Strawberry, health
Kalyn Health, Weekly photo challenge

STRAWBERRY IS GOOD FOR HEALTH

Strawberry is hybrid species of the ‘genus Fragaria’ grown across the globe. This fruit is cherished for its distinctive aroma, upbeat red color, juicy texture and sweetness. Foods that are preserved like preserves, fruit juice, pies, ice-creams, milkshakes and chocolates are often consumed in large quantities. The fruit was first bred in Brittany, France in 1750s via a cross of Fragaria virginiana from North America and Fragaria chiloensis brought from Chile by Amedee-Francois Frezier in 1714. The wooden strawberry (Fragaria Vesca) is now in commercial production.

Strawberry, health
Strawberry

 

Nutritional facts of strawberries- 

In ancient Roman literature, reference is found for medicinal use of strawberry. People began using it for its made-up medicinal properties and botanists began naming the different species. Wimbledon is associated with serving strawberries as a summer treat which gives unexpected health benefits. The strawberry plant was used for treating depressive illnesses. If one has raw strawberry of serving size 152g, then calories would be 49, total carbohydrate would be 4%, and dietary fiber would be 12%, vitamin C 149%, calcium 2% and iron 3%. Strawberry serves as an effective antioxidant too. It has polyphenol antioxidant in it.

Some health benefits

Strawberries have anti-inflammatory properties. Regular intake of strawberries for 3 times per week show an improvement from unwanted inflammation. Other benefits that one can derive with strawberries are prevention of certain cancer types like oesophageal cancer and cardiovascular benefits. The phytonutrients work together to provide cardiovascular benefits. There is decreased oxidation of fats (lipid peroxidation) in the cell membranes of cells that line the blood vessels; decreased levels of circulating fats, including total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol; and decreased activity of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE). The enzyme’s over activity increases the risk of high blood pressure.  With daily intake of strawberries over 1-3 months of time, there is a substantial change found. Amounts of strawberries in most researches were comparable to 1-2 cups of strawberries per day.

The antioxidants quercetin, kaemferol and anthocyanin help in reducing formation of harmful blood clots associated with strokes. A reduced risk of stroke has been associated with high potassium intakes.

Strawberry also helps in the improvement of inflammatory bowel problems like ulcerative colitis acetylsalicylic acid of aspirin and Crohn’s disease. Strawberries contain very small amount of salicylic acid which is an anti-inflammatory compound that is similar to acetylsalicylic acid of aspirin. The naturally occurring anti-inflammatory substance in strawberries helps in decreasing inflammation of the digestive tract of individuals diagnosed with inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Strawberry is beneficial in inflammation-related arthritis which includes rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation-related disease of the eye, including macular degeneration. The unique combination of anti-inflammatory phytonutrients in strawberries is the key factor for its benefits.

Folate in strawberry helps with depression by averting an excess of homocysteine from forming in the body. Homocysteine thwarts blood and other nutrients from reaching the brain. Feel-good hormones like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine regulate mood, sleep and appetite but with excessive homocysteine, they interfere with the production of the hormones.

Tips and for preparation and cooking of strawberries

Strawberries are perishable and hence they should be washed just before eating or adding in the recipe. Gently wash the strawberries and do not remove the cap. Pat them dry which prevent excess water absorption and degrade strawberries’ texture and flavour. Strawberries should be eaten freshly and not prepared in a cooked recipe as it retains the maximum amount of nutrients and has the maximum taste. Since, nutrients like vitamins, antioxidants and enzymes cannot withstand temperatures 350 degrees F used in baking.

Best ways to eat strawberries– Strawberries are available fresh, frozen, jellies, syrups and jams. Always check the label of frozen and dried strawberries for sugars that are added. One should choose fruit spreads while looking for jellies and jams because they do not have added sweeteners and fillers. Some healthy tips to include strawberry in diet:

  •  Green Salad- one could add strawberries to one’s green salad.
  •  Yoghurt – strawberries could be had with yoghurt and blueberries.
  •  Breakfast shakes- one could also have it one’s breakfast shakes.

Strawberries and cream
By Micolo J from Shrewsbury, England (Strawberries and cream) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

 

How can one forget strawberries and cream,  A Good Match indeed!

So, consume strawberries and be in good health!

Kalyn Technology

SMM Social Media Marketing vs SEM Search Engine Marketing



 
Image courtesy http://technokarak.com
There are a number of ways to get visitors to one’s website. The basic, which individuals and business, almost have to struggle while investing their money and time are in search and social.  One has to understand this for conducting business in the Internet world. One is always in a conflict which is better than the other or only one needs to be pursued and not the other for online marketing.
Some pointers to understand whether social media marketing is better than search engine marketing:
Recommendations from peers on social media– People in the age group of 18-26 use recommendations on social sites in researching a product before buying it which has become an online trend. Social media like Facebook, Twitter or Google+ work on peer recommendations with a like on the page. This will be seen by other connections and will help grow one’s business and get discovered by more people with the approval seal.
Criticism – With search engine results, there are negative things that show up or otherwise nothing is displayed. Reputation online is crucial for business to survive if bad reviews, reports, or other damaging articles show up then it could affect business. The solution to this is whenever one comes across criticism on social media, one need to turn those comments into compliments by reverting to it as soon as possible. This is essential for the current and potential customer to know that one cares about everyone’s satisfaction with one’s business.
Having one’s way with the target audience– With Facebook advertising, StumbleUpon ads, Promoted Tweets and advertising on social media, one could put business content in front of social media audience. This in turn gets visitors on one’s website, Facebook page and visibility for one’s business on social media platform.
Better management of reputation-One can optimize social media marketing with the help of search engine results too with reputation management. If one is concerned about their online presence then social media is the way.  Social profiles that normally rank well for businesses include Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn. If the only online content created by one appears on the first page when someone searches for the brand name, then one is well on their way to creating a great first impression. This prevents negative results and creates stronger brand presence.
One has seen how social media marketing is better than search engine marketing. Now let’s see how search engine marketing can help social media marketing:
  
