TURMERIC TRUTH:
This anti-bacterial herb can work wonders. Make a ball of 1 gm turmeric (Hint: 1 tsp = 5 gm) with water and pop it in like a pill, first thing every morning!
GARLIC GYAN:
Garlic is another excellent home remedy for staying fit. It totally sterilises your urinary passage, thus helping you get rid of and also counter several infections. Swallow a clove of garlic in the morning to keep infections at bay-all day, all season!

Start your day by sipping on a glass of lemon water with 1 tbsp of honey mixed in. This concoction flushes out toxins from your body and is rich in vitamin C too. And, to end the day, instead of a tequila shot, try a wheatgrass shot-it will boost your immunity. Hic, hic hurray!

When you’re down with viral fever, your throat is the first organ to get affected. Here’s how to deal with a sore throat. Get some raw turmeric (easily available at a vegetable shop), peel it, mash it and add it to a glass of boiling hot water. Add a pinch of salt. Let it cool and gargle with it. This greatly reduces your tendency to fall ill.

Kids and weather changes can be quite a pain. No issues! Try this: Give them a glass of hot milk with a tsp of almond oil mixed in. It is rich in vitamin E, low in cholesterol and fights against many common ailments.

Do you fall sick every now and then, have very frequent upper respiratory tract infections, suffer from an upset stomach or fever often? Don’t ignore these symptoms!” You could be suffering from poor immunity, which may lead to autoimmune diseases such as allergies, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Here’s what you can do to really strengthen your immunity.
STRESS SCIENCE
One of the major causes of poor immunity is stress. Stress can kill you and that too… silently! It doesn’t just lead to all major ailments but also immediately brings down your immunity level. How? “When we are stressed, our body releases stress hormones that affect our heart rate, breathing rate and metabolism. While disturbance in the heart rate gives way to heart ailments, disturbance in the breathing rate leads to lack of oxygen in the body and a poor metabolism invites indigestion and obesity.

Clinical studies show that those who are exposed to stress have 74-90 per cent higher chances of developing infections and are 27-47 per cent more likely to catch a cold. Also, when stressed, our adrenal gland releases more corticosteroid-a hormone that suppresses immunity. So, all of you who want to stay healthy, it’s time you say sayonara to stress!
DOZE DOSE
Next time, when your folks deliver a harangue to you for sleeping late, make them read this! Lack of sleep is extremely damaging. A normal human being (and we are assuming you are) needs at least six hours of sleep. And the best time to catch up on some sound sleep is between 10 pm and 6 am. Sleep balances hormone levels and helps you think better. Getting adequate sleep helps you recharge your body. A proper sleep is one of those few simple and easy things you can do to get a strong immune system.
FOODIE FILE
A poor diet is to be blamed for almost all health problems. And when we say poor, we mean lack of proteins, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. While vitamins A, C, E and beta carotene strengthen white blood cells, vitamin B6, zinc and iron boost immunity. A deficiency in any of these elements depresses the body’s ability to fight off germs. Make sure you eat fruits and veggies rich in vitamins A and C for they help build immunity. Start your day by eating two amlas. Loaded with vitamin C, amla will help you stay strong.
SWEAT AND STRONG
We all know how important it is to exercise. But if that’s not an eye-opener, probably this is. A study by the University of North Carolina proves that those who walk 45 minutes a day are half as likely to catch flu as those who don’t. The biggest benefit of exercising is that it makes sure your organs, muscles and tissues work well, which indirectly results in a healthier body.

So no stress, no sleepless nights and no unhealthy eating habits and you’ll be armed to the teeth… Stay fit!
EXPERT SPEAK
“Arthritis, joint pain and old injuries may play up with the onset of winter. To keep these at bay, add a dash of turmeric to a cup of hot milk and drink up. It will not only boost your immunity but also strengthen your bones.”

Here are three great ways to boost your immunity:

• Keep a tab on your food intake.
• Practise pranayam to balance your nervous system.
• Maintain your health stats via activities like yoga, walking and exercise.
• If you are obese, exercise for at least 60 minutes a day, 7 days a week. And all of you who want to keep obesity at bay, exercise for 30 minutes a day, 7 days a week. Read the rest of this entry »

We all know the importance of breathing. We can’t live for more than a few minutes without breathing. So, here I will mention some tips about breathing.

Always breathe slowly and deeply. Then the body cells work in unison and bring back harmony and health to the system. There are many good breathing techniques. Here I have mentioned three breathing techniques to destress. Everyone should practice all these three techniques everyday as many times as one can. But minimum one should do 11 times each of these techniques to be able to feel the benefits. Dont’t do these breathing techniques just after meal. There should be a gap of two hours after the meal. Otherwise you can finish the technique and immediately take the food.

