Papaya flesh, seeds and leaves can work wonders for your health

Papaya also known as Pawpaw is one fruit that has numerous medicinal values. It is a whole fruit as it is loaded with most nutrients required in one’s balanced diet.

The nutritional value of papaya per 100grams are:

Energy- 163 kJ

Sugars- 5.90 gram

Calories- 39 kcal

Dietary fiber- 1.8 gram

Fat- 0.14 gram

Carbohydrates- 9.81 gram

Vitamin A- 328 micrograms (41%)

Vitamin B1- 0.04 milligram (3%)

Vitamin B2- 0.05 milligram (4%)

Vitamin B3- 0.338 milligram (2%)

Vitamin B6- 0.1 milligram (8%)

Vitamin B9- 38 milligram (10%)

Vitamin C- 61.8 milligram (74%)

Protein- 0.61 gram

Iron- 0.10 milligram (1%)

Calcium- 24 milligram (2%)

Phosphorus- 5 milligram (1%)

Potassium- 257 milligram (5%)

Magnesium- 10 milligram (3%)

Sodium-3 milligram

Health Benefits of Papaya: 
*It contains enzymes that help prevent oxidization of cholesterol which helps to prevent heart attacks and because it is rich in fiber it helps to lower blood cholesterol levels.

*It is good for the skin as it helps to get rid of acne and skin infections and wounds that don’t heal quickly. It also helps to open clogged pores.

*The digestive enzyme in papaya (papain) help in natural digestion thus helps to prevent constipation and aid food digestion.

*The antioxidants in papaya help to control premature aging.

*It is said that papaya seeds can cure intestinal problems including intestinal worms and parasites.

*The juice in papaya helps in curing infections and helps get rid of pus and mucus from the colon.

*Pregnant ladies who eat regular but small slices of papaya have lower chances of suffering from nausea and morning sickness.

*Papaya helps to ease menstrual cramps and helps promote regular flow of menstruation. It may also help in controlling menstrual irregularities.

*Since papaya is rich in Vitamin A and C it is known to boost immunity.

*Papaya contains anti-inflammatory enzymes that help in relieving pain making it ideal for those suffering from Osteoporosis, arthritis and edema.

*Shampoos that contain papaya products help to control dandruff.

*Papaya is high in nutritional value and low in calories making it a great food choice for those who want to lose some weight.

*Papaya contains anti-proliferative effects on the liver cancer cells hence it slows down the growth of cancer cells of liver and helps in its cure.

Taylor Swift, Timberlake win at American Music Awards

Pop diva Taylor Swift was named Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards (AMA), while other big winners included British boy band One Direction and crooner Justin Timberlake.

Swift, who on Sunday took to the stage in a shiny golden mini-dress, also won favorite country artist and favorite country album for “Red” at the AMAs, which are voted on by the public.

Other highlights included typically idiosyncratic performances by Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus, who wrapped up the three-hour show by singing her hit “Wrecking Ball” with a giant crying kitten.

Katy Perry opened the show on a Japanese theme, emerging demurely from behind a geisha-girl flanked screen in a kimono before launching into her latest hit “Unconditionally.”

Timberlake was the first winner of the show, aired live from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles and hosted by Latino rapper Pitbull, taking favorite pop/rock male prize.

He also won best R&B/Soul album and best male R&B/Soul artist.

One Direction, who sang a stripped down version of their song “Story of My Life,” ended the evening with favorite pop/rock group and favorite pop/rock album for “Take Me Home.”

Rihanna took best female R&B/Soul artist, and was also presented with an AMA Icon award by her mother, who she joked used to say she had “an annoying, husky, little man voice.”

The evening took a brief political turn when best rap/hip-hop album went to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis — who used a satellite link speech from Miami to refer to the notorious killing of black Florida teen Trayvon Martin.

“Due to the fact that we are in Florida . . . I want to acknowledge Trayvon Martin and the hundreds and hundreds of kids each year that are dying due to racial profiling and the violence that follows it,” said Macklemore.

But it was left to Cyrus — closely watched ever since her twerking turn at the MTV Video Music Awards — to end the show in suitably twitter-storming style, in a cat-covered bikini and with a giant orange and white kitten singing along behind her.

RED CARPET MOMENT'S AT THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS 2013

Jennifer Lopez dazzled in a Zuhair Murad Couture dress from The Fall 2013 collection. 

Rihanna rocked a sexy two-piece from Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring 2013 Couture collection.

Jennifer Hudson looked ravishing in a short-sleeved, orange Christian Dior gown with a asymmetrical, high-low hemline.

 Nicole Richie rocked a white, cut-out Emilio Pucci gown that showed off her perfectly toned physique beautifully while Christina Aguilera flaunted her figure in a white Maria Lucia Hohan long-sleeve, plunging gown with side peekaboo cutouts and a thigh-high slit for added sultry appeal.

Taylor Swift donned the Midas touch in a Julien Macdonald Fall 2013 mini-dress. 

Emma Roberts marched to the beat of her own drum in a shimmering Lanvin sack gown while Zoe Saldana rocked a one-shoulder gown from the Roland Mouret Spring 2014 collection.

