Consume Balanced Diet for leading a Balanced Life!

However the moment a word 'Diet' is heard most people often misinterpret it as starving in the name of dieting! Now balanced Diet means being aware to eat from all food groups every day as per your body type and lifestyle consuming sufficient calories that supply all the essential nutrients to help nurture all your organs, skin, tissues, muscles, bones, cells etc. Eating right regularly and not once in a while has a significant role in making you achieve some of your wellness goals. But crash dieting does have side effects which people need to be conscious about that is explained in this post. Crash diets/Fad diets/Green diets/Zero carb diets/Mono diets/Tea diets/Soup diets/Protein diets/Nature cure there are so many forms! All these can also be termed as 'starvation dieting' which involves cutting off the amount of food intake to a larger extent without looking at the nutrient loss. Most dieting repackaged plans rely on three basic principles: pushing or banning a specific food or food group which may be harmful on health in the long run. Crash Dieting Health Effects : • Each vitamin or mineral regulates a bodily process, for instance calcium keeps bones strong, vitamin A keeps the skin smooth, vitamin C and E fight infection. When you exclude any of food groups from your food in the name of crash dieting, you are putting yourself at risk for illness. • Deficiencies of essentials vitamins and minerals – It can cause deficiency of sodium and potassium in body responsible for proper functioning of nerves and muscles. It also leads to iron deficiency which causes anemia. • Osteoporosis – It also leads to calcium deficiency which can cause bone loss. • Extreme calorie cutting can lead to dizziness or even fainting due to lack of nutrients. • Negative effects on cholesterol levels - It lowers the level of HDL (good cholesterol) in body which can lead to a heart disease. • Organ Failure – Due to lack of energy organs like heart, kidney, liver and brain will start burning muscle tissue which can lead to organ failure. • Low Metabolism – Crash diet leads to slow metabolism as body gets used to few calorie intake. It goes to starvation mode even after one goes back to normal calorie intake. • Eating Disorders - Excessive crash dieting can also develop eating disorders namely anorexia or bulimia. • Depression- Person following crash diets suffers from either depression or mood change. Sorry to inform but there are no miracle pills, potions, creams, belts and shoes which can help you grow muscles or cut flab from your body in no time. These may sometimes help in short term but then you have to supplement them with right dietary and fitness programmes along with a positive mind to extract the benefit out of them. Courtesy Glow with health wellness solutuions

Obesity In Children

  While India still struggles to feed all of its 1.2 billion population, childhood obesity and diabetes have also become an increasing problem among the middle classes, who have largely benefited from decades of rapid economic growth. Overweight children with diabetes are at greater risk of developing heart disease and heart attacks, deteriorating eyesight, kidney failure, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Most Indian children are already on heavy dosage of medication. Many young patients already have mild depression because of their size. Time to look at Socio Cultural issues that are leading to childhood obesity: 1. A general misconception is prevalent in India that the obese child is a healthy child and the so called “baby fat” will vanish as and when the child grows. Since the child is constantly fed without giving importance to what is actually being fed, child becomes obese and remains the same throughout the life. "An obese child is bound to grow up as an obese adult." 2. Burdening the students with the studies and academic activities has left little or no room for physical activities. This is more prevalent among the Indian girls who live a sedentary lifestyle right from childhood when compared to the boys. 3. Since most of the urban parents are working they find it extremely difficult to manage time and so order for junk or quick bite foods. The importance of balanced healthy diet and lifestyle is hardly taught to the children or implemented at home. When parents themselves are into a unhealthy lifestyle and wrong eating patterns how can we expect children to get disciplined from childhood in this area? 4. For most urban Indian families the word “family outing” has become eating out or visiting a mall during holidays or weekends indulging in food. 5. High-fat, high-sugar, high cholesterol, fast food outlets proliferate in Indian cities, catering for a hard-working, time-poor middle class population eager to spend its new-found cash, with western brands often chosen as a visible sign of luxury. 6. Majority of children are on a high intake of heavy carbonated soft or energy drinks on a regular basis which they treat as a supplement for water to handle their thirst. 7. Junk is junk whether you label it Indian, Eastern or Western food. Till elders continue to treat food as a form of celebration, a punishment, a time pass, a bribe, a deviation - children would tend to treat and get addicted to food in a similar fashion. 8. Most of the children are found spending more time in front of the computers, smart phones and the television. So no time for play or outdoor games nor any other recreational activities. 9. Also influence of media and advertisements on food selection and indulgence is on rapid rise. Parents and educational institutions will have a major role to play in educating children on media promotions. Various community intervention and health education programs are being introduced in urban India to induce the children to follow a healthy lifestyle and get into eating habits and also in creating awareness about the importance of physical activities among the children. The need for parents to be educated on healthy lifestyle is also on rise. As parents you cannot preach something significant to children at home which you won't tend to believe in or want to follow. Right from being in a mothers womb to entering into this world and growing up - it is the right of every child to be healthy, fit and happy and to nourish their bodies and mind. Let us not deprive them from their right! Courtesy Glow with health wellness solutuions

