Health Tips

10 Simple Health Tips

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Mon, 5 May 2014 22:26:00 +0500

Sip Oolong Tea

Research suggests that people with mild eczema who drink oolong tea three times a day may show improvement in itching and other symptoms. Compounds in the tea called polyphenols appear to be responsible.

Go Herbal

For varicose veins, try horse chestnut, an herbal extract that's been shown in studies to strengthen veins and reduce swelling. The herb is also available in topical creams, though there's not as much evidence for these.

Rub Your Temples

Tame tension headaches by rubbing peppermint oil, Tiger Balm, or white flower oil into your temples. All three remedies contain menthol, which has analgesic properties.

Enjoy Ginger

The volatile oils in ginger have long made it a useful herbal remedy for nasal and chest congestion. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over a 1-inch piece of peeled, grated ginger; steep for 10 minutes; and strain. Add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper to the water and drink as needed.

Get a Good Pair of Sneakers

Is your energy lagging? Though it may be the last thing you feel like doing when you're tired, exercise -- even a brisk walk -- can be more effective than a nap or cup of coffee at fighting fatigue.

Sniff Rosemary

According to some research, catching a whiff of this aromatic herb may increase alertness and improve memory. To stay sharp, try smelling fresh rosemary or inhaling the scent of rosemary essential oil before a test or meeting.

Embrace Bitters

Combat a yen for sugar by following a Chinese medicine approach: Eat foods such as endive, radicchio, cooked greens, and olives.

Go Fish

If you suffer from dry eyes, up your seafood intake. Salmon, sardines, and mackerel contain omega-3 fatty acids, which the body uses to produce tears, among other things. Research suggests that people who consume higher amounts of these fats are less likely to have dry eyes.

Pop a Probiotic

To keep yeast infections at bay, head for the vitamin aisle. Supplementing with "good" bacteria (for example, Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium) may help restore the balance the of bacteria living in the female genital tract and inhibit the growth of yeast in women with recurrent infections. Foods such as naturally fermented sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir, as well as yogurt with active cultures, also contain these bacteria.

Benefit From Bilberry

Studies are mixed, but some have found that bilberry, a relative of the blueberry, may improve night vision. During World War II, fighter pilots reported better night vision after eating bilberry jam. Take 25 to 50 milligrams of bilberry extract; expect best results within the first few hours.

Quick Tips to Improve Self Confidence

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:02:00 +0500

Here are some quick tips to improve your Self Confidence. If we are committed to have a healthy self confidence there are many things you can do every day to boost your self confidence, each small steps that will help you to reach your goal. The good news is that self-esteem is not fixed and can be improved, try some of the steps below to boost your confidence and self-esteem.

1) Identify your successes. Everyone is good at something, so discover the things at which you excel, then focus on your talents. Give yourself permission to take pride in them. Give yourself credit for your successes. Inferiority is a state of mind in which you've declared yourself a victim. Do not allow yourself to be victimized.

2) Look in the mirror and smile. Studies surrounding what's called the "facial feedback theory" suggest that the expressions on your face can actually encourage your brain to register certain emotions. So by looking in the mirror and smiling every day, you might feel happier with yourself and more confident in the long run.

3) Exercise and eat healthy. Exercise raises adrenaline and makes one feel happier and healthier. It is certainly an easy and effective way to boost your self-confidence.

4) Turn feelings of envy or jealousy into a desire to achieve. Stop wanting what others have just because they have it; seek things simply because you want them, whether anybody else has them or not.

{mosgoogle left}5) When you're feeling superbly insecure, write down a list of things that are good about you. Then read the list back. You'd be surprised at what you can come up with.

6) Don't be afraid to push yourself a bit - a little bit of pressure can actually show just how good you are!

7) You can try taking a martial arts or fitness class/course (or both). This will help build confidence and strength.

8) Invest in some new clothing and donate some of your old clothing to send a message to yourself that you both look sharp and feel sharp.

9) Try to make yourself talk positively at all times. When you hear yourself saying you can't do something, stop and say you can. Unless you try, you will never know whether you are able to or not.

10) Don't get wrapped up in your mistakes and dwell on bad points; they can contrast your good points or even give you something to improve. There's no feeling like being good at something you were really bad at.

11) Don't confuse what you have with who you are. People degrade their self worth when comparing possessions.

12) Surround yourself with nurturing friends, not overly critical individuals who make you feel inadequate or insecure. This could do great harm and damage to your self confidence.

How to make Exercise more Fun!

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:31:00 +0500

Deep down all of us know the various advantages of exercise from weight loss to their role in preventing chronic diseases. However, when it actually comes down to getting up and exercising, most of us fall short.

Following are 6 ways to make exercising more fun! They will ensure that you not only start exercising but also learn to enjoy it.

1) Opt for an exercise you enjoy: Exercise does not mean simply hitting the gym and doing cardio and weights. If running on treadmills gets you going, then that’s great. However, there are definitely many other options out there. If you’re a water baby, then take up swimming. If you love dancing, then join a dance class. The most important reason to choose an activity you love is the simple fact that you are much more likely to stick to it for longer.

2) Find an exercise buddy: Having a companion with you makes every activity more enjoyable. Hence, find a friend to exercise with. The important thing to remember here is not to pick just anyone otherwise instead of motivating you, they’ll draw you back. Pick someone who is active, energetic and fun to be around. This way, you’ll look forward to meeting your friend and will actually want to exercise.

3) Add variety: The reason most people put off exercising is not because they don’t have the time and energy, but because they lack the motivation. Avoid doing the exact same exercise every day. Variety is the spice of life so mix it up. Instead of swimming at your gym’s pool every day, go and visit an outdoor one on a nice day. Switch from running to dancing or Pilates. As soon as you feel like you’re getting bored with your exercise routine, change it.

4) Go shopping: This may sound silly but it has proven to be quite effective. If you go shopping for exercise gear that you love, you’ll be eager to try it out. Apart from the superficial aspect, it is also very important from a healthy and safety perspective. It is essential to invest in a pair of good running shoes to prevent any injuries. So go out there and start shopping!

5) Get a good trainer: Most people are of the viewpoint that only serious athletes need a coach. This in untrue. A good trainer can go a long way in helping you exercise. First and foremost, they motivate you by listing all the benefits that a particular type of exercise entails. You are also more likely not to skip your workout if you know that your trainer is expecting you. Moreover, they also show you the correct way to perform a certain exercise, thus giving you better results and preventing injury.

6) Commitment: Last but not the least; make exercise a commitment that you have to keep. Fit it into your everyday routine in such a way that it becomes as necessary as eating or sleeping. Don’t make excuses and concentrate on the various benefits that exercise brings you. Set small goals that you wish to achieve and treat yourself every time you attain them. For example, if you manage to hit the gym every day for a month, go out a buy a pair of nice track pants or a cute workout shirt.

