MIND & HEALTH

Top tips for a healthy pregnancy – Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 14:17:00 +0000

Top tips for a healthy pregnancy – Part 1

Pregnancy is a very important phase in a woman’s life, not only for her, but also for the unborn child. It is in the woman’s interest to make this journey safe and healthy to achieve the end result of a healthy baby.

Top tips for healthy pregnancy

Here are some pointers to make sure you achieve his goal.

If you think you are pregnant or even if you plan to get pregnant, plan a visit to your doctor and make sure you are doing everything right to conceive; from eating the right food to avoiding alcohol and smoking. Even being in a smoke filled room is an absolute no. If you are pregnant, you may be required to take supplements in addition to your food. Vitamins like folic acid, iron, calcium and even multi-vitamins are sometimes needed to fill in the gaps. Folic acid, in particular is very important in the initial stages to prevent neurological problems in the baby.
Make sure to discuss your food habits with your doctor. You may be advised to include cereals like ragi, whole wheat, jowar or bajra in your diet as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. It is a good idea to reduce processed food, junk food, fried food and sweetmeats as they tend to have empty calories that increase your weight but do not supply essential elements that the body needs. The importance of a balanced diet during pregnancy cannot be emphasized enough.
If you have countless cups of coffee in a day, cut back now. All caffeine containing beverages should beminimised or preferably stopped. Substitute with green tea or low fat milk with honey.
Talk to your doctor about how much weight you should gain during the course of your pregnancy. If you are underweight, you should put on twelve to eighteen kilos during the nine months, but if you are overweight, ten kilos is the upper limit.
Learn to do Kegel’s exercises. This set of exercises increases the tone of the vaginal and perineal muscles and eases the pain during labour and delivery. Another important aspect and means to control pain is by learning the correct way to breathe. Lamaze is a form of breathing that you and your partner can learn and practise so ensure a smooth labour.

Some hospitals and nursing homes encourage you to attend antenatal classes where all these aspects are covered and you are encouraged to ask questions and erase your doubts.

In the next part we’ll tell you more about the types of birth, medications and lifestyle changes that may have to make once the child arrives.

10 diet dos and don’ts during pregnancy by expert dietician Naini Setalvad

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 14:12:00 +0000

10 diet dos and don’ts during pregnancy by expert dietician Naini Setalvad

Naini Setalvad, a renowned nutritionist and diet and obesity consultant gives out some handy dos and don’ts for mothers-to-be about eating habits.

1: Every pregnant woman needs to understand that she is NOT eating for two people. She only requires 300 more calories than her normal diet.

2: You need to get your required number of calories from all food groups and not just fat.

3: Eat lots of leafy greens. They are a good source of iron which helps our red blood cells carry oxygen better. More oxygen in the blood means better nutrition of various parts of the body leading to better health of you and your baby.

4: Include dried figs in your diet to satisfy your sweet cravings and to prevent constipation. They are also a good source of calcium.

5: Sprinkle sesame seeds on your salads. They are packed with folic acid which is essential in the proper DNA synthesis of the growing foetus and improves the all-round health of a pregnant mother.

6: Eat good quality protein. It can also be mixed with green vegetables for example, mix dal and palak to make a healthy dish.

7: Add a vegetable juice or soup to your diet plan. This can be had in-between meals as a small snack instead of gorging on unhealthy, readymade stuff.

8: You don’t have to glug down too many glasses of milk. This is a misconception that many mothers have which needs to be changed.

9: Not all mothers-to-be have cravings during pregnancy. Cravings normally set in when the meals aren’t balanced. Once you start eating healthy at the right time, they will decrease. An Indian thali is very well-balanced as it has different flavours like salty, sweet, spicy, pungent, etc. When all the different taste buds are satisfied, the cravings decline.

10: Many women suffer from morning sickness in the first three months. To beat this, they can try eating dried toast or ginger juice as these help relieve nausea

15 facts about colon cancer and diet\Health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:39:00 +0000

15 facts about colon cancer and diet\Health

Colon cancer, rectal cancer, colorectal cancer - here are 15 quick facts on diet and other things to get you up to speed.

1: Colon Cancer, rectal cancer and colorectal cancer have long been considered the preserve of old men with 85% of cases in the over 50 age group.

2: Birmingham University showed localised oestrogen as a possible culprit.

3: Another likely factor are carcinogenic bile acids that you make yourself. Its production is stimulated by animal fats and alcohol.

4: However research has shown that aspirin, fish oils, garlic and ginger can all turn off the production. Vitamin D also has a strong protective influence. All these should be in your diet.

5: Polyps and inflammation are precursors to colon cancer. They too can be "calmed" by aspirin, aloe vera, garlic, ginger, curcumin and fish oils.

6: Japanese research has strongly implicated salt as a major cause. Doubling your salt intake doubles your risk.

7: Another possible cause is yeasts, and thus an imbalance between good bacteria and the bad guys like yeasts, fungi and microbes. Good bacteria are essential to good digestion and production of essential anyi-cancer vitamins like B-12, folic acid, niacin, biotin and vitamin K from whole grains and greens. Antibiotics, steroids and chlorinated water destroy the good guys.

8: Destroying the good bacteria leaves the yeasts free to multiply and flourish, being commonly found in infected intestines. Garlic, Pau d´Arco, caprylic acid and wormwood will kill them off if you add a no-sugar, no-alcohol, no-refined foods, no-yeasts, no-dairy diet.

9: The Boston Nurses study showed that the only vegetable that made a significant difference to colon cancer risk rates was garlic.

10: Parasites are more common than you think. They too may be a culprit. Try Neways Purge/Parafree.

11: Keep a good, natural fibre intake. Fibre should be inside your everyday foods - nuts, vegetables, seeds, fruit - not falsely added to it.

12: Smoking increases the risk of colon cancer. It´s much easier to cut out smoking!

13: Sunshine and vitamin D is a tremendous colorectal cancer preventer. If you cannot spend 30 minutes a day in the sun, take vitamin D supplement.
14: Watch your weight. Your fat will store excess toxins and also make oestrogen - you don´t need either.

15: Everyone over 50 can be screened and accuracy is pretty good. This really is prevention if you catch the problem at the polyp stage. Research is clear, polyps or not: A fish oil (or Krill oil) a day keeps the doctor away.

10 Tips for Mental Wellness\Health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:20:00 +0000

10 Tips for Mental Wellness\Health

Over time, our every day stressors can bring us down. Whether it’s the news, work, family responsibility, or just the plain wear-and-tear of life, at times it can seem like too much. The burdens of life weigh heavy on our shoulders, and we’re left counting down the days until the next vacation, the next little slice of ‘fun’ – the next break. Here are some simple tips to make that burden feel a little less heavy, or perhaps hardly there at all.

1. Organize

One of the main reasons we get on edge is because we encounter things we didn’t plan or couldn’t foresee. These rouge waves of life will happen regardless, but with good organization on your part, you can minimize the occurrence and make sure that you contribute little to their existence. Sit down with a daily planner or get a calendar for your desk. Time constraints created by running around or forgetting things stresses you out as well as the people around you. Take a minute, organize, and follow your plans!

2. Treat Your Body Well

One staple of a healthy, happy life is good nutrition and proper body maintenance Make sure you have a well-rounded diet, which is possible (believe it or not) with good organization and well-calculated trips to the store. I choose 3-4 meals I’d like to be able to have any day, get a nice stock pile, and then day-to-day I’m able to put whatever I want together. Waking up an extra 30 minutes early and making lunch is a great habit to get into! It requires for you to go to bed a bit earlier, as sleep is vital, but it’s well worth it.

3. Exercise

There are always the two sides to the healthy body coin – the diet and the exercise. You can’t give yourself a really healthy body unless both sides are maintained. That said, develop a exercise regimen. Shoot for at least 30 minutes a day, unless you can spare more time, in which case devote an hour. It doesn’t make a difference if it’s jogging or resistance training, as long as you’re keeping active.

4. Express yourself

Don’t try to bottle up every emotion and thought. Self-expression is a great thing, and it helps us maintain a good attitude. Think of a few activities you’d love to do through out the week and try to make at least one of them happen – maybe a trip to the museum or beach? Whatever it is, let your true self reveal itself. If you can do that, then you can be yourself.

5. Laugh Everyday

Laughter really is the best medicine. Chemically, it stimulates the brain and literally makes us feel better. It’s good for those around us too. So crack a funny joke, or enjoy a good laugh with your coworkers. Whatever it is, laugh!

6. Practice Humility

While you should always have self-confidence, reflect on yourself and know your faults. Don’t be ashamed of them, but rather aware of what they are and how you can work on them. Accept it – you’re not perfect!

7. Avoid the ‘Sins’

Drugs and alcohol offer the easy solution out, but they come with a price: dependence. This should be a tax too burdensome on any, as you should always know you can work through life with your own character and spirit if it ever required it. Instead of these, find the beautiful, happy things in life and cherish them.

8. Accept the past, but don’t forget it

Some people suggest forgetting the past – don’t do it! The past is what we learn from; it is life’s great teacher. Unfortunately, the minute we forget the past is the minute we repeat it. That doesn’t mean we can’t accept it though. Know your past and its dilemmas, accept it, and move on.

9. Know who you want to be and what you want to do

Have goals as a person, both for your own character and for your life’s pathway. A wise man once said the focus of our attention determines our reality. That said, focus hard on your goals. You’d be surprised of how attainable they are!

10. Remember Why You’re Doing it

Always remember your loved ones and your reason for working so hard. Self-sacrifice is just that – sacrifice – but you can find solace in that when you need to. If you follow the tips above, and remember why it’s so important, you be feeling better every day in no time.

6 Symptoms of Women's Heart Attacks\health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 11:42:00 +0000

6 Symptoms of Women's Heart Attacks\health

When a heart attack strikes, it doesn’t always feel the same in women as it does in men.

Women don't always get the same classic heart attack symptoms as men, such as crushing chest pain that radiates down one arm. Those heart attack symptoms can certainly happen to women, but many experience vague or even “silent” symptoms that they may miss

Ever wish you could see inside your arteries? These blood vessels deliver oxygen-rich blood to every corner of our bodies. Maintaining the flow is essential to life and health. Atherosclerosis causes narrowing and hardening of the arteries, creating slowdowns in blood flow. Even worse, atherosclerosis can trigger sudden blood clots. Heart attacks and strokes are the often-deadly result. If we could see what was going on in our arteries, we might think twice about our lifestyle choices. Could...

These six heart attack symptoms are common in women

Chest pain or discomfort. Chest pain is the most common heart attack symptom, but some women may experience it differently than men. It may feel like a squeezing or fullness, and the pain can be anywhere in the chest, not just on the left side. It's usually "truly uncomfortable" during a heart attack, says cardiologist Rita Redberg, MD, director of Women’s Cardiovascular Services at the University of California, San Francisco. "It feels like a vise being tightened."
Pain in your arm(s), back, neck, or jaw. This type of pain is more common in women than in men. It may confuse women who expect their pain to be focused on their chest and left arm, not their back or jaw. The pain can be gradual or sudden, and it may wax and wane before becoming intense. If you're asleep, it may wake you up. You should report any "not typical or unexplained" symptoms in any part of your body above your waist to your doctor or other health care provider, says cardiologist C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, director of the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Stomach pain. Sometimes people mistake stomach pain that signals a heart attack with heartburn, the flu, or a stomach ulcer. Other times, women experience severe abdominal pressure that feels like an elephant sitting on your stomach, says cardiologist Nieca Goldberg, MD, medical director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York.
Shortness of breath, nausea, or lightheadedness. If you're having trouble breathing for no apparent reason, you could be having a heart attack, especially if you're also having one or more other symptoms. "It can feel like you have run a marathon, but you didn't make a move," Goldberg says.
Sweating. Breaking out in a nervous, cold sweat is common among women who are having a heart attack. It will feel more like stress-related sweating than perspiration from exercising or spending time outside in the heat. "Get it checked out" if you don't typically sweat like that and there is no other reason for it, such as heat or hot flashes, Bairey Merz says.
Fatigue. Some women who have heart attacks feel extremely tired, even if they've been sitting still for a while or haven't moved much. "Patients often complain of a tiredness in the chest," Goldberg says. "They say that they can't do simple activities, like walk to the bathroom."

Not everyone gets all of those symptoms. If you have chest discomfort, especially if you also have one or more of the other signs, call 911 immediately.

If you feel heart attack symptoms:

Don’t delay getting help. "Women generally wait longer than men before going to the emergency room," says Rita F. Redberg, MD, MSc, FACC, director of Women's Cardiovascular Services for the UCSF Division of Cardiology in San Francisco. Even if you think your symptoms aren’t that bad or will pass, the stakes are too high.
Don't drive yourself to the hospital. You need an ambulance. If you drive, you could have a wreck on the way and possibly hurt yourself or someone else.
Don’t have a friend or relative drive you, either. You may not get there fast enough.
Don’t dismiss what you feel. "Don't worry about feeling silly if you're wrong," Goldberg says. You have to get it checked out right away.

"People don't want to spend hours in an emergency room if it isn't a heart attack," Bairey Merz says. "But women are actually good at deciding what is typical for themselves and when to seek health care."

Feeling Tired? Try a One-Minute Energy Booster\Health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 15:35:00 +0000

Feeling Tired? Try a One-Minute Energy Booster\Health

Many times throughout the day we need a little energy recharge. Rather than reach for the sugar or caffeine, why not try a one-minute energy boost? It might perk you up and give you the extra push you need to complete tasks during your busy day.