Breakfast - The most important meal of the day

Breakfast - The Most Important Meal Of The Day   You cannot start your day without any fuel can you?   A strong connection has been discovered between an unhealthy breakfast and many health-related problems. As you might know, our body consists of more than 100 trillion cells which need 114 variety of nutrients during the day.   What you ate yesterday consists of two major groups of elements.   * The first group supplies energy (proteins, fats, carbohydrates). 2.The second group supplies building materials (amino acids, vitamins, minerals, micro elements, etc.)   You expended energy yesterday when you were awake and your body used the building materials at night to regenerate itself.   In addition, your body has also expended 1 litre of water during the night through breathing and sweating, as well as your morning visit to the bathroom.   * So your body wakes up “empty” in the morning and, for its 100 trillion cells, it begs you, “pls give me back all the nutrients, energy and water I expended in the last 24 hours.”   * Eating breakfast improves your concentration, alertness and overall performance and keeps you going through the day. It is designed to kick start your metabolism and make sure that your body functions are working properly as meant for. But I never eat breakfast and I'm fine! * You may at times not feel hungry or thirsty in the morning, but it’s just a matter of time. For some people figuring out why you can’t face food in the morning can be tricky. Sometimes it’s just a long-standing habit – you just never got into the breakfast routine. And, since you manage to get through your morning okay, you just tell yourself you don’t really need to eat. * Maybe you aren’t hungry in the morning because you routinely eat an enormous dinner and snack all night until bedtime. Maybe you simply don’t like breakfast items of food or you just rely on a pot of strong coffee or Tea to get you going. Remember you will lack the mental and physical energy you need to get through your workout and your workday if you don't provide right fuel to your body.   * In a nutshell, while asleep, the body is in recovery mode and essentially fasting. Once you get up and start moving, you are running on empty. If the body isn't nourished quickly, it starts holding onto fat and burning muscle instead, which is a less-than-ideal scenario whether you are trying to tone up or slim down. Muscle is essential for burning fat - the less you have, the slower your metabolism. In essence, your body's calorie-burning potential slows down.   * Breakfast is a meal with many misconceptions. While some people skip it completely with the fond hope of losing weight with assumption of reduced calories, others stuff themselves with lot of food, because they feel that after 8-10 hours of fasting, body requires lot of food once they get up from their sleep. Unfortunately either i.e. skipping or stuffing will actually make you put on more fat.   * So if the breakfast is delayed or skipped, the body may lose muscle as the body uses it as a protein source and if the muscle is lost, the energy burning capacity of the body gets reduced. The reduced energy burning capacity means more food gets converted into fat instead of energy. So skipping the breakfast makes a person actually Fat instead of Fit!   * Making the right choices of food for breakfast is as important as the meal itself. If you start your day on a high-carbohydrate, high-fat, high-sugar meal you are going to end up feeling sluggish and lethargic in the morning itself. * Your choice in the morning has a huge effect on your day, too much sugar causes pancreas to release insulin bringing down blood sugar. Low blood sugar causes fat storage, fatigue and compromises the immune system. You will feel hungry very quickly and crave once again for simple carbohydrates or sugars.   Select a breakfast which:   • Provides body with the vital nutrients and water it needs • Provides more energy from proteins rather than all from carbohydrates • Balances energy levels and maintains normal blood sugar level Courtesy Glow with health wellness solutuions

Alarming Facts about Indians

• A recently concluded World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) study estimated that, globally 60% of Heart Patients would be Indians! • This number may seem surprising because focus of reports on obesity and heart disease has mostly been for years on fat Americans and their food habits. What could account for Indians being so susceptible - more even than regular meat-burger-and-fries-eating Americans? Four things: 1.diet and nutrition, 2.culture, 3.stress and 4.lack of fitness consciousness. • Also INDIANS have 3 to 4 times higher risk of developing Diabetes or Heart Problems, in comparison to White Americans, 6 times higher than the Chinese and 20 times higher than the Japanese. • HIGHER BODY FAT PERCENTAGES coupled with INSULIN SENSITIVITY among INDIANS in comparison to other ethnic groups, makes them genetically pre-disposed to these diseases. • Even underweight and normal weight Indians seem to be showing higher fat content in their bodies compared to overweight foreigners. Doctors say that it is this invisible fat that is the cause of concern. Dr.Shashank Joshi of Leelavati Hospital thus calls us, "The Thin Fat Indians". • As per Dr.Anoop Misra of Fortis Hospital who has done remarkable research on Metabolic Syndrome, Indians suffer Heart Attacks at a relatively younger age, which are more severe in nature and often prove fatal. A major reason he says is the lifestyle changes in the last 20 Years and also as PROCESSED, PACKAGED and JUNK FOOD (Fast Food) has become more popular. • Dr.Anoop Misra also narrates very interesting facts about Indians. Centuries ago India faced famines, which weakened our muscles and our bodies started to store Fat for energy. We have retained the same Genetic make-up and as a result today also our bodies have more Fat and less Muscle. Dr.Misra told that surveys also establish that Indians exercise the least in the World! Dr.Misra emphasized the need for a daily exercise along with providing balanced nutritional diet daily to the body in all meals. • A study conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) few years ago implied that Indians should have smaller waists than the internationally accepted cut-offs of waist circumference for a healthy life. As compared to the waist circumference of Caucasians, Indians need to shed inches if their waist size crosses 35.1 inches for men and 31 inches for women. The recommended waist-to-hip ratio = less than 0.85 for men and less than 0.75 for women. • Dr.David Heber, a world-renowned expert in nutrition, who is leading the battle against the global obesity epidemic while talking about the OBESITY problem says that by the year 2020 India will register a 50% increase in Diabetes cases. He emphasizes the need for Good Nutrition and some form of Exercise because exercise strengthens muscles and “muscle burns more fat”. He also highlights about the importance of Proteins in food and that “Plant Proteins are the best and the safest”. Courtesy Glow With Health Wellness Solutions

