Turmeric Cure For Allergies     Being a powerful anti-inflammatory agent it helps individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. Turmeric is known to lower Total cholesterol and ldl cholesterol while increasing hdl cholesterol. It reduces blood sugar level in diabetics It boosts stomach defences against acid. The antioxidant activity of turmeric is mainly associated with its phenolic fraction, curcuminoids, which act as free radical scavengers as well as inhibitors of leukotrienes and prostaglandin synthesis. Turmeric is one of the best medicinal spices in the world. It is used in cooking for its detox properties to neutralise any toxins if present in the food preparation. Turmeric is being used in Ayurveda since centuries as an internal medicine for a variety of conditions ranging from allergy to diabetes, and as an external application for beauty as well as in skin disorders and arthritis. A few simple turmeric remedy for Allergies. Ground Turmeric and Ground Curry leaves one heaped teaspoon each to be taken together early morning in empty stomach for 3 to 6 weeks. Proven very effective in chronic allergic rhinitis.

    Are You Suffering From These Signs Of Zinc Deficiency!     Zinc is vital for healthy growth; dwarfism, stunted growth and being underweight for their age may occur in children if there diet is deficient in zinc. Zinc is an important chemical essential for human functioning. Zinc nutrition deficiency is insufficient availability of zinc in the diet or can be caused due to the malabsorption of zinc by the body. This condition is prevalent in young children, pregnant women, breast feeding mothers, and the elderly. Zinc plays a vital role in many aspects of the immune system. It helps in cell division, clotting, healing wounds, DNA synthesis, growth and development of the fetus, and protein synthesis. The deficiency of zinc has an effect on circulation; it has been linked to cold hands and feet and high blood pressure. Cholesterol in the blood has a tendency to rise if there is a deficiency of zinc in the body. Zinc helps in the way the body regulates the high and lows of blood sugar level and it has been linked to help people who have hypoglycaemia. Your zinc deficiency could be a symptom of a bigger problem, such as a major illness. That's why it's vital that you seek a medical professional to evaluate if you do indeed have a deficiency and be able to rule out any underlying cause such as a chronic illness. A zinc deficiency can be a two-edged sword since many times the deficiency may cause or at least contribute to an illness. Some of the symptoms of Zinc deficiency are: Diarrhea Hair loss and skin lesions Anorexia Chronic Renal Disease Diabetes Liver Disease Malignancy Pneumonia Sickle Cell Anemia Wilson's Syndrome Zinc nutritional deficiency can be treated by taking zinc supplements and increasing intake of zinc through the diet. Foods rich in zinc are wheat, oats, pumpkin seeds, eggs, milk, oysters, nuts, meat, and peas. Zinc supplements are generally included in complete supplements. These zinc supplements are taken orally. If diagnosed with zinc deficiency, one needs to consult a physician for the correct dosage and type of zinc supplements to be taken. Good stomach acid, vitamin A, E and B6, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus will all help with the absorption of zinc. Wheat, alcohol, oxalates such as rhubarb and spinach, stress, high calcium, high sugar intake, copper and low protein intake will all hamper the absorption of zinc. Zinc supplements will also help with zinc deficiency. Hence zinc is an essential mineral with over 300 enzymes reliant on it to help heal wounds, maintain fertility in adults, protect against free radicals, promote healthy growth in children, boost immunity, synthesise protein, preserve good vision and help cells reproduce.      ...Divya

    All You Need To Know About Varicose Veins     Varicose veins are swollen, twisted, and enlarged veins that you can see under the skin. They are often red or blue in color. They usually appear in the legs, but can occur in other parts of the body. For those of us who do have an underlying venous condition, varicose veins occur when valves in our leg veins stop working properly, allowing the blood to fall backwards down the veins the wrong way. In their simplest form, varicose veins can be identified as the bulging veins which protrude from the legs.   However, recent researched suggest that shockingly, up to half of all varicose veins sufferers will show no overt signs of the condition until they cause a complication, as the troublesome veins remain hidden deeper under the skin. In reality up to 30% of all adults will be affected by them and, contrary to popular belief, the condition is hereditary and can strike at any time of life.   Varicose veins are common, and affect more women than men. They don't cause problems for most people. However, in some people, they can lead to serious conditions, such as leg swelling and pain, blood clots, and skin changes. Common factors contributing to varicose veins are  Older age, hormonal changes from puberty, pregnancy, and menopause in females can lead to varicose veins, and taking birth control pills or hormone replacement can increase the risk, being born with defective valves, obesity, pregnancy, history of blood clots in your legs,standing or sitting for long periods of time and the major one being family history of varicose veins.   Symptoms for varicose veins include fullness, heaviness, aching, and sometimes pain in the legs, visible, swollen veins, mild swelling of feet or ankles, itching, leg swelling, leg or calf pain after sitting or standing for long periods, skin color changes of the legs or ankles, dry, irritated, scaly skin that can crack easily, skin sores (ulcers) that don't heal easily, thickening and hardening of the skin in the legs and ankles (this can happen over time).   There are various myths about varicose veins such as “Women get varicose veins more often than men”, “Pregnancy causes varicose veins”, “Crossing your legs causes varicose veins”, “Varicose veins are a sign of poor circulation”. There is no scientific backing for these myths and hence should not be taken seriously.   Experts suggest that lifestyle changes will not stop you from developing varicose veins, but there are a few measures that can be taken to help you to suppress their development. For example, when you sit for extended periods, the muscles in your legs that normally help pump blood aren’t used very much. As a result, in patients with varicose veins or hidden varicose veins, the blood falls backwards down the leg veins. The blood can then pool in the lower leg, increasing swelling and the risk of making the veins even worse. To keep your leg muscles in working form, try not to sit in the same position for long periods and go for walks regularly.   ..Divya