Energy Supply

Why is personal energy is in short supply these days? It seems like our lives have become increasingly more hectic. We are constantly on the go with work, errands, family obligations and more!

We are meant to have cyclical breaks of rest every so often throughout the day, not just at night when we fall into bed.

We are meant to have cyclical breaks of rest every so often throughout the day, not just at night when we fall into bed. It’s hard to get those moments of relaxation in a modern world that’s all go, go, go. Our bodies have varying rhythms throughout the day with both high and low points.

One particular low point for most people occurs sometime around 2 to 3pm. Usually that’s when we reach for the soda or candy bar. Since we don’t always have the luxury of taking a break when we feel low energy, we can try a one-minute energy boost as an alternative to less healthy choices.

One-Minute Energy Boosters

In the time it takes to drink a soda or eat a candy bar, you can try one of the 10 following energy boosters. They can all be done in a minute, so you don’t have to feel guilty about taking time away from work or other tasks. You can use a timer if you’d like or just do the activity for a short period.

1. Walk.

Get up and walk around for one minute. Just getting away from your desk and moving can help boost your energy. It will get your blood flowing throughout your body. You’ll also get a chance to gain a quick change of perspective.

2. Stretch

If you can’t get up to walk around for one minute, then try stretching. Stand up, raise your arms and move them around. Stand on your tiptoes a few times. Bend at the waist and try some twists. Do any stretching motions you’d like and see if you can keep it up for one minute.

3. Breathe

It seems pretty obvious that we are constantly breathing, so why a reminder? So many times we are hunched over a desk or using bad posture that we are not breathing properly. We tend to be shallow breathers. Take one minute to just breathe fully and deeply, feeling it in your diaphragm. This is called “belly breathing” because the focus is on your belly, not just your chest.

4. Stairs

If you have a chance to walk around, try climbing the stairs in your office building or home. Go up and down a few times. It doesn’t need to be at a fast pace. Climbing stairs will get your blood pumping and get some more oxygen to your cells and brain.

5. Music

Put on some lively, energizing music. It will probably get your feet tapping, perk up your mood and help you to shift your energy.

6. Laugh

Scientific studies have shown that laughter can boost energy levels in addition to improving mood. Those feel good hormones get going with a good laugh.

7. Water

Energy levels can lag throughout the day due to dehydration. Many people don’t drink enough water. Make sure you are well hydrated. A nice refreshing glass of cool water can help boost your metabolism.

8. Sunlight

If possible go outside and enjoy a minute of sunshine. It will help with melatonin production to keep you awake and alert. If that’s not possible check if indoor lighting is sufficient.

9. Aromatherapy

Pleasing scents can help perk you up, especially citrus-based ones like lemon and orange. Use a spray, incense or scented candles.

10. Chew Gum

Chewing a minty flavored gum or popping a peppermint candy in your mouth can also give you a little lift.

Next time you feel a lull during the day try a one-minute energy booster and feel refreshed!

Top 10 health benefits of walking every day\health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 14:53:00 +0000

Top 10 health benefits of walking every day\health

It’s a gentle, low-impact form of exercise that’s easy, free and suitable for people of all ages and most abilities. Here’s why it’s so good for you

1. It strengthens your heart

Regular walking has been shown to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. It lowers levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol while increasing levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and keeps blood pressure in check.

"Anything that raises your heart rate and gets your blood pumping is a workout for your heart and circulatory system," says personal trainer Stuart Amory. According to the Stroke Association, walking briskly for up to 30 minutes can help prevent and control the high blood pressure that can cause strokes – reducing your risk by up to 27 per cent.

2. It lowers disease risk

As well as heart disease, a walking habit can slash your risk of developing type 2 diabetes asthma and some cancers. A study in the British Medical Journal showed taking more steps every day can help ward off diabetes. And according to the charity Walking For Health, regular exercise such as walking could reduce risk by up to 60 per cent. Those of us who are active have around a 20 per cent lower risk of developing cancer of the colon, breast and womb than those least active.

3. It keeps weight in check

"If you’re trying to lose weight, you need to burn about 600 calories a day more than you’re eating," says Amory. "Putting one foot in front of the other is one of the easiest ways to do that." A person weighing 60kg burns 75 calories simply by strolling at 2mph for 30 minutes. Increase that to 3mph and they’ll burn 99 calories. Speed it up to a fast walk (4mph) and that’s 150 calories – the equivalent of three Jaffa Cakes or a jam doughnut. "Walking also increases muscle mass and tone and the more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism – so the more calories you burn, even at rest," he adds.

4. It can help prevent dementia

Dementia affects one in 14 people over 65 and one in six over 80. We know being active has a protective effect on brain function and regular exercise reduces dementia risk by up to 40 per cent. And, according to Age UK, older people who walk six miles or more per week could avoid brain shrinkage and so preserve memory as the years pass.

5. ...and osteoporosis, too

"Walking counts as a weight-bearing activity," says Amory. "It stimulates and strengthens bones, increasing their density – really important, especially for women. It also helps maintain healthy joints so may stave off conditions such as arthritis."

6. It tones your legs, bum – and tum

A good walk can help strengthen and shape your legs, giving great definition to calves, quads, hamstrings and lifting your glutes (buttock muscles) – especially if you add hills. But if you really pay attention to your posture as you walk, it can tone your abs and whittle your waist, too.

Fitness expert Joanna Hall is founder of the Walkactive method of 'conscious' walking for better posture and overall fitness results. She says: "Think about lengthening up through your spine to create space between your earlobes and shoulders. Relax your shoulders, pull in your tummy and pelvic floor and imagine you have a cup of water balanced on top of each hip bone that you don’t want to spill. As you walk with this posture, your shoulders will naturally rotate and this works your oblique abdominal muscles – you’ll be taking inches off your waist with every step." Check out these 12 fitness videos on how to tone your body

7. Let’s not forget your arms

"Your speed when walking comes from your arms," says Hall. "Hold them at a comfortable level, bent at the elbow, and swing them backwards and forwards as you walk. Swing them faster and you’ll automatically speed up. And all this movement tones your arms, shoulders and upper back." Bye bye, bingo wings!

8. It boosts your vitamin D levels

If you’re walking outside in daylight, you’ll be boosting your body’s stores of vitamin D – a nutrient that’s hard to get from food, but that we can synthesise from exposure to sunlight. Many people in the UK are deficient in vitamin D and it’s a nutrient that plays a big role in everything from bone health to immunity. While sun safety is still important experts agree that exposing as much skin as you can to the sun, little and often and without burning, will help you to produce sufficient vitamin D.

9. It gives you energy

It might seem like a paradox (and the last thing you might feel like) but a brisk walk is one of the best natural energizers around. It boosts circulation and increases oxygen supply to each and every cell in your body, helping you to feel more alert and alive. It wakes up stiff joints and eases muscle tension so you feel less sluggish. Always have a mid-afternoon energy slump at work? Head out for a walk at lunchtime instead of sitting in a café or at your desk and see what a difference it makes. Here are some other quick ways to boost your energy levels

10. It makes you happy

The ability of exercise to boost mood is undisputed. Studies have shown regular, moderate-intensity exercise (such as brisk walking) to be as effective as antidepressants in cases of mild to moderate depression. Getting active releases feel-good endorphins into the bloodstream, reducing stress and anxiety. And don’t forget it’s often a social activity – joining a walking group or meeting friends to walk and chat is a great way to banish feelings of isolation and loneliness. A survey by the charity Mind found 83 per cent of people with mental health issues look to exercise to help lift their mood. For greatest benefit, they say, get active outdoors and somewhere green. Check out our tips on how to join a walking group

Family Dinner Ideas:4 Summer Recipes from Gazpacho/Food

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 11:47:00 +0000

Family Dinner Ideas:4 Summer Recipes from Gazpacho/Food

Gazpacho

This dish is about as chill as it gets, and the best part is that its simple, often involving fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients. From a traditional chunky red gazpacho made with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and plenty of tomato juice, to the more imaginative Andalusian-inspired white gazpacho blending pureed almonds, grapes, cucumber and garlic, gazpacho is one of those dishes that goes down easy on a hot summer evening. Make this soup a meal by serving it alongside a crisp green salad and a wedge of crusty bread.

Ceviche

A classic Latin American no-cook staple, ceviche involves cooking seafood (fish and/or shellfish) in an array of citrus juices, onions, pepper and spices. The process involves marinating raw seafood until it is essentially pickled in the citrus juices, giving it the appearance of being cooked. Naturally, only the freshest seafood will do for this dish since youre essentially working with it raw. A quick tip is to cut shellfish into a small dice before adding to the marinade. This will expedite the cooking process. Serve ceviche with homemade corn or flour tortilla chips or fill hard-shell tacos with the mixture. Note: If the thought of uncooked fish is too much to bear, you can always poach the seafood briefly in boiling water before marinating it in the citrus juices, although be forewarned, this can create a chewy texture and loss of flavor.

Chinese Chicken Salad

Nothing says summer more than salad, and the proverbial Chinese chicken salad is not only a crowd pleaser, but its easy to whip up sans oven. Made from a mixture of fresh greens, crispy wontons (or Chinese noodles), cabbage, green onions and of course, shredded chicken, this hearty salad is its own one- pot meal. For added ease, stay out of the kitchen completely. Buy and shred a cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Theyre perfect for making chicken salad, filling burritos, soft tacos, quesadillas or topping a pre-cooked pizza crust (a la barbecue chicken pizza).

Pasta with Roasted Summer Vegetables and Basil

A bit of butter, parmesan cheese, and fresh basil transforms roasted vegetables into a flavorful sauce for pasta. You could easily modify this recipe to use any vegetables that are in season.

10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication\Health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 07:19:00 +0000

10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication\Health

By making these 10 lifestyle changes, you can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.

If you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure (a systolic pressure — the top number — of 140 or above or a diastolic pressure — the bottom number — of 90 or above), you might be worried about taking medication to bring your numbers down.

Lifestyle plays an important role in treating your high blood pressure. If you successfully control your blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle, you may avoid, delay or reduce the need for medication.

1. Lose extra pounds and watch your waistline

Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. Losing just 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) can help reduce your blood pressure. In general, the more weight you lose, the lower your blood pressure. Losing weight also makes any blood pressure medications you're taking more effective. You and your doctor can determine your target weight and the best way to achieve it.

Besides shedding pounds, you should also keep an eye on your waistline. Carrying too much weight around your waist can put you at greater risk of high blood pressure. In general:

Men are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches (102 centimeters, or cm).
Women are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 35 inches (89 cm).
Asian men are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 36 inches (91 cm).
Asian women are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 32 inches (81 cm).

2. Exercise regularly

Regular physical activity — at least 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week — can lower your blood pressure by 4 to 9 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). And it doesn't take long to see a difference. If you haven't been active, increasing your exercise level can lower your blood pressure within just a few weeks.

If you have prehypertension — systolic pressure between 120 and 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89 — exercise can help you avoid developing full-blown hypertension. If you already have hypertension, regular physical activity can bring your blood pressure down to safer levels.

Talk to your doctor about developing an exercise program. Your doctor can help determine whether you need any exercise restrictions. Even moderate activity for 10 minutes at a time, such as walking and light strength training, can help.

But avoid being a "weekend warrior." Trying to squeeze all your exercise in on the weekends to make up for weekday inactivity isn't a good strategy. Those sudden bursts of activity could actually be risky.

3. Eat a healthy diet

Eating a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products and skimps on saturated fat and cholesterol can lower your blood pressure by up to 14 mm Hg. This eating plan is known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet.

It isn't easy to change your eating habits, but with these tips, you can adopt a healthy diet:

Keep a food diary. Writing down what you eat, even for just a week, can shed surprising light on your true eating habits. Monitor what you eat, how much, when and why.
Consider boosting potassium. Potassium can lessen the effects of sodium on blood pressure. The best source of potassium is food, such as fruits and vegetables, rather than supplements. Talk to your doctor about the potassium level that's best for you.
Be a smart shopper. Make a shopping list before heading to the supermarket to avoid picking up junk food. Read food labels when you shop and stick to your healthy-eating plan when you're dining out, too.
Cut yourself some slack. Although the DASH diet is a lifelong eating guide, it doesn't mean you have to cut out all of the foods you love. It's OK to treat yourself occasionally to foods you wouldn't find on a DASH diet menu, such as a candy bar or mashed potatoes with gravy.

4. Reduce sodium in your diet

Even a small reduction in the sodium in your diet can reduce blood pressure by 2 to 8 mm Hg. The recommendations for reducing sodium are:

Limit sodium to 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day or less.
A lower sodium level — 1,500 mg a day or less — is appropriate for people 51 years of age or older, and individuals of any age who are African-American or who have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

To decrease sodium in your diet, consider these tips:

Track how much salt is in your diet. Keep a food diary to estimate how much sodium is in what you eat and drink each day.
Read food labels. If possible, choose low-sodium alternatives of the foods and beverages you normally buy.
Eat fewer processed foods. Potato chips, frozen dinners, bacon and processed lunch meats are high in sodium.
Don't add salt. Just 1 level teaspoon of salt has 2,300 mg of sodium. Use herbs or spices, rather than salt, to add more flavor to your foods.
Ease into it. If you don't feel like you can drastically reduce the sodium in your diet suddenly, cut back gradually. Your palate will adjust over time.

5. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink

Alcohol can be both good and bad for your health. In small amounts, it can potentially lower your blood pressure by 2 to 4 mm Hg. But that protective effect is lost if you drink too much alcohol — generally more than one drink a day for women and men older than age 65, or more than two a day for men age 65 and younger. Also, if you don't normally drink alcohol, you shouldn't start drinking as a way to lower your blood pressure. There's more potential harm than benefit to drinking alcohol.