Optimization strategies –   Utilization of keyword is essential for social media. Many people search for particular keywords on social media; one could use different tools to do this. This will help update one’s status updates and bio information for search in social media.
Improve one’s on-site presence: Social media profiles have customizable tools that are profile name, description, image which can be tweaked for better search optimization. This will help for better branding and keyword placement for digital marketing.
Finally, to conclude the search and social media have to be in juxtaposition as search is not getting replaced by social but is supplemented by it.  In contemporary times, it is essential to set up one’s social media presence so one needs to plan one’s strategies for effective business presence online for a longer time. It does not matter whether the visitor to the site comes via social media presence or via site search results and then goes back to social media reviews but having a presence on search and social is unavoidable.
Kalyn Literature

Review – ‘Almost Single’ by Advaita Kala


The book I have recently read is ‘Almost Single’ by Advaita Kala. I found this book at my friend’s place and I borrowed it from her. The book is incredibly engaging.  I did not wish to put down the book for anything else. I loved her writing, comprehension and flow, for simple and positive reading. It broadly falls under ‘Popular Literature’ genre if one has done English Literature which also includes renowned author Chetan Bhagat. This novel also can be categorised as chick lit as it addresses issues of modern womanhood in a humorous way. ‘Chick’ is coined from the American slang for a young woman and ‘lit’ for literature. Some of the famous books like ‘Bridget Jones’ and ‘Sex and the City’ made chick lit an important trend in publishing. Both these books have been made into movies which were equally successful. In Chic lit novels, woman incorporate instances of stereotypical behaviour.The protagonist in this genre may have traditional beliefs about marriage or family from their culture that may not be the circumstance in present society of the same ethnic group. Chick Lit is gaining importance in India as it presents questions in relation to issues these women must deal with race, state and political economy.
When one is 20+, independent, a little more responsible and a little mischievous, then 20+ becomes adventurous.  Particularly if you’re one girl of 20+ and shortly be reaching thirty! Then folks that you’re acquainted with do not fail to suggest the approaching age of thirty to you. Relatives can have proposals in mind for you. This can be Indian society we tend to sustain who comprise of married housewives and discoveries you make of your own. The novel is straightforward to relate to if you’re in this age group.
The book ‘Almost Single’ by Advaita Kala focuses on the negative impact of being single ladies nearing her 30s. This novel introduces a sensible young lady who is checking out her independence and matrimony in society that is ancient. The girl is Aisha Bhatia, a guest relations manager at New Delhi’s five-star Grand Orchid Hotel. In her life she has smart friends and superior travel accommodations however still her mother isn’t happy and reminds her that she is nonetheless single at twenty nine. Aisha is additionally tuned in to her biological clock ticking away however it is drowned by laughter over a champagne brunch.

The novel revolves around three friends: Aisha, Misha and Anushka who are in their late 20s. The protagonist, Aisha Bhatia is aware of the intricacies of being in hospitality business that is written in great detail. She talks concerning her boss as being an enormous bonus who is good for nothing and a philanderer. Then as the story progresses, the issues that a young girl can shortly cross the golden age of thirty and is nonetheless ‘single’, the trauma that she has got to bear all this. Simultaneously, the protagonist loves being single because she doesn’t have responsibilities, no one to prevent her from having cigarettes and being drunk.  A guy comes on known as Karan Verma who is handsome and has arrived from the big apple. This guy becomes part of her daily routine. The agitation due to every kind of miscommunications, indecisiveness, girly stuff (her sari tears of when she is to pick up  the guy’s mother from aerodrome and gets stuck with it in a Mercedes, therefore all in vain), etc. She meets her guy in embarrassing circumstances and gossips concerning him with her friends. Together with her encounters with him, once she thinks she has lost him that’s the time he has been hooked by her. The novel is compared to Bridget Jones who wears a saree according to ‘Independent’ (UK) review.

What makes this novel attention-grabbing is that the author has value-added tongue-in-cheek moments in it to form it additionally engaging and one among a sort. The episode concerning the sweet girlfriend of the 3 friends of the story, turned malicious by a untidy divorce and gaining tiny girly victories by silly things like paper-rolling his car, causes you to relate to her and to present a pat on the rear and kid her antics!
The hilarious moments concerning the dating experiences, of the other girlfriend who completes the trio, makes you smile quite against your will. My heart mechanically goes ‘awwww’ as she meets up with a guy from her past on the insistence of her folks, who  she remembers being a loser however he seems to be a prince and returns from the charms of metropolis to her village in Punjab to meet the parents.
The book has added value with urban flavour of gay characters as friends that are stunning and make you envious.
Then there’s the protagonist’s mother who is an ill-natured one and doesn’t appear to grasp, why her girl cannot be happily married just like the alternative cousins within the family, who are younger than her and are due to have their 1st kid. She perpetually is at the butt of jokes at kitty parties on whether or not her girl would ever marry.
‘Almost single’ has multi-cultural components within the novel. You’ll be able to notice star divination to Hindu festivals that adds color to the book that makes it pleasurable.  People who have grown up in Indian culture will love it in the novel as for others who are new to Indian culture they will discover new awareness within the novel.
Overall, I find it an average book to read while travelling on a long journey!