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Make Chia seeds the new health boosters in your diet!

    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

    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..!

    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!

    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...

  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

  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

  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

  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

    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

Hair Worries in Women

Hair Worries in Women   Beautiful Tresses are very important for women...thick, luscious hair on a woman's scalp is a beauty symbol..but it is also an area of concern when there is an imbalance..hairfall, hair thinning, hair greying, overly dry and rough hair, these all create restless feelings in women, more than in men, across the world. These could be signs of nutritional deficiencies, serious health problems or minor correctible diet imbalance. Nutritional deficiency of vitamin D is said to have side effects such as hair thinning and hair fall issues. Vitamin and Mineral deficiencies such as lack of Copper, Zinc, Amino acids, Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin D supply to the body create a biological imbalance that appears first on the scalp in the form of hair fall and thinning of the previosly thick hair strands. Some hormone imbalance matters also are related to hair problems, such as thickening of hair on the upper-lip area or on hands and legs and strangely, vice versa, thinning of scalp hair..example, imbalance of thyroid gland, like the thyroid production being low.   Yearly medical examinations, sometimes, twice a year health checkups are so necessary to keep a track of every important health aspect, proper functioning of hormones, vitamin and mineral deficiencies if any, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels etc. 30s are when Women are supposed to be very careful and actively checking on their health, regularly. Stress can also have adverse affects on hair health..high stress levels in anybody can damage the production of healthy hair on the scalp and have a negative impact, immediately, such as hair loss followed by thinning or early hair greying. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through good diet, fitness and stress management can help relieve hair problems and recover from hair loss or thinning.Keeping away from harmful chemicals in haircare products is very important besides following good diet and trying to correct hair problems through vitamin and mineral supplements. Almost every shampoo, hair dye is made of harmful chemicals and toxic ingredients that maynot have immediate reactions everytime, but will definitely showup as hair loss or early hair greying, on use over a period of time. High heat straightening and perming also have adverse affects on hair texture and softness, hair tends to become rough and overly dry on too much and regular usage on high-temperature irons and straighteners. Hence, not just hard work ( maintaining health) but also smart work ( doing research on health, harmless products and using them) is important for good hair health ! - Prathyusha