Preventing and Fixing Bad Breath (Halitosis)

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Mon, 3 Sep 2012 22:13:00 +0500

Many people have bad breath without even realizing it. This can cripple your likelihood of enjoying a healthy social life, finding a significant other, and even advancement in your career. Halitosis or bad breath is mostly a result of poor hygiene and is completely treatable. It is quite easy to prevent and fix bad breath with the following guidelines.

Brush your teeth and scrape your tongue first thing every morning, and also after each time you take a nap. Foul-smelling bacteria have had a chance to take over your mouth while you slept, and are most likely causing yucky "morning breath." Tongue scrapers can be found in most health food stores, and also in drug stores and convenience stores as they become more popular.

After you brush your teeth and scrape your tongue, rinse your mouth thoroughly and gargle with fresh, cool water. This is a very important step, one that many people overlook. Nobody likes to smell your breath when it's laden with dirty, used toothpaste scum.

Drink plenty of water - Insuring that you drink plenty of water throughout the day can help to control bad breath (halitosis). This can be an especially important consideration for those people who suffer from xerostomia (chronically dry mouths).

If you allow yourself to become dehydrated your body will try to conserve moisture by reducing its production of saliva. Saliva has a cleansing and diluting effect on the bacteria and bacterial waste products that cause bad breath. A reduction in the amount of saliva in your mouth can make it harder for you to control odors associated with your breath.

Rinse your mouth with water often - Rinsing with water can mitigate bad breath problems for brief periods of time. Rinsing will both dilute and partially remove the bacterial waste products that are the cause of breath odors.

Stimulate your mouth's flow of saliva - You can help to minimize bad breath odors by stimulating your body's flow of saliva. This is because saliva has a cleansing and diluting effect on the bacteria and bacterial waste products that cause bad breath.

One way to stimulate salivary flow is to chew on something. Doing so will trick your body in to thinking that it is getting a meal. And in preparation for digesting this meal your body will increase its production of saliva.

Chewing gum, cloves, breath mints, or lozenges can also be used to stimulate salivary flow. If you elect to use one of these products make sure it is sugar-free since sweets will promote the growth of bacteria that cause tooth decay.

After you eat or drink anything (besides water), thoroughly rinse your mouth and gargle with water. Use this practice without fail, day and night, and you will keep abreast of nasty bacteria buildup in your mouth, which cause bad breath. Run your tongue along the surfaces of your teeth throughout the day, and if you ever notice any plaque buildup, brush your teeth again and rinse thoroughly with water, making sure that you feel your teeth, not plaque buildup, which is a contributing factor in bad breath

Fixing Bad Breath on the Spot -

Drink water and ask for lemon to be included. Surreptitiously squeeze as much of the lemon into the water as possible, as it will help cover up the odor.

Chew a piece of gum or eat some mint candy.

Gargle with salt to neutralise some of the odour.

Sneak a spoon into the bathroom. Check to make sure you're alone. Look into the mirror, stick out your tongue and check for a pasty white goo on it. Turn the spoon upside down and use it to scrape your tongue, using a back to front motion. If you can't manage to sneak off with a spoon, head to the restroom, wash your hands, use your fingernails to scrape your tongue.

10 Tips to Improve Your Speaking Voice

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Sun, 1 Jul 2012 01:02:00 +0500

“Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech.” - Martin Fraquhar Tupper

One of the most important components of public speaking is the sound of your voice. It influences the impact of your message, and might even make or break the success of your speech. Fortunately, for many people, good voice quality can be learned.

Instructions :

Breathe from your diaphragm – Practice long and controlled exhales. When you speak, use breath to punctuate your point. For example, take a breath at the end of each phrase whether you need to or not. Use that opportunity to pause and let the listeners absorb what you say.
Use pitch – Lower pitches generally are more soothing to hear. However, modulating your pitch for emphasis will keep your listeners engaged. Develop your pitch by practicing humming.
Moderate your volume – Find out if you speak too loudly or too softly. When you begin speaking, ask your audience how your volume is (each situation is different). Try to stay at the appropriate volume throughout your speech.
Moderate your pace – This one is also closely related to breath. If you speak too quickly, people can’t keep up. If you speak too slowly, people will lose interest. Record your speech to determine if you need to change your pace. Get feedback from others.
Articulate – Try exaggerating your lip movement to reduce mumbling. Practice articulating tongue twisters and extending and exaggerating vowel sounds. Become an expert at articulating tongue twisters as quickly and crisply as possible. Focus on the ones you find difficult.
Practice your speech in advance and determine where you want to pause for a breath. For more emphasis, pause for more than one breath. Mark your breathing points in your notes.
Loosen up before you begin. Look side to side. Roll your head in half-circles and roll your shoulders back. Shift your rib cage from side to side. Yawn. Stretch. Touch your toes while completely relaxing your upper body, then slowly stand up, one vertebra at a time, raising your head last. Repeat as needed.
Posture – Stand up straight and tall to allow full lung capacity and airflow.
Record your voice repeatedly using different ways of speaking. Determine which one is most pleasing.
Practice breath control – Take a deep breath, and while you exhale, count to 10 (or recite the months or days of the week). Try gradually increasing your volume as you count, using your abdominal muscles—not your throat—for volume. Don’t let your larynx tense up.

Steps to Become More Interesting & Fun

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Sun, 1 Apr 2012 01:15:00 +0500

Most people like being around interesting & fun individuals. It’s just human nature. They have good social lives and are rarely bored. I have some very interesting people in my life, and I’ve taken some time to think deeply about what makes them interesting.

In this article we will look into the steps you can take to become a more fun individual.

Be active. Are you having fun when you are sitting at a bench, looking down and not doing anything at all? In order to be fun to be with, you need to be active, to stand up, to be creative. Maybe do a “happy dance” when something good happens, take up a sport, or twirl around to cheer someone up. It works!

Be curious. Know what you’ll be doing later. If you get turned down or rejected, move on. You never know what’s going to happen until you try. Always try to seek out more knowledge or skill in an area that interests you. It will really improve your character. Go ride a bike past the local park or walk to the nearest local hangout spot because you never know who you’ll meet.

Dress funky. If you have a refined style and wish to keep it; try to experiment with brighter and more unique colors. It will make you stand out and seem like a more fun individual.

Make your next holiday an unusual one. Go to an exotic place and do things you would not normally do such as backpacking, climbing a mountain or going on a jungle safari. Or if you have never been on a “party-holiday”, this is a good option too.

Learn to Develop Yourself Socially and Don’t Be Afraid to Take Risks. Stepping outside your comfort zone will make you a much more interesting person. In addition, you may find some things about yourself that you never knew before.

Read, Read, Read. Read both fiction and non-fiction. Read magazines. Read your friend’s blogs. Read random people’s blogs that have taken the time to comment—they probably have something interesting to say. More importantly, read both for purpose and for pleasure.