ప్రాణదీపం వెలిగించే అమృతహస్తం... డాక్టర్ జి.సూర్యనారాయణ రాజు

ఆయన హస్తవాసి చాలా మంచిది... ఎంత మంచిదీ అంటే... ఆయన చేతిలో ధనరేఖ తరహాలో ‘ప్రాణరేఖ’ లాంటిదేమైనా వుందా అనిపించేంత మంచింది. మరణానికి చేరువలో వున్నవారైనా సరే, ఆయన చేయి పడిందంటే చాలు... కొడిగట్టే దశలో వున్న వారి ప్రాణదీపం దేదీప్యమానంగా వెలుగుతుంది. వైద్యో నారాయణో హరిః అనే మాటకు నిలువెత్తు నిదర్శనంగా నిలిచే డాక్టర్ ఆయన! ఆయన ఎవరో కాదు... ప్రపంచ ప్రఖ్యాతి గాంచిన మన తెలుగుబిడ్డ... డాక్టర్ గొట్టుముక్కల సూర్యనారాయణ రాజు. హైదరాబాద్‌లోని నిజామ్స్ ఇన్‌స్టిట్యూట్ ఆఫ్ మెడికల్ సైన్సెస్ (నిమ్స్)లో అసోసియేట్ డీన్, సీనియర్ ప్రొఫెసర్‌ స్థానంలో వుండటంతోపాటు సర్జికల్ ఆంకాలజీ డిపార్ట్‌మెంట్‌కి హెడ్‌గా కూడా విధులు నిర్వహిస్తున్న ఆయన ఎంతోమంది కేన్సర్ వ్యాధిగ్రస్తుల జీవితాలలో కాంతి నింపారు. ప్రపంచమంతా కేన్సర్ వ్యాధిని చూసి భయపడుతుంది. అతిశయోక్తి అనిపించినా నిజం ఏమిటంటే.... డాక్టర్ సూర్యనారాయణరాజును చూస్తే కేన్సర్ వ్యాధి భయపడుతుంది. పేషెంట్ మీద ఆయన చెయ్యి పడిందంటే చాలు కేన్సర్ మహమ్మారి పేషెంటును వదిలి పారిపోతుంది. కేన్సర్‌ వ్యాధి నివారణకు ఆయన చేస్తున్న కృషి అనన్య సామానమైనది. 1998 నుంచి 2014 సంవత్సరం వరకు ఆయన 1,42,692 మంది కేన్సర్ ఔట్ పేషెంట్లను ట్రీట్ చేశారు. 29,808 మంది కేన్సర్ పేషెంట్లకు సర్జరీ నిర్వహించారు. ఆయన సర్జరీ చేసిన పెషెంట్లలో దాదాపు 98 శాతం మంది పేషెంట్లు కొత్త జీవితాన్ని పొందారు.. పశ్చిమ గోదావరి జిల్లా ఆకివీడుకు చెందిన జి.సూర్యనారాయణరాజు చిన్నప్పటి నుంచీ చదువులో నంబర్‌వన్. డాక్టర్ కావాలని, ప్రజలకు సేవ చేయాలన్నదే ఆయనకు బాల్యం నుంచీ వున్న యాంబిషన్. తాను కోరుకున్నట్టుగానే డాక్టర్‌ అయిన ఆయన కెరీర్‌లో ఎన్నెన్నో మైలురాళ్ళు. ఎన్నెన్నో విజయాలు. 1992 సంవత్సరం నుంచి హైదరాబాద్‌లో నిమ్స్‌లో డాక్టర్‌గా ఆయన ప్రస్థానం ప్రారంభమైంది. అప్పటి నుంచీ ఎన్నో విజయాలు సాధిస్తూ ఆయన ముందడుగు వేశారు. ఒక డాక్టర్‌గా ఆయన నిర్వహించిన పదవులను, ఆయన చదివిన చదువులను, ఆయన అధిరోహించిన విజయ శిఖరాలను, అందుకున్న కీర్తి కిరీటాలను ప్రస్తావించాలంటే పెద్ద గ్రంథం రాయాల్సి వుంటుంది. ఎన్ని విజయాలు సాధించినా, మృత్యుముఖంలో వున్న ఒక రోగిలో ప్రాణ దీపం వెలిగించినప్పుడు ఆ వ్యక్తిలో, వారి కుటుంబ సభ్యుల్లో కనిపించే ఆనందాన్ని చూడటమే తనకు గొప్ప విజయంగా అనిపిస్తూ వుంటుందని డాక్టర్ సూర్యనారాయణ రాజు చెబుతారు. జననీ జన్మభూమిశ్చ... స్వర్గాదపీ గరీయసీ అంటారు... అందుకే డాక్టర్ రాజు గారు తన జన్మభూమికి తనవంతు సేవ చేస్తుంటారు. హైదరాబాద్‌లో డాక్టర్‌గా ఊపిరిసలపనంత బిజీగా వున్నప్పటికీ, తన స్వస్థలమైన ఆకివీడులో ప్రతినెల మొదటి ఆదివారం నాడు ఉచితంగా వైద్య సేవలు అందిస్తూ వుంటారు. ఆ ఒక్కరోజే ఆయన దాదాపు రెండు వందల మంది పేషెంట్లను చూస్తారు. భగవంతుడు మనకు ప్రత్యక్షంగా కనిపించడు... జన్మనిచ్చిన అమ్మ రూపంలో, ప్రాణం పోసే వైద్యుడి రూపంలో మనకు కనిపిస్తూ వుంటాడు. అలాంటి భగవంతుడి స్వరూపమైన వైద్య వృత్తిలో  నిర్విరామంగా కృషి చేస్తూ వేలాదిమంది జీవితాలలో సంతోషాన్ని నింపిన డాక్టర్ జి.సూర్యనారాయణరాజు తన కెరీర్‌లో వ్యక్తిగత జీవితంలో మరిన్ని విజయాలను అందుకోవాలని ‘తెలుగువన్’ కోరుకుంటోంది.

