Ways to tackle Low blood pressure..

Low blood pressure or also known as hypotension is a condition in which the pressure of the blood pumping through the arteries is abnormally low. People with a reading of around 90/60 or less are commonly regarded as having low blood pressure.

In fact, it affects a large number of people worldwide. Very often people don't realize they are suffering from it and often dismiss it as an one-off case of feeling dizzy or ill. It could be a sign of a serious issue with the heart, endocrine or even signal neurological disorders. Severe low blood pressure can block oxygen and vital nutrients from flowing to the brain and hence shouldn't be taken lightly.

v  Increase water and salt intake - When the water and salt content of your body is reduced, it may lead to low blood pressure. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Water helps increase the volume of your blood, and having more blood in your arteries will increase your blood pressure.  People who are diagnosed with hypotension are usually advised to increase the salt intake in their food. However, too much of salt is not good for the health, so it should not exceed certain limit.

v  Avoid alcohol drink - Alcohol is dehydrating which can cause low blood pressure, even if you drink in moderation.

v  Eat small frequent meals - To help prevent postprandial hypotension (low blood pressure after meals), eat in small portions several times a day and lying down after eating, or sitting still for a while may also help.

v  Follow a healthy diet - Get all the nutrients you need for good health by focusing on a variety of foods, including fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and limit high-carb foods such as rice, potatoes, bread and pasta.

v  Have Beetroot - The juice of raw beetroot is one of the best remedies for low blood pressure. You should drink a cup of beetroot juice twice a day to treat hypotension. Substantial improvement will be seen within a week.

v  Wear support stockings - Support stockings or also called compression stockings are a tight elastic socks or stockings. They provide extra pressure to the feet, legs, and stomach, which will help stimulate circulation and increase blood pressure.

v  Stand up gradually - Before getting out of bed in the morning, try some physical movements first to increase your heart rate and the flow of blood around your body. For example, stretching in bed before you get up, or crossing and uncrossing your legs if you are seated and about to stand.

The symptoms of low blood pressure usually can be treated by making these small changes to your lifestyle. However, if the symptoms are not treatable and progress over time, then you must talk to your doctor, they will establish the underlying cause of your hypotension in order to determine the best treatment for you.

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Skin care in Winter

Winter is just not about warm clothes or fireside reading. It is time to battle the cold winds that hampers your body. A little care will keep the wintry troubles at bay.

Your skin texture depends not only on external treatments, but also on the intake. A proper nutritious intake helps in rejuvenating the skin from within. Fruits and vegetables in your daily diet release a lot of water to your system. Primrose syrup and olive oil in your diet also aids in softening your skin.

v  Moisturize More: Moisturizers and cold creams are a must in the winters. You may have found a moisturizer that works just fine in spring and summer. But as weather conditions change, so, too, should your skin care routine. Apply some good cold cream on your face before going to bed. Moisten your skin with a good moisturizer or a creamy hand and body lotion.

v  Slather on the Sunscreen: Sunscreen isn't just for summertime. Winter sun - combined with snow glare - can still damage your skin. Try applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and your hands (if they're exposed) about 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply frequently if you stay outside a long time. Even if you're not hitting the slopes, you still need the protection of a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. 

v  Avoid Wet Gloves and Socks: Wet socks and gloves can irritate your skin and cause itching, cracking, sores, or even a flare-up of eczema.

v  Hydrate for Your Health: Drinking water helps your skin stay young looking. In fact, it's a myth. Water plays an important role in keeping your skin alive. A good amount of water helps in retaining the moisture of your skin as well keeping skin disorders at bay.

v  Grease Up Your Feet: Painful, cracked heels are a common skin condition, especially in winter. They are often caused by dry skin. Some minty foot lotions are lovely in the hot summer months, but during the winter, your feet need stronger stuff. Try finding lotions that contain petroleum jelly or glycerine instead. And use exfoliants to get the dead skin off periodically; that helps any moisturizers you use to sink in faster and deeper.