Be positive and optimistic. Notice the “silverlining” in every situation. Positive people will be attracted by it and cynicism is a very conservative trait. Smile and laugh as often as you can.

List the people who have these traits and prioritize those you would like to spend time with. Remember that who you spend time with greatly affects how your personality develops.

Believe that you’re fun. Really believe in yourself and always tell yourself that you are fun. Think of your friends, even friends that are maybe not so fun, look at what they do that you like to see them do… then do it yourself . The deal is, when you tell yourself this you’ll start acting like it, after all you are what you believe you are.

The Choices that will Dramatically Impact the Quality of your Life

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Sun, 1 Apr 2012 01:13:00 +0500

Life is full of choices and opportunities. However, some choices will have a greater impact on your life than others. There are a few choices that will dramatically impact the quality of your life no matter when you make that choice.

So one must know them and the best of them!

Friendships: If there is any area in life where you should choose wisely, it would be your friendships. Numerous studies have shown that you become a byproduct of the people you surround yourself with. If you surround yourself with losers, then you’re well on your way to becoming one. If you surround yourself with winners, then you’re on your way to becoming one. Another thing that you want to do is chose friends who reinforce your positive self image. There’s a big difference between friends who joke about you endearingly versus those who seem to get their rocks off by putting you down. If you have some toxic friends, it’s time to detox!

Careers: Making the choice between passion and practicality is something you really should take seriously in your career. I didn’t do it in my younger years and as a result my life was miserable in numerous ways. My health deteriorated, I was depressed, and I was always angry or anxiety ridden. A career takes up a significant part of your life, up to 65% of your day in many cases. If you hate what you do, then think about what kind of things you are going to attract into your life. The majority of your time, energy, and thoughts are being directed to your misery. It’s a simple application of the law of attraction at work.

Relationships: Your choice in relationships not only alters the quality of your life, but the quality of someone else’s. So, if you make a bad choice you run the risk of making two people’s lives miserable. Of course the opposite is true as well. If you make the right choice then you double the joy that goes out into the world and bring more of it back to you. Have you ever noticed how at the beginning of a relationship when you start dating somebody, everything seems too be perfect. You have a great time together and everything goes smoothly and you seem to be on a roll of attracting positive experiences into your life. Then, you stop getting along, and everything else goes to hell too. So, make sure you choose wisely.

Reactions: This is the most overlooked choice that one has! It has been said over and over that life is not about what happens to you, but how you react to what happens to you. Once we learn how to control our reactions to everything that happens we manage to achieve complete control over our lives. We are no longer impacted by circumstances and events because we are choosing our reactions.

Tips for Healthy Hair

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Sun, 1 Apr 2012 01:11:00 +0500

Nowadays, not only women but men too are willing to pay any amount of money for finding out the secret behind healthy hair.

Irrespective of the type of hair you are born with, follow these 5 tips and see the results yourself: healthy and luxurious hair.

1) Diet: Healthy hair beings with your body. Dark green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli are an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin C which is needed to produce sebum, the body’s natural hair conditioner. Coconut is also considered as an excellent food for hair. Dairy products such as fresh yoghurts and milk not only strengthen your hair but also add shine to it. Avoid processed and canned foods as they are not really helpful in providing nutrition to your hair. If you maintain a healthy, balanced diet then there’s nothing that can stop you from achieving healthy, happy hair.

2) Hairbrush Usage : Brushing your hair before shampooing is essential as it stimulates the scalp and promotes blood flow. It also helps in removing scalp flakes and product buildup. Moreover, do not brush your hair when it’s wet as this causes unnecessary breakage and damages hair. Avoid using plastic, metal and nylon brushes as they attack and break the hair cuticle. Finally, brushing your hair regularly will keep it looking healthy and glossy.

3) Blow Drying: Avoid blow-drying your hair as it can make your hair brittle and cause split-ends. Squeeze the water out with a towel and let it dry naturally. If you must use a hair dryer then keep it at the lowest setting possible. Similarly, steer clear of hair straightners and curling irons.

4) Stress: Stress can have extremely adverse long-term effects on both the quality and the color of your hair. Learn to manage your time well and keep mental pressure at a minimum level. Practice meditation as it is an effective relaxation technique. And last but not the least, get adequate amount of peaceful sleep.

5) Oiling and conditioning: Treat your hair to deep conditioning once every two weeks. They strengthen your hair and protect it against breakage as they penetrate the hair shaft. A warm oil scalp massage twice or thrice a week will also help to keep hair moisturized. Leave it on overnight, if not, then at least for an hour or two before shampooing your hair. Regular oiling and conditioning not only result in lustrous, healthy hair but also help in preventing hair loss.

Tips for Glowing Skin

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Sun, 1 Apr 2012 01:10:00 +0500

Are you, like most of population of the world, eager to know how to acquire and maintain healthy, glowing skin? Well the good news is that you can easily achieve this at home without expensive salon treatments that burn a hole in your pocket.

The real secret is to stick to these tips regularly. Read on to know you can achieve radiant skin by following these 7 simple tips.

1) Water Therapy: It is essential to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day, especially in the hot summer months. This will keep you hydrated from within. It is full on natural minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium along with iodine, copper and iron which help to flush out toxins from your body and keep your skin glowing.

2) Exercise: There are a number of ways that exercise can benefit your skin. Exercise gets the blood flowing, carrying more oxygen to the skin which improves overall health of the skin. It also reduces stress levels which can leave your skin looking dull. It also leads to production of natural oils of the skin that help the skin to look soft and healthy. Finally, exercise makes you sweat which helps in getting rid of the toxins that can block your pores causing pimples and blemishes.

3) Exfoliate: Regular exfoliation is necessary for getting and maintain glowing healthy skin. Our body sheds skin cells at an alarming rate every single minute of every day. If you don’t get rid of them, your skin becomes dull and dry. Use a body scrub (a separate face scrub should be used for face and neck) to get rid of the dead cells and cleanse the skin. Do this 2-3 times a week for beautiful, radiant skin.

4) Avoid food chemicals: Steer clear of any processed foods, foods are too sweet, fatty and greasy as they contain chemicals that are bad for your skin. Instead, have lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. They’re a great source of fiber as well as vitamins and minerals. They aid the toxins elimination process which if not done properly can cause a lot of skin problems such as pimples.

5) Beauty sleep: It’s known as beauty sleep for a reason! Get at least 8 hours of sleep a day as lack of sleep can lead to premature ageing of skin. Moreover, this is the time when body repairs itself from the damages it suffered during the day.

6) Moisturize: Moisturizers not only help in hydrating your skin but also prevent the skin from losing its natural moist. They are absorbed better when the skin is damp so use immediately after a bath or shower. It also protects and restores your skin’s complexion, elasticity and plasticity and so should be an essential component of your skin care regime.