చింతతో వడదెబ్బ చింత మాయం

  చింతతో వడదెబ్బ చింత మాయం   ఎండలు ఎంతలా ఉన్నాయంటే బయటకెళ్ళి వస్తే చాలు కళ్ళు తిరిగిపోతున్నాయి అందరికి. వదదెబ్బ బారిన పడి ఎంతోమంది ప్రాణాలు కాపాడుకోలేకపోతున్నారు. అలాగని పూర్తిగా బయటకి వెళ్ళటం మానేసి ఇంట్లోనే కూర్చోవాలంటే అవ్వదు కదా. మరి ఈ సమస్యకి పరిష్కారం లేదా అంటే, ఎందుకు లేదు ఉంది. ఇంట్లో దొరికే కొన్ని వస్తువులతోనే వడదెబ్బ నుంచి మనని మనం రక్షించుకోవచ్చు.   వడదెబ్బ నుంచి తప్పించుకోవాలంటే ఉల్లిపాయ ఒక దివ్య ఔషదం. వడదెబ్బ తగలకుండా ఉండాలంటే బయటకి వెళ్ళేటప్పుడు ఒక నీరుల్లిపాయను మన జేబులో గాని మన చేతిలో గాని పెట్టుకుంటే మంచిది. ఒకవేళ కాస్త ఒళ్ళు వేడెక్కింది అని అనిపించగానే ఉల్లిపాయని ముద్దలా చేసి నుదుటి మీద రాస్తూ ఉండాలి. అలాగే గుండెలమీద కుడా రాయచ్చు. ఇంకా త్వరిత ఉపశమనం కోసం ఉల్లిపాయని ఉడికించి ఉప్పు, జీలకర్ర  వేసి ఆ రసాన్ని తాగించినా మంచి ఫలితం ఉంటుంది. తల్లి చేయని మేలు ఉల్లి చేస్తుందని ఊరికే అన్నారా పెద్దవాళ్ళు. ఒంట్లో వేడి తగ్గటానికి కొత్తిమీర పుదీనా రసం చక్కటి ఔషదం. ఈ రెండింటిలో ఉష్ణాన్ని తగ్గించే గుణం పుష్కలంగా ఉంది. వేసవి తాపం వల్ల జ్వరాలు రాకుండా ఉండాలంటే కొత్తిమీర పుదీనా రసంలో కొద్దిగా పంచదార వేసి తాగిస్తే ఎంతో మంచిది. ఇది చర్మాన్ని కూడా పొడిబారిపోకుండా చూసుకుంటుంది. అలాగే మెంతి కూర ఆకుల్ని ఎండబెట్టి పొడి చేసి కాసేపు నీటిలో నానబెట్టి ఆ రసంలో తేనె కలిపి ఒక చెంచాడు చొప్పున రెండు గంటలకోసారి తాగిస్తూ ఉంటే వడదెబ్బ దూరమవుతుంది. మెంతి కూరలో కూడా ఒంట్లో వేడిని తగ్గించే గుణం ఉండటం వల్ల ఇది వేసవికాలంలో ఎక్కువగా తీసుకోవటం మంచింది. పప్పులో లేదా రైస్ ఐటమ్స్ లో తగిన రీతిలో మెంతి కూరని చేర్చుకుంటూ ఉండాలి.   ఇక చింతకాయ గింజల విషయానికొస్తే వీటిలో విటమిన్లు, మినరల్స్ ఇంకా ఎలక్ట్రోలైట్స్ సమృద్దిగా ఉండటం వల్ల వేసవిలో వీటిని సేవించటం ఆరోగ్యానికి ఎంతో మంచిది. చింతగింజలని నానబెట్టి రాయి మీద అరగదీస్తే వస్తే గుజ్జులో కాస్త తేనె కలిపి తీసుకుంటూ ఉంటే ఒంట్లో ఉన్న అతివేడి కూడా తగ్గి ఆరోగ్యం కుదుట పడుతుంది.     వడదెబ్బని నివారించటంలో పచ్చి మామిడి రసం కూడా మంచిపని చేస్తుంది. వేడి చెయ్యకుండా ఉండాలంటే మామిడిరసంలో చిటికెడు జీలకర్ర పొడి, చిటికెడు మిరియాల పొడి వేసి రోజుకి రెండు మూడు సార్లు తాగితే శరీరం చల్లబడుతుంది. వీటన్నిటితో పాటు ఎండాకాలం బయటకి వెళ్ళేటప్పుడు మొహానికి దళసరి కాటన్ గుడ్డని కట్టుకుంటూ, ఎక్కువగా ద్రవ పదార్థాలు తాగుతూ ఉంటే వడదెబ్బ మీ జోలికి రాకుండా ఉంటుంది. ..కళ్యాణి

Nail Health

  Nail Health     Women like their nails...one generation ago, most women were not so bothered about their nails, how they look, if they should be polished or buffed, whether they are healthy or not...they ddnt care much. But this generation of young women take too much interest in their nails...they get the, manicured regularly, color them often, make sure they look healthy...i wonder if they ever care about the actual nail health keeping aside the looks part of them ! Nails talk alot about whats going on inside the physical body, they are indicators of general health and conditions that need attention. Dry, brittle, spotty, freckled, stripped, curved...yes there are quite some features of human nails. Ask people and they will tell you that their nails are different to yours and that is the reason why we should pay attention to how they look instead of hiding their textures under a thick coating of nail polishes most of the time. Reactions to nail polishes, polish removers, UV polish dryers etc create some much chaos in human nails but they are usually unnoticed. The harmful chemicals that are used in all these nail accesories play a major role in initiating quite a good number of health problems. Just because i say women like nails, doesnot mean men and children should not be careful...every human nail shouts of their health. Some other observations on nail appearance and textures give us insight into some major health problems and nutrient deficiencies.... thinning nails indicate iron deficiency, brittle nails along with thinning and dry hair are indications of hypothyroidism or even aneamia and due to aging and no proper moisturisation, whitened nails could mean something seriously wrong with liver, vertical ridges on nails means the cuticle is not getting enough hydration-keeping nails and hands moisturised mat help, horizontal ridges across the nails means the body is fighting some major stress or mental issues- the nail gets back to normal after this phase passes onto a better stage, blueish nails indicate a serious lungs or heart condition, clubbed nails indicate a cardiovascular or lung disease. Making sure we consume healthy vegetables and fruits and reduce the usage of lotions and polishes that are made of chemicals could help us keep our health in a good condition, which reflects as healthy nails !! - Prathyush