ప్రోటీన్లతో మెదడుకు మంచిది

  ప్రోటీన్లు మన శరీరానికి బలానికి మాత్రమే కాదు మన జ్ఞాపకశక్తి పెంచడానికి, ఏదైనా శ్రద్ధగా నేర్చుకోపడానికి ఉపయోగపడతాయి. పరిశోధనలో కొత్తగా తెలిసిన విషయం ఏంటంటే ఫిజికల్, మెంటల్ యాక్టివిటీస్ రెండూ విభిన్నంగా ఉంటాయి. కానీ.. ఈ రెండు మాత్రం మెటబాలిక్ ప్రోటీన్ పై ఆధారపడి ఉంటాయి. ఇది శరీరంలోని రక్తప్రసరణను, న్యూట్రియన్లను కంట్రోల్ లో ఉంచుతోంది.   మనం శరీరంలో ఉన్న పవర్ ప్లాంట్స్ నుండి మన శరీరానికి, గుండెకు, కండరాలకు కావలసిన శక్తి అందుతుందని రోనాల్డ్ ఇవాన్స్, సాల్క్ జెని డైరెక్టర్ రోనాల్డ్ ఇవాన్స్ అన్నారు. కానీ కండరాలకు, మెదడుకు కావలసిన శక్తి ఈస్ట్రోజన్ - రిలేటడ్ రెస్పెక్టర్ గామా (ఈ.ఆర్.ఆర్) అనే సింగల్ ప్రోటీన్ పై ఆధారపడి ఉంటుందని తెలిపారు. అయితే ఇవాన్న్ ఈ.ఆర్.ఆర్ గుండె మీద వెన్నెముక కండరాల మీద పనిచేసే విధానం గురించి ఇంతకుముందే పరిశోధనలు చేశారు.   ఇవాన్స్ వారి పరిశోధనల ప్రకారం మెదడులోని హిప్పోకాంపస్ మెదడులో కొత్త బ్రెయిన్ సెల్స్ ఉత్పత్తి అవడంలో ఉపయోగపడుతుంది. ఇవి మన మెమరిలో భాగమై ఉంటుంది. ఒకవేళ మెదడుపై ఈ.ఆర్.ఆర్ డెైరెక్ట్ గా పనిచేస్తే ఎముకలలో ప్రోటీన్ లేకపోవడం, మనం నేర్చుకోవడంలో చాలా స్లో అయిపోతాం. ఎముకలలో ఈ.ఆర్.ఆర్ కనుక మిస్సయితే వారు మెమరీ విషయంలో కానీ.. నేర్చుకోవల్సిన విషయంలోకానీ.. చాలా నెమ్మదిగా ఉంటారని లైమింగ్ పై అనే పత్రిక తెలిపింది. కనుక మన మెదడుకు, ఎముకలకు కావలసిన ఈ.ఆర్.ఆర్ ఉత్పత్తి కావాలంటే అందుకు కావలసిన ప్రోటీన్స్ తీసుకోవాలి. మన మెమరీ పవర్ ను పెంచుకోవాలి.