If you drink more than moderate amounts of it, alcohol can actually raise blood pressure by several points. It can also reduce the effectiveness of high blood pressure medications.

Track your drinking patterns. Along with your food diary, keep an alcohol diary to track your true drinking patterns. One drink equals 12 ounces (355 milliliters, or mL) of beer, 5 ounces of wine (148 mL) or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor (45 mL). If you're drinking more than the suggested amounts, cut back.
Consider tapering off. If you're a heavy drinker, suddenly eliminating all alcohol can actually trigger severe high blood pressure for several days. So when you stop drinking, do it with the supervision of your doctor or taper off slowly, over one to two weeks.
Don't binge. Binge drinking — having four or more drinks in a row — can cause large and sudden increases in blood pressure, in addition to other health problems.

6. Avoid tobacco products and secondhand smoke

On top of all the other dangers of smoking, the nicotine in tobacco products can raise your blood pressure by 10 mm Hg or more for up to an hour after you smoke. Smoking throughout the day means your blood pressure may remain constantly high.

You should also avoid secondhand smoke. Inhaling smoke from others also puts you at risk of health problems, including high blood pressure and heart disease.

7. Cut back on caffeine

The role caffeine plays in blood pressure is still debatable. Drinking caffeinated beverages can temporarily cause a spike in your blood pressure, but it's unclear whether the effect is temporary or long lasting.

To see if caffeine raises your blood pressure, check your pressure within 30 minutes of drinking a cup of coffee or another caffeinated beverage you regularly drink. If your blood pressure increases by five to 10 points, you may be sensitive to the blood pressure raising effects of caffeine.

8. Reduce your stress

Stress or anxiety can temporarily increase blood pressure. Take some time to think about what causes you to feel stressed, such as work, family, finances or illness. Once you know what's causing your stress, consider how you can eliminate or reduce stress.

If you can't eliminate all of your stressors, you can at least cope with them in a healthier way. Take breaks for deep-breathing exercises. Get a massage or take up yoga or meditation. If self-help doesn't work, seek out a professional for counseling.

9. Monitor your blood pressure at home and make regular doctor's appointments

If you have high blood pressure, you may need to monitor your blood pressure at home. Learning to self-monitor your blood pressure with an upper arm monitor can help motivate you. Talk to your doctor about home monitoring before getting started.

Regular visits to your doctor are also likely to become a part of your normal routine. These visits will help keep tabs on your blood pressure.

Have a primary care doctor. People who don't have a primary care doctor find it harder to control their blood pressure. If you can, visit the same health care facility or professional for all of your health care needs.
Visit your doctor regularly. If your blood pressure isn't well controlled, or if you have other medical problems, you might need to visit your doctor every month to review your treatment and make adjustments. If your blood pressure is under control, you might need to visit your doctor only every six to 12 months, depending on other conditions you might have.

10. Get support from family and friends

Supportive family and friends can help improve your health. They may encourage you to take care of yourself, drive you to the doctor's office or embark on an exercise program with you to keep your blood pressure low. Talk to your family and friends about the dangers of high blood pressure.

If you find you need support beyond your family and friends, consider joining a support group. This may put you in touch with people who can give you an emotional or morale boost and who can offer practical tips to cope with your condition.

6 Symptoms of Women's Heart Attacks\Health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 06:51:00 +0000

6 Symptoms of Women's Heart Attacks\Health

When a heart attack strikes, it doesn’t always feel the same in women as it does in men.

Shocking Heart Deaths: Why They Happen

Someone in the prime of their life -- a professional sports star, teen athlete, marathon runner, or other seemingly healthy person -- isn't supposed to collapse and die from heart disease. But it occasionally happens, making sudden cardiac arrest front-page news. The rare nature of sudden cardiac arrest among the young is precisely what makes it so attention-grabbing. According to the Cleveland Clinic, sudden cardiac death kills 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 300,000 athletes under age 35, more often males...

These six heart attack symptoms are common in women

Chest pain or discomfort. Chest pain is the most common heart attack symptom, but some women may experience it differently than men. It may feel like a squeezing or fullness, and the pain can be anywhere in the chest, not just on the left side. It's usually "truly uncomfortable" during a heart attack, says cardiologist Rita Redberg, MD, director of Women’s Cardiovascular Services at the University of California, San Francisco. "It feels like a vise being tightened."
Pain in your arm(s), back, neck, or jaw. This type of pain is more common in women than in men. It may confuse women who expect their pain to be focused on their chest and left arm, not their back or jaw. The pain can be gradual or sudden, and it may wax and wane before becoming intense. If you're asleep, it may wake you up. You should report any "not typical or unexplained" symptoms in any part of your body above your waist to your doctor or other health care provider, says cardiologist C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, director of the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Stomach pain. Sometimes people mistake stomach pain that signals a heart attack with heartburn, the flu, or a stomach ulcer. Other times, women experience severe abdominal pressure that feels like an elephant sitting on your stomach, says cardiologist Nieca Goldberg, MD, medical director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York.
Shortness of breath, nausea, or lightheadedness. If you're having trouble breathing for no apparent reason, you could be having a heart attack, especially if you're also having one or more other symptoms. "It can feel like you have run a marathon, but you didn't make a move," Goldberg says.
Sweating. Breaking out in a nervous, cold sweat is common among women who are having a heart attack. It will feel more like stress-related sweating than perspiration from exercising or spending time outside in the heat. "Get it checked out" if you don't typically sweat like that and there is no other reason for it, such as heat or hot flashes, Bairey Merz says.
Fatigue. Some women who have heart attacks feel extremely tired, even if they've been sitting still for a while or haven't moved much. "Patients often complain of a tiredness in the chest," Goldberg says. "They say that they can't do simple activities, like walk to the bathroom."

Top 10 tips for a healthy heart\health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 13:36:00 +0000

Top 10 tips for a healthy heart

There are many steps people can take to try to prevent heart disease. You can start by concentrating on key lifestyle areas such as eating, exercise, smoking and drinking, and considering other factors like family history, diabetes and stress.

1. Stop smoking. Quitting smoking is the single most important thing a person can do to live longer. If you are a smoker, you are twice as likely to have a heart attack than a non-smoker. But from the moment you stop smoking, the risk of heart attack starts to reduce. With public smoking bans recently introduced, there has never been a better time to give up.

2. Cut down on salt. Too much salt can cause high blood pressure, which increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease. Avoid foods like crisps, salted nuts, canned and packet soups and sauces, baked beans and canned vegetables, pork pies, pizzas and ready meals. Many breakfast cereals and breads that appear healthy also contain high levels of salt, so keep your eye on these too.

3. Watch your diet. A healthy diet can help to reduce the risk of developing heart disease, and can also help increase the chances of survival after a heart attack. You should try to have a balanced diet, containing plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, oily fish, starchy foods such as wholegrain bread, pasta and rice. Avoid foods like biscuits, cakes, pastries and dairy products that are high in saturated fats and sugar.

4. Monitor your alcohol. Too much alcohol can damage the heart muscle, increase blood pressure and also lead to weight gain. Binge drinking will increase your risk of having a heart attack, so you should aim to limit your intake to one to two units a day.

5. Get active.The heart is a muscle and it needs exercise to keep fit so that it can pump blood efficiently round your body with each heart beat. You should aim for 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a day. If this seems too daunting, start off gently and build up gradually. Keeping fit not only benefits your physical health - it improves your mental health and wellbeing too.

6. Manage your weight. The number of people who are overweight in Britain is rising fast - already more than half of the adult population is overweight or obese. Carrying a lot of extra weight as fat can greatly affect your health and increases the risk of life-threatening conditions such as coronary heart disease and diabetes. If you are overweight or obese, start by making small, but healthy changes to what you eat, and try to become more active.

7. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked by your GP. The higher your blood pressure, the shorter your life expectancy. People with high blood pressure run a higher risk of having a stroke or a heart attack. High levels of cholesterol in the blood - produced by the liver from saturated fats - can lead to fatty deposits in your coronary arteries that increase your risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and diseases that affect the circulation. You can help lower your cholesterol level by exercising and eating high-fibre foods such as porridge, beans, pulses, lentils, nuts, fruits and vegetables.

8. Learn to manage your stress levels. If you find things are getting on top of you, you may fail to eat properly, smoke and drink too much and this may increase your risk of a heart attack.

9. Check your family history . If a close relative is at risk of developing coronary heart disease from smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of physical activity, obesity and diabetes, then you could be at risk too.

10. Make sure you can recognise the early signs of coronary heart disease . Tightness or discomfort in the chest, neck, arm or stomach which comes on when you exert yourself but goes away with rest may be the first sign of angina, which can lead to a heart attack if left untreated.

Yoga Hayakrivar candidates stand for!

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 07:28:00 +0000

Kind of, sort of uniformed students in school examinations the student with the necessary Hall Tickets and writing materials were concentrated in one place. After all, the location is not central to the choice of a temple. Yes, plenty of memory, and giving the choice upsetting removed, achieving the highest score arulpali the yogic hayakrivar koviltan it. Parents and teachers with the country's various regions from the landing student, student reward hayakrivar at the feet of their Hall ticket and pen, pencils evil with his blessings with joy, satisfaction with the turn were. If you know a little about this temple blessings to you and your children have to go and return. Kanchipuram District Chengalpattu circle Chetty earns village 400 years old sritevanata Perumal temple is here. Varadaraja deity from the service continues to maintain. past 1848 - the year tiruvahintapurat to all brought Devanatha Vishnu, hayakrivarum, and Thanjavur brought from Ram devotees procession of pilgrims from all blessing come. The horse-faced Yoga hayakrivar four hands conch cakkaratari the state of yoga is. Career worship of academic progress are available, memory caktikutum the examination is to assist the school to college students, student hall ticket purchased for their chosen subject pens come here with hayakrivar feet of keeping his blessing to the taking. This continues for several years, and the student, the student pays to choose the time of writing the ten and a common exam for class XII students, girl students are invading. It is for this reason that the name of the temple has been settled hayakrivar deed. From Chennai, Chengalpattu on the way cenkalpattirku front Singaperumal temple area from the right hand side of the three-kilometer driving a peaceful, beautiful Chetty deed Village come. This village is at the center of this hayakrivar temple. 7.30 pm from 12 noon until 4 pm to 8 pm Opening up style. From Chengalpattu, Singaperumal come from the temple in vehicles like auto, low high. Devotees come and go as easily as the chief minister recently introduced Small pascai Devotees claim that incorporate this channel.Devotees unable to attend in person at the yagna and puja offerings and pens made hayakrivar Image Deployment takes a packet in the mail. For the temple phone number: 8675127999. Temple will be opened only at the walk to the phone. Further call on hold and taking the land will go inside the temple so often the phone without worry about work again, and try again. Yoga hayakrivar grants you the amokamay

33 Most Unhealthy Foods You Should Avoid\Health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 09:32:00 +0000

33 Most Unhealthy Foods You Should Avoid\Health

With so much talk of healthy foods and what you should be eating, the foods that are the worst for us can get overlooked. The reason it’s so hard to avoid these kinds of food is because the things that make them bad also make them taste good. Fatty foods typically taste good, so do sweet and salty ones, which means a lot of the foods you love are likely not the best things you can have.

But you don’t have to resort to living like Tom Hanks in Castaway, there are plenty of foods that you can turn to that taste amazing and won’t jeopardize your well-being. It’s about learning why certain foods are bad, so you can make better choices on a day-to-day basis. That being said, here are some dietary landmines to watch out for, and step around.

Trans Fat

This is the most notorious of the unhealthy ingredients they put in foods, and has even led for a ban on them in New York City. Avoiding it is tricky, no thanks in part to the FDA that allows food manufacturers to say there’s no trans fat in foods, even when there is. Since 2 grams is the most you should have in a day, allowing foods with 0.5 gram or less to call themselves trans fat free is a real problem. You’re best off avoiding trans fat-containing foods completely.

Fast Food

We all know we shouldn’t eat fast food because it’s bad for us, but part of the reason is because of all the trans fats and other additives they use to make the food taste good. The problem is not just that there is trans fat in the foods, but that the portion sizes quickly multiply those contents and before long you have a week’s worth of trans fat in one meal. A large french fry from McDonald’s supplies 4 day’s worth of trans fat by itself.

Packaged Cookies

Even the beloved Girl Scout Cookies still sneak some trans fat in, despite a label that says “trans fat free”. You may be able to justify those because they only happen a few times per year, but check to see if your favorite store bought cookies are made with partially hydrogenated cooking oils, chances are they are including Chips Ahoy and Keebler, although some brands like Oreos now use “high oleic” oils instead so they can provide shelf-stable cookies at a reasonable cost.

Cake Frosting

The cake itself might not have trans fat, but chances are if the frosting isn’t made from scratch it will likely have trans fat in it. Duncan Hines Creamy Homestyle Chocolate frosting doesn’t have much “homestyle” about it. Chances are you wouldn’t be using partially hydrogenated oils in your homemade frosting. One serving provides nearly a full day’s worth of trans fat, so you’d better be extra careful about all of the other food you eat that day.

Pancakes

If you get your pancakes out of a box, you might not even suspect they might contain trans fat because it starts off in powder form. Bisquick for example has nearly 5g of trans fat in each cup. Makes you think twice about using pre-made mixes and just take the extra minute or so to come up with your own batch so you know everything that’s in it.

