sunflower seeds

Nutrients in Sunflower

Seeds Sunflower seeds are packed with vitamins, including vitamin B1 and B5, vitamin E and folate.

They also provide a healthy dose of copper, magnesium, selenium and phosphorous–important minerals. Just a quarter of a cup–four tablespoons–of seeds holds half the daily requirement or more of these important nutrients.

The fats present in sunflower seeds are also good quality, heart healthy fats that can help increase “good” cholesterol and protect the heart and cardiovascular system. Of these nutrients, vitamin E in particular is a powerful antioxidant, helping preserve cardiovascular health.

Sunflower seeds are quite high in vitamin E, with ninety percent of the recommended daily allowance of this vitamin in a quarter cup. Also helpful to cardiovascular health and cholesterol maintenance are lignans, arginine and phenolic acids. While these substances are less well-known to most people, studies increasingly show benefits from increasing their intake.

Other substances found in sunflower seeds include tryptophan and choline. Also found in pumpkin seeds, tryptophan can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

Choline appears to help increase brain function, particularly helping to improve memory. With this wide combination of phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals, sunflower seeds are a surprisingly nutrient dense food.

Adding Sunflower Seeds to the Diet With their mild, nutty flavor, sunflower seeds can enhance a wide range of foods, making it easy to add them to the everyday diet. Some quick and easy ways to add sunflower seeds to a daily nutritional regimen include: Add to breads or muffins for a nutty, crunchy flavor

Sprinkle on salads at lunch time Add to yogurt for a breakfast treat Of course, sunflower seeds are also easy to eat straight out of the package.

Remember, though, that even sunflower seeds can provide too much of a good thing, so be careful not to overindulge. About a quarter of a cup per day of these tasty seeds is plenty to provide the wide nutritional benefits. Try a tablespoon at breakfast or lunch, sprinkled on salad or yogurt, plus a tablespoon or two for an afternoon snack. Another precaution to be aware of is to avoid flavored or salted sunflower seeds. Most sunflower seeds in the grocery store have been heavily salted. Dieters who are watching sodium intake due to high blood pressure or other issues should be aware of this.

Flavored seeds are fun in small quantities, but again the sodium levels can be quite high. While some people are used to salty snacks, they aren’t as healthy as unsalted varieties. Those used to raw seeds and nuts will find the salt levels in many sunflower seed brands to be quite unpleasant. Look for unsalted seeds or even raw seeds for the best health benefits.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/the-health-benefits-of-sunflower-seeds/

But..... Don't Drink and Drive

But..... Don't Drink and Drive

Myanmar: Victims of Recent Clashes Must Have Access to Health Care

Myanmar: Victims of Recent Clashes Must Have Access to Health Care YANGON, MYANMAR, June 18, 2012—Continuing violence and deep communal divisions in Rakhine State, Myanmar, are preventing people from receiving emergency medical treatment, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said today. MSF was forced to suspend most of its medical activities in Rakhine State when violence erupted on June 9, putting the organization’s clinics and staff in danger. “MSF is extremely worried that victims of the clashes are not receiving emergency care, and about the ongoing healthcare needs of our patients,” said Joe Belliveau, MSF operations manager. “Our immediate concerns are to provide emergency medical services, get food and supplies to people, and ensure our HIV patients continue receiving their lifesaving treatment.” In their effort to find a safe haven, people from Rakhine are trying to flee the violence for southern Bangladesh but are reportedly being denied access to the country. MSF provides medical services in Bangladesh, and is ready to treat anyone in need of assistance, regardless of origin. “People seeking refuge and who are in need of food, water, and medical care should be allowed to cross the border,” continued Belliveau. “In both Myanmar and Bangladesh, MSF is trying to reach those affected by the violence, but they should also be allowed to reach us.” In Rakhine, MSF has been providing medical services for 20 years, focusing on maternal health and infectious diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, HIV/AIDS, and TB. In 2011, MSF conducted more than 487,000 medical consultations. More than 600 people receive anti-retroviral treatment (ART) for HIV/AIDS. In addition to meeting immediate emergency needs, the resumption of MSF’s regular medical programs is critical for the longer-term health and well-being of people from all communities throughout the state. In all of its activities worldwide, MSF’s sole aim is to ensure that the most vulnerable people—regardless of ethnicity, origin or religion—receive the medical humanitarian assistance they require. MSF’s medical program in Myanmar is one of its largest anywhere in the world. MSF is the country’s main AIDS treatment provider and has been at the forefront of the fight against malaria. http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/press/release.cfm?id=6080&cat=press-release

