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Fruits and Veggies during Pregnancy

  Fruits and Veggies during Pregnancy     Indian women are used to eating more during pregnancy..they are encouraged by parents and elderly in the family to eat more, eat whatever they want to, eat often but very rarely, it so happens that they are advised to eat healthier and more often. Most of the times, during pregnancy, women are offered sweets, sweets and more sweets...why is it that we hear about Gestational Diabetes, more often than our earlier generations ?! Every women thinks, 'it would not happen to me' and proceeds to surrender to her food cravings during pregnancy. However, these days, we hear more of ladies with more health conscious thoughts of their diet..it is possible to control food cravings during pregnancy. I realise, it is such a time when some ladies dont feel like eating anything, due to nausea-the culprit, and also due to being over-weight pre-pregnancy and Doctors suggest them to control their diet, right from the initial stages. It becomes so difficult to manage frequent hunger pangs and acidity for every Mom-to-be, even worse for those with Gestational diabetes or with over-weight issues. How to feed the child sufficiently during this time? The baby gets bigger every month and Mom is supposed to eat for two and sametime, manage her health for a safe delivery and a healthy baby. A research was conducted by The Center for Chemical Regulation and Food Safety in America finds that the eating more is not as important as it had been understood from ages, instead, it is the quality of food that is consumed during pregnancy which matters most. After systematic analysis of 11 relevant studies, it was found by the researchers that birth weights associated with brain development during the growing up years are directly related to the amount of fruits and veggies a Mom-to-be consumes during pregnancy. The more fruits and veggies she eats when pregnant, the higher the birth weight and better the brain development of the child when growing up. This research was conducted by observing the diet of pregnant women belonging to western countries where conventional western diet is followed such as breads, salads, soft drinks, fried foods etc. Several different studies were conducted to prove this point. It isnot just these two aspects of the child's health, Mom's nutrition matters alot to the child's overall health after birth. Few studies proved that low vegetable consumption during pregnancy resulted in more than three times the risk of giving birth to a low gestational weight child. Few other studies found that Moms who ate more fruits during pregnancy gave birth to babies with more birth weight. In India, fried foods and sweets are the most important comfort foods, which are not good at any stage of life for anyone...specially for the health of any offspring. --Pratyusha

Motivate Yourself To Exercise Daily

  Motivate Yourself To Exercise Daily In the modern lifestyle that we have all adopted, we take physical exercise for granted. It is generally considered difficult to motivate oneself to work out. This article will do exactly that. Here you will find some of the most interesting reasons to do some hard work. Wouldn’t it be motivated enough if you found out that exercising can improve your mood? Yes, its true! You will be happier when you exercise your body. Besides it is also a very good when to destress when the situations in life are not very pleasant. Since it is so beneficial, experts say that contrary to popular belief, there is no best time for a work. The time when you feel like it, is perfect to burn the calories. Making it a habit to run long distances, will change how your body feels about running. When you run long distance, over a period your body starts using up less amount energy in doing this activity. If you think running on the treadmill or the road is boring, try dancing! You will not only be putting your body to work, but you will also be contributing to the improvement of your cardiovascular health. So, dancing to some music is not bad at all. Just remember not to exercise on empty stomach. Eat right if you want the best results. This is important because once you fall short of energy during a work out, your body will start using up muscle tissue instead of burning fat. Are you motivated for an enthusiastic workout now?   .....Kruti Beesam