Yogic breathing
This breathing exercise uses the lower, middle and upper part of the respiratory muscles. Start with abdominal breathing, followed by thoracic breathing and finally clavicle breathing. Reverse the order when you exhale.

Benefits:
1. Increases lung capacity
2. slows respiration rate
3. calms the mind

Nadi Shodhana
This is a simple form of alternate nostril breathing. Nadi means channel and refers to the energy pathways through which the prana flows. Shodhana means cleansing. Nadi shodhana means purification of nadis or channels. Inhale through the left nostril, exhale through the right; inhale through the right and exhale through the left. This is one round of breathing.

Benefits:
1. Strengthens the nervous system
2. helps conditions such as anxiety, depression, hypertension, and hypotension.

Bhramari
Bhramari means bee. The exhalation sound is similar to a bee. Place the thumb on your ears; shut your eyes and inhale, then exhale making the sound of the humming bee. Read the rest of this entry »

You want to have a good time during your vacation and don’t want to fall sick, right? So take care of what you are eating and drinking while on holiday. Any food that has been boiled is generally safe. So are fruits and vegetables-just peel them before you eat them! Pizzas, available everywhere, are considered safe as the high heat of a pizza oven tends to kill all harmful bacteria. Also go for meat that’s been cooked just before serving and is not being reheated. You can also carry some dry snacks to satiate those ‘anytime’ hunger pangs. Have fun!

Everyone faces mental stress to some extent each day. Rush-hour traffic, anger, worry, frustration, deadlines, sour relationships, pressure - all are part of urban life. Some amount of stress can surely keep you motivated although excessive pressure may result in stress. Research studies have shown that mental stress is worse than physical stress as it can adversely influence your cardiovascular system and affect your heart health. The answer to this is avoiding stress, which is an impossible task. However, stress can be managed by adopting certain lifestyle changes including factors that can reduce stress in your daily routine.
A healthy heart
Physical stress brings on physical exertion, which puts demands on the heart. Physical stress is good for the heart as long it is normal. For those with underlying heart disease, physical stress can be dangerous. This is because exercise can put demands on the heart muscles that the diseased coronary arteries cannot meet. The heart becomes ischemic or starved for oxygen causing angina or chest pain or a heart attack. Can stressors lead to heart damage in individuals who have no heart disease? Perhaps in youngsters the cumulative effects may be minimal. However, there are people who are predisposed to heart disease and stress aggravates the situation. Studies have reported that mental stress can result in surges in the heart rate and blood pressure. Physical symptoms of stress include a pounding heart and heavy breathing. Stress causes an adrenaline rush with negative emotions such as fear or anger. It is important here how you cope with stressful situations. There are some people who are forever angry and who habitually react to stress this way feeding in physically harmful emotions. Studies have proved that individuals with Type A personalities who are impatient, hostile, competitive or perfectionists are at a higher risk of coronary artery disease than those with Type B personalities who are a bit laid-back and patient. These are people who quickly come out of the situation feeling relaxed and yet there are others who brood and remain hostile for long.
Chronic stress & heart health
Chronic stress may double your heart risk; it exposes your body to constant high levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Stressful situations are known to reduce the blood flow to the heart, thus increasing the risk of heart attack. And the situation worsens in individuals who already suffer from coronary artery disease. According to a study, stressed people did not respond as well to heart medications to angina or chest pain as compared to others. The American Heart Association, advises on stress reduction and stress management to lessen the strain on your heart.
Are you stressed?
Worried and anxious, getting palpitations
Feel tired all the time Frequent headache Backache Lack of sleep, insomnia Rise in blood pressure Get irritated at ‘small’ things Feel like crying Poor work performance
Tips to relax yourself Read the rest of this entry »

There are many diseases that are widely spreading throughout the world, for few of which till date no medical treatment is available. However prevention from these diseases is the only solution. Few of these diseases / preventions are Dental Plans, HIV management, Acne, Acne Rosacea, Acid Reflux, Achondroplasia, and Actinic Keratosis etc. You need complete medical information about these disease.
Dental Plans deal in the packages for a single or the whole family as going to a dentist at least twice a year is necessary. So it can cut down the cost as well prevent from any kind of dental problem. HIV Management, as the name suggests deals with the management of HIV, how to prevent it or how it is caused to the body. Acne Rosacea is a skin disorder in which red or pink spots start to show on the face. As of now it is not a curable disease but can be controlled with proper care.
Acid Reflux is a stomach disorder that results in problems with swallowing, bitter taste and pain in throat, and heart burn etc. The only way to prevent it is to have healthy and rich diet. Achondroplasia is a genetic disorder that leads to dwarfism and till date there is no such cure available however limb - lengthening is way that can ensure increase in the length of arms and legs, but the treatment is not a successful one.
Actinic Keratosis is a disease that makes thick patches on the skin, the main cause of the disease is the solar damage is mostly found in people who are exposed to sun light. Read the rest of this entry »

IT has been proved that food can actually affect your mood. What you eat affects how you feel. It can maximise your energy levels and improve your mood. Nutritionists break food down into “feel great foods” and “feel bad foods”, with each food type’s effect on your body and energy levels.