v  Use Super-Fatted Soap: If your facial skin is uncomfortably dry, avoid using harsh peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners or astringents, all of which can strip vital oil from your skin. Clearing away dead skin cells lets a moisturizer better penetrate dry skin. The same products that keep your face looking fresh in the spring and summer may cause skin problems during winter. Choose a gentle, super-fatted, fragrance-free soap bar or liquid for cleansing. Super-fatted means the soap is loaded with oils.

v  Ban Superhot Baths: Sure, soaking in a burning-hot bath feels great after frolicking out in the cold. But the intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. A shower can add water to your skin -- as long as you keep it short and sweet. Long, hot showers can actually draw water from your skin

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Pain free future ahead!

Pain in the lower back or low back pain is a common concern, affecting most of the people at some point in lifetime. Strain in the lumbar muscle is one of the most common causes of back pain especially in the lower back. Often, back pain is actually a symptom of something that you can control, like your activity level or the way you sit in your chair at work. Though there are other causes as well, most cases of back pain can be resolved

 Reasons:

·         Obese people experience back pain frequently. The pain is felt in the neck and lower back. Weight loss can help in reducing this type of back pain.

·         Sleeping Posture: The position and surface on which one sleeps may cause back pain, such as hard surfaces and mattresses. The soft surface tends to put strain on the spine. Some positional changes can reduce this type of back pain.

·         Injury to the back may happen from an accident or a torn rotator calf in the shoulder. During accidents the body receives large amount of energy or shock within a small period that damages the muscles, tendons and ligaments.

·         Faulty postures and poor body mechanics will cause lower back pain and be at least partially attributed to these faults.

Do’s:

·         Have a break at regular intervals and do stretching exercises like neck rolls, chin tucks, cupping head in hands behind the head and extension exercises.

·         Back pain can be caused by sitting in an improper position for a prolonged period of time. Maintaining a good and straight posture, using ergonomically designed chairs. 

·         Standing: keeping one foot forward of the other, with knees slightly bent, takes the pressure off your low back.

·         Avoid taking pain or anti-inflammatory medication when in pain from using a computer. This will serve to mask the symptoms but can lead to serious injury or permanent nerve damage in the long term.

·         Yoga and meditation is considered to be beneficial not only in back pain but also improves your posture and plays a vital role in a treatment for back pain.

·         Heat therapy: Apply heat to your aching back by using a hot compress, a dry or moist heating pad, or hydrotherapy (hot bath). Heat therapy can help decrease muscle spasms, relax tense muscles, relieve pain, and can increase range of motion.

·         The best position for relief when your back hurts is to lie on your back on the floor with pillows under your knees, with your hips and knees bent and your feet on a chair or just with your hips and knees bent. This takes the pressure and weight off your back.

  

Don’ts: 

·         Do not slouch in front of the computer or lie in bed and work on a laptop.

·         Do not ignore back twinges and back pain, hoping that the problem will resolve itself.

·         Do not sit on one leg or sit with legs crossed as this causes additional strain to the back.

·         Do not perch a laptop on the lap and stare down at the screen - this places extra strain on the neck, spine and arms.

·         If you are a smoker, quitting smoking can benefit your health in many different ways and will reduce your risk of future back pain.

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Healthy way for a healthy mind!

Choosing healthy food is important for your physical and mental health. Improve your mood naturally with more nutritious food choices. Food choices affect your mood, ability to concentrate and energy level. There has been more research to show how food does affect your mental health.

The psychological relationship between people and food is significant. For example, when people have tea or coffee, they may also socialize with friends, which may result in positive feelings. Such interactions are important to account for when considering how mood and food are connected.

A Quick Guide to a healthy, balanced diet:
 
·         Exercise: The healing effect of exercise on the mind is truly astonishing. Regular exercise can reduce stress, increase self-esteem and improve your mood. Exercise for 30 minutes three to five days a week to significantly decrease symptoms of depression.

