Al-Hadeeqah Holistic Awareness

By IRRI Images With over 40,000 varieties, rice is one of the most abundant, most eaten and recognizable grain in the world. It is grown on every continent except Antarctica and is a staple food in many countries. Rice has a rich history, dating its consumption back to 5000 BC. The most popular type of rice is white rice. This kind of rice starts off as brown rice containing a brown husk and bran upon the kernels. White rice comes about by removing the brown husk and bran then polishing. The bran contains most of the nutrients and removing this decreases the nutritional value; making it mainly comprised of carbohydrates. [ 1 , 2 ] In an attempt to combat this, many companies fortify and enrich the rice with vitamins and minerals to replace what has been lost. This puts it into the category of a highly refined food.  The process it goes through decreases its fiber value which is proven to lead to sugar spikes; making it a problematic food for those with high blood sugar.

Photo Credit: Elisa Azzali No doubt that processed sugar is one of the main culprits of health sabotage. It is one of the first things that many people attempt to cut out when seeking to improve their diets. There is a good reason for it too, as added and processed sugars have been proven time after time as a detrimental aid in disease with no benefits. Naturally many will opt for an alternative. With sugar hiding under so many names and descriptions,  many become confused and even frustrated when looking at ingredient labels. Understanding the body and its Natural Sugars Our body produces natural sugars that it uses as energy called glucose. This is made through the process of breaking down the sugars and starches (carbohydrates) in the food.  Glucose is released into the bloodstream after being absorbed by the stomach and small intestine. Here it will be used as energy with the help of insulin (which is produced by the pancreas) or it will be stored in the liver to be use

Our eyesight is a blessing unlike any other that we easily take for granted. In our daily lives, habits have been developed that are detrimental, from straining our eye muscles to developing diseases that affect their condition. Many do not take action until the problem becomes too unbearable. General Eye Care Our eyes require special care as they are unlike any other part of our bodies. Eye strain is a common complaint and there are many ways to help prevent it. Taking a break from screens, reading in brighter light, increased blinking (to keep the eyes moist) and getting a good nights rest can help keep the eyes relaxed. There are pressure points outside of the eye sockets and on the sides of the nostrils that can aid in relaxing the muscles around the eyes. You can achieve this by placing the tip of your finger underneath the eyebrow bone and allowing the rest of your finger to follow the curvature of the side of your nostrils. Apply constant but gentle pressure for 30 seconds t

Black and Green Cardamom The aromatic "Queen of Spices" native to southern India, is ranked as the most expensive spice after vanilla and saffron. Prized for its inciting flavor, cardamon is a popular ingredient in both curries and spice mixes throughout Southern Asia and the Middle East. Its versatile flavor profile makes it an easy star in both sweet and savory dishes.  This ancient spice has quite a history dating back at least 4,000 years.  Chewing the pods to keep the breath fresh was a practice of the ancient Egyptians whereas the ancient Greeks and Romans once used cardamom as the main ingredient in aromatic oils and perfumes. [ 1 , 2 ] Benefits Being delicious and aromatic is just the tip of the iceberg for cardamom.  We see that chewing the pods for clean breath was an early method of usage; achieved by the antimicrobial properties contained in it. This particular property is very useful as it does not inhibit the life and growth of healthy bacteria (as po

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم For most of us, our morning routine includes the essential habit of brushing our teeth and flossing. It goes beyond the obvious benefit of presentable breath and a brighter smile. A star benefit is preventing the growth of bacteria. It is important to note that the mouth is teeming with harmless bacteria but if one allows harmful bacteria to thrive; it can lead to a domino effect of health issues. [ 1 ] Weak Teeth White and shiny teeth do not just serve cosmetic purposes. Having strong teeth means having the ability to properly chew your food. Well-chewed food means better digestion which leads to increased potential for the absorption of nutrients. When one has teeth that have been affected by cavities, pain and overall discomfort, this affects how well benefits can be received from the foods that are eaten. [ 2] Gum Inflammation and Disease Chronic inflammation of the gums (known as gingivitis) can be caused by injury to the gums and plaque build u