7) Use a sunscreen: The sun’s rays tan the skin very easily. Wrinkles and dark spots also caused by skin damage. All this makes you skin appear dull. Hence, a good sunscreen with SPF 15-30 is crucial to protect your skin and keep it looking healthy.

Child Health » Healthy diet for children

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:09:00 +0500

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A healthy diet helps in providing nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals for proper growth and development. Regular eating in specified intervals is a good habit of taking food.

• Carbohydrates are responsible for the proper function of immune system .Rice, wheat, maize, bread, and pasta are rich sources.

• Fruits like apples, melon, orange, banana, guava and vegetables like beans, carrots, potatoes, tomato, cabbage, green leafy vegetables etc., are rich sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber which should be included in children diet.

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• Proteins helps to increase muscular development, protein rich sources are fish, eggs, meat, and pulse. Dairy products such as milk, cheese,butter and yogurt are also rich in protein, fat, calcium, and vitamins.

• Iron and calcium is necessary for the growth of a child and are obtained from green leafy vegetables, liver, and fish.

• Diet rich cereals like oats, ragi and dry fruits like cashews, almonds, dates are good sources of minerals.

• Non vegetarian foods like chicken, fish are good for the child since it is easily digestible.

• Avoid or reduce habit of taking fried food, chips, burger, sweets, cakes, biscuits and sugar drinks like soda, flavored fruit juices.

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Diet » Health Articles » Soyprotein and health benefits

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:54:00 +0500

Soy protein is generally regarded as the storage protein held in discrete particles called protein bodies, which are estimated to contain at least 60–70% of the total soybean protein. The Soybean is a legume that contains no cholesterol and low in saturated fat. Soybeans contain all essential amino acids. Soybeans are good source of fiber, iron, calcium, zinc and Vitamin B. Soybeans also contain biologically active or metabolic proteins such as enzymes, trypsin inhibitors, hemagglutinins, and cysteine proteases very similar to papain. Due to its functional properties like emulsification and texturizing it has been used as an ingredient in a variety of foods such as salad dressings, vegetarian foods and soups.

Soybeans are processed into three kinds of modern protein-rich products: soy isolate, soy concentrate, and soy flour.

Soy Isolates:

Soy protein isolate is a highly refined or purified form of soy protein with a minimum protein content of 90% on a moisture-free basis. It is made from defatted soy flour which has had most of the non-protein components, fats and carbohydrates removed. Because of this, it has a neutral flavor and will cause less flatulence due to bacterial fermentation.
Soy isolates are mainly used to improve the texture of meat products, but are also used to increase protein content, enhance moisture retention, and as an emulsifier. Flavor is affected, but whether it is an enhancement is subjective.

Soy Concentrates:

Soy protein concentrate is about 70% soy protein and is basically defatted soy flour without the water soluble carbohydrates. It is made by removing part of the carbohydrates (soluble sugars) from dehulled and defatted soybeans.
Soy protein concentrate retains most of the fiber of the original soybean. It is widely used as functional or nutritional ingredient in a wide variety of food products, mainly in baked foods, breakfast cereals, and in some meat products. Soy protein concentrate is used in meat and poultry products to increase water and fat retention and to improve nutritional values (more protein, less fat).

Soy Flours:

Soy flour is made by grinding soybeans into a fine powder. It comes in three forms: natural or full-fat (contains natural oils); defatted (oils removed) with 50% protein content and with either high water solubility or low water solubility; and lecithinated (lecithin added). As soy flour is gluten-free, yeast-raised breads made with soy flour are dense in texture.

The Soy Protein health benefits:

According to studies, Soy protein reduces the cholesterol and help to reduce the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.
Daily intake of Soy protein may show positive results in people with high blood pressure.
Research studies suggest that consuming soy protein may protect against osteoporosis.
Soy protein helps in controlling hyperglycemia and reduced body weight, hyperlipidemia, and hyperinsulinemia. Thus its helps in the control of obesity and blood sugar to both nondiabetic and diabetic persons.
Genistein, one of the phytochemicals found in soy, can reduce the risk of cancer, including breast cancer and prostate cancer.
It boosts the immune system of the body.
Soy protein contains calcium, along with magnesium and boron, all of these are essential in keeping bones strong and healthy. Also helps in preventing loss of bone mass which is a serious issue for woman in menopause and perimenopause.
Soy proteins reduce the development of skin discolorations, wrinkles, & lines as soy protein is rich of protein and antioxidants.

How to Exercise Your Eyes

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:16:00 +0500

We all know how important it is to keep our bodies fit by doing things like going to the gym, jogging, and swimming. But, did you know that you can exercise your eyes as well?

Eye exercising will keep your eyes healthy and help minimize eyestrain. Here are some easy to follow steps and tips to exercise your eyes and keep them healthy!

Palming Exercise - Sit comfortably on a chair. Rub your hands together until they feel warm. Close your eyes and cover them lightly with your cupped palms. Avoid applying pressure on your eyeballs. Place your palms so that the nose remains uncovered, and the eyes remain behind the slight hollow of the palms. Make sure that no light rays enter the eyes, and leave no gaps between fingers or between the edge of the palms and the nose. You may still see other lingering traces of colors. Imagine deep blackness and focus on the blackness. Take deep breaths slowly and evenly, while thinking of some happy incident; or visualize a distant scene. After your eyes see nothing but blackness, remove your palms from your eyes. Repeat the palming for 3 minutes or more.
Close your eyes tightly for 3-5 seconds, then open them for 3-5 seconds. Repeat this 7 or 8 times.
Close your eyes and massage them with circular movements of your fingers for 1-2 minutes. Make sure you press very lightly; otherwise, you could hurt your eyes.
Press three fingers of each hand against your upper eyelids, and hold them there for 1-2 seconds, then release. Repeat 5 times.
Sit and relax. Roll your eyes clockwise, then counter-clockwise. Repeat 5 times, and blink in between each time.
Focusing Exercises – Sit about 6 inches (150 mm) from the window. Make a mark on the glass at your eye level (a small sticker, black or red, would be perfect). Look through this mark and focus on something far away for 10-15 seconds; then focus on the mark again.
Hold a pencil in front of you at arm’s length. Move your arm slowly to your nose, and follow the pencil with your eyes until you can keep it in focus. Repeat 10 times.
Look in front of you at the opposite wall and pretend that you are writing with your eyes, without turning your head. It may seem difficult at first, but with a bit of practice it is really fun. The bigger the letters, the better the effect.
Imagine that you are standing in front of a really big clock. Look at the middle of the clock. Then look at any hour mark, without turning your head. Look back at the center. Then look at another hour mark. Do this at least 12 times. You can also do this exercise with your eyes closed.
Focus on a distant object (over 150 feet or 50 m away) for several seconds and slowly refocus your eyes on a nearby object (less than 30 feet or 10 m away) that’s in the same direction. Focus for several seconds and go back to the distant object. Do this 5 times.
Focus on an object in the distance (as far as possible) with a low contrasting background. Do this for a few minutes every half hour or so. This does not improve your vision, nor does any other technique. It can, however, maintain your best eyesight level during the day and prevent significant further vision deterioration.
Make up and down eye movements starting from up to to down. Do this 8 times. Then do the side to side eye movement, starting from left to right. Repeat this 8 times. Make sure not to add pressure to your eyes! It only worsen your vision!