Most diets cause chemical changes in the brain that make the dieter feel depressed. Eating feel-good foods (fish, flax seed and eggs) and eliminating feel-bad foods (refined sugar) help you feel better and, at the same time, lose weight. However, a bite of chocolate and a glass of red wine a day is allowed!

Research shows certain foods make potent anti-depressants, if you eat them right. Studies have also shown that snacking on readily digested carbohydrates, such as those in a cookie or bagel can raise the brain’s level of the chemical serotonin; an activity that modern anti-depressant medication also sets out to achieve.

Serotonin is a kind of neurotransmitter that
plays an important part in the biochemistry of depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety. It regulates sleep, reduces pain and appetite and generally clams you down. Carbohydrates enhance the absorption of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin in the brain. Within 30 minutes of eating a carbohydrate meal, you will feel calmer and more relaxed, and the effect lasts for several hours.

The science of nutrition and human studies has documented the effect of fast absorbing carbohydrates (sugary sweets, chocolates, bagels, pastries, ice-creams, rice, etc) as mood elevators, giving a ‘happy drunk’ feeling. So, eat carbohydrates during the slag moment of your day, when the body naturally craves for it - a late afternoon or an evening snack. This comfort food soothes the appetite and cravings, making you feel good.
Most of the time, it is the ‘appetite’ and not the ‘hunger’ that makes an individual gain the unnecessary kilos. “If one ate a dignified meal to satisfy one’s hunger, which can include guilty carbs, the sudden cravings would never occur.If you want to stay happier longer and at the same time remain healthy, eat something that is both sweet and high in fibre, like fresh fruits, dry fruits, oat biscuits and cereals like muesli. You can select whole wheat bread with low-sugar fruit spread/mixed fruit jam, a bowl of oatmeal with some raisins, honeycoated flakes in milk, accompanied with fruits like pineapple and strawberries which are one of the richest sources of phytonutrients for breakfast and remain elevated and energised the whole day.

In the case of desserts, you can treat yourself to fruit custard with jelly or a mixed fruit bowl with honey and yoghurt. It is always better to use honey instead of refined sugars.

Read the rest of this entry »

Health is the greatest wealth anyone can have. You cannot enjoy your life with all the money you’ve acquired if your health is not good. Feng Shui is all about balance. Feng Shui also believes in ‘Prevention is better than cure’. So, if you Feng Shui your domain accurately, you’d be saving a lot of medical bills and not only enjoy a long healthy life, but even your descendants will benefit from it.

How do you know if your home has a healthy Feng Shuied environment? Check your plants, the air-quality and the well-being of your family. Plants are the first tell-tale signs of good Feng Shui. If your plants are green, lush and healthy, the air quality of your home will be good too. Plants provide oxygen for us and we give them carbon dioxide. So, if your plant starts to turn yellow and falls sick, you must nurse it and make it healthy again. If not, get a new one to replace the withered or dying plants.

Always be on the look-out for poison arrows. They can come from the interior and the exterior of your home. Check that your main entrance is not facing sharp or pointed objects like a telephone pole, or a triangle roof or a church tower. Poison arrows from within the home will be in the form of pillars or sharp corners. The cure will be to hide these pillars with plants or hang a 6-rod windchime to press down the poison arrow’s effect.

You can also do space clearing and cleansing of your home once or twice a month. Use incense like sandalwood or Tibetan herbal incense for this air-purification practice. The incense not only fills the air with aromatic and herbal scents, it also clears out the negative chi that tends to linger in the home. You can also obtain a singing bowl and use the singing bowl to cleanse the chi of your home.

Read the rest of this entry »

According to US researchers overeating causes the brain go haywire, prompting a cascade of damage that may cause serious disease like diabetes, heart disease and other ills,

Eating too much appears to activate a usually dormant immune system pathway in the brain, sending out immune cells to attack and destroy invaders that are not there.

Obesity is a growing global problem, with 1.8 billion people estimated to be overweight or obese in 2007.