    Healthy Heart is key to a Healthy Life     The most important factor for heart health is a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle is the key to preventing heart disease. the earlier healthy habits are embraced, the better.   * General health check-ups after the age of 25 years in case of family history of heart disease.   * Consuming food rich in protein, like fish as Fatty acids found in fish prevents clot formation.   * Maintain good oral hygiene: Studies suggest gingivitis may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke because of the high levels of bacteria found in infected areas of the mouth.   * Meditation: It has a direct impact on one’s blood pressure; there is a significant reduction in the blood pressure levels and is key to a healthy heart.   * Avoiding extreme weather. In the cold weather blood pressure increases harming blood vessels thereby inducing heart attacks. * Consuming mixed nuts, about 25 gms of walnuts and peanuts as they help in bringing down cholesterol levels and are rich in proteins.   * Starting the day with a spoon full of honey- It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and prevents heart attack.   * Walking on dew bare feet: Walking restores a sense of balance and brings an inner calm hence it good for the heart.   * Taking a tablet of 10 mg of statin everyday at night (if over the age of 40 and particularly diabetic).It helps to decrease cholesterol and reduce risk of heart attack.   * Brisk walking for at least 30 minutes early in the morning since it reduces the affects of pollution on the heart, which are more likely during the evening hours.

    Signs That You Are Suffering From Anxiety Disorder     Anxiety can strike anyone, at any time,and for no apparent reason. Anxiety disorders affect about 18% of adults according to a research. That means more than 40 million people have problems panic attacks, social phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms severe enough to be classified as a disorder. Millions more feel anxious, but fall short of an actual diagnosis. How can you tell if your everyday anxiety has crossed the line into a disorder? It's not easy. Anxiety comes in many different forms such as panic attacks, phobia, and social anxiety and the distinction between an official diagnosis and "normal" anxiety isn't always clear.   Feeling anxious in response to danger or in new situations is a perfectly normal response. It’s called the fight-or-flight response and helps us survive in dangerous situations. But these typical feelings are different from Generalised Anxiety Disorder.  A person with Generalised Anxiety Disorder constantly feels tense and on edge, even when there is no danger present. Generalised Anxiety Disorder is a chronic disorder characterized by excessive, long-lasting anxiety and worry about nonspecific life events, objects, and situations.   Generalized Anxiety Disorder sufferers often feel afraid and worry about health, money, family, work, or school, but they have trouble both identifying the specific fear and controlling the worries. Their fear is usually unrealistic or out of proportion with what may be expected in their situation. Sufferers expect failure and disaster to the point that it interferes with daily functions like work, school, social activities, and relationships.   Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep is associated with a wide range of health conditions, both physical and psychological. And, of course, it's not unusual to toss and turn with anticipation on the night before a big speech or job interview. But if you chronically find yourself lying awake, worried or agitated about specific problems, like money or career, or nothing in particular, it might be a sign of an anxiety disorder. By some estimates, more than half of all people with Generalised Anxiety Disorder experience sleep problems.   Anxiety becomes a problem when, it is more intense or lasts longer than typically expected or it causes impairment or disability at school, at work, or in social environments or when even the daily activities are avoided in an attempt to lessen the anxiety. Women were more likely to be affected by anxiety disorders than men by a ratio of 1.9 to 1, and these difference persisted across time and in both developing and developed countries.   People with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis are at greater risk of an anxiety disorder. In Europe, a range of 13 to 28 percent of people with bipolar disorder have anxiety too, while globally, 12 percent of people with schizophrenia have also been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. Finally, almost 32 percent of people with multiple sclerosis, which is a neurological condition, have an anxiety disorder, and over half of them have some anxiety symptoms.   Most treatments available are either medications or so-called talking therapy or counselling. Drug therapies, sometimes will not cure anxiety disorders, but which can keep symptoms under control. Of the non-drug treatments, cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the most effective with research suggesting that more than half of people with general anxiety can benefit from up to 20, one-hour sessions recommended. It works by helping sufferers to identify that their worrying is irrational and teaches them to react more positively.   ..Divya