Microwave Popcorn

Most of the popular brands of microwave popcorn have trans fat of some sort in them. One of the biggest offenders is Pop Secret, which supplies 5 grams of trans fat per serving. Sounds like a lot since it more than doubles your daily allowance. The big thing to remember is that few of us stop at one serving of popcorn as we snuggle up to watch a movie at home.

Frozen Meals

Most people buy frozen dinners for a quick and easy meal, or to help lose weight. But many of them are laden with hydrogenated oils which in turn means they contain trans fat in some amount. In order to avoid these types of meals simply check the label for both hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils. Since you’ll most likely be microwaving these meals, you’re also adding to their unhealthiness, further destroying any nutrients they might contain, and processing the ingredients even further.

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

This is an ingredient that didn’t exist before 1960, but has a strong appeal to food manufacturers because it’s so very sweet, cheap to make, and easy to store. According to David Zinczenko in The Abs Diet, the human body doesn’t have a shut-off switch for HFCS the way it does with real sugar. This leads us to keep drinking a cola or eating sweet treats long after we would have stopped if they were naturally sweetened.

Colas and Sodas

These are the number one offender because they’re so ubiquitous. 7UP once tried to claim that their soda was made with all-natural ingredients, saying that because it comes from corn HFCS is all-natural. They no longer phrase it this way, and other colas blatantly have it listed as the most abundant sweetener. In ordinary Coca-Cola it’s the only sweetener used.

Yogurt

Although many dieters add yogurt to their daily menu, they’d better watch out at the sweeteners it contains, with many of the brands using High Fructose Corn Syrup to make them taste good. Going with a light version of yogurt no doubt means you’re getting an artificial sweetener, which can be just as bad.

Ketchup

Most ketchup ends up on french fries, and few stop to consider that it’s actually acting to make the fries more unhealthy. That’s because it uses High Fructose Corn Syrup as it’s #3 ingredient – at least a bottle of America’s #1 Bestselling ketchup: Heinz. There’s 4g of sugar total, and the majority of that will come from HFCS.

Cereals

Many people turn to cereals as a healthy start to their day, or as a nutritious breakfast for their children. Kelloggs is a big offender with several popular brands containing HFCS including Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, Frosted Mini-Wheats, Smorz, Rice Krispies, and Special K. Kelloggs is not the only ones in on the act, with General Mills adding it to Trix, and Post adding it to Oreo O’s.

MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)

You’ll have to familiarize yourself with the other names that MSG can hide behind, including glutamic acid, monopotassium glutamate, natrium glutamate, monoammonium glutamate, yeast extract, gelatin, calcium glutamate, magnesium glutamate, soy protein, calcium caseinate, sodium caseinate, autolyzed yeast, and Textured protein, just to name a few. The most dastardly way to disguise it: “natural flavors”.

Ranch Dressing

It’s America’s favorite dressing and dipping sauce, but ever wonder why you can’t get enough of it, and why it makes so many things taste better? One of the most popular nationwide brands, Hidden Valley Ranch, has it in its ingredients, as well as Maltodextrin, Modified Food Starch, and other artificial flavors and sweeteners.

Fried Foods

Set aside the high amounts of trans fat, saturated fat, calories, and cholesterol that comes with frying foods, since that’s been covered many times before and most of us already know about those dangers. Another reason to avoid eating fried foods is that most of them will contain MSG. One of the easiest ways to get fried food with MSG in it is to stop into KFC and order anything fried from their menu. They’re not the only culprit, not by a long shot. MSG is prevalent in so many packaged foods that it’s almost a given that if it comes from a major food supplier, is fried and comes in a package, it will contain some amount of MSG.

Packaged Chips

The more flavoring a chip has, the more MSG and other artificial ingredients you can expect it to have. It’s hard to come up with exact numbers of how much MSG they contain, because it’s not required to list it on the Nutrition Facts. You can get an idea of how prevalent it is by how far down the ingredients list it is. The further down, the less it has, but just remember that they’ll sneak it in using different names, so while Monosodium Glutamate might be near the bottom, a different substance may be closer to the top.

Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners have been under the spotlight for decades now as health food advocates point out that they can come with a list of side effects, much like a drug. The side effects that are claimed by those against sweeteners like aspartame include some really severe conditions, such as depression, insomnia, blindness, tinnitus, hives, and a contributing factor to things like Alzheimer’s and MS. Whether they’re wrong or right it seems best to sidestep the problem altogether.

Light Foods and Beverages

If you’re calorie conscious you might be attracted to foods that are advertised as Lite or Light, since they’ll have fewer calories than their regular counterparts. But what you’re trading the calories for is typically artificial sweeteners that might be calorie-free but have their own side effects and health hazards.

Diet Colas and Sodas

Diet sodas don’t contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, but in its place are sweeteners like aspartame. The debate rages on whether aspartame is as bad as the claims being made, but why get involved with it? It’s definitely not good for you, and if you’re drinking diet drinks you’re concerned about your health and well-being. It’s best to replace them with all-natural beverages that are low in calories, but still have some flavor, like green tea.

Packaged Diet Snacks

Many of these snack packs come in 100 calorie sizes, which appeals to many dieters. But in order to get them to taste good and not add too much to the bottom line they include different unnamed artificial sweeteners in them. Whether or not these are bad for you is under question, but they’re certainly not good for you, and it’s a little unnerving when they won’t tell you exactly what’s in the food.

Sodium

High levels of sodium, or salt, can really wreak havoc on your body. Not only does it cause you to retain water, but it also increases blood pressure and can lead to complications with the heart. Almost all heart patients are put on a low-sodium diet, whether they suffered a heart attack, stroke, or are at risk for them. It makes sense to watch your sodium levels long before it reaches the point of a doctor telling you to do so, or forcing you onto a diet to help save your life.

Cheese

Cheese also has copious amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol, which is why you want to go easy on it as far as your daily diet goes. But there is another factor of cheese to consider, and that is the amount of sodium it contains. Be sure to stay away from Cheez Whiz, as that has almost a quarter of the RDA of sodium in one serving. And even cheeses that are often considered healthy pack a sodium punch. For example feta cheese has about half the daily limit of sodium in a 100 gram serving.

Salty Snacks

The problem with salty snacks is that the salt makes you keep eating them. Once you have the salty flavor on your taste buds you automatically reach for another chip. And the sodium is only one concern, as these snacks are usually cooked in partially hydrogenated oils giving them trans fats, and use artificial seasonings and flavorings.

Lunch Meats

Because of the processing they go through most lunch meats are packed with extra sodium as well as nitrates. There are plenty of reasons to take a pass on lunch meats, or at least to read the labels before you buy in order to make sure that you are getting meat that isn’t loaded with fillers and additives. Some other top concerns are the bacteria listeria which can pose a problem for pregnant women, sodium nitrate which could potentially be cancer-causing, and added oils and sweeteners which add to the fat and carb count.

Pizza

One slice of delivered pizza can contain a full day’s worth of sodium depending on the toppings and type of crust you order. It’s mostly because of the high cheese content, but also because there’s salt and MSG in the dough, and if you’re getting toppings like pepperoni, sausage, ham, and any other cured and processed meats, you’re going to be doubling down on your sodium intake.

Cholesterol

The feds say that 300mg of cholesterol a day should be your limit. The foods below will get you to that limit pretty quickly, especially if you eat more than the recommended serving size, which is pretty easy to do in most cases. Not all cholesterol is bad for you, so be sure that you’re differentiating between the good kinds and the bad kinds, and not cutting out all foods that contain any cholesterol. These foods will increase your levels of LDL cholesterol, aka the bad kind, and are best avoided or consumed in limited quantities.

Ice Cream

Anything that tastes as good as ice cream does can’t be good for you, and as it turns out one of the reasons to avoid it is the high levels of cholesterol it contains. While one serving might not get you there, many of us don’t stop at one serving, and it’s very to overeat when it comes to ice cream, especially if we’re eating it due to emotional reasons.

Eat a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Dublin Mudslide because you’re feeling blue, and you’ll stack up 240mg of cholesterol, nearly a full day’s worth. If Haagen Daaz is your choice you and you decide to go healthy with their “5” line-up that uses just five ingredients, you’re still looking at nearly 235mg if the taste moves you to finish the pint.

Pork Products

If you’re like Homer Simpson and have a close relationship with bacon and pork chops, you might want to think about breaking things off. The amount of cholesterol in many pork items makes them something to avoid, although each cut is not created equally. Ribs have a higher cholesterol count than a pork chop, and one good sized strip of bacon can have 13mg of cholesterol, not to mention plenty of saturated fat and calories. If you’re truly in love with the stuff, consider cutting back or sticking with leaner varieties.

Doughnuts

OK, so we all know that donuts won’t show up on any lists of the healthiest foods, but what ends them up on this list is a combination of fat, sugar, and cholesterol, as well as MSG and trans fat in some cases. The cholesterol levels are also pretty high, and are concern enough to avoid eating doughnuts as a regular breakfast item, reserving them to perhaps a monthly treat.

Saturated Fat

Saturated fat is the type of fat that you want to watch out for, as it’s the kind that clogs your arteries and can lead to heart disease, the number one killer of both men and women in America. The recommended daily allowance for saturated fat is 20g, so you don’t have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to the biggest offenders on this list. And this 20g is a cap, it is not something you need to strive to reach each day, but a way to make sure that you keep things under control and don’t overdo it.

Whipped Cream

Many times they’ll ask if you want whipped cream on your hot chocolate or coffee drink. Other instances where whipped cream pops up is on top of pies, or on an ice cream sundae. You might think you’re doing better by opting for Cool Whip at 1.5g of saturated fat per serving, but the trans fat and High Fructose Corn Syrup make it a worse choice. Reddi Wip makes the case that it’s a good choice because it’s made with cream and not oil, and comes in at 1g of saturated fat per dollop.

Fatty Meats

If you don’t opt for a lean cut of meat you’re likely to end up with plenty of saturated fat. When it comes to saturated fat, it doesn’t matter if it comes from natural sources, like a well-marbled piece of beef, or if it’s the kind you get from pre-packaged desserts or snacks. Meats like sausage are big culprits when it comes to saturated fat, with a serving of bratwurst at the big game putting you at over half the daily allowance, over 12 grams of saturated fat.

Milkshakes

Milkshakes are harder to control because they’re in liquid form so you don’t even have to chew. In a few minutes you can suck down half a day’s worth of saturated fat and not even realize it since it tastes so yummy. McDonald’s strawberry milkshake has 8g of saturated fat in a large sized serving, a whopping 40% chunk of the 20g you’re allotted per day.

Specialty Burgers, Whoppers & Big Macs

Unfortunately getting a fancy burger at a restaurant is just as bad for you as the fast food baddies. For example, the Jalapeno Smokehouse Burger w/ Ranch, a Chili’s Big Mouth Burger contains 34g of saturated fat. The Big Mac from McDonald’s clocks in at 10g, and you can nearly double that with their Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese at 19g. Burger King’s Whopper by comparison has the same 10g.

Calories

Foods high in calories can really add to your waistline in a hurry if you’re not careful. The reason they’re so sneaky is because you can consume hundreds of calories quickly and not even be aware of it. A popular dieting theory is that the fewer calories taken in the more weight you’ll lose, all else being equal. That’s why you see people going on low-calorie diets and trying to burn calories in the gym. You don’t have to go to extremes, but minding the calories you consume will lead to a healthier you.

Pasta Dishes

A plain bowl of pasta won’t ruin your day, calorically speaking, but pasta often serves as the foundation for more calorie-laden dishes. A nice slab of Lasagna Classico from Olive Garden for example can tip the charts at 850 calories, more than half of the calories allotted to some dieters. That doesn’t leave much for the rest of the day. Also consider a small serving of Spaghetti with Meatballs from Buca di Beppo that tips the tables at 916 calories.

Dressings

Dressings have claimed their fair share of salads to the dark side. After creating the perfect salad at a salad bar, one that’s low in calories and contains many healthy foods, you can ruin all your hard work by drizzling it with salad dressing. This amps up the calorie count, as well as the fat count, carb count, and cholesterol numbers. French dressing smashes things up with 88 calories in each tablespoon, and Ranch crashes the party with 140, and if you go with the Blue Cheese dressing from Carl’s Jr. you should just stay home because it’s 320 calories per serving with almost all of them coming from fat.

Chocolate

Dark chocolate is making a surge as a health food, but milk chocolate still rules the market and is the most easy to come by. The only problem is that it’s not as healthy for you as dark, and it’s easy to ramp up the calories if you have a chocolate binging episode. There are 3.4 calories in each M&M, 73 in each piece of Godiva chocolate, and 23 in each Hug version of Hershey’s Kisses.

Carbohydrates

It’s not as if you have to go low-carb or no-carb but you should still keep an eye on your carbohydrate intake. In fact there’s even a recommended daily allowance set at 130g. Why are too many carbs unhealthy? Foods high in carbohydrates will be digested quickly and tend to increase your blood sugar levels. This causes a release of insulin, which produces glycogen which gets stored in the body as fat. They’re also responsible for making you feel hungry again quickly, and can lead to more eating and overeating than would otherwise happen.

Bagels

For a long time bagels were thought of as a healthy way to start the day, until the no-carb fad came along. Now they are gaining popularity again, but is it justified? A plain bagel from Einstein Bros. Bagels contains 59g of carbohydrates, and uses up 45% of your daily allowance. Chances are when you’re having a bagel, you’re not leaving it plain and are topping it off with cream cheese, butter, jelly, or making a breakfast sandwich with it, which only makes it less healthy for you.