Tips

It’s more important to do the exercises regularly than to do them for a long time. Even 30-60 seconds of eye movement every hour is very helpful. For example, when your computer takes its sweet time to do something, most people just stare at the poor thing and waste the time, but you can make a few circles with your eyes. Even the first day you do this, you should notice that, when you finish working, your eyes aren’t as tired as usual.
Taking short breaks from near work (e.g. staring at a computer monitor) to stare out to the distance also relieves some strain.
Palming is a good method to help your eyes feel better. You close your eyes and put your palms over them, this will rest your eyes.
Blink the eyes many times.
Splash your eyes with cold water repeatedly when feasible, and especially when your eyes are strained.

How to Be Charming & Charismatic

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:15:00 +0500

Have you ever noticed how some people captivate everyone they speak to? No matter what they look like or how much money they have, they can walk into a room and instantly be the center of attention. When they leave, people think highly of them and want to emulate them. That’s charisma, a sort of magnetism that inspires confidence and adoration.

Like beauty, luck, and social position, charisma can open many doors in life. Unlike these other qualities, anyone can become more charismatic.

Improve your posture. Good posture will give the impression of self confidence (even if you don’t feel that way on the inside). While walking, maintain a relaxed yet definitive upright posture: spine long, shoulders back, head level with the ground. This may feel awkward or overpowering to you when you first practice it, but keep trying.
Relax the muscles in your face to the point where you have a natural, pleasant expression permanently engraved there. Face the world and show everyone you’re not afraid.
Make a connection. When your eyes come in contact with another person’s, nod and smile subtly with a subdued joy shining forth. Don’t worry about the other person’s reaction and don’t overdo it.
Remember people’s names when you meet them for the first time. This takes an enormous amount of effort for most people. Repeat the person’s name when stating your name to that person will help you to remember it better. For example: “Hi Jack, I’m Wendy.” Follow through with small talk and repeat the person’s name. Repeat it once more when you say goodbye. It’s not just about helping you to remember that person. The more you say a person’s name, the more that person will feel that you like them and the greater the chance they’ll warm up to you.
Be interested in people. If you meet a new acquaintance, for example a coworker, a classmate, a friend of a friend, etc. find out about their immediate family and interests. Be sure to ask after the names of family members and remember them. Be careful in that subject though you don’t want to be nosy. If you ask too much they will become uncomfortable. Also ask after their particular interests in life. These two topics will ensure much better small talk than just harping on about school or work. Most people don’t like to think about those things at social occasions unless they have to. Even if it is about networking, you should understand fully the worth of taking a break from talking shop. It is important to refrain from talking up about yourself. Be purely interested and impressed by the person with whom you are speaking.
Orient topics toward the audience. This means taking into account topics that interest those around you, even if you are not so keen on them. If you are in a sporty crowd, talk about last night’s game or the meteoric rise of a new team. If you are amongst a group of hobbyists, draw out their hobbies and make remarks related to fishing, knitting, mountain climbing, movies, etc. Nobody expects you to be an expert. It is your level of interest and willingness to engage in topics that makes you an interesting person to be around. Exercise an open mind. Let others do the explaining. If someone mistakenly thinks you know more about the topic, be genuine and simply say that your knowledge is limited but that you are hoping to learn more about it.
Praise others instead of gossiping. If you are talking with someone or you are talking in a group of people, and up pops the subject of another person in a positive or negative way, be the one to mention something you like about that person. Hearsay is the most powerful tool in gaining charm because it is always viewed as 100% sincere. It has the added benefit of creating trust in you. The idea will spread that you never have a bad word to say about anyone. Everyone will know that their reputation is safe with you.
Don’t Lie. A lie is something you say for which there is some direct evidence somewhere out there that contradicts it. If you tell Mary that you like Jane and Billy that you don’t like Jane, Mary and Billy will talk and your reputation will be ruined. No one will believe a word you say.
Issue compliments generously, especially to raise others’ self esteem. Try to pick out something that you appreciate in any situation and verbally express that appreciation. If you like something or someone, find a creative way to say it and say itimmediately. If you wait too long, it may be viewed as insincere and badly timed, especially if others have beaten you to it. If you notice that someone is putting a lot of effort into something, compliment it, even if you feel that there is room for improvement. If you notice that someone has changed something about themselves haircut, manner of dress) notice it, and point out something you like about it. If you are asked directly, be charming and deflect the question with a very general compliment.
Be gracious in accepting compliments. Get out of the habit of assuming that the compliment is being given without genuine intent. Even when someone makes a compliment out of contempt, there is always a germ of jealous truth hiding in their own heart. Be effusive in accepting the compliment. Go beyond a mere “thank you” and enjoin this with “I’m glad you like it” or “It is so kind of you to have noticed.” These are “compliments in return.” Avoid backhanding a compliment. There is nothing worse to a person complimenting than to receive the response “Oh well I wish I was as ______ as you/that situation.” That is tantamount to saying, “No, I am not what you are saying I am, and your judgment is wrong.”
Control your tone of voice. The tone of your voice is crucial. Most people feel insecure somewhere inside and have an inability to accept praise. For this very reason, when you praise, do it subtly and glibly. When you say, “you look nice today” it should be in the exact same tone that you would use to say “it’s a nice day.” Any variation from your normal tone will arouse suspicion about your sincerity. Practice giving compliments into a recorder and play it back. Does it sound sincere? Practice until you get it right.. It might not sound right to you, in that case, ask someone for judgement.

Tips

Developing charisma is an art. The general guidelines above can help you be more charismatic, but your charisma must come from within you and must reflect you as an individual or it will appear fake. Fortunately, everyone has the ability to be charismatic, and it simply needs to be coaxed out. Practice and take note of what works and what needs improvement.
Don’t mimic others. People with well developed charisma have a remarkable ability not only to sway people’s opinions but also to cause others to emulate their personalities and even gestures. At the same time, however, research has shown that charismatic people do not emulate other charismatic people. Their individuality sets them apart.
Have a message. Don’t be afraid to be controversial, to push the envelope. If you believe in something or feel strongly about it, communicate that in a respectful way. Your charisma will help people be accepting of your ideas.