     Did you Know That Laughing Has So Many Health Benefits!     One of the greatest artists of all times, Charlie Chaplin once famously said "A day without laughter is a day wasted." These are just golden words which one needs to follow blindly for a amazing life. Hardship are but nature in everyone's life. All that matters is how you manage to deal with it. Laughter is a physical expression of positive emotions like joy, happiness, and relief. Situations of confusion, embarrassment, and nervousness are other contributing factors of laughter. Did you know there are numerous health benefits of laughter. Check these most interesting positive changes laughter could bring to our lives.   Secret to a healthy heart:  Laughter could be healthy for your heart, too. Some research shows that when you laugh, there is an increase in oxygen-rich blood flow in your body, possibly due to the release of endorphins, which create a chemical rush that counters negative feelings and stress. Activities that increase endorphins include a good workout and listening to music you love, and laughter deserves its place on the list with these other stress busters.   Easy way to say good bye to extra body weight:  While laughter may not replace exercise, it’s definitely a start! We all know how it feels to laugh so hard that your abs hurt and you’re downright exhausted. Turns out, laughing doesn’t just feel like a workout, it really does work your core muscles and burn extra calories. That’s way more fun than doing sit-ups. Sounds more fun that hitting the gym.   Helps in fighting stress or depression:  A good laugh can effect physically as well as mentally, it brings positives changes in your mood and attitude. You can have it’s an effective therapy of mental ailments. At the time of laugh you feel lighten yourself mentally. A carefree laugh brings more energy in yourself and make you fresh; in the result you feel relaxed and calm. It controls your blood pressure. Laughter is a way to bring relaxation in your muscles, it also arouse circulation both can help to reduce main indicators of stress.   Gives your internal organs a workout:  it is a simple process which helps your diaphragm to be exercised by a good belly laugh, it helps your abs and shoulders to work out, muscles feel relax after this, 10 minutes paddling or spend 15 minutes on an exercise machine is equal to 100 time laughing. However it considered the best and easy technique because the abdomen, diaphragm, respiratory system and shoulder all exercise in same time. It also improves your inhale and exhale power, because you take deep breath after any laugh which unblock the airways, it helps those people very well who are having the respiratory disorder like asthma because at the time of laughing your lungs can take more air in, with cleansing effect. You should take laughing as an exercise to do an internal workout.   Helps you stay positive and face life in a better way:  Doctors have found that people who have a positive outlook on life tend to fight diseases better than people who have a more negative outlook. Let’s all smile, laugh and live longer. Laughter helps seniors cope with life issues. Many seniors find difficulty in accepting the many changes that occur around them (and within them), and they often wish life would remain the way it has always been.  Physical limitations, loneliness, and the loss of friends are common examples of situations that can lead a senior to feel depressed. Laughter can help seniors control their reaction to events that they can no longer control.   Has a positive effect on your relationships:  Laughter is contagious, so if you bring more laughter into your life, you can most likely help others around you laugh more. By elevating the mood of those around you, you can diminish their stress levels, and possibly improve the quality of social interaction you experience with them, reducing your stress level even more. A shared sense of humour is an important factor in keeping your relationship running smoothly.   ..Divya

  Do Artificial Sweeteners Really Help in Weight Reduction?   In todays day and age of aggressive marketing, every product being advertised seems to be right and more or less tailor made for us to make our lives simpler. But did you ever wonder if in all try sense if these were doing good  to you or have a more harmful effect on your body? The major spoilsport in your quest for health lifestyle is our urge to have sweet food more often and its quite difficult for us to control our sweet cravings. So that kind of led to firms starting to advertise that the artificial sweeteners are your go to products. Initially these were being aimed at people suffering from Diabetes, but it no longer seems to curtail its target audience just to that. They are pitching the artificial sweeteners to fitness freaks saying that its quite alright to give in to the sweet tooth cravings and include the artificial sweeteners in your diet which according to them does not lead to putting on extra calories like the regular sweeteners. But the bad news here is that the artificial sweeteners have also been found to promote weight gain, in more ways than one. You may be relying on them to shed those extra kilos, but turns out, artificial sweeteners may actually be making you eat more. A comprehensive new study co-led by the University of Sydney has revealed for the first time why this response occurs. The results shed light on the effects of artificial sweeteners on the brain in regulating appetite and in altering taste perceptions. Researchers identified a new system in the brain that senses and integrates the sweetness and energy content of food.     A researcher working on this subject claims, "Through systematic investigation of this effect, we found that inside the brain's reward centres, sweet sensation is integrated with energy content. When sweetness versus energy is out of balance for a period of time, the brain recalibrates and increases total calories consumed. After chronic exposure to a diet that contained the artificial sweetener sucralose, we saw that animals began eating a lot more". One of the reasons why artificial sweeteners do not help you lose weight relates to the fact that your body is not fooled by sweet taste without accompanying calories. When you eat something sweet, your brain releases dopamine, which activates your brain's reward center. The appetite-regulating hormone leptin is also released, which eventually informs your brain that you are "full" once a certain amount of calories have been ingested. However, when you consume something that tastes sweet but doesn't contain any calories, your brain's pleasure pathway still gets activated by the sweet taste,but there's nothing to deactivate it, since the calories never arrive. Artificial sweeteners basically trick your body into thinking that it's going to receive sugar (calories), but when the sugar doesn't come, your body continues to signal that it needs more, which results in carb cravings. Besides worsening insulin sensitivity and promoting weight gain, aspartame and other artificial sweeteners also promote other health problems associated with excessive sugar consumption, including Cardiovascular disease, stroke and Alzheimer's disease. - Divya  

Suffering from Hypothyroidism? Avoid these foods     Hypothyroidism is a disorder caused by underactive thyroid gland. It is a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone for normal functioning of the body. Here are the foods that one needs to avoid in order to control their thyroid levels. Soy: Soy is much hyped healthy food. But it is loaded with plant-based phytoestrogen and the problematic compound in soy, for thyroid, are the isoflavones and some researchers believe too much soy may increase a person's risk for hypothyroidism. People with hypothyroidism should moderate their intake of soy. Cooking does not destroy soy isoflavones. Eliminate soy as much as you are able from your diet. Processed Foods: Processed foods tend to have a lot of sodium, and people with hypothyroidism should avoid sodium. Processed foods cause inflammation in the body. Inflammation inhibits T4 to T3 conversion. Focus on whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains over processed fare. Healthy omega-3 fats found in oily fish, such as salmon, as well as flaxseeds and walnuts, reduce inflammation and promote overall health. Trans fats and saturated fats increase inflammation, and cutting back your intake could help reduce overactive thyroid symptoms. Raw intake of Cabbage,Cauliflower and Broccoli: Raw cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower also contain goitrogens. Eating too many cruciferous vegetables has caused hypothyroidism according to various studies. But cooking cruciferous vegetables denatures the goitrogens, making them safer to eat. Fatty foods and sugary foods: Hypothyroidism can cause the body's metabolism to slow down. That means it's easy to put on pounds if you aren't careful. You should avoid the foods with excess amounts of sugar because it's a lot of calories with no nutrients. It's best to reduce the amount of sugar you eat or try to eliminate it completely from your diet. On the other hand, fats have been found to disrupt the body's ability to absorb thyroid hormone replacement medicines. Fats may also interfere with the thyroid's ability to produce hormone as well. Some health care professionals recommend that you cut out all fried foods and reduce your intake of fats from sources such as butter, mayonnaise and fatty meat etc. Caffeine and Alcohol: Caffeine has been found to block absorption of thyroid hormone replacement. You should wait at least 30 minutes after taking your medication before having a cup of coffee. Alcohol wreaks havoc on the functions of the thyroid gland and the levels of thyroid hormone in the body. Alcohol has a noxious effect on the thyroid gland, and it suppresses the capacity of the body to use the thyroid hormone in an effective manner. Therefore, it is best to cut out the consumption of alcohol completely for best results. - Divya  