Health care for Women in 30s

Health care for Women in 30s Thirties is the time most people reach their career stability stages, they bought a house, gotten married, started a family, settled with a stable job and maintain a good supportive bank balance. This is the time, men and women are confident of their future..sametime, they shall have greater confidence on their health, which means they would have already been taking good care of their health. Yet, most of us get busy at this stage of life that we have no time for ourselves..and we start ignoring most things related to us and concentrate more on our kids and securing their future. Infact, it should have been this way that one would concentrate on self health at any stage of life, which is not what practically happens in reality. Among the so many health related mistakes and ignorant things women do, here are a few that top. Ignoring the changes in body metabolism When in 30s, body metabolism changes slowly. It digests foods differently than at the previous stages, food allergies occure too, which we never bother to notice. Gastric issues, bloating, inflammatin etc happen commonly at this age and we tend to feel that our body still behaves the same way it had been from childhood. This is the time we need to modify our eating habits, consume better foods, easily digestible foods, eat vitamin and mineral rich foods appropriate to our age. Body starts storing more fat now, and to stop this we need to avoid processed foods more than ever before and consume lean meats, omega 3 fatty foods and about 70% of our daily food should be fruits and vegetables only. Ignore the loss of muscle mass Body at the age of 30 and up starts loosing muscle mass. It is said that women in thier 30s who follow a fitness regime of cardio exercises can keep alzheimer's and different types of cancers at bay. Maintaining physical fitness becomes crucial from this age onwards. Keep the Doctor away At this age, we become busier than ever, managing jobs, households, kids and what not..that there is no time to even think of visiting a Doctor for regular health checkups. Keeping an eye on cholesterol levels, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, thyroid functioning, bone health falls beneath the list of To-Do-Things we want to finish every day , every month, ...not even once a year. We tend to procrastinate medical visits more than ever. Treating skin like that of a teenager Acne at this age is also common, due to hormonal changes. Using acne treatment lotions, facewash products, creams made for teenage skin is not appropriate. Instead, use milk and gentle natural products for relief. Consulting a dermatologist if acne becomes too rampant is a better option. Detox therapies such a warm lemon water, honey, natural moisturisers such as coconut oil, almond oil for applying on the skin are smart options now. Naturally made sunscreen lotions are a must to safeguard skin from sun burns and harsh rays, also help from skin cancer. 30s or even 20s..whatever be the age, one should be very health conscious and also cautious of the health problems and keep away from anything harmful is the manthra during these times... --Pratyusha

Healthy young women can keep Heart Disease at Bay forever

  Healthy young women can keep Heart Disease at Bay forever In a 20-year research, it has been proved that women who have been health conscious from their young age are 92% less prone to heart diseases. The researchers analysed data from the study conducted on Women between the age groups 25-42 in 1991. Generally people talk about older beings when discussing about heart risk factors but it has been proved that someone is at risk right from the younger age, and more if not following the right and healthy path. U.S researchers also conducted a study on women in their 20s and 30s who led a healthy lifestyle and exercised regularly and found out that they had 66% less chances of facing heart health risks such as hyper-tension, diabetes by the time they reached 40s and 50s. Studies proved that women can avoid 70% of heart attack chances by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and making few good changes to eating habits. Over the past 40-45 years, death rates and heart disease rates have dropped among those in 50s and they increased among younger generations due to their poor eating, hygiene and nutrition habits. Based on these factors: smoking, sleeping hours, hours of watching TV, exercise routine, proper nutrition habits, alcohol consumption and body weight, a study was conducted on young women and at the end of a 20year study, it was noticed that they suffered with high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease. Compared to women who had atleast one of these bad health habits, women who had none of these habits were at 92% low risk of a heart disease. Too much stress due to jobs and multitasking, trying to attain a balance with different aspects of life, family etc forces anyone to give in. Women who say they are 'oh so busy' might be really busy but thet need to take care of their health to be alive and stay happily busy. 'Lets think of health later' is definitely not the line of the day...it should be our manthra everyday. Stay healthy and forever!! --Pratyusha