Health Risks of Sitting Down

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:12:00 +0500

Here is a fantastic info-graphic on the health risks of sitting, very informative!Did you know, Sitting down for more than six hours a day can increase your risk of death by as much as 40%! From increased risk of heart disease and obesity in the long term, to sharply hampered cholesterol maintenance in the short term, the negative health effects of sitting are starting to weigh heavily against the benefits.

So its time to get off your chair more often and move around!

How to Increase Your Energy Levels Naturally

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:10:00 +0500

Everyday I hear the same complaints from the same people about how tired they are, how stressed they are etc. with no solution in sight! The key is to correct the situation versus standing idle and accepting it.

Forget about the energy drinks or pills. Learn to increase your energy naturally, and have a healthy steady supply to get you through each day. By adjusting your personal eating, sleeping and exercise habits, you can boost your energy the natural way and settle into a self-sustaining rhythm.

Essential Water – Keep your body hydrated throughout the day. The first sign of dehydration is fatigue. Your body can’t function at capacity without that good old H2O. A steady supply of water will naturally keep things flowing–including your energy.

Improve Sleeping Habits – Often a small adjustment of your sleeping habits can already do wonders for your energy levels.

Lying in bed is not sleeping: Don’t go to bed if your not sleepy and end up lying in bed pondering and stressing. If you are drifting off at the computer, while reading, or watching TV, it’s time to get to bed. Your bedtime should and will vary from night to night. Let your body tell you when to sleep as opposed to the following the 8-hour rule.
Rise and Shine: Put an alarm and get up at the same time everyday.
Sleepy at Noon?: Try a powernap of 20 minutes in a quiet place.

Experiment and find out what your optimal sleep levels are.

Yoga, Exercising & Stretching – It sounds counter-intuitive, perhaps, but by expending energy on a regular basis, you will actually give yourself more of it in the end. The key is to set up a fairly regular schedule–about three times a week–and push to the point that you feel refreshed, not exhausted. Don’t overdo it. It may take a couple of weeks to get into the natural rhythm, so have patience and higher energy levels will follow.

Deep breathing exercise – Another great way to re-energize your body is with a quick deep breathing exercise. Sit on a chair with a straight back and breathe deeply while you focus on your breath going in – going out. At the same time use a powerful affirmation to invigorate your mind and body.

Eliminate Energy-Sappers From Your Diet – Have more alkaline-forming foods like fruits and vegetables. Avoid excess sugar and coffee as they lead to lower blood sugar levels–and less energy–after they give you an initial kick. Also one could pack some almonds and nuts for a quick and convenient protein snack.

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:15:00 +0500

Monoclonal antibody therapy is the use of monoclonal antibodies (or mAb) to specifically target cells. The main objective is stimulating the patient's immune system to attack the malignant tumor cells and the prevention of tumor growth by blocking specific cell receptors. Variations exist within this treatment, e.g. radioimmunotherapy, where a radioactive dose localizes on target cell line, delivering lethal chemical doses to the target.There are different types of nebulizer, although the most common are the jet nebulizers, which are also called atomizers. Jet nebulizers are connected by tubing to a compressed air source that causes air or oxygen to blast at high velocity through a liquid medicine to turn it into an aerosol, which is then inhaled by the patient.

Apple Shaped body and Pear shaped body

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:10:00 +0500

Both Apple shape body and pear shape body gives an idea about basic body shape. Body shape here refers to distribution of body fat. Apple shaped individuals carry most of their excess body fat around their middle abdomen. And pear shapes body carries most of their excess body fat on their hips and thighs. Women collect fat on their hips giving pear shape. After menopause a hormone estrogen level decreases and women start storing fat around abdomen becoming more apples shaped. While men collect fat around the abdomen. Apple shape people with fat concentrated around the abdomen are more risk at obesity comparatively pear shaped body.

Using Improper Size Blood Pressure Cuffs, May Prove A Big Mistake!

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:18:00 +0500

Blood Pressure has something to do with the personality of an individual. Obese personalities have a higher rate of blood pressure. Their suffering and style of hypertension is different from that of the ordinary people. Every medical practitioner tells you about this.

Often, fat people face the problem of blood pressure monitoring. Wrong sized blood pressure cuffs are used, and they naturally give the wrong reading. Even when the blood pressure of the obese people is normal, the readings tell a different story.

Using improper size cuffs, at times may prove to be critical mistake! Many medical practitioners are aware of the seriousness of this discrepancy and yet they ignore it. Take the case of a pregnant woman-if she were to carry on with the use of wrong-sized blood pressure cuffs, it is not only harmful for her but also for the child. (When wrong medication is done by wrong reading of blood pressure level.)

Accuracy of data is important in treating blood pressure- high or low! Medication and blood pressure level are importantly interrelated! The blood pressure cuff that is being used must be according to your condition of health, all factors considered! In case of the pregnant women, the concern for the baby is more!

It is you who are having blood pressure, therefore, you must possess the accurate knowledge about the cuff that you are going use. In a situation where larger cuffs are needed, and you use the smaller ones, the damage will be difficult to repair at a later time. For, the damage might have already occurred! As a blood pressure patient, you must be in constant touch with the blood pressure related matters, through some authentic journals, and you must keep a tab on the latest research on cuffs also. It is in your interest!

There are scientific reasons why a large-sized cuff is needed. Use a regular cuff on a fat person. It will artificially inflate the level of blood pressure in fat individuals. There won't be meaning in further treatment, if the data before the medical practitioner is itself wrong! Cuff, when accepted and used as a measuring instrument of blood pressure, it should be a correct-sized tool.

Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Sat, 5 Nov 2011 21:40:00 +0500

“According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death.” - Jerry Seinfeld

If you have the fear of public speaking, you are not alone. You must first recognize what “fear” is. Fear is the anticipation of pain. Is your fear real or imagined?

Here are some great insights into Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking.

Steps to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking -

Fears – The fear of being judged, making a mistake, not measuring up, getting hurt either mentally or physically can get in the way of a good performance (speech, seminar, sales presentation, etc). Remember that people in the audience really want you to succeed. Nobody is standing there hoping you’ll be boring or bad. If you are coming from an authentic place, and you cover the material with clarity, you’ve won 3/4 of your inner battle with fear.
Learn how to enroll and engage your audience - If you haven’t yet taken a professional development course on public speaking, consider finding a public speaking training course appropriate for your needs. Learning the art of public speaking can enhance your results in a boardroom, in a sales presentation, and even accelerate your climb up the corporate ladder. It is a must-skill for any executive and/or business owner.
Practice - Find business organizations, networks and clubs in your area (such as Toastmasters) that can afford you the opportunity to practice. Remember to choose topics that you are already an expert on. Speaking on a topic that you are not familiar with will increase your stress, and impede on your performance.
Use recording software - Record everything on your PC/laptop. Review it to see where you can improve. Have speaking pros attend your live presentation to give you feedback. Allow yourself the opportunity to learn more every time you go out.
Remember, even the top professionals learn something new every single time they go out!