Tips to prevent diseases of monsoon   The monsoons are slowly arriving and it’s time to get those rain coat and rubber shoes out. Happy that the showers are coming to bring in the much needed respite from the heat but along with that the diseases and bacterial it brings in also needs to be addressed. The digestive system gets weakened due to dehydration in summer. This leads to low digestive power. Hence following diets which increase power of digestion and strengthen the digestive system would be beneficial in the rainy season. Try these tips: · Light foods prepared out of old barley, rice and wheat. · Sour and salted soups of vegetables. · Drinking boiled and cooled water mixed with little honey. · Consuming little quantity of wine prepared out of grapes. · Adding ginger and green gram in daily diet. · Eating warm food. · Bathe with neem leaves. Add some leaves in hot water and let the leaves rest and use this water to bathe. · Keep your feet clean and clean between the toes to prevent any infection  

    Make Chia seeds the new health boosters in your diet!     Chia seeds, has a huge nutritional profile. It contains calcium, manganese, and phosphorus, and is a great source of healthy omega-3 fats. Chia seeds are incredibly easy to incorporate into your diet. The seeds themselves taste rather bland, so you can add them to pretty much anything. They can be eaten raw, soaked in juice, added to porridges and puddings, or added to baked food. So here are some amazing benefits of incorporating Chia in your daily diet.   Balances blood sugar levels and Fights Type 2 Diabetes:  If you eat high-starchy foods or sweets, there are chances that your blood sugar levels could increase. This could leads you to feel tired and out of energy through the day. Here is where Chia seeds could come to your rescue.  If you include chia seeds in your meal, it will help you turn your food into constant, steady energy rather than a series of ups and downs that wear you out through the span of the day. A recent study in type 2 diabetics showed that chia seeds can significantly lower blood pressure and a marker for inflammation as they are high in fiber.   Helps you lose belly fat:  Chia is that magic ingredient you need to include in your diet to realise your dream of losing weight, especially your belly fat. Chia's stabilizing effect on blood sugar also fights insulin resistance which can be tied to an increase in belly fat, there by leading to a fitter you. Another biggest advantage is that it keep your stomach full for longer duration, thereby keeping you away from eating junk food when your hungry.   Makes your bones stronger:  Chia seeds are high in several nutrients that are important for bone health. A serving of chia seeds has 18 per cent of the recommended daily intake for calcium, which puts your well on your way to maintaining bone and oral health, and preventing osteoporosis. Chia seeds are high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and protein. All of these nutrients are essential for bone health.   High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids:  Omega-3 oil is majorly derived from fish, hence a lot of vegetarians miss out on gaining the heath benefits of it.  Chia is the richest plant-source of this healthy oil. By weight, chia contains more omega 3 than salmon. Omega 3 oil is important in heart and cholesterol health. It’s also recently been revealed in a study as a weight-loss helper. In the study overweight dieters who included omega 3s in their eating plan lost more weight than the ones who did not. These fats are also very important for brain health.   Keeps your stomach full all through the day:  Being deficient in minerals or vitamins can create a craving for food. chia has more calcium than whole milk. It also has magnesium and boron, essential trace minerals used in the absorption of calcium and other vitamins. By balancing your vitamins and minerals with chia, you can curb cravings that might tempt you.   Helps Keep your energy levels high:  Chia is one of nature’s highest plant-based sources of complete protein. Usually protein from items like peanut butter and some beans are incomplete, meaning you have to combine them with other foods to get the full benefit. Not Chia though, it’s protein is complete to raise your energy levels. The combination of complete protein, vitamins, minerals and blood-sugar balancing gel all work together to make sure you are high on energy during an action packed day.   Chia is high of protein,Phosphorus, Manganese:  One serving of chia seeds, or 28 grams, has 30 per cent of your recommended intake of this Manganese, which is good for your bones. With 27 per cent of your daily value for phosphorus, chia seeds also helps you maintain healthy bones and teeth. One serving of these super seeds has 4.4 grams of protein, nearly 10 per cent of the daily value. ..Divya