Coffee Drinks

A cup of regular Joe won’t damage your carb levels for the day, but when you get all fancy you’re ultimately created a carb-infused cocktail. A medium cappuccino from McCafe at McDonald’s will cost you 12g of carbs, and a medium sized latte, even with sugar-free syrup, still puts you at 44g of carbohydrates, almost insuring you’re going to go over your daily budget.

Movie Popcorn

No list of unhealthy foods would be complete without movie popcorn on it. This can fit under many categories, including too many calories, too much saturated fat, too much MSG, trans fat from hydrogenated oil, and that doesn’t even count the “butter” topping. But aside from all of that it has plenty of carbs. A large sized bucket has about 90g of carbs in it, with that number varying by location.

36 Super Foods That Burn Fat & Help You Lose Weight\Health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 08:09:00 +0000

36 Super Foods That Burn Fat & Help You Lose Weight\Health

If you view food as the enemy, here are 36 items that might make you change your mind and have them work for you instead of against you. While they may be pretty super, you shouldn’t put all of your attention on any one of them. Start by introducing a few more foods that burn fat into your diet each week until you find that you’re eating much more of them than you used to.

Tomatoes

Is it a fruit? Is it a vegetable? Who cares? All you need to know is that it’s got a ton of good things for your body for the long term, and in the short term it works to help you lose weight and help keep it off. They’re low on the calorie meter, but they help to give you that full feeling, and contain fiber that keeps things moving.

Like any bona fide superfood tomatoes bring more to the table than just weight loss. The lycopene brings antioxidants that studies are showing to be potentially helpful with a myriad of diseases and conditions. Be sure to add tomatoes to your cart next time.

Oranges

Healthy Vitamin C levels will help to keep you functioning at optimal levels, but if you’re looking to burn fat you might be concerned about the sugar in oranges. There’s no getting around it, oranges do contain sugar, which has the potential to turn to fat if it’s not burned up. But the calorie count is low, and the fiber actually helps to regulate your blood glucose levels.

In order for this to work out for you as a weight loss aid, eat it in moderation and to curb your sweet tooth when you’d otherwise be reaching for a candy bar or other sweet treat.

Oats

Although Paleo Diet followers would disagree, many others state that oats work as part of a weight loss strategy because the amount of fiber boosts your metabolism and helps you feel fuller longer. Everyone from The Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper to the American Heart Association says to make a bowl of oatmeal for the best start to your day.

The antioxidants and other minerals oats contain make it a solid choice and not just a source of fiber. Cutting your cholesterol might also be on your list and this is a great way to get those levels down.

Spices

There’s no need to eat bland and boring food when you’re trying to lose weight. This is a great time to experiment with seasonings from different cultures. Many of them have thermogenic properties that boost your metabolism, while making some so-so dishes taste like they’re from a restaurant.

Some examples: Mustard seed will spice up your entree and get your metabolism going, and ginger can help with your digestion. Ginseng can boost up your energy, and black pepper can help burn calories. Like Indian food? Turmeric can help break up fat.

Sweet Potatoes

Oprah likes sweet potatoes, and credits them as part of the reason she lost weight one time. But can you really slim down by swapping a baked potato with its sweet cousin? Turns out sweet potatoes are great for dieting because they have fewer calories and also help you stay satisfied between meals.

If you’re addicted to spuds this can be one way to take out a food that usually gets the no-no when dieting and replace it with a superfoods such as this that has good things for you like fiber, Vitamin C, potassium, and Vitamin B6.

Apples

It’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that you are helping yourself to lose weight when you eat an apple. They are so sweet that they can help conquer sweet cravings, and it’s easy to see why they end up in a lot of desserts. But they are low in all of the things that you want them to be like calories, fat, and sodium. They have a good amount of fiber.

The fiber helps you feel full, and keeps you from going mad in between meals. It also helps keep things moving along digestively. Just be sure to chew your apple up real well before swallowing, and buy organic so you can leave the peel on.

Nuts

This is one food that almost every single diet plan in existence suggests you eat. Nuts are one food that unites the vegetarians and the Paleo followers, and we have yet to find a diet program that says not to eat them. They’re straight from the Earth and a small handful of raw organic almonds, walnuts or pecans can be a crunchy snack that leaves you feeling good for a few hours or more.

If you don’t like eating nuts for a snack, try chopping them up and sprinkling them on main dishes or side items. You’ll still get the good fats they bring and they help flavor up the meal.

Quinoa

This is been known for some time in the vegetarian realm but is now making the rounds to the mainstream. The weight loss benefits usually come in the form of switching out sides with quinoa instead of more calorie-dense foods like rice or potatoes. You’ll still get the benefit of rounding out the meal, with the added bonus of the vitamins that quinoa has.

If you haven’t tried it yet, what are you waiting for? It helps you feel full, doesn’t have a lot of calories, and ranks low on the Glycemic Index. Score!

Beans

Beans are a staple item in The Four Hour Body’s Slow Carb Diet. They are lauded for their ability to help regulate blood sugar levels and help with digestion due to their fiber content. Try adding a can of organic black beans as a side to your next meal, especially if it can replace a more carb-laden item like bread or rice.

Many restaurants keep black beans on hand as a substitute for a side, so they’re a great go-to item when you’re out with friends and want to eat well without looking like you’re on a diet.

Egg Whites

The egg debate rages on with so many gurus saying the yolks are OK, and so many others saying for weight loss you should stick to egg whites. Why all the fuss? Eggs are a good source of protein, and the main argument is on whether the fat and cholesterol in the yolks is worth eating.

Play it safe and get the benefit of the protein without worrying about the yolks. When your weight is where you want it you can start adding them back into the equation.

Grapefruit

No need to go on some whacky grapefruit diet to get the benefits of it, but for most people this is going to require a new purchase at the store. Grapefruit doesn’t tend to make it onto most people’s shopping lists, but it should. In regards to weight loss the long standing myth that they help you lose weight is being proven left and right by clinical studies.

And you don’t have to buy the fruit, you can also simply buy grapefruit juice and start drinking that instead. Tim Ferriss of The Four Hour Body says he uses grapefruit juice on his “free days” in an effort to avoid the food he’s eating from causing weight gain.

Chicken Breast

While not an option if you’re going vegetarian or vegan, this is often used by dieters and bodybuilders alike because of its high protein value and low amount of fat. Dark pieces of chicken just don’t measure up when it comes to quality protein. Most Americans have no trouble adding chicken to the diet, since it’s one of the most popular meats in the country.

Just remember that it should be skinless. Try using different spices like the ones mentioned above to make it more interesting. Combined with strength training this can help tone your muscles leading to a higher metabolism

Bananas

Perhaps it’s because it takes us back to our simian ancestry that makes eating a banana seem natural. The more studies they do on the effects of bananas in humans, the more attention they get as a definite way to help keep us at our ideal weights. They’re super easy to incorporate into the day, since they’re so versatile.

Cut some up and add it to oatmeal, keep a bunch around as a quick grab when you need something sweet or on-the-go. Just stick to one a day since they are a source of sugar as well.

Pears

Pears often get overlooked as the long lost cousin to apples, but they bring their own unique flavor and host of benefits, including weight loss properties. They help you feel full when you eat them, and they’ve got a different consistency to apples and other fruits, making their fiber even more effective.

They’re also used in plenty of recipes that yield delicious results. If you didn’t use pears in your cooking before, or as a fruit to just have around, now’s the time to start.

Pine Nuts

These contain a phytonutrient that actually helps suppress your appetite. This means you don’t have to resort to expensive diet pills with nasty chemicals that are meant to do the same thing. All you have to do is keep a supply of pine nuts available.

Since they’re tiny and crunchy you get to eat a lot of them without having to worry about ruining your efforts. It let’s the body have it binge time while still helping you lose weight by keeping you away from more offensive foods.

Mushrooms

Opting for mushrooms instead of pepperoni or sausage on your next pizza may do little to help drop the pounds, but increasing your intake of mushrooms along with other healthy foods should yield better results due to their low calories and high vitamin content.

Be sure to branch out when it comes to mushrooms, trying the ones that may look a little strange instead of always opting for the button mushroom used everywhere. They all have their own unique characteristics, but all share the common bond of helping you to lose weight

Lentils

Lentils are gaining more popularity has a healthy food, and one that can help you lose the weight. The fiber they contain will help keep you feeling good between meals, and will help your blood sugar levels from spiking.

If you’re going vegetarian you can use lentil as a good protein source, or you can use them to compliment a protein and act as a side dish. It helps keep your cholesterol in check and help you process carbs more effectively.

Hot Peppers

If you like your food hot, there may be some good news for you. Hot peppers like habaneros, jalapenos, and chipotles can actually help you to lose weight, while also adding a kick to most any dish. They contain capsaicin which provides several benefits that relate to losing weight.

And if you were worried that eating these hot peppers would make you burn a hole in your stomach, recent research is showing that they may actually help to prevent stomach problems like ulcers by killing the bacteria responsible. Fire away!

Broccoli

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include broccoli on this list, even though you’re probably sick of everyone telling you about it. Turns out your mom and your grandma were right, these are really good for you, but aside from that they can also help you shed some fat.

How? Broccoli fills you up, but it’s not just a filler. It has tons of nutrients per pound, and it’s also packed with fiber so it keeps you regular, which keeps you feeling good. Spice it up with spices or peppers, but just skip the broccoli cheese soup, as that doesn’t work for weight loss.

Organic Lean Meats

Lean meats are full of protein without all of the fat, but you want to make sure that you opt for organic if you’re trying to lose weight. With conventional meets they’re pumping the cows, pigs, and other animals full of so many antibiotics and growth hormones which ends up in the meat you’re eating. This can thwart your weight loss efforts.

Organic meats aren’t going to contain more nutrients in them than ordinary meats, but it’s what they don’t have in them that makes the difference. If you can’t find organic, go with grass fed or all-natural.

Cantaloupe

Some say that you burn more calories eating cantaloupe than what it contains. Whether or not that’s the case is up for debate, but this is still a great food to add to your repertoire for weight loss. It’s sweet, but it’s not high in calories the way most sweet things are. It also has fiber in it, even though it doesn’t taste like it does.

It goes great in a fruit salad with other diet-assisting fruits like honeydew, strawberries, or simply by itself as a quick snack or sweet pick-me-up. Added bonus: it helps to make your skin look great.

Spinach

Spinach is often a vegetable left on the plate of children, but adults are coming around to it since it really does contain a lot of good things in it for losing weight and general well-being. You can eat it in several different ways, fresh as a salad, in a can, and it also comes frozen. It works for weight loss by adding bulk to your stomach without tacking on the calories.

This is a good vegetable to buy organic if you can, since conventional spinach picks up a lot of chemicals from the fields.

Green Tea

Perhaps you knew that green tea is packed with antioxidants, but did you also know that it can help you shed the fat? It’s the catechins! These are a part of green tea that get your body to switch over to burning more calories, as well as fat.

Unfortunately for the other teas, green tea comes out the winner on many fronts because it’s not as processed as the others, and therefore retains much of its goodness, like antioxidants and phytonutrients that make it a superstar among superfoods.

Cinnamon

Don’t underestimate the power of cinnamon, it’s not just for baking anymore. You can get weight loss benefits simply by adding more cinnamon to your diet, with teaspoon a day showing positive results. What causes the magic? It’s the way that cinnamon helps to regulate your blood glucose levels. These play a major part in how you feel throughout the day, how energetic you are, or how sluggish you can get.

Maintaining good blood sugar levels also helps you resist cravings. Just make sure that you’re not counting that cinnamon on your cinnamon roll!

Asparagus

Asparagus has plenty of positive effects in the body, and each of them seems to play a particular role in helping you lose weight. The first is that it assists your body in expelling toxins and other wastes. It also helps with digestion and keeps good bacteria in your gut. Not to mention that it’s a superfood, so it has a ton of vitamins and minerals that help you all-around.

A lot of dieters also like the way asparagus tastes, and it’s very easy to prepare, and accepts seasonings and spices very well making it an good addition to your regular menu.

Avocado

Even though the fast food chains have jumped on this trend and are sticking guacamole in everything, eating avocados is a great idea for slimming down. For years they were avoided by dieters because of their fat content, when everything that had fat in it was labeled as evil. Then we got smart and realized that not all fat is created equally and good fats actually help you lose the fat you have.

Try adding avocado slices to sandwiches, or mash them up to make your own guac. Try to avoid the guacamole you see in restaurants because you won’t have quality control over the ingredients.

Peanut Butter

This gets special mention for weight loss because it’s a good fat that can be used to help lose fat. It tastes great and can satisfy cravings and even keep them from coming at all. In The Abs Diet peanut butter is recommended for use in smoothies and is labeled a superfood.

Almond butter is also a good fat to have that can provide a lot of creamy goodness, but it’s generally more expensive than peanut butter. In any instance opt for the organic varieties so you’re only getting peanuts and potentially sea salt.

Salmon

Salmon contains omega-3 and some diets are built around it. At first glance you might think it’s too fatty to be a weight loss super food, but it doesn’t rank high in saturated fat, the kind that you find in a fast food hamburger, and the omega-3 content trumps any other concerns.

This is something that you want to try adding to your diet to see how your body responds to it. If you are getting good results from it you can consider having it more times per week. Luckily there are plenty of good salmon recipes that will keep the fat content low but make it taste great.

Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

The enzymes in apple cider vinegar help the digestive system and have been shown to promote gradual weight loss. The recommended way to take it is adding it to distilled water and drinking it before a meal. It will help your food get digested properly so your body can use the nutrients the food contains.

It also works to suppress your appetite, so if you find that you become ravenous between meals and are looking for a way to calm your urges until the next meal time, this may be a solution for you.