Diet after delivery

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Wed, 2 Nov 2011 00:49:00 +0500

Post pregnancy diet is a key to maintain a healthy living for the mother, so that she is able to take care of herself and also is able to feed her young one. During pregnancy a woman’s body changes a lot. Now soon after pregnancy there are a plenty of things we want to come back to like before pregnancy; one of it is weight and having dealing with fatigue.

All most all dieticians agree in saying that after pregnancy a mother should not concentrate on weight loss and must eat healthy diet to regain strength for at least 3 months.

Few problems that arise due to not eating proper healthy diet after pregnancy are hair loss, stretch marks, osteoporosis and changes in the shape of the breasts.

Here are some tips on health and diet to be followed for the first three months of post pregnancy period:

• Your body needs time to recover, so take proper rest along with healthy diet.

• Simple exercise like walking helps to increase the metabolism and there by appetite.

• Have food rich in protein, vitamin and mineral.

• Do not heed to the myths linked to breast-feeding; like having excess fatty foods leads to good breast milk production etc.

• Eat foods that are easy to digest. This can include fresh fruit, boiled vegetables, yogurt with raisins, cereal, etc.

• Diet to relieve from constipation includes high fiber diet like bran muffins, high-fiber cereals, and lots of fruits and vegetables are good fiber choices.

• Have adequate fluid intake along with the increase in your fiber intake. Fluid intake cannot be measured in day-to-day life but it is best to have good amount of fluid intake if you breast-feed.

• Diet that can help to restore the iron content in body include taking Vitamin C rich foods like citrus fruits, tomato, broccoli that can help absorb the iron supplements.

Simple Step of Skin care

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Wed, 2 Nov 2011 00:47:00 +0500

Hands must always be clean since the chance of penetration of bacteria from hands to face is more likely. Cleansing of skin is the key to skin care. Use a good cleanser first start near the hairline, and then apply it in the face, lip and neck. Then give a gentle massage with fingers. Leave it undisturbed for 2 minutes, after which you can use a cotton ball and gently take it off, this will remove the dirt and cosmetics already present in face. At last wash the face with a good face wash that suits your skin. These steps will help you keep the skin clean.

Tips for flawless complexion:

Skin consists of melanin protein which causes pigmentation and its care includes cleansing, moisturizing, toning. Eat fresh vegetables and dry fruits like almond, walnut, apricot and pista for skin care.

Maintain a healthy balanced diet and adequate sleep in order to keep a youthful and beautiful tone for life long.

• Take milk every morning to maintain beauty.

• Almonds are natural moisturizers since they contain high dosage of vitamin E and oil extracted from almonds is used for treating dark circles and excessively dry skin.

• Apricot - helps to refresh the skin and gives a glow and luster to skin.

• Pista - helps to main cellular protection and hydration to skin.

• Vitamin A - helps to protect against sun damage; sources include broccoli, carrots, mango, papaya, spinach, sweet potato, tomatoes and watermelon.

• Vitamin B - helps to maintain healthy skin tone; sources include banana, fish, eggs, meat, poultry, and whole grains.

• Vitamin C - helps to support structure for the skin; sources include orange, lime, lemon, guava, Indian gooseberry, strawberries and green and red peppers.

• Vitamin E - helps to slow down the ageing process; sources include almonds, leafy vegetables, legumes and salmon fish.

• Selenium and Zinc - Oyster is a very good source of both zinc and selenium, other sources include mushrooms, seafood, soybeans, wheat germ and whole grains.

Besides having a healthy meal it is very important to drink lots of water to keep the skin well hydrated and maintain elasticity and regular exercise helps to supply more oxygen to skin cells, reduce wrinkles, crow's feet and bagginess around eyes.

Skin care: tips to reduce black marks

Black marks on the face are dead cells that result due to improper face care or because of pimples.

To fight against pigmentation one can go for simple and effective home remedies.

• Apply cucumber juices that lighten black marks.

• Apply milk cream to skin, leave for 15 minutes and wash with water.

• Apply mixture of lemon juice and honey, let it dry and wash. It acts as a bleaching agent.

• Apply olive oil that will lighten black marks.

• Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables helps to improve skin tone.

• Apply curd mixed with few drops of lemon juice, let it dry and wash with tap water, during night.

• Apply coconut oil before going to bath and then use a paste made of turmeric powder, green gram and few drops of milk, leave for 10 minutes, let it dry and then scrub it in circular motions with finger tips. Wash it with ordinary water. Just do this two times in a week.

Skin care for oily skin:

• Apply a mixture of equal amounts of lemon and cucumber juice and leave for 15 minutes and wash away.

• Apply a mixture of honey and egg white, leave for 10 minutes and wash with cold water.

• Apply mixture of papaya pulp with lemon juice, leave for 20 minutes and wash with cold water.

Skin care for dry skin:

• Apply a mixture of equal amounts of cucumber juice and honey, leave for 15 minutes and wash with luke warm water.

• Apply a mixture of olive oil and fresh cream, leave for 10 minutes and wash with warm water.

• Apply a mixture of honey, orange juice, fuller’s earth and rose water, leave for 10 minutes and wash with cold water.

Tips for clear and fair skin tone:
• Apply sun screen lotion before going out in the sun.

• Avoid eating oily food.

• Before going to bed remove make up.

• Drink lots of water.

• Drinking lime juice every day.

• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

• Wash face frequently and it's not necessary to use soap all the time.

• Wear sun glass while going outdoors.

Homemade skin care tips:

• Apply almond oil leave it over night and wash with cold water.

• Apply Aloe Vera gel for 15 minutes and wash with cold water.

• Apply banana paste leave for ten minutes and wash it with warm water.

• Apply carrot juice leave for half an hour and wash with cold water.

• Apply cucumber juice mixed with honey for 15 minutes and wash with cold water.

• Apply lemon juice and milk mixed with pinch of turmeric powder for 15 minutes and wash it with tap water.

• Apply multani mitti with milk and leave it to dry and wash with cool water.

• Apply orange juice let it dry and wash with cold water.

• Apply paste of fenugreek with milk let it dry and wash off with warm water.

• Apply potato juice leave for 15 minutes and wash with cold water.

• Apply egg white let it dry and wash with luke warm water.

• Apply equal amount of lemon and honey, leave for 10 minutes and wash it with cold water.

Galvanic treatments

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Wed, 2 Nov 2011 00:46:00 +0500

Galvanic facial is the best way to revitalize the skin thus helping the active ingredients of skin products gain deep penetration, which is not attained in manual applications. It also reduces acne by controlling the oil secretion by removing blockage in sebaceous gland thus helping to clean congestion. Galvanic facial helps to improve the normal functions and skin’s blood circulation.