·         Drink more water: Drinking more water can mollify several health maladies and depression is no exception. Dehydration has been linked to anger, fatigue and confusion. Cut your body weight in half; that is how many ounces of water you should drink each day. (Example: Someone who is 200 pounds should drink 100 ounces of water a day.) Not only will this help your mind feel balanced, it will do wonders for your physical health.

·         Regular meals: Missing meals, especially breakfast, leads to low blood sugar and this causes low mood, irritability and fatigue. If you feel hungry between meals you may need to include a healthy snack eg. fruit, nuts and cereals.

·         Refined foods: East fewer high sugar foods and more wholegrain cereals, nuts, beans, lentils, fruit and vegetables. Sugary foods are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. This may cause an initial ‘high’ or surge of energy that soon wears off as the body increases its insulin production, leaving you feeling tired and low. Wholegrain cereals, pulses, fruit and vegetables are more filling and, because the sugar in these food is absorbed more slowly, don’t cause mood swings.

·         Protein in your diet: Include protein at every meal to ensure a continuous supply of the amino acid tryptophan to the brain. You can ensure your brain gets a regular supply of tryptophan by including at least one good sized portion of protein at each meal ie. meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, nuts, beans, lentils (dhal), or a meat substitute such as textured vegetable protein or mycoprotein.

·         Weight: Both excessive weight loss or weight gain can make your mood worse and should be avoided. Weight loss and lack of good nutrition will deprive the brain of glucose and the other nutrients that control mood.

·         Healthy Fats: Unsaturated fats provide the fatty acids essential for brain function, a healthy heart, a strong immune system, and supple skin. Good sources of unsaturated fats include fish, nuts, olives, olive and corn oils, and avocados. An average adult should consume 5 to 7 teaspoons of unsaturated fats per day.

·         Good sleep: Your mind and body will feel better if you sleep well. Your body needs time every day to rest and heal. For adults, 7-9 hours of sleep is essential in a day. If your sleep is frequently interrupted or cut short, you're not getting quality sleep which might disturb your mental well being.

·         Reduce caffeine: If you’re a coffee junkie, you may not realize the effects caffeine has on your body system. However, you can reduce your stress levels and improve your mental performance throughout the day if you gradually wean yourself off of large amounts of caffeine.

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Start Your Day with a tablespoon of Honey

HONEY, a most assimilable carbohydrate compound, is a very much acceptable, practical and most effective aliment to create and replace energy. It has long been used as a health aid. Honey by nature is a antibacterial and antimicrobial. Hydrogen Peroxide is naturally produced by the enzymes contained in honey. This makes honey good for medicinal purposes.

Sweetener:
Sugar can be substituted with honey in many food and drinks. Honey contains about 69% glucose and fructose enabling it to be used as a sweetener.

Energy Source:
It contains about 64 calories per tablespoon. Hence honey is also used by many as a source of energy. On the other hand, one tablespoon of sugar will give you about 15 calories. Further the carbohydrates in the honey can be easily converted into glucose by even the most sensitive stomachs. Hence it is very easy to digest honey.

Weight Loss: Though honey has more calories than sugar, honey when consumed with warm water helps in digesting the fat stored in your body. Similarly honey and lemon juice and honey and cinnamon help in reducing weight.

Energy booster: Honey is an excellent ergogenic aid and helps in boosting the performance of athletes. Honey facilitates in maintaining blood sugar levels, muscle recuperation and glycogen restoration after a workout. The glucose in honey is absorbed by the body quickly and gives an immediate energy boost, while the fructose is absorbed more slowly providing sustained energy.

Source of Vitamins and Minerals: Honey contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. The type of vitamins and minerals and their quantity depends on the type of flowers used for apiculture. Commonly, honey contains Vitamin C, Calcium and Iron.

Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties: Honey has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and hence it can be used as a natural antiseptic.