    5 Ways to stick to your diet plan     To be on a diet and to change your unhealthy lifestyle into a healthy one all of a sudden can be hard to sustain for various reasons. The fact that there are too many temptations out there or that we are busy travelling or the mere fact that we are lazy makes it all the more difficult. So here we present to you five great ways to help stay on track and committed to your diet to become a fitter and healthier person. Set realistic short term goals:  Setting unrealistic goals like losing 20 kgs in a month or two or even having a long term goal of gaining or losing enormous amount of weight can just make things worst for you. Because it can seem so overwhelming that they paralyze us. Thinking about losing 20 kgs of fat, or gaining 20 Kgs of muscle can be a daunting task. For example, if you pressure yourself to lose weight too quickly, your plan to achieve better health may backfire. Researchers who have conducted various studies say that they found that obese people who expected to lose a lot of weight were more likely to drop out of a weight loss program within 6–12 months. Therefore setting a more realistic and achievable goal can keep you from getting discouraged and may even lead to greater weight loss. Stay away from unhealthy junk food:  This is one of the major reasons for people to put on weight-Junk food. It is overly fried, has less nutrients and is most of the time not fresh and is packaged food. It’s really tough to eat healthy if you’re always surrounded by junk foods. If other family members want to keep these foods around, at least keep them hidden, rather than being visible to you. Junk food is full of fat, sugar, and salt, all of which stimulate your brain to release chemicals that make you want to eat more. So keeping unhealthy foods out of the house, or at least out of sight, can increase your chances of staying on track. Various studies have claimed that having food on display in various areas of the house has been linked to obesity and an increased consumption of unhealthy foods. So stay off it for your own good. Making meal plan for the day and following it is a must:  We often start off with the best intentions about reforming our eating habits and getting fit, but often fall short purely due to a lack of planning. And then work or personal stress become spoilers. It so happens that you are so busy in the chaos of life and there you are ordering pizza or restaurant food from outside for dinner. So the trick lies in perfect planning and implementation of your daily meals. Make a plan to sit down every Sunday and plan your meals a week in advanced. This will also help with your grocery shopping as you will have a definite list of ingredients that you need, and will end up wasting less food. Once you have bought all your ingredients, spend a few hours on meal preparation. Don't be an emotional eater:  According to studies, most emotional eaters reach for high-fat, sugary foods that give them pleasure and distract them from their negative emotions. Because at the moment in time they think that eating these foods is the only way they can de-stress or boost their mood. In most households when ever there is a celebration about any occasion it mostly revolves around food. Instead, give yourself a calorie-free pat on the back by schedule a visit with your friend or get a massage. When you stop seeing food as your prize for a job well done, the pounds will start to disappear. Motivating yourself is the key:  Motivation is a very important aspect to change your lifestyle to a healthy one, but it is specifically important to have internal motivation. If your reasons for being on the diet are external; like pleasing a partner, then there are all possibilities that you would not follow through because the internal motivation from yourself is lacking. Write a list of all the reasons why this diet is important to you, and take it out every time you need a reminder as to why you must continue. When you’re tempted to indulge in unhealthy snacking, remembering what motivates you can help you stay on track.   ..Divya

    యువతులు సీతాకోకచిలుకతో జాగ్రత్త..!   పచ్చని చెట్లపై..రంగు రంగుల పూలపై వాలి మకరందం పీలుస్తున్న సీతాకోకచిలుకను చూస్తే మనసుకు ఎంతో హాయిగా ఉంటుంది. అలాంటిది ముఖంపై సీతాకోకచిలుక వస్తే..జోక్ చేయకండి సీతాకోకచిలుకేంటి ముఖంపై రావడమేంటి..? అనుకుంటున్నారా..? అక్కడికే వస్తున్నాం. యుక్తవయసులో ఉన్నవారిని ఇటీవల కాలంలో వేధిస్తున్న సమస్య లుపస్ లేదా సీతాకోకచిలుక వ్యాధి. యువకుల కన్నా యువతుల్లో ఎక్కువగా కనిపించే ఈ సమస్య ఎక్కువగా 30 ఏళ్లలోపు వారిలోనే కనిపిస్తోంది. మనదేశంలో ప్రతి వెయ్యిమందిలో ఒకరు ఈ వ్యాధి బారిన పడుతున్నారు. సీతాకోకచిలుక ఆకారంలో బుగ్గలపై దద్దుర్లు రావటంతో పాటు జ్వరం, కీళ్లనొప్పులు, నీరసం ఈ వ్యాధి లక్షణాలు. లుపస్ అనేది ఓ ఆటో ఇమ్యూన్. దీనిని ఆరంభదశలో గుర్తించపోతే చర్మంపై ప్రభావం చూపడంతో పాటుగా కీళ్లు, కిడ్నీలు, ఊపిరితిత్తులు, నరాల వ్యవస్థ తదితర భాగాలపై తీవ్ర ప్రభావం చూపుతుంది. తొలుత 15 నుంచి 45 సంవత్సరాల యువతీ/ యువకుల్లో తరచుగా ఈ లక్షణాలు కనిపిస్తాయని భావించినప్పటికి... 20 నుంచి 30 సంవత్సరాల వారిలో వ్యాధి ఎక్కువగా కనిపిస్తోందని కనుగొన్నారు.   మనదేశంతో పోలిస్తే విదేశాల్లో లుపస్ అత్యంత సహజంగా కనిపిస్తోంది. ఆఫ్రికన్-అమెరికన్‌లలో ఇది మరింత తీవ్రంగా ఉండటంతో పాటుగా నానాటికీ దీని బారిన పడేవారి సంఖ్య పెరుగుతోంది. ఈ వ్యాధి ఇతర లక్షణాల్లో బరువు తగ్గడం, రక్తం గడ్డకట్టడం, చేతి వేళ్లు, కాలి వేళ్లకి రక్తం సరఫరా కాకపోవడం, గర్భస్రావం అయ్యే ప్రమాదం కూడా ఉంటుంది. సాధారణంగా రోగనిరోధక వ్యవస్థ శరీరంలో యాంటీ బాడీలు తయారుచేసే క్యాన్సర్లు, సూక్ష్మక్రిములు బారి నుంచి కాపాడుతుంది. కానీ లుపస్ సోకిన రోగి నిరోధక వ్యవస్థపై ఆటో యాంటీబాడీస్ దాడి చేస్తాయి. దీనిపై సరైన అవగాహన లేకపోవడంతో రోగం ముదిరిపోయిన తర్వాత వైద్యులను సంప్రదిస్తున్నారు. కానీ అప్పటికే జరగాల్సిన నష్టం జరిగిపోతుంది. కాబట్టి పైన చెప్పిన లక్షణాలు కనిపిస్తే లుపస్‌గా అనుమానించి వైద్యుని సంప్రదిస్తే మొదట్లోనే అనర్థాన్ని అడ్డుకోవచ్చు.

