What You Don't Know About Chicken Soup

It’s exciting  to know that the yuletide is around the corner, and it is more interesting to feel the frills and the grills that come with the season, such as the different chicken dishes and rice variants.

Aside the delicious delicacies of assorted chicken, as Xmas season is aka ‘chicken chopping time’, studies have shown that chicken soup can actually ease your cold, thus offering double benefits.

Experts have established it that chicken soup can have anti-inflammatory affects, which can ease the symptoms of colds. In fact, further studies have found that the aroma, spices and heat from the soup can clear sinuses and decrease congestion. I guess with this eye-opening information, you will be warming up by now to devour more chicken than ever. (Smiles).

 Embarking on an investigative mission to verify the myth traceable to the recommendation of the Egyptian Jewish physician and philosopher, Moshe ben Maimon, who first prescribed chicken soup for cold symptoms in his 12th century writings, a  researcher from University of Nebraska , put his 'grandma's soup' recipe to the test.

According to the findings published on Daily Mail online, Dr Stephen Rennard studied three batches of what he calls Grandma's Soup, which includes chicken, onions, sweet potatoes, parsnips, turnips, carrots, celery stems, parsley, salt and pepper.

He was said to have examined if the movement of neutrophils, the most common white cell in the blood that defends the body against infection, would be blocked or reduced by chicken soup.

It is suspected that reducing the movement of neutrophils could decrease activity in the upper respiratory tract that causes cold-like symptoms.

And the results found just that, suggesting that chicken soup might have an anti-inflammatory component, which may ease symptoms and shorten upper respiratory tract infections.

The researcher however noted that the study wasn't done on humans, but instead their white blood cells. This is due to the release of fluids from a runny nose or feverish sweat that causes dehydration.

It was further suggested that, the chicken alone might not be responsible for the result, but that the aromatic natural spices may play great role in the process. So when you're sick, your body needs to replace those lost fluids and a brothy soup can do just that, Dr van Diepen stated.

 Just as it has been observed that most soups include ingredients high in nutrients. Grandma's Soup contains more than five vegetables high in fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants.

Now that this is revealed to you, I hope you will do yourself and loved ones a great deal of favour by stuffing your kitchen with enough natural chicken soup spices for the season!

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How To Identify Fake Eggs In Circulation (VIDEO)

Recently, indications emerged that there were plastic/ fake eggs in circulation, although the Federal Ministry of Health is yet to make an official statement on the development.

However, a man with keen interest on the issue has demonstrated on Youtube, steps to identify these fake eggs from real ones.Click the video below to watch it.



TopsyOba would love stakeholders to investigate more on the matter.

#FakeEggs
#PlasticEggs

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Amazing Five Top Benefits of Pineapple Juice

Aside the tantalising sight and taste of the yellowish-fleshed fruit popularly consumed as a major fruit and a base for smoothies and cocktails, pineapple juice has been validated as a natural anticancer, immune booster, skin repairing agents, and so on.

Known as a solid power house for vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, pineapple has long been used as an ancient home remedy for digestive issues and inflammation. It has also been studied for its potential benefits to the immune system and ability to reduce healing time.

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The More Peanuts You Eat, The Better For Your Heart

They are usually regarded just like any other snacks around us, but studies have revealed that peanuts are super-power-houses, with potent natural chemicals that can suppress levels of harmful blood fat, which causes heart attacks and strokes. 

Botanically called Arachis hypogaea, groundnut is locally knowns as Gyada in Hausa, the Igbos called it Ahuekere, while the Yorubas refer to it as Epa.

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Real Reasons You Should Eat Your Fruits and Veggies with the Skin- Nutritionist

It is paradoxical to always embark on peeling of fruit or vegetable skin on health grounds, while experts have condemned the act, saying the skin of most vegetables possess the healthiest part of the produce.

Aside the herculean task of peeling, which consume one’s precious time, it was also found that peeling of fruits leaves the plant based food with lesser than half of the phyto substances, after the most-valued healthy components must have been lost through peeling.

In a Daily Mail Online chat with a certified nutritionist and registered dietician Mary Jane Detroyer, based in New York, about why we shouldn't be peeling our vegetables and all the hidden benefits found in the skins, she disclosed that there are several reasons to be leaving the skin on, and the main reason is what you deprive your body of when you peel it off.