Antioxidants: Amongst the many health benefits of honey, what is most impressive– it can be a powerful immune system booster. It contains nutraceuticals, which are effective in removing free radicals from our body. Honey’s antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties can help improve digestive system and help you stay healthy and fight disease.

Skin Care with Milk and Honey: Milk and honey are often served together as both these ingredients help in getting a smooth soothing skin. Hence consuming milk and honeydaily in the morning is a common practice in many countries.

Honey in Wound Management: It speeds up the healing process by stimulating wound tissues and also helps in initiating the healing process in dormant wounds. Honey also helps in promoting moist wound healing.
Supports blood formation: Honey provides an important part of the energy needed by the body for blood formation. In addition, it helps in cleansing the blood. It has some positive effects in regulating and facilitating blood circulation.

Good Remedy: For stomach ulcers, gastritis, dyspepsia and sore throats, 1-2 teaspoons on an empty stomach (½ hour before meals), 1-4 times a day to assist in healing and provide pain relief.

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Milk in your daily diet..

Drinking milk has many benefits on body as it contains more nutrients. Milk is one of the most commonly consumed beverages by all section of the people.

Milk deficiency can cause severe anemia, osteoporosis and other related illnesses. Milk consumption is very essential to maintain good health and doing normal activities. It is the best source of calcium for all age groups.

What makes milk so special?

· Milk has been universally recognized as a balanced diet. It practically suits almost all the age groups. It is rich in nutrients.

· The main sugar present in the milk is Lactose.

· It has the essential minerals present in the milk are Calcium, Phosphorous, Sodium and Potassium.

· It also contains Vitamin A, C, and D, riboflavin, thiamine and amino acids.



Health benefits of milk

· Milk provides a unique balance of nutrients. It contains unique proportions of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

· More milk- stronger bones, as it contains abundant calcium. Calcium also aids in muscular and circulatory function. It also prevents osteoporosis.

· Low fat or fat free milk consumers are thinner and maintain a good overall health. It also helps in reducing weight in obese individuals.

· Fighting cavities: protein, calcium, phosphorus content in the milk protects the tooth enamel, stimulates saliva production, and neutralizes food acids.

· Reducing Blood pressure and diabetes- Calcium, magnesium and potassium content in milk helps to reduce the blood pressure and diabetes.

· Reduces the risk of colon cancer: Consuming at least one glass of milk per day reduces 15% risk of developing colon type of cancer

· Consumption of milk products can also help in reducing acidity


Other benefits of milk consumption

· Milk is an excellent post exercise beverage

· Milk helps in acidity and gastric ulcers, especially cold milk.

· Milk with pepper and turmeric helps to fight cough, asthma and allergy

· Milk with honey boost the immune system, to fight against infection

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Stay away from heat, Stay cool!

Excessive body heat may result in generalized weakness and lethargy in an individual. Reducing body heat becomes crucial when the environmental temperature is high. Sweating is a natural process to reduce body heat; however your diet and food play a crucial role in controlling body temperature.

Fruits to Reduce Body Heat:

There are certain fruits that can help reduce body temperature and also aid in balancing of the internal environment of the body

· Fresh fruits juices are very beneficial in reducing body heat. Orange and Grape fruit juice is considered beneficial in maintaining an average body temperature

· Excessive heat may result in excessive sweating which in turn may result in electrolyte imbalance and hence consuming fruits that help restore electrolyte balance is crucial in maintaining ideal body temperature.

· Banana is rich in potassium and helps restore electrolyte balance in the body. Other fruits that help to maintain electrolyte balance include lemon, pineapple, jackfruit and watermelon.

Foods that Reduce Body Heat:

Excessive body heat can result in dehydration, as sweating is the natural process of controlling body heat. Hence remaining adequately hydrated is crucial to prevent tiredness and lethargy which may be attributed to body heat and dehydration.