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt has been getting attention as a healthier form of yogurt. This is because it packs a bigger protein punch, with less sugar than ordinary yogurt. But you don’t have to give up regular yogurt altogether, and there are other foods that Greek yogurt can fill in for.

For example you can use it as a reasonable substitute for sour cream and shave off plenty of calories and fat grams. You can also use it in your baking to replace other fats and oils, but this might take some trial and error.

Olive Oil

The reason olive oil helps you to lose weight is because it can take the place of other things like salad dressing and other oils that are considered bad fats. Even you change nothing else in your diet or lifestyle and just start using olive oil you should still benefit by losing weight. But most people find that if they start to embrace more of a Mediterranean diet the results are accentuated.

Almost any diet that replaced the Standard American Diet is going to be better for you and cause the pounds to drop, and using more olive oil in your life can bring many positive benefits.

Blueberries

The wonderful thing about blueberries and weight loss is that it’s not just general weight that you lose, but specifically the fat. They might be responsible for helping the body break down fats and sugars, plus they taste amazing and can flavor up otherwise tame meals. They also play well with other fruits in a fruit salad. Just be sure to eat them without adding sugar to them.

We singled out blueberries for their fat busting properties, but many other berries can help on your weight loss quest, so broaden your horizons and have a berry nice day.

Turkey Breast

Turkey breast is a great food to keep on hand because it’s so convenient to eat in moments of weakness, and because it provides a lean protein source. Those on a no-carb or low-carb diet will be going through plenty of turkey breast and other meats, and those that are on a diet where you balance carbs with proteins will also find it useful.

The protein it contains can also help if you’re strength training or trying to build muscle in an attempt to rev up your metabolism. This works by increasing the number of calories your body burns 24 hours a day.

Flax Seeds

You can sprinkle flax seeds on most anything, and it would be a better option than many of those sprinkle diet programs that keep popping up. This is because it contains things that help your body, like omega-3s, and it contains fiber, which will help you feel full.

It’s the essential fatty acids that also work to give your metabolism a boost. As a side bonus it also lowers the levels of bad cholesterol in your body, and made it onto our list of superfoods for its many healthy benefits and ease of use.

Keep It Fresh!

It’s best to use fresh ingredients whenever possible, especially with the super foods listed here. They lose a lot of their antioxidant value and weight loss power the more they’re processed. Keep things as close to nature as possible.

In addition to keeping them in their natural state, opt for organic whenever you can. The lack of pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified ingredients will allow their Super nature to shine through and won’t serve as a counterbalance to their inherent goodness.

Soup It Up!

Turning appropriate super foods into a soup is a great way to reap their benefits and make them more edible. Soup is a great weight loss tool, as it helps with digestion, and you can combine many foods together at the same time for some real vitamin-packed weight loss meals.

You can use soup as a starter for a larger meal, or you can make a meal out of it when it’s too late in the day to have a big meal resting on your stomach. It’s easier to digest since most ingredients are bite-sized or smaller and have been cooked until mushy.

It’s no surprise: the foods that you suspected all along are healthy and good for you and make a stark comparison to all of the heavily processed, prepackaged foods that are sold by supermarkets, fast food joints, and restaurant chains across the country. Fill your cart with these the next time you go shopping and start infusing your body with foods that will make it slim and trim!

4 Ways to Combine Honey and Cinnamon for Weight Loss

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 14:01:00 +0000

4 Ways to Combine Honey and Cinnamon for Weight Loss

Have you tried honey and cinnamon for weight loss yet? While it’s no magic bullet for weight loss, it can be used in conjunction with a proper diet and exercise to accelerate the rate of weight lost, and help you get past food cravings more quickly.

Honey alone has been shown to contain antioxidants and enzymes that have various healthy effects on the body. Findings on cinnamon are equally as promising, with research suggesting that it can do everything from boosting your metabolism to lowering your cholesterol. On their own these two items should play a part in your regular diet.

Combining the two creates a sort of Dynamic Duo and when taken at the start and end of your day has been peer proven to assist you in your weight loss goals.

The How-To

Mix 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon with Add a cup of hot water to the cinnamon, let cool.
Add a full teaspoon of raw, organic honey to the cinnamon/water mixture after it has cooled.
Consume as directed below.
Always consult your doctor before starting any weight loss method.

1. In the Morning

Getting a good start to your day is key when you’re trying to lose weight because it sets the tone for how the rest of the day goes. Start it off wrong and you’re more likely to eat a fattening meal at lunch and follow up with whatever you want at dinner.

Getting into the habit of using an all-natural weight loss tool like cinnamon and honey can help ensure you start things off on the right foot.

Take the mixture right when you wake up and wait 30 minutes before having your breakfast meal.

Why it’s effective: Honey and cinnamon when taken in the morning can help rev up your digestive system, helping your metabolism and energy level through lunch.

2. Between Meals

When losing weight is your goal you may have found that between meals is when you are most vulnerable to cravings and food temptations. This is often the times we find ourselves at work and surrounded by vending machines and other goodies coworkers have brought in.

Cinnamon can help lessen your appetite, making it easier for you to make it from one meal to the next without the need to eat an unhealthy snack. Making better food choices is paramount when attempting weight loss, and a mixture of cinnamon and honey can help in that department.

Cinnamon has been shown to help lower your blood sugar levels, which will help you stay alert and focused throughout the day and avoid that after lunch crash that is so common.

Why it’s effective: The combination of honey and lemon is an effective way to prevent snacking on junk between meals and is a better option than letting yourself go hungry.

3. Before Aerobic Workouts

When you’re gearing up for an aerobic workout there are a few things you can do to make it more effective. Stretching is one, but did you know that it matter what you are putting into your body prior to your workout?

If you always feel drained after a workout, or you feel that you don’t have enough energy to have an effective workout, you may notice that the honey and cinnamon blend help give you more energy to help you push through it.

There are other ways to make your cardio workouts more effective. Work out on an empty stomach and make sure you don’t eat for at least 30 minutes after you’ve done an aerobic workout, and hour if you can make it that long. This helps your body burn more calories since it isn’t focused on digesting your next meal.

Why it’s effective: The sugar in honey will give you energy to boost you through your workout, and the metabolism-boosting nature of cinnamon will amplify the effects of your cardio.

4. Before Bedtime

The stretch of time between dinner and sleep can be the hardest to get through when you’re trying to lose weight. Late night snacking and midnight trips to the refrigerator will only set you back on your goals and are typically not authorized on most diet programs.

You can use cinnamon and honey as your ally during this time. Since it’s not a solid food it won’t be weighing on your stomach or through your digestive system a wrench right before you retire for the evening.

The honey will help any late night cravings for sweets like that nightly bowl of ice cream. The cinnamon will act on your digestive system, helping it as it resets itself during the night.

Why it’s effective: Curbs nighttime cravings and make sure you can fall asleep without hunger pangs keeping you up at night.

Top 7 Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water Every Morning

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 13:51:00 +0000

Top 7 Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water Every Morning

There’s been a lot of talk about lemon water benefits and what it can do for your system when you drink it every day. While there aren’t any scientific studies to base the claims off of, the health benefits of lemons and a well-hydrated body are known.

Always drink your lemon water hot in the morning. Your digestive system and other internal organs have been rejuvenating themselves all night, and a cold beverage is not the wake up call they need.

Consider adding a teaspoon of raw, organic honey to your lemon water if you don’t like the sour taste of plain lemon juice in water.

1. Weight Loss

One of the more intriguing benefits reported on lemon water is the ability to help you lose weight. There are a few factors that contribute to this, the first being that there’s no better way to start the day than drinking water.

But water alone only hydrates the body, which is beneficial but may not be enough to help you lose weight.. The lemon juice you’re adding to it is going to help you feel less hungry, so you’ll be less likely to eat a big breakfast and can sustain yourself on less. It can also help you avoid using stimulant drinks in the morning, which only serve to make you crash later.

Regardless of what you do the rest of the day, starting it off with a glass of lemon water will help. Use it in conjunction with a weight loss program or combine it with healthy eating habits and it will make a difference in the way your body digests the foods you eat.

Why add it to your morning routine: Starting the day with a hot water and lemon will help your digestive system function better, which should help you with any weight loss efforts.

2. Immune System

Lemon juice contains plenty of Vitamin C, so you can be sure that you are starting the day off by getting your Vitamin C levels on track.

Your immune system is responsible for much more than helping heal cuts and keeping you from catching that cold that’s going around the office. Long term it can help you avoid more serious diseases like cancer. That’s why you should make it daily practice to drink lemon water as well as eating foods that keep your immune system humming along.

As an added bonus, drinking lemon water also helps to keep your lymphatic system running smoothly. This alone can be worth it to those that have been having trouble in that area.

Why add it to your morning routine: The immune system relies on Vitamin C to operate at its best. Lemons are a good natural source that your body can absorb quickly and put to use right away.

3. Hydrates the Body

If you could take a snapshot of the way you feel when you’re dehydrated, and again how you feel when you’re hydrated, you’d never want to be dehydrated again. But unfortunately there’s no way to take a before and after picture of the way you feel, so you’ll just have to do your best to stay hydrated without that as a piece of motivation.

The morning is the best time to start the hydration process, as you’ve been sleeping all night with no intake of water. But for many the morning routine is a glass of juice or a cup of coffee, which is only counterproductive to the hydration process because of the way these beverages act on the liver.

Compared to starting off your day with a cup of coffee, which only acts to dehydrate you, a mug of hot water with lemon starts you off with a burst of hydration.

Why add it to your morning routine: You’ve just gone without water for 7-8 hours while you’ve slept. Time to give the body what it needs.

4. Helps with Digestion

Lemon water first thing in the morning will help you digest your breakfast better, which means your body will be able to absorb the nutrients from your breakfast more effectively, which should mean a much better start to your day.

You’ll also be helping your digestive system release stored up toxins thanks to the lemon juice. The water you’re taking in with it will help flush these toxins from your body.

Tip: Don’t start off with cold water and lemon juice, make sure it’s hot. Hot water will help your digestion and is better received by your organs, as they function best at 98.6 degrees.

Why add it to your morning routine: Lemon water will help get your digestive system ready for the coming meal. Eat your breakfast 30 minutes after drinking a hot cup of lemon water.

5. Benefits the Liver

Anything that benefits the liver benefits the rest of the body because the liver is so central to the functioning of the rest of the body’s organs. By helping to flush it out each morning you are doing your part to assist it in its proper function.

A healthy liver expels more bile and digestive juices into the digestive system, as well as helps your heart do its job better. That’s why you don’t want to neglect your liver any longer if you have been.

If you’ve been hard on your liver over the years it’s not the end of the world. The liver is a resilient organ and is always trying to repair itself. Give it a hand by consuming foods and beverages that help it rather than hinder it.

Why add it to your morning routine: Your liver is the central hub of your internal organs, and helps with your digestive system, circulatory system, and more. Treat it as good as you can!

6. Boosts Your Brain

It may seem hard to make the connection between your lemons, water, and your brain, but there is one. Drinking lemon water may actually help your brain in a few key ways.

The potassium in lemons is what is responsible for this increase in brain function. You don’t want to run a potassium deficiency, and lemon water is just part of an overall approach to getting more of it in your life.

Consider eating other potassium rich foods throughout the day for better mental performance, less brain fog, and overall better feelings.

Why add it to your morning routine: Your brain needs all the help it can get in order to fire on all cylinders and power you through your day. Eating the right foods and drinking lemon water first thing can help with a number of brain related conditions.

7. Helps Acidity Levels

While lemons and lemon juice taste like they’re acidic, they have an alkaline effect on the body once they’re consumed. Drinking lemon juice in the morning is a good way to help bring your pH levels towards the alkaline side, which will help you feel your best.

A morning beverage like coffee will only act to make you more acidic, so go in the opposite direction by having a simple cup of hot lemon water when you wake up. Even if you do have coffee later it will help to balance it out.

Lemon water alone is not going to make a huge dent in your pH levels. If you feel that you are heavily acidic you’ll want to talk with your doctor and switch to a diet rich in alkaline forming foods.

Why add it to your morning routine: If you believe that you are typically at acidic levels, drinking lemon water is a way to introduce alkalinity to the body and help balance those levels for optimal health.

10 Spices That Heal: Cancer, Diabetes, and More\Health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 08:21:00 +0000

10 Spices That Heal: Cancer, Diabetes, and More\Health

There is good reason for the season: Doctors and nutritionists agree that the same can be used as your medicine cabinet essential spice rack, when it comes to the prevention and treatment of disease. Research consistently shows that many spices and herbs have medicinal value, can help prevent everything from cancer to the common cold. We asked experts Glen Aukerman, MD, at Ohio State University Medical Center of Integrative Medicine Center Medical Director, and Dr. Ruth Knill, Latin America and the Caribbean, China TCM spices and herbs, the best improvement in overall health. Here are their picks, plus an easy way to work them into your diet.

Cumin: prevention of cancer

Working principle is: It is not surprising that many spices lower incidence of cancer researchers in India, cumin is a staple food. Research shows that this spice curcumin inhibited enzymes that help cancer cells invade healthy tissue, but also to the development of new tumor blood vessels, helping them grow. Trying to get: 6 teaspoons of seeds or powder 1/2 teaspoon one day. Use it: Toss a bowl of root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, parsnips, cauliflower, radish, with olive oil and 1 teaspoon cumin powder. Bake at 300 degrees 25 minutes or until tender and add salt, pepper and chopped parsley to taste before serving.