పొట్లకాయని చూసి పారిపోయే వ్యాధులు

  పొట్లకాయని చూసి పారిపోయే వ్యాధులు     ఒకప్పుడు వారంలో రెండు సార్లైనా పొట్లకాయతో కూర చేసేవారు మన పెద్దవాళ్ళు. ఇప్పటిలా ఇంటర్నెట్లు, హెల్త్ వెబ్ సైట్స్ లేకపోయినా వాళ్ళకి అది తినటం వల్ల వచ్చే ప్రయోజనాలేంటో బాగా తెలుసు. రోజులు మారేసరికి కూరగాయల వాడకంలో కూడా మార్పులు వచ్చేసాయి. ఈ రోజుల్లో పిల్లలు పొట్లకాయ తినటానికి అంతగా ఆశక్తి చూపించటం లేదు. దానికి కారణం అందులో ఎన్ని పోషకవిలువలు దాగి ఉన్నాయో తెలియకపోవటమే అయ్యుంటుంది. పోట్లకాయలో నీటిశాతం ఎక్కువగా ఉంటుంది. అలాగే ఇందులో ఎక్కువగా పీచుపదార్ధాలు ఉంటాయి. కేలరీలు అతి తక్కువగా ఉండటం వల్ల సన్నగా, నాజుకుగాతయ్యరవ్వాలనుకునేవారు దీనిని తప్పకుండా తినాలి. ప్రోటీన్లు సమృద్దిగా ఉండే ఈ కాయలో విటమిన్ ఏ,బి, సిలు తగిన పాళ్ళల్లో ఉంటాయట. మెగ్నీషియం, ఐరన్, పొటాషియం కూడా ఉండటం వల్ల  మంచి మినరల్ ఫుడ్ అని చెప్పచ్చు. ఈ పోట్లకాయని ముఖ్యంగా ఎండా కాలంలో తినటం వల్ల శరీరం చల్లబడుతుంది. ఇది గుండెజబ్బులకి మంచి టానిక్ లాగా పనిచేస్తుంది. ఈ పొట్లపాదు ఆకుల్ని ప్రాకృతిక వైద్యంలో ఎక్కువగా వాడతారట. ఎన్నో వ్యాదుల్ని నయం చేయటమే కాకుండా, కొన్ని జబ్బులు మన దగ్గరికి కూడా చేరనీయకుండా చేసే సామర్ద్యం ఉందిట పోట్లకాయలో.     పిలల్లో పైత్యం వల్ల వచ్చే జ్వరాలకు పొట్లకాయ ఒక దివ్యౌషదంలా పనిచేస్తుందట. పొట్లకాయ,కొత్తిమీర రసాన్ని బాగా మరిగించి కషాయంలా చేసి మూడుపూటల ఒక స్పూన్ చొప్పున పడితే జ్వరం తగ్గుముఖం పడుతుందిట. దీని ఆకులకి వాంతుల్ని అరికట్టే శక్తి కుడా ఉందిట. పోట్లకాయ షుగర్ పేషంట్స్ కి కూడా చాలా ఉపయోగపడుతుంది. దీనిని ఆహారంలో తీసుకోవటం వల్ల ఎక్కువగా దాహం వెయ్యకుండా ఉంటుందిట. దీనిలో ఉండే నీటి శాతం మనిషికి దాహం వేయకుండా చూస్తుందిట. టైప్ 2 డయాబెటిస్ లో శరీర బరువు తగాతంలో కూడా కీలక పాత్ర పోషిస్తుంది. గుండె దడగా ఉన్నా, చాతిలో తరచూ నొప్పి వస్తున్నా పొట్లకాయ ఆకుల్ని రసంలా చేసి మూడుపూటలా 2 స్పూన్స్ చొప్పున ఇస్తే ఆ బాధ తగ్గుతుంది. పచ్చకామెర్లకు కూడా ఇదే చికిత్స మంచిదట. మంచి జీర్ణక్రియ కోసం ఎండబెట్టిన పోట్లకాయతో చేసిన కషాయం ఒక మంచి మందులా పనిచేస్తుంది. పరగడుపునే ఈ కషాయం తాగటం ఇంకా ఉత్తమం. ఇన్ని ఉపయోగాలు దాగి ఉన్న పొట్లకాయని వేసవి కాలంలో మన రోజువారి ఆహారంలో భాగంగా చేసుకుందాం. ..కళ్యాణి