Teenage Tangle

  Teenage Tangle Adolescence is a stage of life when teenagers go through a period of uncertainty and confusion. Everything seems in a state of flux-their moods, their bodies, and their relationships with family and friends.Most teenagers emerge unscathed but there are others who just cannot cope and they fall into a depression. Any disturbance small or big,will have so much of impact on them. They neither like to talk about it nor bear or face it silently. They start showing their depression in various forms and feeling. And parents get confused as to,what the hell is happening with their child.Parents should be vigilant and find out if their child's behaviour is just a teenage tantrum or is he/she reeling under depression. Now how wil they know it? Here are some of the symptoms  which can tell you if your child is in Depression 1)Defeatist attitude: Depressed teenagers feel that they are destined to fail at anything that they attempt. They take failure personally seeing it as being directly related to their personalities rather than to anything they might have done. For instance, if they are snubbed at a party by an acquaintance, they will assume that it is because they are boring and not worth knowing. A normal teenager would just shrug it off and move on to the next person. As a result of this defeatist attitude, depressed teenagers rarely make the effort to do anything because they believe that they will fail anyway. 2) Uncomfortable sharing personal information: Teenagers afflicted with depression are uncomfortable talking about themselves because they think that the listener will judge them and find them wanting in every way. They do not want to open themselves up to any possible disapproval or criticism, which they take for granted as being forthcoming. 3)Impulsive behaviour: Teenagers affected by depression also tend to act on impulse. They feel that since they have no control over their circumstances and cannot seem to find a solution to any of their problems, they should do something and then forget about it. 4) Socially withdrawn: A depressed teenager is often withdrawn and antisocial because he feels a sense of low self esteem and that nobody would want him/her around. They feel that they have nothing of interest to say and does not have the necessary social skills to make them well-liked. They will avoid volunteering for any group activities assuming that he will be a burden and that he has nothing of value to contribute. If parents are busy in their own lives and tend to over look these symptoms, those teenager’s life will go from bad to worst. And there will be an irreparable damage to their self worth, which in turn lead to horrific consequences. So Parents spare some time for your kids, be with them and help them over come depression --Pushpa

Her Cancer and A Lesson

  Her Cancer and A Lesson Cancer was a rarely heard word earlier, but these days, it is one of the most frequently heard health issue, across the world. In some lives, it occurs just once and disappears when proper care is taken, however, for some, it turns dreadful and recurrance is repetitive too. After a relative of mine had an encounter with Breast cancer four years ago, the whole family was disturbed. For a person who is afraid of Doctors and Hospitals, it was a nightmare. She went through surgery, then chemo therapy and radiation. She was also attending followup checks every six months post treatment...we all thought it disappeared and the Doctor assured that he found no cancer cells during the followups. A storm struck when the Doctors discovered it had spread to the lungs and she had just an year left. Who could we question? It was utterly difficult for the family to convince her for another round of chemo.,she discontinued the sittings due to no proper awareness. Her family was forced to seek alternative treatments which cudn't take control of a fast creeping disease like cancer..superficially she started looking better,her appetite improved, hair growing again. Everyone thought those alternative treatments worked wonders on her. Suddenly her speech weakened, her hands and feet lost control. When the family ran for scans, this time it was the brain...she was given only 15days...her close family members saw her body organs giveup week after week and she lost the battle. Not that she gaveup the treatment to live her remaining days peacefully, but she had no awareness about what cancer can do to her. When her body started showing off the changes, she was disturbed, demotivated and then started the speedy deterioration. She rejected to breastfeed her children after their birth to stay slim, had she some awareness about breastcancer, she would have nursed for self-help. She had been using heavy makeup for over 35years daily, including cheap brand lipsticks which are notorious for causing cancer. Her Hyderabad based family was buying breakfast and dinner everyday for more than 15years from a local road-side tiffin center, prepared in not-so hygienic environment. Cancer is such a disease which is not stationary...it aims to spread and capture. Her family ddnt expect it, probably they ddnt notice when the Doctors warned them of the same. Her story is a serious lesson for every women. Stay away from every wrong step with health..stay away from Cancer ! --pratyusha