బఠాణి బహు మేలు

  ఆకుపచ్చ బఠాణి కూరలో, రైస్ ఐటమ్స్ లో ఎలా వాడినా వాటి రుచి ప్రత్యేకంగా వుంటుంది. ఈ పచ్చి బఠాణీలు పిల్లలు కూడా ఇష్టంగా తింటారు. అయితే వాటిని రుచి కోసమే కాదు, ఆరోగ్యం కోసం కూడా, మన ఆహరంలో భాగం చేసుకోవాలి. ఎందుకంటే ఇందులో ఆరోగ్యానికి మేలు చేసే ఎన్నో మంచి పోషకాలు వున్నాయి. 1. వీటిలో న్యూట్రియంట్లు, విటమిన్లు, యాంటిఆక్సిడెంట్లు సంమృద్ధిగా వున్నాయి. బీన్స్ తో పోలిస్తే కాలరీలు కూడా తక్కువ. వంద గ్రాముల బఠాణిలలో కేవలం 81  కాలరీలు మాత్రమే వుంటాయి. కొలస్ట్రాల్ అస్సలు ఉండదు. కాబట్టి బరువు తగ్గాలి అనుకునే వారికి ఇది మంచి ఆప్షన్. 2. ఇక ప్రేగ్నంట్ గా వున్నప్పుడు ఈ బఠాణీ ని తరుచూ ఆహరం లో చేర్చుకోవటం ఏంతో మంచిది. ఎందుకంటే ఫోలిక్ యాసిడ్, బీ కాంప్లెక్స్ విటమిన్లు, అధికంగా వుంటాయి వీటిలో. అవి కడుపులోని బిడ్డ ఎదుగుదలకి ఎంతో మేలు చేస్తాయి. 3. ఇక పిల్లలకి, పెద్దవారికి ఈ బఠాణీని ఆహరంలో చేర్చుకోవటం ద్వారా "సి " విటమిన్ లభించి రోగ నిరోధక శక్తి పెరుగుతుంది. ఇన్ఫెక్షన్లు రాకుండా చూస్తుంది. 4. ఇంకా ఈ బఠాణిల ద్వారా విటమిన్ " కె " " ఎ " కూడా లభిస్తాయి. ఎముకుల సాంద్రతని పెంచి, మెదడు పనితీరుని మెరుగు పరుస్తాయి ఆ విటమిన్లు. కంటి చూపు చక్కగా ఉండేలా చూస్తాయి. 5. వీలు అయినంత వరకు ఏదో ఒక రూపం లో పచ్చి బఠాణిని ఆహరంలో చేర్చుకోవటానికి ప్రయత్నించాలి. అన్ని రైస్ ఐటమ్స్ లో ఓ గుప్పెడు బఠాణి లని వేయటం, కూరలలో చేర్చటం వంటివి వాటి వినియోగాన్ని పెంచుతాయి. ఉడికించి చాట్ చేసి కూడా పెట్టచ్చు పిల్లలకి. ఆలు-బఠాణి, కాబేజీ-బటాని, ఇలా రకరకాల కాంబినేషన్లో ట్రై చేయచ్చు.

వరల్డ్ హెల్త్ డే: ఆహారం.. ఆరోగ్యం...