Detroyer who submitted that the  rind of produce like potatoes, carrots, and cucumbers all have plenty of health benefits, noted that the  skin has a lot of fiber and it's insoluble fiber, especially when the skin is colourful.

Citing cucumbers as typical example of fruits that must be eaten with the skin, she said the dark green skin contains the majority of its antioxidants, as well as most of its vitamin K.

Does this action portray you?

And the skin of a potato packs more nutrients - iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C - ounce-for-ounce than the rest of the potato.

The registered nutritionist further named potato as a good veggie but must be consumed with the skin for ultimate benefits to be derived. “People, when they make mashed potatoes, often feel they have to peel the skin off. But they can just boil the skin and mix it right into the rest of the mashed potatoes”, Detroyer said.

Explaining that the skin of vegetables contains antioxidants that fight against free radicals, she described free radicals as groups of atoms that can cause damage to the body when produced in excess, such as heart disease.

While stating that Vitamins C and E are found in many vegetables, she advised everyone to endeavour to cultivate the habit of eating their fruits- pawpaw, mango, guava, carrot, watermelon; beetroot, and others with the rind, to enhance maximum protection of the body against the destructive effects of free radicals by neutralizing them.

Are you convinced beyond any doubt on this now?

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Nigerians Celebrate World Egg Day Amidst Scarcity of Eggs

Every second Friday of October of each year is dedicated to the celebration of World Egg Day as it had been established at the IEC Vienna 1996 conference. And the campaign on the consumption of eggs is on –going all over the world, owing to the loads of health benefits it wields. Experts on nutrition have validated it  benefits for heart health, pregnant mums, breast feeding mums, kids and adults in general.

As essential as this is, it is important to note that only very few homes can afford  eggs now, more importantly, when  a crate now goes  for  N1100, compare to N600 or N700 as it was been sold earlier this year.

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2015 Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security, Recognises Women Roles As Key

•  Year of Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063        
• Women Contribute Over 60% of Farm Labour- Research

As the Day for Food and Nutrition Security is commemorated across African countries today, women have been identified as great contributors to food security in Nigeria. Given the 2015 theme as “Year of Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063, the ADFNS seeks to beam a searchlight on women activities in Africa, recognizing them as key players in food and nutrition security in Africa.

It is widely recognised that women play a central role in food and nutrition security. Research evidence estimates that women in Africa contribute to over 60 percent of farm labour. At the household level, an overwhelming majority of women prepare the food consumed, in addition to other household chores.  

 Hence, women are key to ending hunger and malnutrition as they form the backbone of smallholder agriculture in their various roles as producers, processors, and traders, among others.

So are you an entrepreneurial lady, career woman, mother, wife, and sister,  please don’t relent in your efforts in ridding our nation of poverty and hunger through your contribution to our national food and nutrition security.

The Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) was declared in July 2010, in Kampala, Uganda, at the 15th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit, which also endorsed its commemoration annually on the 30th October.

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Super Foods Likely To Hurt Your System

 In case you have been experiencing frequent stomach ache recently, findings have revealed your favourite food could be the cause of such pains among other causes.Read below to check the list of food likely to hurt your belly.

Large Meals

Perhaps due to a busy environment, some people prefer to starve themselves and eat heavily later, even to the detriment of their comfort. However, nutritionists have canvassed the essence of eating moderately.

Leftovers

In a bid to save money and resources, some deliberately go after leftovers, even when they were not properly preserved. However, experts have remarked that leftovers are potential digestive pain triggers, which expose the human body to harmful bacteria that multiply when food isn't properly stored. Save yourself the pain and discomfort of food poisoning: If you're not sure how long it's been sitting out, toss it.

Beans & Other Musical Fruits

There's a short list of foods that are known to trigger gas and bloating for many people: beans, cabbage, onions, apricots, prunes, bananas and wheat germ. Identifying which of these foods is linked to your stomach ache, will assist you  in avoiding it.

Your Favorite Foods

You might be taken aback to discover that it is that food you love eating frequently that might be responsible for your belly ache.

Consequently, to determine which specific food is causing you digestive distress is to keep a daily food journal and work with a doctor or allergist to design an elimination diet to pinpoint the culprits. And once you have a list of what to avoid, closely examine all food labels for the suspects.

Hope you can figure out the cause of your frequent stomach ache now?

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