Women! Keep a Check on Your Health at Work

  Women! Keep a Check on Your Health at Work   With so many changes in the modern world, it has become extremely important for a woman to take some extra care of herself.  Since the new lifestyle is demanding a lot of her attention, she is neglecting her own health. As a woman, you need to understand that you can maintain life with the correct balance only if you are healthy yourself. The first step towards good health is to start eating right. Ensure that you eat breakfast in a way that will help you kick start the day with great energy. You can go light on lunch or dinner but breakfast is something you should not compromise on. In case your work compels you to eat your meals at greater intervals, keep some healthy snacks around to keep up the energy.   Earlier women never had to make time separately for a workout. Now, time has changed and so has the lifestyle of a women. Today, a working woman spends not less than 8 hours in the same position. Therefore, it becomes important for her to get up for an occasional stretch of her body, to avoid cramps, improve blood circulation and add to over health. Constant typing on the laptop or the desk and using the mouse can give you a condition known as carpel tunnel syndrome. To avoid this, make sure you don’t over work yourself. Take the much needed break and give yourself some rest during the day. Another equally important thing, most of us ignore is to take the post lunch walk. If you have a canteen that you can go to, do that instead of eating at your desk. This will ensure you walk before and after your lunch and help you digest your food better. Keeping these things in mind, will not only make you good at your work, but will also make you a healthy working woman. .....Kruti Beesam

Potato the Dreaded Vegetable,is it really so

  Potato the Dreaded Vegetable,is it really so?? The first vegetable people will always love to hate is “POTATO.” They can neither avoid it totally nor can eat it with peace of mind and enjoy. Potatoes sometimes get a bad rap for being a white starch, thrown into the same category as white rice or white bread. Keeping this in mind many people try to avoid eating it and cooking it for kids too. But the point is, unlike those other starches, which have indeed been stripped of healthful nutrients, potatoes are a whole  food that contain several beneficial nutrients. They are an excellent source of two immunity boosters—vitamins C and B6, delivering 25% and 29% of your daily needs per medium potato, respectively. They are also a good source of foliate, which is especially important for women of childbearing age, and they deliver fiber (4 grams in a medium potato; women need 25 grams daily and men need 38 grams). To be precise One medium-size potato has just 110 calories and is absolutely fat-, sodium and cholesterol free, making them downright undeniable for any diet.  (run to get some now..wait wait read the remaining and go J)The power of the potato doesn’t stop there. Whether yellow, purple or red, potato nutrition is good for you! One medium potato with skin provides 620 milligrams or 18% of the recommended daily value (DV) per serving. Potatoes rank highest for potassium content among the top 20 most frequently consumed raw vegetables and fruits. Potassium is a mineral that is part of every body cell. It helps regulate fluids and mineral balance in and out of cells and in doing so, helps maintain normal blood pressure. Potassium is also vital for transmitting nerve impulses or signals, and in helping muscles contract. Potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C (45% of the DV), which is more vitamin C than one medium tomato (40% DV) or sweet potato (30% DV). Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant stabilizing free radicals, thus helping prevent cellular damage. It aids in collagen production; assists with iron absorption; and helps heal wounds and keep your gums healthy. Vitamin C may help support the body’s immune system. One medium potato provides 6% of the recommended daily value of iron. Iron is a major component of hemoglobin that carries oxygen to all parts of the body. Iron also has a critical role within cells assisting in oxygen utilization, enzymatic systems, especially for neural development, and overall cell function everywhere in the body. Thus, iron deficiency affects all body functions, not only through anemia, which appears late in the process of tissue iron deficits. So now that you know it’s too good eat potato .let me tell you a point of caution. Its not the potato that is fattening or unhealthy, it’s the way its cooked. So what ever way u want eat potato, make it in a really healthy way..then, in such scenario for  many people Potato will never be a “forbidden fruit” J Happy potatoing !! --Pushpa

