spectrum boasts of Diversity not just in religion but in culture encompassing Day to day living, food, clothing, language and customs.
Ingrained in this diversity is the Unity for all to be called Indian. There is no other country like India and the only one that comes to mind, when Unity in Diversity is mentioned. From North to South to East to West; not just the geographical topography but the culture changes notably. No one can visit one part of India and say that they have learnt about all or most of India. You have to visit each region to know about it but it is all One collective India where people are by and large peace loving. India boasts a very well balanced cultural song put together by the different cultural instruments is how I would like to summarize it.

2.India’smessage of Peace to the World: It has been said that in last 10,000 years of its history, India has never invaded any country and it is true. Every time the war has been to protect the motherland against Invasion. Indian psyche is now ingrained in their genes. The land of Gautam Buddha, Vivakanand and Gandhi want peace as their first and only option if things work out. Gandhi is world renowned for his principal of non-violence, though never awarded the Nobel Peace Prize which the committee regretted later.
image:universalscraps.com

1.India’s Ayurveda andYoga are the best ingredients for Healthy Mind and Body: Ayurveda is the traditional/ ancient practice of Medicine in India, which incorporated eight components covering medicine from Anti Aging to Surgery.
There are several Ayurvedic practitioners in India and all over the world and is infact a preferred method of getting relief for lot of people who are skeptical about side effects of modern medicine. Panchakarma is a very effective branch of Ayurveda where detoxification of body is practiced.
Yoga and Ayurveda are joined intricately, since Yoga is the not only preventive but also curative. There are innumerable Yogic centers throughout the world that teach not only Yoga but meditation as well. Yoga and Meditation though people relate it only to Hindu religion is a practice that permeates Indian culture crossing all religious boundaries and the same applies to the rest of the world.
image:4ayurveda.com

Had it not been the quest to find a shorter route to India which was so important for British for its spices and fabrics, Christopher Columbus would have never found America; though it is much debated now who got here first taking the discovery back to Vikings! From earliest mining of Diamonds to innumerable number of inventions, India is a gem in itself which is shining brighter and brighter day by day!
Mark Twain said: India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most structive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.

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