 · Avoid intake of alcohol and caffeine. These foods may result in dehydration and in turn result in increase in the body temperature

· Foods that are astringent are good for reducing body heat.

· Vegetables are cooling and consuming of lots of vegetables and vegetable juices are very helpful.

· Increase the intake of dairy products like buttermilk and yogurt. These foods tend to aid in cooling the body internally.

· Nuts are highly acidic and result in generation of heat in the body. Avoid meat and restrict your diet to purely vegetarian to reduce body temperature.

· One should eat well during the day and less at night as the food is required in the stomach during the day time to prevent acid build up.

· Drink plenty of liquids, coconut water, butter milk, fruit juices and at least 10 glasses of water daily.

· Opt for foods high in water content including fruits, salads, soups and buttermilk.

· Barley has a cooling effect on the body and should be included in your daily diet.

Pranayama – Sheetali (cooling breath):

The practice of sheetali breathing calms the mind, reduces the stress or fight - flight response. It cools the body and mind. The blood pressure is also lowered. This pranayama is very effective in hyperacidity or even ulcers. This pranayama removes excess heat accumulated in the system.

The purpose of the Sheetali breathing is to reduce the body temperature; this may have positive effect on the endocrine glands and nervous system.

Few other Remedies:

· Add a pinch of salt, a teaspoon of sugar and few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice to a glass of water and drink about four to five glasses a day.

This drink supplies essential electrolytes to the body that are lost through perspiration due to heat. Further studies have shown that Vitamin C can help reduce body temperature and lemon is packed with Vitamin C.

· Local application of sandalwood paste can help reduce body temperature. Apply sandalwood paste on the forehead, chest or back. This will help your body cool faster and reduce perspiration.

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Papaya - Powerhouse of Nutrients

Papaya is packed with number of health benefits for us. Papaya is a very common fruit and the best part is it is available throughout the year. It is good for overall health and is specially considered good for stomach and is helpful in digestion.

Immune Support

Vitamin C and vitamin A, which is made in the body from the beta-carotene in papaya, are both needed for the proper function of a healthy immune system. Papaya may therefore be a healthy fruit choice for preventing such illnesses as recurrent ear infections, colds and flu.

Anti-oxidants in Papaya It is a fruit high in fiber which lowers cholesterol levels. It contains antioxidants which prevents the cholesterol from oxidizing. When cholesterol in the body gets oxidized, it can lead to heart-attacks. The anti-oxidants in papaya also help in controlling premature ageing, which helps to give a young look.


Papaya for the Skin A papaya face pack can also be made using the fruit. Papaya is a product from nature which is used in many skin lightening creams. Many of the lotions or creams which are used to make the face lighter or fairer contain papaya as an ingredient. It also helps in getting rid of acne because when papaya is applied as a face pack it helps to open the pores and makes the skin glow. It contains the enzyme papain which helps to dissolve dead skin ,thus imparting a fresh and clean glow to the face.

Here are some more interesting Papaya nutrition facts - 

·         Papaya contains a high amount of potassium and its is very high in Vitamin A.
·         It contains protein which is a digestive enzyme that helps in natural digestion process.
·         Papaya juice helps in alleviating infections of the colon by clearing away the infection, pus and mucus. Regular consumption will help in improving the problem.
·         The skin of papaya is excellent for treating skin wounds and places that do not heal quickly.
·         Papaya is low in calories and high in nutritive value hence it is an excellent food for those on a diet.

·         Regularly consuming papaya helps to relieve morning sickness and nausea.


·         Papaya has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-cancerous properties. The anti-inflammatory properties will help reduce pain for those suffering from arthritis, edema and osteoporosis.


·         It is also very good for the hair and helps in controlling dandruff. Papaya shampoos are good for the hair and are available in many health stores.


·         Papayas may be very helpful for the prevention of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease.


·         Papaya cleans the stomach and studies have shown that papaya alone eaten for 3 to 4 days has a highly beneficial tonic effect upon the stomach and intestines.