Sciatic Pain

    Sciatic Pain   Sciatic pain is a common type of pain affecting the sciatic nerve, a large nerve extending from the lower back down the back of each leg.   Common symptoms of sciatica include: ·         Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting ·         Burning or tingling down the leg ·         Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot ·         A constant pain on one side of the rear ·         A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up Sciatica usually affects only one side of the lower body. Often, the pain extends from the lower back all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg. Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also extend to the foot or toes. For some people, the pain from sciatica can be severe and debilitating. For others, the sciatica pain might be infrequent and irritating, but has the potential to get worse. But you should seek immediate medical attention if you have progressive lower extremity weakness, numbness in the upper thighs, and/or loss of bladder or bowel control.  What Causes Sciatica? Sciatica is caused by irritation of the root(s) of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine. Additional common causes of sciatica include: ·          Narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back ·         Breakdown of discs, which act as cushions between the vertebrae) ·         Spondylolisthesis ,a condition in which one vertebra slips forward over another one ·         Pregnancy There are few more  things that may make your back pain worse, which includes, being overweight, not having an active life and not  exercising regularly, wearing high heels, or sleeping on a mattress that is too soft. So before you jump on to conclusions check on which of these is causing the pain.   How can one handle sciatic pain?? There are few things we should do when we are suffering from sciatic pain. First and foremost is being active in life.  Take up any form of exercise you like, be it yoga, gym or any other format, but you should be able to do it regularly at least 4 times a week. Because  without exercise and movement, the back muscles and spinal structures become deconditioned and less able to support the back. The de-conditioning and weakening can lead to back injury and strain, which causes additional pain. In addition, active exercise is also important for the health of the spinal discs. Movement helps exchange nutrients and fluids within the discs to keep them healthy and prevent pressure on the sciatic nerve.   Secondly you can plan for Massage. Don't expect a chilled-out spa massage if you have sciatica. In this instance,. The sciatic nerve sits underneath a muscle called the piriformis, which is located beneath the glutes.It is discovered that "When the piriformis muscle gets tight, it pinches the sciatic nerve, causing tingling and numbness down into the leg,". When we  apply pressure to irritated and inflamed areas, or trigger points, in the piriformis muscle, as well as in muscles in the lower back and glutes. It might give some relief. Typically, schedule your treatments 7 to 10 days apart. If there is relief go ahead or else stop it, coz it may not be the right treatment for you. Third and most important is see a Medical specialist if the pain persists. We should remember that all health tips are for simple pains, anything beyond it should be treated Medically. ----Pushpa Bhaskar

మీకున్న ఆరోగ్యం మాకెక్కడిది

  మీకున్న ఆరోగ్యం మాకెక్కడిది?  " మీరు తిన్న  తిండి వేరు, మీరు ఉన్న తీరు వేరు , మీకున్న ఆరోగ్యం మాకెక్కడిది? అంటూనే  ముక్కుతూ మూలుగు తూనే  వాషింగ్ మెషిన్, లు మిక్సీలు, ఓవెన్ లు, తెగ వాడేస్తుంటారు ఇప్పటితరం ఇళ్లాళ్ళు. అయితే కొత్త తరం, కొత్త ఆలోచనలు, కొత్త జీవిత విధానంలో, తీరిక లేక ఇలాంటి పరికరాలు వాడడంలో ఎలాంటి తప్పు లేనే లేదు. కొత్త పరికరాలు పుట్టెదే మన హడావిడి జీవితానికి కాస్త ఊరట ఇవ్వడానికి. కానీ వచ్చిన చిక్కు ఏంటంటే అవి మన శరీరాన్ని అలసత్వానికి గురిచేస్తున్నాయి. ఎప్పుడైనా అవి లేని పక్షం లో ఊపిరి ఆడనట్టు అయిపోతున్నారు ఆడవాళ్ళు (ఇంట్లో పని మగవాళ్ళు చూస్తుంటే వారు కూడా అనుకోండి)  శరీరానికన్న మేధడుకి ఎక్కువ పని చెప్పడం వల్ల శరీరం బరువెక్కి అనేక రకాలైన రోగాలపాలవుతోంది. అలా అని వాటిని వాడడమా ఆపలేము. మరి అంచి ఆరోగ్యానికి దారెది అంటే...మీ చేతిలోనే ఉంధి. 1) ఆహారం లో జాగ్రతలు తీసుకోండి ,అందరికీ వడ్డించాక మిగిలినవి కాకుండా మీకు కూడా ఉండేలా వండుకోండి. ఆకుకూరలు, పళ్ళు పిల్లలకే కాదు అమ్మలుగా మీకు కూడా చాలా అవసరం అని తెలుసుకోండి. 2) ఎక్కడ కూర్చుంటే అక్కడికి "ఇది తీసుకురా, అది అందించు" అంటూ పిల్లలనో పనివాళ్లనో పురమాయించకండి. ప్రతి పని మీకు మీరే చేసుకోండీ. శరీరం కాస్త మాట వింటుంది.   3) రోజు వాకింగ్, యోగా లాంటి పనులు ఏవో ఒకటి చేయండి. అయితే మీ ఒక్కరే చేస్తే మానేసెంత బద్ధకం రావడం తధ్యం. అందుకే ఎవరినైనా జత కలుపుకోండి. అప్పుడు మీ బద్దకాన్నివారు , వారి బద్దకాన్ని మీరు వదలకొట్టుకోవచ్చు. 4) ఆఫీసులో ఉన్నా ఇంట్లో ఉన్నా సెల్ లో కాల్  వచ్చినప్పుడు లేచి అటు ఇటు తిరుగుతూ మాట్లాడండి. అప్పుడు నడకకి నడకా మాటలకి మాటలు రెండు అయిపోతాయి . అలా అని సిగ్నల్ లేని వైపు వెళ్ళి కాల్ కట్ అయితే నన్ను తిట్టుకోకండి. 5) చివరిగా మీరు ఆరోగ్యంగా  లేనిదే మీ కుటుంబంలోని వారి ఆరోగ్యాలు సరిగ్గా ఉండేలా చూసుకోలేరు, కనీసం అందుకోసమైన "బంగారు తల్లుల్లా" మాట విని మీ ఆరోగ్యం భద్రం గా ఉంచుకోండి. --Pushpa