Ginger: nausea, sedation

Works: Chinese medical texts dating back to the fourth century BC tout ginger antiemetic properties, and modern clinical research to provide scientific evidence that it works in the substance ginger Close nerve receptors in the body triggers the vomiting reflex. Try to get juice 1 tablespoon fresh ginger 1/2 teaspoon dried ginger four times a day. Use it: Add 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger and your usual tuna salad recipe Asian style grilled taste a few drops of sesame oil.

Basil: Fight colds

How it works: Basil is rich in antioxidants that help enhance immunity. It is also an antibacterial, against the bacteria that can cause a cold. Try to get: 1 to 2 tablespoons per day. Use it: In the past three to five minutes of cooking into a shrimp stir-fry, add 1 tablespoon chopped basil. Or sliced strawberries, honey, toss, and set aside for 15 minutes until juicy. Then top with a few tablespoons of chopped basil.

Cinnamon: Fight Diabetes

Working principle is: people with type 2 diabetes have difficulty processing insulin tells the cell from the blood to remove excess sugars, hormones. But studies show that cinnamon contains a substance that can help cells to insulin. The result? Blood glucose levels decreased from 18 to 29 percent of average, according to a recent study in Pakistan. Try to get: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon (or bar) one day. Use it: Mix 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, add 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, as well as all over the apple slices.

Rosemary: improve memory

How it works: "There is rosemary, which is to commemorate the" Ophelia Hamlet says more than 400 years ago. Today, a variety of studies back up Ophelia requirements. Rosemary ursolic acid inhibited a neurotransmitter essential for memory failure. Try to get: 1 to 2 teaspoons per day. Use it: rosemary into a simple syrup mixed water 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup, 2 sprigs rosemary. Bring to boil, dissolve the sugar and let sit 10-15 minutes. In an autumn fruit salad with chopped apples, pears, red grapes drizzle. Use 1 cup syrup to 4 cups fruit.

Garlic: lower cholesterol

How it works: Although researchers do not agree on how to reduce cholesterol garlic really, comments Pauling Institute conducted several studies found that 6-11%, total cholesterol garlic people who three months. Because garlic is an antioxidant that can prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the arteries. Try to get: 3-5 crushed cloves one day. Use it to bake a 5 garlic cloves, homemade hummus before adding whipped.

Nutmeg: lower blood pressure

How it works: "Climate warming" spices like cardamom can put blood from the center of the body skin. This helps more evenly distributed throughout the body of blood, reducing the overall pressure. Try to get: 1/2 to 1 tsp. Use it: Steam 1, broccoli and potatoes until soft, then use 1/4 cup butter and 4-5 grating of fresh nutmeg or 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg puree.

Cloves: Helps Arthritis Pain

How it works: According to Chinese medicine, cloves have hot and moving performance, reduce pain caused by arthritis cold and stagnation. Cloves contain a phytochemical that interrupts the pathway in the human body protein complex and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. Try to get: 1/2 tsp. Use it: Panji 1 cup fresh parsley (chopped), 1 clove garlic (crushed), 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon cloves. After 3 minutes, add 4 cups chopped rhubarb chard, and fry until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Serve hot with chicken or fish.

Turmeric: curb inflammation

Working principle is: an ancient spice, so deep golden orange curry, turmeric reduces the body, causing pain and inflammation. Curcumin, a component of turmeric, inhibit enzymes, help inflammation. Try to get: 1/2 to 1 tsp. Use it to add a dash of organic canned soups, such as tomatoes, lentils, black beans varieties.

Thyme: Reducing cough

How it works: Thyme is a spasm, which helps bouts of coughing, uninterrupted. Thyme corrosion resistance also makes it very effective against inflammation of the throat, can cause coughing. Try to get: 2 to 3 teaspoons daily. Use it: For a simple vinaigrette, whisk together 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves, 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.

12 Surprising Home Uses for Wax Paper \Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 07:23:00 +0000

12 Surprising Home Uses for Wax Paper \Kitchen

This pantry staple is handy in and out of the kitchen

A trusted workhorse in the kitchen, wax paper helps you out with everything from rolling out dough to storing cookies. But we discovered 12 new ways to put this multi-purpose paper to good use.

1.Buff faucets and other metal fixtures. A few rubs of wax paper gives metal surfaces a water-deflecting coat that repels beads of moisture and temporarily minimizes water spots.

2.Release waffles from the iron. While the waffle iron is heating up, place a piece of wax paper in between the plates. Once the iron is heated, the wax will have coated the iron, meaning you can remove waffles easily and with no mess. Repeat every few batches.

3.Prevent snow from sticking to the shovel. Rub a piece of wax paper along the edge of the shovel to keep snow from sticking to it.

4.Protect candles in storage. Does this sound familiar? You store different-colored candles together and before long, the dye from one bleeds into the other. To stop that from happening, wrap candles in wax paper before stashing them away for the season.

5.Store fragile fabrics. Delicates are prone to light and moisture damage. To keep yours in tip-top shape, wrap fabric in wax paper before storing. It'll help block light, prevent color bleeding and lock out moisture.

6.Decorate a cake like the pros do. Cut a piece of wax paper to the same size of your cake pan. Using icing in a pastry bag or plastic bag, write out a message or create a design on the wax paper. Once you’re done, put the wax paper in the freezer. When the icing is completely frozen, peel it off and place it on your cake.

7. Remove stubborn dirt. Cut a piece of wax paper to the size of your wet or dry mop and attach. Run it along your floor and baseboards to snag stubborn dirt and scuff marks.

8.Line top shelves or drawers. Placing wax paper in tough-to-reach shelves or drawers saves you from having to clean them. Instead of dusting or wiping down, just replace the wax paper.

9.Keep cutting boards clean. Porous, wooden cutting boards are bacteria magnets, especially when raw meat is involved. Keep yours squeaky clean by lining it with several layers of wax paper and cutting on top of that. When you're finished handling the raw meat, throw away the paper.

10. Fix a leaky faucet. Don't have any caulk handy? Try placing a strip of wax paper around a leaky nozzle to stop drips.

11.Clean small garden tools. Crumple up a ball of wax paper and rub it against any tools with buildup. The rough texture of the wax paper will clean the tools, while the waxy coating helps prevent future buildup.

12.Coax a stubborn zipper. Running the waxy side of the paper over the teeth on a zipper track will help it slide easier.

Top 15 most effects Detox Foods\Health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 06:41:00 +0000

Top 15 most effects Detox Foods\Health

Try incorporating as many of these cleansing foods and herbs as possible into your diet for 1-2 weeks -- aiming for the recommended serving size each time. You should start feeling cleaner in five days! The more foods you eat, the better the results.

Radishes

Similar to other bitters, radishes help increase the flow of bile, helping to maintain a healthy gallbladder and liver and improve the digestive process. It’s why you see “Daikon radish served pickled with a Japanese meal -- it’s to cleanse the pallet and aid in the digestion of the meal,” says Katherine Matutina, certified natural foods chef and massage therapist based in Los Angeles, Calif. Add half a cup of thinly sliced radishes to your favorite salad greens for an added crunch or dip them in hummus as a healthy snack.

Turmeric

Traditional Indian and Chinese cultures have valued this ginger-like root for its medicinal properties and recent studies have confirmed its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the body, and its ability to assist the liver in the proper detoxification of harmful compounds. Antioxidants play a role in combating the cell damage that can accumulate with age. “The goal of a detoxification program should be to support the organs of elimination (liver being just one of them) as well as provide the body with a variety of antioxidants from nourishing foods to counter any free-radical damage that has done insult to our cells”, says Ashley Paulson, wellness coach and yoga instructor based in Burlingame, Calif. One tablespoon of powder is all you need.

Lemons

Many underestimate the ability of the lemon to support healthy digestion and elimination. Some herbalists and nutritionists suspect that it's the tart taste of lemon that promotes bile flow to aid in the digestive process. The peels of both lemons and limes also act as an antioxidant thought to support detoxification. Easy ways to incorporate this citrusy treat: Add some fresh-squeezed lemon juice to water or throw in some zest to your cooking. You could probably sneak in a few fresh-squeezed lemons a day.

Cilantro

Did you know the seed of the cilantro plant is known as coriander? It's a two-for-one: Both parts of the plant possess health-promoting qualities. While the seed can aid in digestion and help maintain normal cholesterol levels, the leaves are known to aid in the detoxification of certain heavy metals (like mercury and lead) that can accumulate in the body. Throw a handful of cilantro into salads and shakes or onto entrees as garnish.
Sauerkraut

This fermented cabbage provides a beneficial dose of “good” bacteria also referred to as probiotics. Probiotics are especially important in supporting a healthy digestive tract. “Our intestines house trillions of bacteria which play a role in not only digestion, but also supporting immunity. Without these beneficial flora our digestive processes may be compromised and gas, bloating, and/or constipation could result. Constipation can lead to a build-up of toxic wastes in the intestines and bloodstream, possibly increasing one’s risk for cancer,” says Paulson. Adding just a half cup of fermented foods such as sauerkraut to your diet will ensure your intestines are armed with probiotics to support optimal digestion and elimination.
Garlic

You’ve heard about how garlic boosts immunity and protects the heart, but its sulfur-containing compounds also play a role in supporting detoxification. Your liver is usually in charge of neutralizing toxins with sulfur until it's excreted (in a process called sulfation). Adding more sulfur-rich foods like garlic to your diet will enhance this process. Aim for two to three cloves per meal. And remember to carry gum.

Artichokes

The edible portions (base of the outer leaves and the heart) have long been eaten to support liver health. In his book, The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods, Michael Murray states that artichokes “have a choleretic effect, meaning they promote the flow of bile and fat to and from the liver.” The role of bile is to emulsify fats and carry toxins and waste from the liver into the small intestine. Try adding one medium artichoke to your next salad. They also make a great snack or appetizer.

Flaxseeds

Packed full of nutrients that can help facilitate internal cleansing, this little seed is particularly loaded with fiber, a nutrient that most healthcare practitioners would argue is essential to fending off many diseases. And flaxseeds contain both soluble and insoluble fiber which can help facilitate healthy bowel movements and prevent the reabsorption of cholesterol from the colon. Try adding a few tablespoons to your morning smoothie, yogurt or oatmeal.
Or, add them to your Turkey Meatballs

Apples

Apples are a healthy fruit to consume year-round, but especially beneficial during a cleansing diet. “They are full of fiber, and especially pectin, a type of fiber that can help promote regularity helping to cleanse the intestinal tract, ridding it of any accumulated toxins and food particles that may remain undigested. It is important to consume a wide array of fibers in the diet to help with daily cleansing and elimination,” says Matutina. You know what they say, an apple a day…
These Apple Dumplings are a sweet way to add them to your diet.

Beets

These earthy roots, whether enjoyed roasted, steamed or boiled, contain plant pigments that are believed to have antioxidant and liver-supporting abilities. While the beetroot may be the most commonly consumed part of the plant, the greens of the beet also pack a nutritional punch of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Consider juicing the greens -- instead of tossing them -- for extra added detox benefits. A half cup of beets or one cup of greens in your juice or smoothie should do the trick.
While great in a salad, beets are also delicious in Kasha.

Broccoli

This member of the crucifer family is touted as being among the healthiest foods to consume by many nutritionists. When crucifers are digested it releases a nutrient that is known to possess properties that help detoxify the “bad” estrogens that accumulate in the body. “Too much of the so-called bad estrogens and not enough of the good ones could lead to some major health issues, including weight gain, PMS and possibly cancer,” says Paulson. So, eat your broccoli -- at least one cup per day!

Asparagus

Think of this vegetable as a natural water pill, complete with dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and free-radical fighting and liver-protecting antioxidants. “Flushing out excess water and sodium can be beneficial during a short-term cleansing regime,” says Matutina. A half cup cooked asparagus will do you good.
Dandelion Greens

They are bitter in taste and, for some individuals, hard to stomach, but it's the bitterness that makes it a must-have food for any cleanse and detox program. “Generally speaking, the bitter foods that many shy away from are the ones that are supportive to our gallbladder and liver. Dandelion has been shown to help get bile moving, aiding in digestion and nourishing these organs,” says Paulson. Try sautéing one cup of greens with garlic for enhanced cleansing support.
Burdock Root

The actual root may be difficult to find in your local grocery store, but you can usually find it in tea form at health food stores. Traditionally, burdock root has been used to remove toxins in the blood and improve the complexion of the skin. It also contains many micronutrients, some of them possessing antioxidant qualities, making it an ideal food for cleansing. If you can find it, try adding half a cup to soup. They are also quite nice roasted.

Blueberries

These little guys have at least three key antioxidants: Anthocyanidins, resveratrol and ellagic acid. In his book, The World’s Healthiest Foods, George Mateljan says that “ellagic acid can block metabolic pathways that can lead to cancer”. Add a half cup to your next smoothie or simply enjoy fresh.

5 Tips to Quickly Increase Your Metabolism

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 08:35:00 +0000

5 Tips to Quickly Increase Your Metabolism

The best way to lose weight is to increase your metabolism. Your metabolism manages how fast and effectively you expend energy and process food. The higher your metabolism, the more efficiently your body burns calories and the faster your lose weight. Although many factors that affect your metabolic rate, such as age and genetics, are out of your control, there are simple steps you can take to give your metabolism a much needed boost.

1. Eat Well

Eating a well balanced diet of protein, grains, fruits and vegetables is the easiest way to jump-start your metabolism. Consuming healthy foods gives your body the fuel it needs to function properly. You expend a lot of calories digesting and breaking down proteins and complex carbohydrates, which in turn speeds up your metabolism. These foods also aid the formation and development of lean muscle mass. The more muscle mass you have, the faster you burn calories.