All the parts of the papaya fruit are useful and beneficial. Right from the seeds to the papaya leaves and the flesh of the fruit, all of it has some value. Both the inside and the outside of the fruit can be utilized. Thus, no part of the fruit is useless or goes as a waste.


Thus, if you love to eat papaya, it is great because along with savouring the taste you are also ingesting all the benefits associated with eating the fruit, which will result in good health for you!

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Top Five Weightloss Myths/Misconception

I came across this interesting article from Yahoo Lifestyle and found it bit hilarious and interesting. So I'd like to share it here in my blog.

Among the numerous myths floating around us all the times, myths about weight loss keep on surfacing every now and them.

They are all around us: on the Web, friends keep delivering sermons on them or they can be found in the latest issue of a celebrity magazine. On this World Health Day, MensXP tries to rip apart five grave misconceptions related to weight loss.

Myth 1: Giving Up the Breakfast

Skipping breakfast would only undo your efforts of losing weight. A high-nutrient breakfast gives our body the much-needed calorie burning start. Just make sure that your breakfast is composed of healthy stuff like sprouts, juices, etc and it's not equivalent to the heavy meals you enjoy at weddings.

Myth2: Carbs are My Worst Enemy

All carbs aren't bad. Soda, a carbohydrate, is bad but broccoli, another carbohydrate, is good. All you need to figure out is which carbs are good for you instead of worrying about the overall carb intake. Rely on veggies, fruits, and high-fiber whole grains (but do not indulge in gluttony). If you can't resist a tempting carb, say an ice-cream, burn it off with exercise.

Myth3: I Shouldn't Eat After 6 in the Evening

There's no magic time to get done with food for the day. Just stop devouring food which is bad for your health. For instance, if you're watching a late night movie on television force yourself to not eat junk food like ice creams, chips, burgers etc, rather go for salads, fruits etc.

Myth4: All I have to do is to Cut Down Calories

Not entirely true. While total intake of calories does matter, the source from which you get them is also important. You get almost the same number of calories from a handful of almonds and 3 apples as you would get from a cheeseburger and coke. But you know that you have to choose the former.

Myth5: All I Need is that Magic Pill to Help Me Shed Pounds

We're sorry to inform you but there are no miracle pills, potions, creams, belts and shoes which can help you grow muscles or cut flab in no time (as they might claim). These supplements may help but then you have to supplement them with right dietary and fitness programmes to extract the benefit out of them. (MensXP.com)

Courtesy: Yahoo Lifestyle

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Blood test tells you how long you will live?

Courtesy: Yahoo Lifestyle.

Soon, it will cost just 435 pounds to keep tab on your ageing process. Scientists have developed a blood test, which can show the speed of ageing and give an estimate of how long a person is going to live.

The test results may be vital to life-insurance companies offering medical cover that depends on a person's lifetime risk of falling seriously ill or dying prematurely.

The controversial blood test is to go on sale to the general public in Britain later this year.

The test has been designed to measure vital structures on the tips of a person's chromosomes called telomeres, which scientists believe are one of the most important and accurate indicators of the speed at which a person is ageing.

According to scientists, the test will be able to tell whether a person's "biological age", as measured by the length of their telomeres is older or younger than their actual chronological age.

"We now that people who are born with shorter telomeres than normal also have a shorter lifespan. We know that shorter telomeres can cause a shorter lifespan," the Independent quoted Maria Blasco, of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre in Madrid as saying.

"But we don't know whether longer telomeres are going to give you a longer lifespan. That's not really known in humans," she added.

Scientists are hopeful that the test could prove to be a breakthrough in satiating the curiosity of the people regarding their mortality, who can accordingly, plan their life.

However, scientists do not yet believe that the test predictions can be narrowed down to calculate the exact number of months and years a person has yet to live.

Additional Link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/business/19life.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

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Working woman please take care of your hair..