    Things Women should never do in the Gym!     Women are obsessed about staying in shape But very few make it a point to regularly work out. And the ones who do workout, tend to do certain mistakes which reduces the effectiveness of the workout on the body. So here are some tips and tricks to make your workout sessions more effective. The key is, just do these while you are working out at the Gym!   Never make your mouth work more than your body:  True that girls love to bond and talk about every single topic under the sun, but not always is it the right time to do so. Not at least while you are at the gym. Gym time is not a time to socialise.Its perfectly alright to exchange pleasantries with the people you know at the gym when you enter, standing around or even worse is sitting on machines or benches but not using them and chatting non stop about how your day went, how your weekend was or talking about your favourite tv soaps is a complete no no. Gym is not a place for this.   Do not focus on having a Gym buddy, Focus on yourself:  It is true to an extent that you feel more pumped up while you are with your buddies while you are working out, but It's another thing entirely to follow your boyfriend/husband/ girl friends around the whole time you're at the gym, never leaving their side and not actually training yourself while they're trying to do work. By this you are wasting your own time by just following them around and not actually training yourself.   Don't give your appearance in the gym more importance:  Ladies, gym isn't a place to show off. And your appearance while working out would not matter much as everyone around is coming there just to train focusing on themselves. Its time to stop walking to the mirror in between every single set to check and make sure everything's still intact. No one really cares what you're doing! All that matters is you and your fitness.   Do no follow your peer's gym routine, your body is unique:  Every person's body is unique and the same gym routine would not be effective for everyone. So if you see someone doing an exercise you think looks interesting and want to attempt it yourself, its nice to have the motivation and desire to try something new to improve your training, but don't just copy that. Ask your trainer what to do and what not to. Don't be afraid to ask your trainer or an experienced person at the gym as exactly how you should be performing the exercise, what weight you should start at, etc. It's only to your benefit to start off doing things right from the beginning with right training.   Cardio machine is not the only thing at Gym,Don’t spend hours on one it: Yes, cardio is central to fat loss, but if you spend more than 50 per cent of your workout time on it, then you might just not be doing the right thing. To really improve your shape, weight training is important as well. Your body will drain its glycogen stores doing weights, so if you do 20 minutes of cardio afterwards your body will switch to burning fat. And that is how it should be done.   ..Divya

  జీరో యావలో లైఫే "జీరో"...   కరువు కాటకాలతో అల్లాడే దేశాల్లో తినడానికి ఆహారం దొరకదు కాబట్టి అక్కడ ప్రజలు బక్కచిక్కిపోయి, ఎముకలు బయటపడి ఉండటం మనం చూస్తుంటాం. కానీ నేటి కాలం యువతులకు ఏం పోయే కాలం..అన్నీ ఉన్నా కావాలని కడుపు కట్టేసుకుని సన్నగా గడకర్రలా ఉండటానికి..? ఆ దేశం, ఈ దేశం అని లేకుండా ప్రపంచంలోని అన్ని దేశాల్లోని అమ్మాయిలు  నాజూకుతనం కోసం పడుతున్న పాట్లు అన్నీఇన్నీ కావు. అయితే సన్నబడాలనే ఉద్దేశ్యంతో శరీరావసరాలకు సరిపోని స్థాయిలో అతి తక్కువ ఆహారాన్ని తీసుకుంటారు. వారి టార్గెట్ ఒక్కటే "సైజ్ జీరో"..ఇదంతా బాగానే ఉంది కాని దీని కారణంగా బయటపడిన ఒక మానసిక వ్యాధి ప్రపంచంలోని అమ్మాయిల ప్రాణాలను హరిస్తోంది. అదే "ఎనరెక్సియా నెర్వోసా"..ఇది అత్యధిక మోడళ్లలో కనిపించే ఒక మానసిక సమస్య. తిండి తినడం వల్ల బరువు పెరుగుతుందనే ఫోబియా వల్ల వచ్చే రోగం ఇది. ఇది ఒక సాంఘిక అంటువ్యాధి..నా కన్నా ఆ అమ్మాయి సన్నగా ఉందనే ఆత్మన్యూనతా భావంతో ఈ డిజార్డర్ బారిన పడి కలత చెంది ప్రాణాల మీదకు తెచ్చుకున్న వారెందరో..తాజాగా ఇది ఇండియాలో అడుగుపెట్టింది. ఈ వ్యాధి తీవ్రతను గుర్తించిన యూరప్ అమ్మాయిలు సైజ్ జీరో నుంచి బయటపడుతుండగా..అదే సమయంలో దాన్ని ఇండియాకి తీసుకొచ్చింది కరీనా. "తషన్" చిత్రంలో కరీనా సన్నదనం చూసి బాలీవుడ్‌తో పాటు అమ్మాయిలు స్టన్నయ్యారు. ఇంకేముంది క్యాలరీలు కట్ చేసుకోవడం మొదలెట్టారు. మహానగరాల నుంచి కుగ్రామాల వరకు ఇండియాలో ఇప్పుడోక ఫ్యాషన్‌లా మారింది జీరో సైజ్. త్వరగా బరువు తగ్గాలనే ఉద్దేశ్యంతో డైటింగ్‌లు, తీవ్రస్థాయిలో వ్యాయామంతో పాటు మందులు వేసుకోవడం లాంటివి చేస్తున్నారు. అనొరెక్సియా నెర్వోసా దుష్పలితాలు: * ఆహారం తీసుకోకపోవడం వల్ల కడుపులో మంట * ఏకాగ్రత తగ్గడం * నిద్రలేమి * శరీరంలో పెళుసైన ఎముకలు విరిగిపోవడం * మూర్ఛవ్యాధి * హర్మోన్లలో అసమతుల్యత * రుతుక్రమంలో లోపాలు సైజ్ జీరోని సాధించడానికి చాలా పద్ధతులున్నాయి. కానీ, ఆరోగ్యవంతమైన పద్ధతులు చాలా తక్కువ. మగవాళ్లు సిక్స్ ప్యాక్‌కు కష్టపడినట్టు, అమ్మాయిలు కూడా జీరో సైజుకి అంతే కష్టపడాలి. ప్రత్యేకమైన డైట్లు, రోజువారీ ఎక్సర్‌సైజులు చేయాలి. ఇందుకు నెలల తరబడి టైం పడుతుంది. అయితే అందరికన్నా ముందు దీనిని సాధించాలని కొందరు పూర్తిగా ఆహారాన్ని మానేసి కాఫీలతో కాలం గడుపుతున్నారు. మరికొందరు స్టెరాయిడ్స్ తీసుకుంటూ..జీరో సైజ్ యావలో లైఫ్‌ని జీరో చేసుకుంటున్నారు. ఇదంతా ఒక ఎత్తైతే అతి నాజూకుతనం భారతీయ మగ కంటికి అంత ఇంపుగా అనిపించకపోవడంతో జీరో సైజ్‌ని ఎంచుకునేవారి సంఖ్య జీరోకి చేరుతోంది. అమ్మాయిలైనా అతిగా ఉన్న కొవ్వును కరిగించుకోవాలే కానీ లేనిదాని కోసం ఆరాటపడటం మంచిది కాదని గుర్తిస్తే మంచిది.