2. Eat Small Meals

Instead of eating the traditional three meals a day, try eating five or six smaller meals. Make sure your mini-meals include a portion of some protein and a side of fruit or vegetables. By eating every 3 or 4 hours, you're giving your body a constant supply of food to digest. This helps keep your metabolism going throughout the day.

3. Stay Hydrated

Your body is like an intricate machine and your metabolism is one of its many functions. It needs plenty of water to run at its optimal level. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water every day will keep your metabolic rate up and will help you shed the pounds. Also, studies indicate that drinking cold water, in particular, can temporarily increase your metabolism. Your body needs to exert energy in order to warm the liquid, and this causes a spike in your metabolism.

4. Start a Weight Training Program

Muscle burns more calories than fat. A great way to build muscle and increase your metabolism is to incorporate weight training into your exercise regime. Weight training helps you build muscle by breaking the fiber of existing muscles. In order to rebuild and strengthen those muscles, you have to use up a lot of calories. This in turn boosts your metabolism. Supplement your weight training program with some cardio and the pounds will melt away.

5. Get Plenty of Sleep

A good night's sleep is an essential part to any weight loss program. As you sleep, your body releases melatonin and other growth hormones that help to repair damaged muscle fiber and strengthen your metabolism. If you don't get enough rest, your body's metabolic functions don't work as well as they should. As a result, you can not process carbohydrates as well and your unused energy is stored as fat. Sleep deprivation also leads to the release of a hormone called cortisol which increases your appetite and makes it more difficult for you to lose weight. Therefore, it's important to catch your Z's. Doctors recommend between 7 and 9 hours for the average adult.

By making these small adjustments, you will not only experience a boost in your metabolism, you'll also experience an improvement in your overall health and physical fitness.

Top Ten Tips for a Healthier Pregnancy Part 1\Health

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 14:51:00 +0000

Top Ten Tips for a Healthier Pregnancy Part 1\Health

How to make a healthy bun in the oven…

It’s positive! A week after a missed period and the home pregnancy test turns positive…congratulations, you’re pregnant! If this is your first pregnancy, take a moment to appreciate this wonderful blessing given to you and your family. Well, if this is your second, and so on and so forth,…it’s still a blessing! Below are our ten tips for a healthier pregnancy. The first five are presented here as Part 1 of this article

Go see your obstetrician.
The first thing you should do is go and visit your obstetrician. The purpose of this visit is to have your first ultrasound and document that you’re really pregnant (hey, we just want to make sure there’s a cute little bun in the oven).

Amat victoria curam (Victory loves preparation)
While this may seem too dramatic for you, pregnancy isn’t something you should be taking lightly. Think of it as the hardest PRACTICAL exam you’re going to take. You study for your exam, right? You want to learn all there is to learn about pregnancy. Of course, you will want to prepare enough for the painful (just kidding) albeit wonderful final exam (giving birth). You should load up on books and/or sign up for classes. Signing up for classes is a lot better because you can interact and exchange experiences with other pregnant women. Pregnancy isn’t something you should dread and handle alone. There are REAL people who can help you learn more about it.

Are you a techie soon-to-be mom? Find great apps (applications for Android and Apple OS) for your smart phone or tablet online, on how to conveniently track your pregnancy. This is just one of the amazing technologies you can appreciate now which wasn’t available 10 years ago.

For two please

There’s a little person inside you. From the moment the home pregnancy kit turned positive until the time you give birth, this will be in your thoughts. I don’t mean multiply everything you’re eating and doing by two. Just increase the total number of calories you take in. According to the experts, an added extra 300 calories will be enough to sustain and nourish the two of you. This is of course, on top of the healthy foods you’re already eating. The sources of those 300 extra calories count too, choose real food not junk food. Avoid large, deep water fish because of mercury accumulated in their tissues. Also avoid raw meat, fish eggs and soft cheeses because of contamination by harmful bacteria.

Variety is key

To get all the nutrients you need, you should eat a variety of foods. Think about getting all the colours of the rainbow in fruits and vegetables daily and have plenty of quality protein and fat with each meal and snack where possible. Let’s keep it simple shall we?

Calcium-rich foods. Most of us are aware of what calcium is for, right? At the very least, it’s for building strong bones. Have several servings of calcium-rich foods per day. You can get these servings from dairy products like milk, cheese and yoghurt. Or if you’re not a huge fan of dairy products, you can opt for non-dairy foods like almonds, green beans, broccoli, okra, dried beans and dark leafy greens. They’re high in calcium too.

Iron-rich foods. Consume at least 3 servings of iron-rich foods per day. You need more iron to make more blood for your baby. Get loads of this mineral from meat, poultry and fish products or if you’re vegetarian dark leafy greens, lentils & blackstrap molasses.

Folic acid. Pick one good source of folic acid per day (at least). Folic acid prevents problems in your baby’s spine (neural tube defects). Choose from legumes, veal and dark green vegetables.

Get high on high fiber foods. Fruits, vegetables, rice and other gluten-free whole-grains will do the trick as well as ground flax seeds or chia seeds which are also rich in omega-3’s.

Bulk up with protein. I don’t mean bulk up like a muscle man or bodybuilder. Your immune system is highly dependent on protein. Meat, eggs, cheese, legumes, yoghurt, fish and shellfish are examples of protein rich foods.

You need supplements.

I’m not telling you this so you’ll buy supplements (that’s your choice of course). I’m telling you this because it’s required. You already have a lot on your mind when you’re pregnant plus a lot of changes happening to your body. To make sure you have enough of the required daily nutrients, you need a well rounded vitamin and mineral supplement.

Weekend Top 10: Skin care tips for the monsoon\Lifestyle

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 07:41:00 +0000

Weekend Top 10: Skin care tips for the monsoon\Lifestyle

The arrival of monsoon is indeed a sign of relief from the sweltering and scorching heat but you have to take care of your skin to protect it from the atmospheric humidity

The bright sweat-causing sun has given way to cloudy skies and soaring levels of humidity. The monsoon is here and has brought with it a lot of joy and enthusiasm. With every downpour, your spirits are relished and revived. Your skin, however, does not experience the same enthusiasm and instead suffers from oiliness or dehydration brought on by monsoon. This is the time when the skin becomes irritable due to humidity and summertime rashes give way to other skin problems.

Since your skin behaves differently in monsoon, it becomes important to take special care of it. While everything around you is bright and beautiful, the increasing humidity does not allow your skin to breathe properly.

Skin care tips for the monsoon

Here is a list of things that you should follow during rainy season to look beautiful and fresh and save yourself from the misery of bad skin:

1. Avoid fungal infections. Fungal infections are the most common complaints of the rainy season. Never keep your skin wet for a long time. Bathing with lukewarm water and using antifungal creams, soaps and talc will prove to be effective in combating fungal invasion. Some of these common infections are athlete’s foot, ringworm, or itching caused by wet damp clothing.

2. Cleanse the skin. The skin should be cleaned 3-4 times a day with non-soapy face washes. This helps to clean excessive oil and dirt from the skin pores and helps it breathe.

3. Skin toning is essential. Non-alcoholic skin toners should be used to tone the skin twice a day to maintain the skin’s pH balance. Toning revives the skin and gives it an impeccable sheen.

4. Keeping dry skin moisturised. If your skin appears to be dry, moisturise it with a good moisturiser. Application of rose water, glycerine or almond oil before retiring to bed is beneficial in keeping the skin supple and healthy.

5. Keep oily skin clean. If you have dry skin and have visible whiteheads or blackheads, try to minimise oil secretion from the skin by using water based moisturisers, cleansers and by applying citrus face packs. Drinking a lot of water also helps in reducing oil production.

6. Shield your skin. Just because it’s cloudy, does not mean your skin is protected from the sun. It is highly important to guard your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, so always use a good sunscreen with a high SPF factor.

7. Gentle exfoliation. Dead skin cells should be daily removed. Use a good skin scrub to get rid of those dead cells and make your skin radiant and glowing.

8. Drink adequate water. Drink at least 7-8 glasses of water to maintain skin hydration, as the skin loses a lot of water due to sweating.

9. Wash hair often. Wash hair a little more frequently that you usually do in the monsoon as all the humidity and sweat causes it to get dirty soon and attract dust and pollution.

10. Avoid artificial jewellery. For those who have very sensitive skin, it is best to avoid wearing heavy jewellery altogether. The humidity can make your skin break out when it comes into contact with anything irritable. So avoid jewellery around your neck and wrists and allow your skin to breathe.

A bonus tip. Chemical peels done by dermatologists are a fantastic way to freshen up a lustreless dull skin. A number of peels are available to choose from like peels for sensitive skin, arginine peels for under-eye dark circles, etc. Of course, all these external efforts will be in vain if you are not hearty from inside. So eat vegetables and fruits and make sure you get adequate rest and stay relatively stress-free.

7 ways to care for your skin in winter\Lifestyle

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 07:23:00 +0000

7 ways to care for your skin in winter\Lifestyle

Here’s how to pamper yourself and look your best this season

Cold weather is great for style. You can sport layers, splash out on bright make-up and pull on those boots. But winter can also be harsh on your skin. Here’s how to pamper it and look your best this season…

1. Hydrate

You may associate dehydration with the heat of summer. But dry winter weather can rob your system of moisture, too. So, keep up with your intake of water. If you feel it’s too cold to drink water, sip on herbal teas and infusions.

2. Moisturize wisely

Moisturizers sell well in winter. But any face or body lotion won’t do. Look for moisturizers which are oil-based for it’s these that will keep your skin moist and supple in harsh winter weather.

3. Exfoliate

Keeping your face scrubbed and clean allows moisturizer to be absorbed and do its job. Use a mild scrub, though, and avoid face packs in cold weather.

4. Wear sun screen

The winter sun can be as damaging as summer rays. So, don’t step outdoors without slapping on the sunblock. Your product must have an SPF of over 30 and be effective against UV rays.

5. Ditch the hot bath

While it’s tempting to soak in a hot tub or have a hot shower on winter days, very hot water will damage your skin. Keep your bathwater and showers warm, rather than hot this season.

6. Take oil baths

The good old Indian tradition of the weekly oil bath works wonders in winter. If you can’t manage oiling your hair and body once a week, simply add a few drops of almond or olive oil to your bath.

7. Pamper your hands and feet

Hands and feet are prone to drying and cracking in winter, so protect them. Slather on a good hand and nail cream after bathing and after chores like doing the dishes. Your feet will benefit from a few drops of oil and a pair of socks at night.

The benefits of exercise beyond just fitness

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 08:19:00 +0000

The benefits of exercise beyond just fitness

Research show that regular physical activity can help you live a better life. It not only makes you fit, but also happy.

Let’s discuss the benefits of exercise beyond fitness

Improved concentration: For those of you who suffer from ‘nature-deficit-disorder’ exercising outdoors can help in improving concentration. Enjoying nature while you work out clears the clutter of the mind, leading to better concentration.

Higher self-esteem: Regular physical activity also has a psychological effect. Exercise improves your mood and changes the way you feel about yourself. Some researchers show that exercising reduces depression and anxiety and makes you stress free.

Better mental health: Even five or ten minutes of exercising outdoors can do improve your mental health. In addition to this, sunlight is good for mood enhancement and exercising outdoors can make you happier and mentally more stable.

Higher happiness level: Exercise releases endorphins and endorphins are responsible in making you happy. Thus, exercising makes you a merrier person.

More healing powers: A walk or run in natural light can increase your immunity and healing capacities. People recovering from surgeries can benefit from natural light and little physical activity.

Slows down ageing process of the brain: As exercising improves mental health, it ultimately slows down the ageing process of brain, making you younger at mind!

Better breathing: Breathing fresh air is good for you and exercising outdoors lets you inhale more fresh air. However, this may not hold true for people who have allergies.

Increases Vitamin D: The sunshine vitamin not only improves your mood but also significantly help in healing osteoporosis and some other diseases. The best way to get this vitamin is to exercise outdoors. Concerns of ultra violet rays and skin cancer have made people paranoid and hence led to vitamin D deficiency. 10-15 minutes in sun does more good than harm.

Lowering anxiety: Moderate to high intensity work outs make you calm. Exercise releases brain chemicals which relax an anxious mind leaving you feeling calmer.

Improves performance: Be it home or work, exercise boosts your performance. As you become fitter and more confident and your mental health improves with exercising, you also tend to perform your daily tasks better.

Promotes peaceful sleep: Exercise increases your alertness but it also calms you down and helps you sleep better at night. It is advisable however, not to exercise just before bedtime.

2 mins walk around office could help keep diabetes at bay

noreply@blogger.com (SHANKAR) — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 08:01:00 +0000

2 mins walk around office could help keep diabetes at bay

A new study suggests brief walkabouts during the work hours could lower the risk of diabetes

London: A new study suggests that taking a two-minute stroll around the office every half hour could save millions from the misery of diabetes.

Leaving the desk for a walkabout can have a bigger impact on your health than a brisk 30-minute walk before work, the Daily Express reported.

Anthony Barnett, Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, said lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes, which is reaching epidemic proportions in Britain.

He said that short bursts of regular exercise in people with sedentary occupations appears to be at least as good as longer, but less frequent, periods of exercise in improving sugar and fat levels.

Scientists at Otago University in New Zealand found that volunteers who regularly walked for just one minute and 40 seconds had lower blood sugar and insulin levels.

Raised sugar and insulin readings are warning signs that Type 2 diabetes , a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, could be setting in.

But the latest findings show that brief walkabouts could be all that is needed to lower the risks.

The study is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.