Happy Healthy Living

Happy Healthy  Living For Indian women their health has always been the last priority in the list of to do things. But this news is definitely going to wake you up ladies .Of late, a study conducted by an international consortium of researchers, coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, disclosed that breast cancer has taken over cervical cancer as the top killer among Indian women. Major lifestyle issues such as poor diet and eating habits, stress, etc, are behind striking surge in the disease says Dr S Sahni, Senior Consultant Breast Surgeon, Department of Surgical Oncology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi Increase  in stress levels and change in diets habits promotes obesity which has a direct relation to the development of cancer. Mammograms done under the age of 40 have almost no diagnostic value as they are for most part impossible to interpret, Women with a high risk of breast cancer are now usually advised to undergo a Breast MRI. As there is no single factor that leads to breast cancer, primary prevention is difficult. However, the following may be done to reduce the risk and to try and detect it as early as possible: * Exercise and maintain an ideal body weight * Healthy diet rich in leafy green vegetables * Avoid alcohol and tobacco * Get regular tests * Be breast aware Last but not the least, If you think you love your family and want to protect them, first protect yourself and be healthy so that you will be in a position to do so. Happy Healthy  Living!!! --pushpa

Being Fit a show off or a life style?

Being Fit a show off or a life style? Fitness fad is at its highest peak now a days. Every one wants to hit the gym ,join jumba ,go for a walk, or enroll in aerobics. It's good to see so many women too join this run up which was previously more of a men's regime. Though being Fit is definitely a good idea it should become a daily routine or a life style rather than a fad or show off. If it becomes so then there is 100% chance that it might fade away sooner than later. So how can we make it a daily routine? how can we keep it going when it hits the boring button in our heads? Try to follow the following steps Step 1:  As it is exercise demands time and energy, even if we sustain for some days boredom comes up very easily. So to avoid this make a group of friends who are in same area and have similar thoughts about health keep up. Then even if one is lagging behind, others will pull them up Step 2: Dont punish your body with too much of work out. If you do so,your mind will reject the idea of work out as a whole. So keep it slow and build it up Step 3 : Food also should be controlled a bit when you are working out, or else how ever much you bend there wont be much of result. Step 4: Finally keep an off day or cheat day in a week or may be once in 2 weeks. That day Sleep and eat to your hearts content, then your mind and body will be rejuvenated to go back to your work out again Keep it simple and smooth,enjoy your body and enjoy your work out,health will be with you all the time. Keep Rocking!!   .......PUSPHA

The Health of A Woman at Different Ages!