  Truth your skin would be telling about your health     Your face is a mirror of your health. Many of us really only pay attention to our health when we are sick or in pain. But we check out how we look every time we pass a mirror. Every line, bump, wrinkle, blemish, pouch or discoloration on our face is trying to get our attention about something deep within our body. Trust your body's signs and learn what your hair and skin says about your health.  Puffiness around the eyes and Eye Bags: High-sodium foods and a diet rich in salt can result in water retention throughout the body, including the under-eye area. Chronic allergies may also show up on the sensitive skin under your eyes, they dilate blood vessels and can cause them to leak, which creates puffiness and dark circles under the eye. Dry Nails or Dry skin: When you realize your skin is becoming dry and your hair and nails become brittle, this could potentially point to a thyroid problem say doctors. Skin should always appear smooth, with no rashes, swelling or scales. Extremely dry skin may be due to a lack of sufficient vitamin A, essential fatty acids like omega-3s, or zinc. Unwanted Facial Hair in excess: Unwanted hair in women especially along the jawline, chin, and upper lip can be a symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormone imbalance in which male hormone levels are elevated. Lips develop Cracks or decolourize: Dry cracks around the mouth or the decolorization of the lips may indicate a deficiency of B vitamins like niacin, riboflavin, and vitamin B6. Riboflavin can be gained by eating spinach and B6 by having chickpeas. Itchy skin and rashes: Issues with the digestive system will lead to itchy skin and also sometimes rashes as well. Rashes can appear anywhere but occur most often around the knees, elbows, scalp, back and lower back and may be preceded by an intense burning sensation. Extreme Sensitivity to Sun: Skin that is especially sensitive to sun exposure can be a sign of the autoimmune disease. The exposure to sun is very importance for the health of a person as we derive Vitamin D from it. But the fact that the skin becomes extremely sensitive when exposed to sun hints at some issues with the health.   ..Divya

  Menopause and its Myths with answers     The menopause marks the time in a woman's life when her menstruation stops and she is no longer fertile or able to become pregnant. Many women experience a variety of symptoms as a result of the hormonal changes associated with the transition to menopause. There are a number of myth's associated with Menopause. Here are some of the myth's and their answers.   Menopause will weaken the bones: Our body can rebuild new bone naturally at any age. Hence, the myth that the bones get weaker due to menopause may not hold good. Your bones continually adapt and only about 20% of your bone health is driven by factors outside of your control. Since 80% of your bone health is in your control, you can make choices to strengthen and take control of your bone health. There also also cases where bones weaken due to excess soda intake. So, menopause may not be the reason there.   Menopause only starts once you cross 50 years: On an average the age of women attaining menopause is said to be 52 years, but that is just the average age. In reality premature menopause can start in women as early as in the late 30’s and menopause can come as late as in the 60’s, though this is less common. For most women, their menopause time frame lies more within the late forties to mid-50’s of age.   Your period will suddenly stop one day; thats a sign of Menopause: Though this happens to a few ladies, this is no entirely true. But, yes, your periods gradually become sporadic. The menopausal transition, which can easily last 3 to 5 years, is all about the ovary fluctuating, sometimes it's overworking, sometimes it's underworking.   Menopause symptoms are only physical: This is not true. The emotional strain on women is as much as the physical effect it has. Women tend to feel tired, depressed, irritable or struggle with memory concerns. Emotional symptoms caused by hormonal imbalance can wreak just as much havoc in women as the physical symptoms can. This phase is the time when you try and figure out what matters to you and what you want to be in the second half of your life.   Menopause is deadful: Menopause is not a disease. It is just a change in the phase of life, just a transition to the next phase. So, do not be scared of it like a disease. It's not the end of everything, it's the beginning of another phase of life. Menopause may even come with some relief, the end of periods isn't such a bad thing, after all. For women who are really bothered about their menstrual abnormalities this could actually be a good news.   Weight Gain will not take place during Menopause: Due to the consistent hormonal changes in the body during this phase, it is natural to put on weight. Though this may not be completely avoidable, there are ways you could control it. One of most effective things you can do to avoid weight gain is to eat well, as good nutrition will give your body the fuel it needs to heal and balance hormones naturally. Increasing protein while eliminating processed sugar and reducing carbohydrates will help to support your body in maintaining your weight.   ...Divya