  వరల్డ్ హెల్త్ ఆర్గనైజేషన్ (WHO) పిలుపు మేరకు 2015, ఏప్రిల్ 7వ తేదీన వరల్డ్ హెల్త్ డే జరుపుకుంటున్నాం. ఈ ఏడాది హెల్త్ డేని పురస్కరించుకుని మన ఆరోగ్యానికి హానికి కలిగించే ఆహార పదార్ధాలను మనం దూరం పెట్టాలని వరల్డ్ హెల్త్ ఆర్గనైజేషన్ సూచిస్తోంది. ఆహారం ద్వారా అనారోగ్యం ప్రబలకుండా చూసుకోవాలని హెచ్చరిస్తోంది. ఇటీవలి కాలంలో ఆహారం కారణంగా అనారోగ్యం బాగా పెరుగుతోందని, ఈ విషయంలో అందరూ అప్రమత్తంగా వుండాల్సిన అవసరం వుందని ప్రపంచ ఆరోగ్య సంస్థ సూచిస్తోంది. ఈ సందర్భంగా “From farm to plate, make food safe.” అనే స్లోగన్‌ని ప్రపంచ ఆరోగ్య సంస్థ ఇస్తోంది. ఒక ఆహార పదార్ధం తోట లేదా పొలంలో  వున్నప్పటి నుంచి అది రకరకాల ప్రాసెస్‌కి గురై మన నోటి దగ్గరకు వచ్చే వరకూ అనేక రకాల విధ్వంసాలకు గురవుతోంది. మొదట స్వచ్ఛంగా వున్న ఆహారం మనవరకూ వచ్చేసరికి అనేక రసాయన ప్రక్రియలకు గురవుతోంది. ఫలితం.. అమృతం లాంటి ఆహారం విషతుల్యమైపోతోంది. పైకి రుచిగా వున్నప్పటికీ, అలాంటి ఆహారం లోపల విషం వుంటోంది. ఈ విషయం గురించే ప్రపంచ ఆరోగ్య సంస్థ హెచ్చరిస్తోంది.   ‘‘ఆహార తయారీ అనేది పరిశ్రమగా మారిపోయిన తర్వాత, గ్లోబలైజేషన్ ప్రభావం వల్ల ప్రపంచం చిన్నదైపోయిన తర్వాత ఏ దేశంలో తయారైన ఆహారపదార్ధాలైనా ఏ మారుమూల వున్న దేశానికి అయినా సులభంగా వెళ్ళిపోతున్నాయి. తయారీలో మాత్రమే కాకుండా ఆహార పదార్ధాల నిల్వ, రవాణా... ఇలా అనేక సందర్భాలలో ఆహార పదార్ధాలు విషపూరితం అవుతున్నాయి. బ్యాక్టీరియా, వైరస్, పరాన్నజీవులు, రసాయనాలు మనం తినే ఆహారం ద్వారా మనలో చోటు సంపాదించుకుంటున్నాయి. ఈ విషయంలో మనం అప్రమత్తంగా వుండకపోతే అది చాలా విపరిణామాలకు దారితీసే అవకాశం వుంది’’ అని ప్రపంచ ఆరోగ్య సంస్థ డైరెక్టర్ జనర్ డాక్టర్ మార్గరెట్ చాన్ ఆందోళన వ్యక్తం చేస్తున్నారు.   ఆహార పదార్ధాల ద్వారా మనలోకి సరఫరా అవుతున్న బ్యాక్టీరియా, వైరస్, పరాన్న జీవులు, రసాయనాల ద్వారా దాదాపు 200 రకాల అనారోగ్య సమస్యలకు మనుషుల్ని గురిచేస్తున్నాయని ఆయన వెల్లడించారు. కేవలం మాంసాహారాల విషయంలో మాత్రమే కాకుండా పళ్ళు, కూరగాయల ద్వారా కూడా ఇలాంటి విషాలు మన శరీరంలోకి చేరుతున్నాయని ఆయన వివరిస్తున్నారు.

How to increase your metabolism

What are Calories? Calories Are: -Units of energy your body uses to fuel its functions and activities. -Created from proteins, fats and carbohydrates (termed as macro nutrients) found in foods and beverages. -Necessary for the basic body functions like keeping the heart, brain and lungs functioning (also known as basal metabolism) -Essential to fuel activity – from the smallest hand gesture to a 5km run What is Metabolism? Metabolism basically refers to all the chemical processes that take place in the body in order to sustain life – allowing you to breathe, pump blood, keep your brain functioning and extract energy from your food. When you hear the term metabolic rate more accurately called basal (or resting) metabolic rate that refers to the number of calories your body at rest uses each day, just to keep all your vital organs functioning. The number of calories that you burn every day is directly related to your body composition. Think of your body as divided into two compartments. In one compartment is all the body fat; in the other compartment is everything that isn’t fat (e.g., bone, fluid, tissue, muscle) – that’s the fat-free compartment. The size of your fat-free compartment determines your metabolic rate, with every one pound of fat-free mass is burning about 14 calories per day. Since the fat-free compartment contains muscle tissue, one of the best things you can do to boost your metabolic rate is to strength-train to increase your lean muscle mass and supply enough protein to your body in all your meals. Remember muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue. Courtesy Glow with health wellness solutuions

Few Myths with meals that need to be dispelled

  Myth1: Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight! One popular approach people seem to be hearing and have unknowingly been following to lose weight is skipping a meal, usually a Breakfast. Studies show that people who skip breakfast and eat fewer times during the day tend to gain more weight than people who eat a healthy breakfast and eat portion controlled yet balanced nutrient loaded food four or five times a day. This is due to the fact that when skipping a meal, you feel hungrier and tend to overeat at the next meal and pay less attention to how full you are. Skipping meals also lowers down the metabolic rate of the body, burns more muscle rather than the fat which further slows down the process of burning calories. Myth2: If I eat anything after 8 p.m. I will put on more weight! The body burns more fat when you are more active, less fat when you are less active. But it does not store fat depending upon the time of the day. Fat storage depends on your basal metabolic rate (BMR). And in general BMR slows down as day passes by since we get less active by night and it is also not absorption time as per our body cycle. So it is not when you eat but what you eat and what your lifestyle is that makes the difference. If you want to boost BMR during evening time, include dietary fibre and good quality protein food in your evening snack so that you don’t over eat during the dinner time. Myth3 : Liquids don't add calories! Beverages can pack a surprising number of calories whether they are hot or cold! Most people who are conscious of their calorie intake make the mistake of only watching the calories in the solid foods they eat – completely ignoring the calories in the beverages they drink during the day… the tea or coffee consumed all day long (doused with cream and sugar), the sodas or colas at lunch or snack time (with free refills!), the tetra pack fruit juices (which are most often loaded with sugars and preservatives), the vodka and cranberry juice cocktails that help some people unwind at the end of the day. It may surprise people when all these are added up only to realize that they were taking close to 1000 calories a day from beverages alone. Courtesy: Glow with health wellness solutuions