 Katy Perry swept onto the red carpet in a dotted Oscar de la Renta Spring 2014 sheer tulle gown, speckled with an array of colourful, embroidered flowers.

Miley Cyrus rocked a Versus Versace white pantsuit for her more androgynous arrival while Ciara wore a graphic, peek-a-boo gown from the J. Mendel Spring 2014 collection

Below was the grand appearance of Mother Monster

 Lady Gaga, Mother Monster made another dramatic, head-turning entrance in a Versace gown. The lavender cutout gown, accented with an armor-like harness of chains and charms, even appears to a manipulated version of the one she’s donning in the Italian fashion house’s ad, as she arrived on the red carpet sitting atop a white human horse, activated by two people underneath. 

E-cigarettes could save millions of smokers’ lives

Switching to e-cigarettes could save millions of smokers’ lives, a conference on the rapidly expanding use of the devices heard Tuesday, though some delegates warned more research on the health effects is needed.

The merits of e-cigarettes were thrashed out at a one-day gathering of scientists, experts, policymakers and industry figures at the Royal Society in London.

The use of electronic cigarettes — pen-sized battery-powered devices that simulate smoking by heating and vaporising a liquid solution containing nicotine — has grown rapidly.

Sales have doubled annually for the last four years and there are an estimated seven million users across Europe.

Many delegates merrily “vaped” away throughout the conference sessions, including one man with a luxuriant moustache puffing away on an e-pipe.

“Cigarettes are killing 5.4 million people per year in the world,” said Robert West, a health psychology professor and the director of tobacco studies at Cancer Research UK.

He said switching to e-cigarettes could save millions of lives, but the debate was about “whether that goal can be realised and how best to do it”.

The professor said almost a third of attempts to quit smoking involved e-cigarettes.

Doctor Jacques Le Houezec, a consultant in public health and tobacco dependence from France, told delegates that while e-cigarettes contained some harmful substances, the levels of toxicants were nine to 450 times lower than in cigarette smoke.

He said the exponential growth of e-cigarettes was being led by smokers, not scientists.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the Action on Smoking and Heath (ASH) pressure group, said e-cigarettes could be a leap forward for public health but warned that not enough was known about their effects — and pointed out that the tobacco companies are snapping up the e-cigarette manufacturers.

“ASH thinks that e-cigarettes have significant potential. They are a lot less harmful than smoking. Clearly smokers find them attractive, primarily as a way of quitting and moving away from smoking, which they know will kill them,” she told AFP.

“But at the moment I think the jury’s out and these products need regulating because there’s a real concern that their safety and effectiveness is not guaranteed without regulation.

“The tobacco companies are moving in. For them it’s potentially a ‘Kodak moment’ because if everyone moved to e-cigarettes, they’d lose their market so they’ve got to be in there. A lot of the bigger e-cigarette companies have already been bought up.”

She warned: “If there are carcinogens in there, you won’t see an immediate effect but 10, 15, 20 years down the line, people will be dying from that.

“The development of e-cigarettes is definitely running ahead of the science.”

The hidden effects of chewing miraa

As a section of the Kenyan population take up spiked drinks such as Yokozuna, to a tragic end, others are seeking a less potent kind of high, khat – more commonly known as Miraa.

For several years now the number of cars with loud music and tinted windows that are parked at select petrol stations in the country is growing, to the point that visitors to mini-shops at the station have no parking space.

Often with sleek rims, the cars’ occupants pose as they chew miraa stems in cocktail of either Big G (yes it still exists) or peanuts.

The revelers rarely take the khat with alcohol, as the latter is prohibited in the gas stations.

According to Wikipedia, Miraa contains the alkaloid called cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant which is said to cause excitement, loss of appetite, and euphoria. In 1980, the World Health Organization classified khat as a drug of abuse that can produce mild to moderate psychological dependence, albeit less than tobacco or alcohol.

Though popular in certain areas of the country, Kenya has Somalia to thank for the vast profits being raked in by the multi-million shilling cut-throat trade – the chief export of Meru County.

According to research, chewing miraa is the most prevalent form of drug abuse in Somalia.

Various medical reports have indicated that chewing Miraa leads to increased energy levels, alertness, confidence and mood elevation.

However, prolonged use has several side effects, such as insomnia, a condition that the users sometimes try to overcome with sedatives or alcohol.

A survey conducted by DARS and Synovate in Hargeisa in June found that the youth there are aware of the adverse effects of consuming the drug.

59 percent of those surveyed said chewing miraa leads to family problems while 58 percent felt it hinders personal development.

Consumers often divert income to purchase Miraa, neglecting their families in the process.

The withdrawal symptoms include lethargy, mild depression, slight trembling and recurrent bad dreams.

The study further says that, continued use may endanger health in that the resulting anorexia leads to malnutrition and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases.

The same story could be said for Kenya, if young people are not made aware of these side effects.

The miraa high takes hours to achieve and users stay with the buzz for several hours, making it extremely popular. Parents neglect cautioning their children about it because it seems like a lesser evil than tobacco or alcohol. However, reversing the side effects of the drug are much more taxing.