  Myths and reality about PCOS     PCOS is very common in India. It is estimated that 1 in every 10 women in India has PCOS but because of lack of awareness it is not detected on time and many women keep suffering. The incidence of PCOS is higher in urban cities and is growing among adolescents and young girls.   Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common gynaecological disorder in India and the leading cause of fertility complications in women. Some of the common symptoms of PCOS include infrequent menstrual periods with irregular bleeding; hair loss from the scalp; excessive hair growth all over the body ,acne and oily skin; depression or mood swings; weight gain; pelvic pain; sleep apnea and inability to conceive.   There are several myths and misconceptions about PCOS that are not true. Here are some of which you need to be aware:   Myth 1: All women with PCOS experience the same symptoms PCOS symptoms vary from woman to woman. As soon as any of the common symptoms of PCOS manifest it is advisable to go for a check up. This ensures an early diagnosis and the start of the right treatment.   Myth 2: PCOS is only caused by an imbalance in the hormones Most PCOS cases do have an underlying hormonal imbalance as the cause but there are other factors that also cause this condition such as genetics or excess insulin production. Many women with PCOS are overweight or obese so they need to make lifestyle changes to reverse this condition. These changes would include diet and exercise, avoidance of stress, ensuring enough rest and sleep.   Myth 3: Having PCOS means you cannot have a baby.. PCOS can make conception harder but many women with the disorder have successfully conceived provided they received the right treatment. Even if you have cysts in your ovaries but are not exhibiting any other PCOS symptoms, chances are you will not have problems conceiving. But if you have been diagnosed with PCOS and are having problems getting pregnant speak to your doctor about the right fertility treatment for you.   Myth 4: Diabetes causes PCOS Research shows that PCOS is related to insulin resistance and the development of diabetes, however diabetes does not necessarily always lead to PCOS. Women are advised to track any pre diabetes risks that exist for them as individuals such as a family history of diabetes, excessive weight gain, an unhealthy diet and over consumption of sweetened drinks. In general, a nutritious diet would include plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and good fats.   Myth 5: Losing weight will cure my PCOS Studies have shown that weight loss improves ovulation thereby significantly improving pregnancy outcome .But one contributing factor for PCOS is the release of excessive androgens (male hormones) by the ovaries than can lead to weight gain especially around the abdomen. So it is important to maintain a healthy weight by eating right and exercising because excess weight gain with PCOS can lead to other complications like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea.   Finally women have to understand that if they are diagnosed with PCOS there is no need to worry because all its symptoms can now be managed with the right treatment. An advice to all women is to be aware of the health conditions that can affect them during their reproductive years and to seek medical guidance early so that the preventive measures can be initiated early and if treatment is required, it can be provided in an efficient and timely manner. ...Divya

    To take Multivitamins or Not ?   Is it necessary to take Multivitamin supplements daily? Are they really doing any good to the body? Who is getting more out of these multivitamin Supplements, Women, Men or Children? Such questions dont arise in every houshold...there are so many of us who dont even bother about daily nutrition or any such supplements, and so many of us who ardently consume the daily recommended intake of these supplements in capsule, tablet, gummy- chewables or Tonic form, and some of us who have read some article posted online that they are harmful, that some case was filed against some vitamin making brand and stop such habits they had too. What is the truth, what is the real necessity ?   Our bodies need a daily supply of nutrients...they may be in the form of supplememts, yet, it has been noticed that these suppliments have not reduced the effect of harmful diseases on our bodies, nor reduced their occurances, nor offered an extended life span. Hence, some Doctors and Scientists say that multivitamins are not necessary to be consumed as they are sold in the market...instead they can be collected from various healthy meats, vegetables, fruits and grains and consumed daily. They say that a healthy diet, active routine, peaceful mind can do wonders in human bodies than the store-bought multivitamin supplement capsules or tablets. However, every woman who is in the reproductive age needs a daily recommended intake of Folic acid and Iron, be it in the form of food or produce.     Doctors who have studied much about the sideeffects of these supplements may suggest eating fresh and healthy daily, but imagine a Lady who is pregnant and is stuggling with Nausea and sickness, can she cook so well daily ? She may feel active one day and oh-so-tired the other day...if there are no supplements, she may forget or neglect to cook, consume and meet her daily recommended vitamin-mineral needs. In that case, she will face even more disadvantages than the most promised advantages from the fresh vegetables and other produce.   She may have energy on day to cook two or three items to cover her nutrition needs and the next day, too tired to even get up..in that case, she reaches her goals one day and hardly makes it the other day...and hence, this matter is so tricky...whether to take supplements or not. On the other hand, we may find the expiry date that passed already on the pack, few days after one has been consuming these supplements for some time, in that case, it feels as if considering to consume vitamins and minerals through fresh veggies and produce is a better choice than having to panic after you realise the expiry date on the vitamin pack has already passed by. The answer to my question...'whether to take multivitamins or not' has not been answered perfectly yet ! ..Prathyusha