అల్లంతో తలనొప్పి దూరం

  అల్లంతో తలనొప్పి దూరం     ఈ వేసవి ఎండలు  బైటకి వెళ్ళాలంటే భయమేసేలా ఉన్నాయి. కాని వెళ్ళక తప్పదు అనేవాళ్ళు వెళ్తూనే ఉన్నారు. బైట తిరిగినప్పుడు ఎలా ఉన్నా ఇంటికి రాగానే మొదలవుతుంది తలనొప్పి. ఇక ఆ తలనొప్పితో ఇంట్లో మిగిలిన పనులన్నీ పెండింగ్ లో పడిపోతాయి. ఇలాంటి తలనొప్పుల కోసం టాబ్లెట్ లు వేసుకోవటం అవసరమా అంటే అస్సలు అక్కర్లెద్దని చెప్తున్నారు ప్రకృతి వైధ్య నిపుణులు. వేసవిలో వచ్చే ఇలాంటి తలనోప్పులకి ఇంట్లో దొరికే వాటితోనే సులువుగా పరిష్కారం దొరుకుతుందట. అవేంటో చూసేద్దామా. మనం  ఎక్కడికైనా వెళ్లి రాగానే ముందుగా చెయ్యాల్సిన పని చల్ల నీళ్ళతో మొహం మీద ఫోర్సుగా కొట్టుకోవటం. ఇలా చన్నీళ్ళతో మొహం మీద చల్లడం వల్ల చాలా రిలీఫ్ గా ఉంటుంది. లేదా 1/2 స్పూన్ దాల్చిన  చెక్క పొడిని 1 1/2 కప్పు పాలల్లో వేసి రెండు నిమిషాలు మరిగించి తేనేతో  కలిపి తాగితే తలనొప్పి మాయం అవుతుందిట. అల్లం తలనోప్పులకి మంచి ఔషధంలా పనిచేస్తుందని చెప్తున్నారు వైధ్యులు. మనం ఇంట్లో టీ తయారుచేసుకునేటప్పుడు అందులో చిన్న అల్లం ముక్క దంచి వేసుకుని టీ తాగితే నొప్పి క్షణాల్లో మటుమాయం అవుతుందిట. మనకి సులువుగా లభ్యమయ్యే పండు ఆపిల్.  ఉదయాన్నే ఆపిల్ ముక్కాలా మీద ఉప్పు జల్లుకుని తినటం వల్ల ఎండలో తిరిగిన తలనొప్పి వచ్చే సూచనలు తక్కువగా ఉంటాయి. ఎక్కువగా ఎండల్లో తిరగాల్సి వచ్చే వాళ్ళు తలకి రోజ్ మేరి ఆయిల్ తో మర్ధనా చేసుకుంటే నొప్పి తొందరగా పోతుందిట. కళ్ళు కూడా చల్లబడి మంచి రిలీఫ్ గా ఉంటుంది.అలాగే లేవండర్ ఆయిల్ కూడా ఇలాంటి తలనోప్పులకి బాగా     తులసి తలనోప్పులకి ఇంట్లో దొరికే పరమౌషధం. అందరి ఇళ్ళల్లో తులసి ఉంటూనే ఉంటుంది. తలనొప్పిగా ఉన్నప్పుడు టీలో తులసి ఆకులు వేసుకున్నా పరవాలేదు,లేదా మార్కెట్ లో దొరికే తులసి నూనేని తలకి పట్టించినా ఉపశమనం లభిస్తుంది. ఎండాకాలంలో తలనొప్పితో బాధపడేవాళ్ళు నీళ్ళు ఎక్కువుగా తాగుతూ ఉండాలి. దీని వల్ల మంచి పరిణామాలు ఏర్పడతాయి. అలాగే కాఫీ టీ లు, చాక్లెట్ లు, వెన్నతో చేసిన పదార్థాలు కాస్త తగ్గిస్తే మంచిదట. అల్లం రసం తేనే రెండిటిని సమానంగా కలుపుకుని రోజులో రెండు సార్లు తాగితే ఎలాంటి మొండి తలనోప్పులయినా పోతాయట. లేదా అల్లం పొదిలో కాస్త నీళ్ళు కలిపి పేస్టు లా చేసి నుదిటికి రాసుకున్నా మంచి ఫలితం ఉంటుంది. కొన్ని గంటల వరకూ ఏమి తినకుండా అలాగే గడపటం, లేదా పనిచేయడం వల్ల తలనొప్పికి దారితీస్తుంది. అందువల్ల ఎక్కువసేపు కడుపు ఖాళీగా లేకుండా చూసుకుంటే చాలు ఎలాంటి తలనొప్పులు మీ దగ్గరకి రావు. వేసవిలో మనం తీసుకునే కొద్దిపాటి జాగ్రత్తలు చాలు ఎలాంటి రోగాలు మన దగ్గరకి చేరవు. - కళ్యాణి  