Healthy and Lustrous Hair has been a dream for everyone, especially woman. Every woman wants to wear different hair style and look beautiful. But todays  way of living is becoming a barrier in achieving their  dream.

Now a days taking care of hair has become an important  task in our day to day life and we rarely find time to  take care of it in our busy speedy life style. What  everyone wants is a beautiful, shiny and a healthy  hair.Do we take proper hair care and are we taking  care in the right path? This question popups to almost  everyone of us.

In olden days, woman stayed at home, taking care of  their household things. They had an ample time in  taking care of their beauty. But woman now are  working, spending most of their times at their  workplace,being stressed and pressured. And when they  return back home, all they have time is to eat and  sleep. Do you think the food we have now a days is  nutritious enough?

Ok enough of stories and here i dive into the information of hair care tips especially for working  woman. So what you need to do?

1. Understand your hair:

Just take a look at your hair. You can clearly  understand whats lacking isn't it. You can easily get  what your hair wants in clearly looking at your hair.Most of the woman tends to have dry hair and can see  split-ends over their hair mainly because of the  following reasons:

 a. Over Expose to Sun

 b. working at air-conditioned place for hours

 c. Food habits

 d. Some people do not even drink water

 e. Unhealthy ways of treating hair like using hair 

straightening irons in incorrect way.

 f. too much usage of blow driers

 g. Over shampooing and using any hair care 

lotions/shampoos which they find attractive in shops.

 h. If your showering in hard water.

2.Spend time

All you need to do is to have confidence and trust in your hair. Spend atleast 10 mins of your time daily  for your care . Most women tend to shower their hair daily so that  they feel fresh and oil free. Oily hair sometimes  feels irritated and they tend to smudge over the face  and makes our day at work frustrated. So it ok to wash  your hair as it removes excess oil and dirt and keeps  your hair fresh. But please note to avoid shampoo's  with too much chemicals especially the ones which  comes under SLS category.They make your hair more dry. 

Go for shampoo rich in moisturizers and proteins,  preferably with Sea Kelp and Almond.

You spend atleast 10 hours outside  (work+travel+parties+restaurants etc) and dont laze  away when you are back at home. Spend a little time  for your hair and skin :) It wont cost you more than  10 mins isn't it.

Apply coconut oil or Almond oil to your hair and  gently comb it. Remove tangles and keep it  conditioned. Coconut oil is the best and natural hair  care expert and it is also a natural conditioner. That  is why Indian woman tend to have black and shiny hair.  If possible plait your hair before you go to sleep.

3. Weekends Massage

At weekends massage your hair with heated coconut oil or olive oil. Olive oil is one of the best hair  conditioner and you can see it with your own eyes  after you've applied it.

Read the below link for more details.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4884793_use-olive-oil-hair.html

You can also prepare herbal hair mask using curd, egg white etc. Please avoid wearing henna hair mask frequently as it adds more dryness to your hair.

Please avoid mechanisms that make your hair dry as much as possible. Because dry hair tends to go thin and become brittle and at last they break off. And make your hair more moisturized. 

Just perform these changes and see the difference.

4. Healthy Diet

It is not enough to take care of your hair externally. It also requires to take care of your body health. Proper diet is also a key factor that promotes healthy hair. Consume more leafy vegetables and fruits. Drink lots of water and have fresh juices.  Try to maintain your body temperature normal.

5. Exercise Regularly

http://ezinearticles.com/?Exercise-Helps-Promote-Natural-Growth-Of-Hair&id=1020192

Just perform these changes and see the difference. I do not recommend any artificial products or cosmetics as I am a total believer in herbal way of treating things as the latter, at least helps to an extent. So people it is in your hands. All you need to have is patience and your time for your hair's health. And have a great and beautiful hair. :)

The following links may also helps you additionally to what i've written above:

Related Posts:

http://health2dy.blogspot.com/2008/06/prevent-hair-loss.html

http://health2dy.blogspot.com/2008/07/want-to-make-your-hair-always-lengthy.html

http://health2dy.blogspot.com/2008/06/eight-tips-for-naturally-beautiful-hair.html

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Tomato - Fat Zero , Weight watchers check out..