Galvanic facial is based on the basic laws of electricity, “like repels, opposites attract”. The skin as it is pulled together like a magnet pushes the product in to the deeper layers. The capacity of your skin absorption is increased by the galvanic ion and this improves the penetration of nutrition products (anti wrinkle lotion) through your skin, it will be completely cleansed as negative ions force all the dirt and debris held within pores to the surface. At the same time the positive ions gives you a fresh look and plump the skin, banishing wrinkles.

Acidity

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Wed, 2 Nov 2011 00:42:00 +0500

» Drink 1-2 glasses of water early morning to keep yourself healthy and free from acidity

» Watermelon, cucumber and banana these are the fruits helps to reduce acidity.

» Take equal portions of ginger and coriander to get relief from acidity.

» Squeeze the juice of a whole orange and mix it with roasted cumin seeds. Add some rock salt as per your taste. This will give you an immediate relief from acidity.

» Take 2tablespoons of Isabgol in milk after every meal is also very beneficial remedy for eliminating acidity

» Drink coconut oil to get relief from acidity.

Tooth Whitening

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Wed, 2 Nov 2011 00:40:00 +0500

Smile is the outlook of inner beauty. Bright smile comes from Shinning and brighter teeth. Everyone nowadays is crazy about teeth whitening also known as bleaching and why not its simple as well. Teeth turns yellow due to many reasons such as

• Smoking

• Tobacco chewing

• Harsh brushing technique

• Age

• Bad oral hygiene

• Tetracycline staining

Due to above mentioned reasons, deposits keep on accumulating on our teeth and make them look yellow. Then comes the reason of Teeth Whitening which oxidizes the organic deposits present on teeth and makes them look brighter. Tetracycline staining can be removed to less extent but not fully.

Contraindications of Teeth Whitening:

• Sensitive teeth

• Receding gums ( when gums are not upto their normal level)

• Heavy tartar deposition

• Carious teeth

• Fractured restorations(fillings)

• Allergic to hydrogen peroxide

Teeth whitening is of two types:

1. Home based Teeth Whitening: This type of teeth whitening should never be done without expert advice.

Procedure:

Advantages:

• Home based technique is cheaper

• Level of whitening depends on your choice

• You can choose time according to your convenience

• It's safe as you gums and oral tissues does not get exposed to rays

Disadvantages:

• Uneven whitening is noticed, if tray does not fully adapt on teeth

• Makes Teeth sensitive to some extent

2. Laser Teeth whitening: This type of teeth whitening is done under the doctor's supervision. It can be completed in single visit.

Procedure:

Advantages:

• It saves time

• Teeth becomes white and bright without your efforts

Disadvantages:

• It is very costly

• Special blue colored used can be harmful for oral tissues

• Makes teeth sensitive to some extent

• Level of whitening is not under our control

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a tooth whitening permanent if done once?

Tooth whitening is not a permanent procedure to keep your teeth bright. Excessive intake of tea and coffee, smoking and poor oral hygiene can make them again look yellow. You have to apply gels or visit dentist after regular intervals.

Is there any cheap method apart from home based and laser Teeth Whitening?

You can apply hydrogen peroxide or soda bicarbonate which is easily available in every kitchen. Make paste of soda bicarbonate with water and apply for 2 to 3 minutes. If you are using hydrogen peroxide , then dilute it and apply on teeth.

Why Teeth whitening is so expensive?

Teeth whitening is in demand nowadays, only laser teeth whitening is expensive. Some cheap methods are also available in market.

Is Teeth whitening safe?

Answer to this question varies on the interest and priority of a patient who is undergoing the whitening treatment.

Nutrition in Infants

mrozia@rediffmail.com (MMR) — Wed, 2 Nov 2011 00:39:00 +0500

During infants first year of life good nutrition is essential for growth and development, as the body grows at a very fast rate. An infant must obtain an adequate amount of essential nutrients by consuming proper nutrition foods. Infants need large amounts of energy rich foods and protein rich foods. During the first four to six months infant is fed on breast milk, and usually breast milk supplies all nutrients needed by the baby. After six months breast milk alone is not sufficient, along with breast milk supplementary foods should be provided. The types of foods you provide for the infants must be based on locally available food stuffs and cooking methods should be simple.

Dietary guidelines for infants:

Avoid under and over feeding.
Provide low salt foods.
Encourage breast feeding.
Provide supplementary foods along with breast feeding after 6 months.
Serve foods rich in proteins, calcium and iron.
Avoid low fat foods.
Provide iron fortified cereals.

Breast milk: First four months Provide breast milk 5 to 6 ounces 4 to 6 times each day that should be around 24 to 32 ounces. From six months provide 4 to 5 feedings of breast milk that is around 24 to 32 ounces and also provide supplementary foods.

Cereals: Until 4 months no cereals provided for infants. From four to six months provide iron fortified infant cereals 1 to 2 table spoons, 6 to 8 months iron fortified cereals 4 to 6 table spoons that would be like small pieces of crackers, dry toast cereals and other grain products 4 to 5 table spoons. In the age between 8 to 12 months you can include cereals like iron fortified cereals , small pieces of crackers, dry breakfast cereals 4 to 5 table spoons and other grain products 4 to 6 table spoons.

Vegetables: Vegetables can be introduced from 4 to 6 months , initially in 6months age 1 to 2 tablespoon plain strained or pureed cooked vegetables 1 to 2 tbsp can be given. During 6 to 8 months pureed cooked vegetables 3 to 4 tbsp can be introduced. During 8 to 12 months pureed , mashed or chopped vegetables can be given.

Fruits: Fruits can be introduced during plain strained or pureed fresh or cooked fruits 1 to 2 tbsp , from 6 to 8 months 3 to 4 tablespoon of cooked fruits can be introduced. During 8 to 12 months you can eat 3 to 4 tablespoon. Do not add sugar or syrups to fruits. Never add honey to fruits. Avoid fruits that may cause choking. Avoid feeding soda, gelatin, fruit punches, coffee or tea.

Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are major source of energy. Apart from providing energy carbohydrates allow proteins in the diet to be used efficiently and also allow normal use of fats in the body. Recommended allowance of carbohydrates for infants 0 to 6 months is 60g/day and 7 to 12 months 95g/day. From birth to 4 months 108 kcals per kg body weight/ day are recommended calories. During 4 to 6 months recommended calories are 108 kcals per kg body weight per day, 6 to 8 months 98 kcal/kg bw/day,8 to 12 months 98 kcals/kgbw/day.

Proteins: Plain strained pureed protein rich foods such as meats, egg yolks, and legumes may be introduced if an additional food source of iron is needed. During 6 to 8 months plain strained or pureed protein rich foods such as meats, egg yolk and legumes 1 to 2 Tbsp. From 8 to 12 months plain pureed, mashed or chopped cooked fruits 3 to 4 Tbsp. Avoid foods that may cause choking. Avoid fried meats, gravies, sauces, processed meats like bacon, sausage, hot dogs