Healthy Diet during Pregnancy

  Healthy Diet during Pregnancy     Studies indicate that nutritional during pregnancy has a greater influence on not only the normal development of the fetus and immediate health of the infant after birth, but also the child's health during growth stages and even adulthood. Current recommendations from Nutritionists and Gynecologists for nutrition during pregnancy stress the importance of a proper pattern of weight gain, adequate calorie intake, consumption of proteins, vitamins and minerals for optimal development of a healthy child and preservation of Mother's health. Mother's Weight gain during this process depends on whether she has started underweight or overweight. Being overweight during pregnancy is a problem as it increases the risk of complications, such as high blood pressure and gestational diabetes.   Being underweight isn't healthy either. Women who are more than 15% less than their normal weight requirement may face complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Ideally, a women who is overweight shall not try to achieve her ideal weight with crash dieting long before she conceives. And that is the reason, Doctors stress the need to maintain a healthy weight and a balanced nutrition right from once childhood. When the foundation is right, the future is right ! A woman's daily energy requirements are estimated to gradually increase as she progresses in her pregnancy stages. They increase to an additional 450 calories per day in her third trimester. A pregnant woman is recommended to consume an additional 20 grams of protein a day to support the deposition of protein in the fetal tissues. For vegetarians, protein options are legumes, grains and dry nuts. Doctors recommend a daily intake of prenatal vitamins and folic acid along with Omega-3 for some. No one should take any more nutritional suppliments than these. Ideally, multi-vitamins and folic acid should be the suppliments consumed even during planning for pregnancy. A healthy diet including a variety of foods, vegetables and fruits not only enhances fertility but also provides the nourishment the tiny embryo needs during those early days of conception, even before your Doctor or you know you conceived.   During the first few weeks of pregnancy, the baby needs a sufficient supply of essential nutrients since this is the stage when the vital cells of the baby's body start to form to develop into organs in the next stages. After the first trimester, some of baby's nutritional needs change, like the importance and need of Calcium, as during the second trimester, bone and blood development escalates. Last trimester brings in huge growth spurts, nearly doubling the baby's size, and so at this stage, more protein is demanded.     Dealing with food cravings is definitely not atall easy, ask others and they will tell you their episodes for hours. Making sure to eat only healthy foods when one has food cravings during pregnancy is so tough to keep up with. Its usually easy to indulge and satisfy a food craving that is nutritional, but if it is an unhealthy food craving, the after effects are damaging. It prevents the Mother's body from getting the other essential nutients the baby needs, all that unhealthy food is consumed by her body only, whereas she needs to eat healthy firstly for her baby's needs.   If the cravings interfere with the ability to eat balanced meals and gain weight correctly, then it is certainly the time to ask ones Obstetrician for advice. Registered dieticians and nutrition experts are sometimes brought into the picture by Obstetritian Gynecologists to help the Mother maintain good nutrition throughout her pregnancy, or if she has issues with Gestational  diabetes and High blood pressure. A healthy diet is so important for anyone and everyone...and doubly more for a woman in pregnancy, as she holds the foundation for her child's health. ....Prathyusha