The Health of A Woman at Different Ages!  A woman’s body undergoes many changes each as she grows older. Naturally, the requirements of her health vary with time. The care she needs at one stage of her life, is not what she needed in the previous stage nor it is what she will need in the next. That is why it becomes important for every woman to know what her health needs are, at every stage of her life. So let us try and understand the same today. Starting with the early period of life, every woman in her 20s must get regular health check ups done. Find a physician who you can see on a regular basis, to eliminate health issues at an early stage. This is the time to develop good eating habits. Make sure you give your body 1,200 mg of calcium and 1000 IU of vitamin D everyday. As you enter your 30s your attention needs to drift to your body metabolism. As everything starts to slow down at this stage, it increases the possibility of unwanted weight gain. To avoid this, you must include exercises your daily routine. By attempting to strengthen your muscle, you will be improving your metabolic rate. At this point of life, you must prioritize a few needs of your body, like sleep. 8 hours of undisturbed sleep is a must for every woman at this age. Neglecting this could mean stress to your body, increased blood pressure and compromised immunity. In your 40s the needs of your body change again. Now nutrition should be your priority. Talk to your doctor about what sort of food your body needs, in what quantities and at what intervals. It is also the time when you should get your mammograms. This will keep a check on the development of breast cancer. Include Omega 3 in your diet through packed fish like salmon and fiber through fruits and vegetables. In your 50s you must direct your attention towards things like levels of cholesterol, prevention of diabetes and remember to get vaccinated. Most important care to your body at this age is to discuss menopause and understand the changes your body will go through in the near future. Take care of yourself.   ..... Kruti Beesam

Are you or your child vaccine ready

  Are you or your child vaccine ready ? Vaccinations/ Immunizations are necessary to make our bodies immune to locally and periodically occuring and spreading diseases and sometimes to fight and stop a bacteria or virus from attacking our bodies from the atmosphere or others around. When a child is born, a series of Immunizations are suggested by the pediatricians to make a child ready to fight the atmospheric calamities in the form of viruses and diseases. As Man is getting more and more educated, faith in these vaccines is increasing, at the sametime, doubts are also arising as to these vaccines are capable of doing what they are made for or are they causing any side effects harmful to the body. In this scenario, everyone shall be smart to think before getting ready for any vaccination. It is just to be smart and educated about what is happening around with our health and bodies. The National Vaccine Information Center of USA suggests everyone to find answers to these questions below before taking their children or getting themselves ready for immunizations. * Did my child or  I have any bad reaction to a vaccine in the past ? * Do we have any family history of major health problems, any vaccine reactions, neurological disorders, food or drug  ( medicine ) allergies, or any immune system problems ? * Is my child or I sick right now? * Am I aware of any vaccine related or disease related reactions, risks or side effects ? * Do we know how to identify any vaccine or medication related reactions ? * Will we be provided with the vaccine's manufacturer name, lot number, chemical composition details in written or printed form for records ? * Am i convinced to say YES for the vaccination ? * So get vaccine ready as climate changes occure, smartly and safely !!   --pratyusha