WALNUTS - THE MEMORY BOOSTERS

A student’s life is filled with a lot of challenges. You are expected to be good at all the subjects. That’s not a problem at all. There is only one obstacle, when we try to live up to this expectation of people around us. That problem is called memory! No matter how hard we try some things just don’t register in our memory. If you are facing the same problem, this article is for you my friend. Here I will help you discover a simple solution to this complex problem. Do you know what that is? Walnuts! Yes, walnuts can help you improve your memory tremendously. Lets get into the details of the same. A research in the United States of America revealed that, those who consumed less than a handful of walnuts regularly were able to perform all the cognitive tests better than those who didn’t. The research was conducted on a large chunk of adult population of the American states aged between 20 - 60 years by the University of California. How are walnuts able to do this magic on human minds? This is because of a number of goodies that walnuts contain. The anti oxidants along with many vitamins and minerals, make walnuts a very good source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). You know what? Walnuts also give you the very essential omega 3 fatty acids that take care of not only your brain, but also your heart. This research is supported by a another one conducted by the same researchers on animals with the same result. It is also proven that walnuts have the capacity to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease in human beings. Improvements in learning skills, locomotor activity, motor coordination can be achieved just with regular intake of a handful of walnuts. Walnuts are also known to reduce anxiety behavior. So if you want to excel in exams just include walnuts in your diet... And nothing can stop you from being a topper!  -Kruti Beesam

What exactly are the benefits of drinking adequate Water?

Most often people have a tendency to reduce their water intake during winters and increase it during hot summers. However irrespective of weather changes on every single day our body needs and asks for sufficient water. So treat it well. Persons who drink good amounts of water regularly as per their body needs enjoy the following benefits. Read through and explore in your life. 1.Healthy glowing skin: A well hydrated skin prevents dry skin and formation of wrinkles. Increased water intake moisturizes the skin from inside. It maintains the elasticity of skin and gives young looks. Water acts as a fountain of youth. 2.Keeps Cardio Vascular system healthy: Researches have revealed that, drinking water regularly reduces the risk of heart diseases. The scientists say that dehydration increases the viscosity of blood and plasma which are risk factors of heart disease. 3.Good Digestion: Water is essential for digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. Well hydrated body cells function normally and efficiently. Water helps in expelling waste products produced during metabolism. It is a natural detox agent. 4.No Constipation: Inadequate consumption of water and lack of fiber in diet causes constipation. Drinking adequate water per day along with good fiber diet helps ease bowel movement and relieves constipation. 5.Eliminates dehydration: Dehydration can affect mental alertness. Frequent ingestion of water keeps the mind alert and prevents dizziness which occurs due to dehydration. 6.Regular Detoxification: In recent years our environment has been full of toxins like pesticides, industrial wastes, vehicle exhausts, contaminated food items etc. These toxins enter human body and get collected in the tissues. Drinking lot of water helps to eliminate these toxins from body. Hence drinking clean and pure water regularly in sufficient quantities helps flush these toxins and prevent diseases which arise from accumulation of these toxins. 7.Better Productivity: Your brain is mostly made up of water, thus drinking water helps you think better, be more alert and to concentrate more. 8.Less Cramps and Sprains: Proper hydration helps keep your joints and muscles lubricated, so you may less likely get cramps and sprains. 9.Reduce the Risk of Cancer: Related to the digestive system, some studies show that drinking a healthy amount of water may reduce the risks of bladder cancer and colon cancer. Water dilutes the concentration of cancer-causing agents in the urine and shortens the time in which they are in contact with bladder lining. 10.Lose Fat: Drinking water helps you lose fat because it flushes down the by-products of fat breakdown. Drinking water reduces hunger, it is an effective appetite suppressant so you will tend to eat less. Plus, water has zero calories. Apart from the benefits mentioned above, water regulates body temperature and boosts the immunity of body. So don't think twice and go ahead and keep drinking required plain water during all seasons. Remember water can never be replaced with fluids like Teas/Coffees/Arena-ted or Carbonated drinks/Dairy milk products. courtesy Glow with health wellness solutions

Where is health of our children heading towards

“Children today are sicker than they were a generation ago. From childhood cancers to autism, birth defects and asthma, a wide range of childhood diseases and disorders are on the rise. Our assessment of the latest science leaves little room for doubt; pesticides are one key driver of this sobering trend.” October 2012 report by Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) Today's parents are having their children’s pediatrician telling them that their 11-year-old son has Type 2 diabetes, or that their 16-year-old daughter has osteoporosis. No these are not genetic disorders! The out-of-control lifestyles created by adults over the past 30-40 years has led to a 50% increase in the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes—the kind of obesity-related diabetes once known as "adult onset" because it wasn't usually diagnosed until the age 50 or older. "Our children today are malnourished". While childhood obesity in India is on rapid rise last two decades in urban India there are also millions of kids who are weak, low in energy and immunity. The studies have also shown how parents in India are mostly unaware that their children are underweight or overweight or obese. Most of them also assume that when they grow up as adults they will become normal. Parents in India need to be aware of the overall impact of current lifestyle in the future health of their children, and accordingly make necessary changes in the environmental factors that are in their control. They can reverse these trends if they start making their children understand importance of below items by also following themselves. * eating healthy nutritious food, * preferring plant based seasonal items free from harmful pesticides, * increasing physical activities, * discouraging unhealthy eating of junk, fatty and processed foods or carbonated drinks, * never allowing a child to skip regular meals, especially breakfast, * putting an end to the usage of food as a reward. -Lavanya Glow with Health Wellness Solutions