What Is a Surgical Knife?

What Is a Surgical Knife?

A surgical knife, also called a scalpel, is a small bladed instrument used to make incisions during medical or scientific procedures such as surgeries, biopsies, and dissections. Variations of such knives are also used by craftsmen and artists because they are highly effective for precision cuts on or through many different surfaces. The blade of a surgical knife must be incredibly sharp because such knives need to slice through skin and other tissues with a high degree of precision. Surgical knives are usually made of high-quality tempered steel, though more expensive, higher-quality materials are also used on occasion. Just as there are many different uses for the surgical knife, there are many different kinds of surgical knives. Many have reusable handles and replaceable blades so that one does not need to replace the whole knife when the blade gets dull. There are also many different designs for the blade of a surgical knife. The most common surgical knives, standard scalpels, have one curved cutting surface that is good for cutting through skin and muscle. Other surgical knives may have double-edged blades, chisel-shaped blades, triangular blades, or many other different kinds of blades based on the specific task for which they are needed. When a surgical knife is actually used for surgery, sterility is a significant concern. In general, a single blade on any bladed instrument used in surgery will only be used once before it is recycled and sterilized. This is true even if the blade is only used for a single, tiny incision. If a blade that is not sterile is used, there is a considerable risk of infection to the individual being cut by the knife. Sterile knives are an essential part of safe and effective surgery. Sometimes, steel surgical knives are unsuitable for surgery. For example, when surgery is is being performed based on an MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging system, the magnets in the MRI would magnetically attract the blade, making surgery difficult or impossible. For this reason, blades made out of nonmagnetic substances are sometimes used in surgery. Alternatively, surgeries can sometimes be conducted through the use of alternate techniques such as electrocautery or laser incision. There are generally two main ways in which a surgeon holds a surgical knife. The palamar grip, which is similar to the way one holds a dinner knife, is effective for long, large cuts. The pencil grip, which is similar to the way most people hold writing instruments, is more effective for small, precise incisions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Surgical knives are usually made of high-quality tempered steel, though more expensive, higher-quality materials are also used on occasion. Just as there are many different uses for the surgical knife, there are many different kinds of surgical knives. Many have reusable handles and replaceable blades so that one does not need to replace the whole knife when the blade gets dull. Unlike metals such as silver, surgical steel will rarely interact with a piercing, reducing the risk of infection, inflammation, and poor healing outcomes. Surgical steel body jewelry is often inserted at the time of piercing to promote healthy healing, and surgical steel is the metal of choice for implants used in body modification, thanks to its low reactivity. In all, there are 67 different types of scalpel blades and 27 different types of handles, although not all of these types are for medical purposes. In general, surgical scalpels are individually designed for specific types of surgery # Disposable surgical scalpels usually are single-piece, often come with plastic handles and have retractable blades, much like a utility knife. The entire scalpel is thrown away after just one use. Surgical blades and handles alike are commonly identified by a number. Some handles are designed to fit a specific hand hold. # If this procedure is done in a sterile and closed environment, the skin would first be sterilized, and the skin would then be anesthetized. The incision would be performed using a surgical blade, clamps would hold the airway open, a tracheotomy tube would be inserted, and the patient would be ventilated with a bag valve unit. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-surgical-knife.htm