The Calcium Factor

  The Calcium Factor Calcium is one of the important mineral that’s needed for any organism with blood and bones. It’s estimated that more than 90 percent of the calcium we intake, is used by our body to maintain the structure of our bones. But now a day, too many things were said and heard about the role of calcium in the life of a woman. Let’s take a brief… Why women:   Though calcium is important for any person, it is said to be of much prominent for a woman. Women need much calcium during pregnancy. Though studies found that their body can cope up with the increased craving for the calcium during pregnancy, it’s always better to talk with the doctor regarding the need for calcium supplements. The blood pressure of a pregnant women and the bone development of the child in her womb can be severely affected by low calcium levels. The Estrogen effect:   With an advancing age, the levels of estrogen hormone in women would drop down. This has a direct affect in lowering the density of their bones- a condition called Osteoporosis.  The onset of Osteoporosis is so silent that most of the patients get to know of their ailment only after a fracture. According to International Osteoporosis Foundation, one in every three women might face the risk of an Osteoporosis fracture, while it is limited to one in every five in case of men!  Intake of calcium is supposed to lower the risk of Osteoporosis. For muscles and heart: Women keep working for hours together without bothering to relax and rejuvenate. They don’t even bother to have a glass of water while they work. Working continuously and without enough fluids would result in muscle cramps.  Muscle cramps though occasional can be severely painful. Having enough calcium levels in our body would reduce the risk of muscle cramps, because calcium has an important role to play in muscle contraction. It would let our muscles to move smoothly. Calcium even found to have a positive effect on the muscles of the heart thus reducing the chance of a heart stroke. It is even found to reduce the risk of blood clotting which is good news for patients with cardio vascular diseases. Intake of calcium: Having said enough about the role of calcium, the question now arises is about its intake. Various studies prove varied points regarding the sufficiency of calcium. It might change according to our age and lifestyle. So it’s better to leave for our physician, to determine the quantity of calcium required according to our age and ailments. But it’s always good to remember that the natural and most sought out source of calcium is MILK. Other natural sources include beans, nuts and leafy vegetables. However vitamin D is also essential along with the calcium. It helps our body to absorb the calcium we have consumed. As we are aware that sunlight is the natural source of vitamin D, let’s give our body a chance- to look at the sun once in a while!   --Nirjara

Tips for a Healthy Day

  Tips for a Healthy Day   For a healthy life, every day's health is crucial, like a building's strength in every strong brick laid. Parents keep teaching their kids to stay active and eat healthy. Children would not follow until they see their own parents do that. For a healthy foundation, here are some tips to help the family get started on the right foot: Kick off with a healthy breakfast: A balanced, healthy, nutritious breakfast is extremely important to fuel the body and mind for an active day. A Daily requirement of Proteins, carbohydrates and healthy fats should be met to avoid malnutrition. Hydration complusion: Drinking sufficient plain water during the day keeps the body well hydrated. Only water, this doesnot count soda, juices, tea or coffee. Children and adults should stay away from Processed foods, store bought ready-made foods, High fructose corn syrup and MSG items.   Preparing a well-balanced food for the lunch box is important. Cooking lunches in advance along with dinners or prepping to cook lunches during the busy mornings will be helpful to pack a balanced, nutritious food for lunch too. Even snacks should be well-balanced mini meals like fruits, cheese, homemade fruit yoghurt, homemade milkshakes or smoothies. Children are required to spend 60minutes of active time every day. Leave aside their school schedules, parents should make it a rule to spend 60 minutes with children, exercising together, going on bike rides, jogging, playing outdoor games. This helps the whole family stay active and healthy, sametime the family bonding strengthens to leaps and bounds. If Parents lead by example, children will follow sincerely. Have a healthy every day !!   --Pratyusha

Some Diseases That Effect Women Differently !

  Some Diseases That Effect Women Differently!   The modern lifestyle has got all the human beings to experience certain kinds of diseases that require them to alter their lives for ever. This is a fact known to all. What is not known is the fact that, these diseases effect men and women differently. The difference may not be seen in the symptoms but is observed in the effect it has on the mail and the female body. We’ll start with a simple thing as Alcohol abuse. Although it is observed that men are more likely to be dependent on alcohol and also that that they abuse the substance a lot more, it can be seen that a significant number of women do that too. If we take the case of the United States of America, it can be observed that 5.3 million women put their health at risk by abusing alcohol. It has been found that women who abuse alcohol intake put themselves at a greater risk of breast cancer, heart diseases and a condition called foetal alcohol syndrome. This is a condition in which the brain of the foetus is damaged due to the excessive consumption of alcohol by the mother during pregnancy. The instances of women dying of a heart disease are greater than men dying of it. Unfortunately, this is a directed result of a greater delay in the identification and treatment of a heart disease in women. Similarly the cases of depression are also found to be more among women. It could be because of a variation in the life that a woman leads. We must understand the need to take extra care of women and give them the attention they need.   Kruti Beesam