Mother's health and Autism in Offsprings

Mother's health and Autism in Offsprings     Autism has been on the rise these days...it is said to be more common among boys than girls. A Sweden based research team conducted a study on children born between 1984 and 2007, aged 4-17 and compared 24,000 autistic children with 200,000 children without the condition. The study shows that children born to Mothers who were obese and suffered with PCOS ( Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) during their pregnancy had a 58% more risk of autism developement. However, it has not been scientifically proved that Autism and Maternal PCOS are related....yet, Educating expectant mothers of this study might help early detection of ASD right at newborn stages. In the future, if more emphasis is put on this research, early prevention of Autism might be possible too. Specific hormones called Androgens are produced at higher rates in pregnant women who have PCOS. Autism's relation to Androgens is unclear, however, past studies state that a child's early exposure to Androgens might force such conditions and affect brain development. Androgens are known for their contribution in brain development. And probably that could be the reason around 46% of children detected with autism have above average intellectual ability. There has been so many questions and so much struggle among the parents of children who had been detected with autismbout their own genetic behaviour...the numbers are increasing. Just because the studies say something, doesnot mean the root cause is in the parents. PLEASE DONOT BLAME YOURSELF. We can only talk and try to console these parents, but they undergo alot of pain and stress...the child doesnot know anything, he/she is too innocent at any age and too ignorant of his/her own condition...it is the parents who suffer. I personally see couple of my friends go through so much agony, everyday....they are already suffering...will there be a cure, an way out of this situation, will there be a preventive measure to totally avoid suffering with autism?? I plead the researchers, the medical brains of the world . Sametime, we should all come forward to financially support an organisation that offers to do more research and find a preventive or cure. Are we ready ?   ... Prathyusha

Healthcare for Women in 40s

  Healthcare for Women in 40s   For all those women who made it to 40, here's a loud Hurray !! Yes, you made it to a matured stage in life than your previous years. With this graduation comes a growing package of few health concerns...its time to be smarter, here too. With the decreasing body metabolism, and increasing stress levels, everyother function of the human body gets affected. Muscle tone, bone density and hormone balance are the most affected. If certain good health habits are inculcated at this age, it would be easier to reach 50s, 60s and higher!! 40s are the most critical days in ones life...it is when the children finish their studies and start their careers, and Parents worry more about them, their settlement in life, about ones own health and longevity, and they begin to worry if they are going to see the kids get married happily. Ones own middle age crisis begins at this age. With all these emotional and family-oriented worries trying to create an imbalance, it is difficult to bring back a harmony in the health yet, it is very crucial to stay healthy now..even the slightest stress and strain can be harmful as the body has worked for few years already and is tired and ready to give up if it is not well trained and strongly backed up. The average age of Menopause in Indian women is between 45-51. Hence, once you start your journey in the 40s, the countdown begins. A woman is considered to be in Menopausal stage if she does not have a menstrual cycle for a continuous period of 12 months as has crossed 45 years of age. Here are few tips for an easy health management:   Start the day with a healthy breakfast- A high-calorie breafast is not atall harmful for the start up. Those calories will be burnt down by the end of the day, anyways. Kickoff with a power punch exercise regime: Training the muscle and strengthening the bones is important. Exercise trains the heart too to gear up its functioning., and helps an active metabolism, working on the body to avoid lethargy. Take necessary vitamin/ mineral supplements, specially calcium and vitamin D: As muscle tone and bone density problems are ready to strike, one should fight back with supplementation. Joint pains and knee issues start to show up at this age for women..and hence, Calcium intake is necessary. Appetite may reduce due to lack of interest in food, because of changes in bosy metabolism or lack of motivation to eat due to changes in physical appearance ( some women suddenly gain weight, very few loose weight), and that is why it is necessary to support the nutrition with supplements. Pump up your protein intake Meet the Doctors for regular health checks, e.g., Pap Smears- every 1-3 years, Thyroid- every year, Mole check, Glucose- every 6 months, Blood Pressure- every 6 months, Eye exam, Pelvic test and Mammogram- every 1-2 years Meet happy people- Women sometimes face cosmetic depression due to changes in facial structure as wrinkles appear more, hair thins out, voice becomes meek...to cope with this depression due to menopausal stages also one needs to have good company. Happy friends and those who have good knowledge of health are better than few who discourage others to visit Doctors or ignore health signs themselves. Discuss family matters with the family, openly instead of keeping to yourself and worrying. Not only for the Women in 40s, it is important for anyone to stay happy and healthy. Happiness doesnot lie in things of this world, it is the internal happiness and righteous living that brings the difference and sense !! ---Prathyusha

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