Truth about sugar in fruits

We sometimes hear people dismissing fruits saying they are full of sugar or loaded with carbs The truth is a fresh fruit offers so much more than the natural sugar it contains – including water, vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients (those naturally-occurring plant compounds that have wide ranging beneficial effects on the body). Where else can you get a package like that for about 50-75 calories per serving? Before dismissing foods as being loaded with sugar, or too high in carbs, consider not only the amount of sugar or carbs you are eating in a day, but the form of the carbohydrate, too. There is a big difference between the nutritional value of the natural and complex carbohydrates found in fruits and other plant foods and what’s found (or, more accurately, what’s not found) in the empty calories we eat from added sugars in processed food or carbonated drinks! Lets take a serving of fruit and see how much sugar are we talking about, as per nutritionist Susan Bowerman. An average orange has only about 12 grams of natural sugar (about 3 teaspoons) and a cup of strawberries has only about 7 grams – that’s less than two teaspoons. And either way, you are also getting 3 grams of fiber, about a full day’s worth of vitamin C, healthy antioxidants and some folic acid and potassium to boot – and it may only cost you about 50 or 60 calories By contrast, a 20-ounce bottle of cola will set you back about 225 calories and, needless to say, won’t be supplying any antioxidants, vitamins, minerals or fiber. You will just be gulping down some carbonated water, maybe some artificial color and flavor, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 grams of added sugar – about 1/3 of a cup. So called diet colas are equal culprits though they claim to be low in calories but loaded with artificial sweeteners that can harm metabolic syndrome of your body. Learn to Balance your Diet not once a while but daily! You need to provide enough of the right foods including colorful fruits and vegetables, protein, good carbohydrates and just enough good fats for the taste you want. You also need vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber to provide the nutrition missing from your diet that your cells regularly need for good health, sometimes with usage of with dietary supplements.  -Lavanya Glow with Health Wellness Solutions

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శరీరానికి అవసరమైన మేరకు పోషకాలు తీసుకుంటేనే ఆరోగ్యం సక్రమంగా వుంటుంది.  ఏవి లోపించినా ఏదో ఒక అనారోగ్యంతో ఇబ్బంది పడక తప్పదు.  ముఖ్యంగా పోషకాల  లోపం  దీర్ఘకాలం కొనసాగితే రక్తహీనతకు దారితీయచ్చు. నిజానికి రక్త హీనతతో బాధపడే వారి సంఖ్య రోజురోజుకీ పెరుగుతోందని అంటున్నారు నిపుణులు. అందులోనూ పిల్లలలో రక్త హీనత ఎక్కువగా ఉంటోందని చెబుతున్నారు.  రక్త హీనతకి అసలు కారణం ఆహరంలో ఇనుము లోపించటమే. మరి మనకి అత్యంత అవసరమైన ఆ ఇనుము ఏయే ఆహార పదార్థాల నుంచి లభిస్తుంది? పాలు, పెరుగు, తేనె, మాంసం, చేపలు, గుడ్డు సొన నుంచి  ఇనుము ఎక్కువగా లభిస్తుంది. పళ్ళలో.... అరటి పండు, ఆపిల్, బత్తాయి, నిమ్మ, ద్రాక్ష, మామిడి, బొప్పాయి, దానిమ్మ. కూరగాయల్లో... టమోటో, ముల్లంగి, కాకర, ఉల్లిపాయ. ధాన్యాల్లో... బార్లి, జొన్నలు, వేరుశనగ, మొక్కజొన్న, గోధుమలు వంటి ధాన్యాలలో. ఇంకా.. బాదాం,శనగ పప్పు, కొబ్బరి, ఖర్జూరా, చెరకు, బెల్లం తదితరాలలో కావల్సినంత ఇనుము లభిస్తుంది. ఇక ఆకుకూరల విషయానికి వస్తే, మెంతి కూర, పుదీనా, పాలకూర, తోటకూరలలో ఒకదానిని  రోజూ తప్పకుండా తీసుకోవాలి. వీటితో పాటు ములగాకు దొరికితే అది కూడా తప్పక తినండి. ఎందు కంటే  దానిలో కూడా కావలసినంత  ఇనుము వుంటుంది కాబట్టి దానిని తింటే రక్త హీనత దగ్గరకి రాదు. -రమ