People say that 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' but I would substitute  tomato for apple in this saying. A century ago the tomato was considered poisonous and acidic. Today we know that it actually has the most amazing health properties and is alkaline in nature. Did you know that tomato is actually a fruit and not a vegetable?

Due to its highly versatile preparation options - Tomato soup,puree,salsa,gravy,chopped in salads and as a juice,cooked in your vegges,used in pulaos, dals etc.- It can easily be included as part of your diet.

A weight watchers delight, the tomato has zero fat content. The fruit has a very powerful anti-oxidant called lycopene that cuts the risk of prostrate cancer. In fact the cooking process released more lycopene. Due to its powerful anti-oxidant content, the tomato is very good for cardio-vascular diseases.

The vitamin C content in tomato increases immunity levels and keep common colds abd coughs at bay. It also helps in cases of congestion of liver (protects liver from Cirrhosis) as well as dissolving gallstones.

The tomato is a treasure house of nutrients, including vitamin A for skin and eyes,potassium for muscle cramps and folic acid. Tomatoes are especially recommended for people with high Homocysteine levels because of all these nutrients

Related Links:

How to Prepare Tomato juice ? 

Health benefits of Tomatoes 

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Movie popcorn not good for health

Ready to make and eat stuff is what we gorge on these days. Our good old snack 'Popcorn' also fell in this line. You get ready-to-pop kernels with butter smeared sumptuously.

When you put them on pan, your heart pops as you see the kernels pop up in beautiful patterns. At the cinemas, you finish off a big pack of it, followed by an ice cream, a cool or got beverage. But what you had finished off contains large amounts of sodium and saturated fat, and the butter flavor is not really butter.

Popcorn which formed an essential selling stuff was part of a South American menu some thousands of years ago. Pop kernels are stores of starch, sugar and water, the energy a plant needs to grow. The water in it turns into stream when heated and pops the corn.

The early populations that had to indulge in quite a lot of physical activity, burnt up the energy easily. But for people like, say present generation, whose physical activity is restricted, popcorn is very rich snack. Popcorn energy is simply stored body fat. Movie popcorn is still more harmful.

 The XL size super pack sold at cinemas and shopping malls smells heavenly, crunchy. Though it is softer than sugar-rich boiled sweets, store-bought pack of junk, it should be consumed with some limitations.

 This fluffy delight can be consumed if you skip the butter and stick to healthy, old fashioned, air-popped corn. You can air-pop raw kernels in a cooker, with a spot of vegetable oil. Add only natural salt. This air popped popcorn is a good alternative to other snacks such as potato chips, candy or cookies.

According to the experts, microwave pack, no doubt contains less fat, but the inner lining of the bag has cancer causing chemicals that leach into the pops and its savory aroma is linked to lung disease called popcorn-workers lung - which is under intense study.

 Corn as a Vegetable:

Actually corn is a natural vegetable. Raw corn kernels are rich in fibre which is good for the system. They are low in calories too. One cup of air popped corn has 30 calories. Contains no saturated fat, trans-fats or cholesterol. Besides fibre and protein, it has traces of manganese, folate, niacin, vitamins, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, copper, and selenium.

Which is better, home made air popped popcorn or the pack of popcorn you munch at the theatre or shopping malls. Now you decide your choice.

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Women and Silent Heart Attack

We generally feel that men are more prone to heart attacks. Think again to think so! Recently statistics show that  women are nearly as much at risk of heart diseases and fatal attacks as men.

There could be many reasons for this - complaints in women often go undiagnosed until it is too late for effective treatment.

Studies show that heart diseases kills six times as many women than breast cancer. Also the number of women affected by heart disease is growing with changing lifestyles. Women today cope with increasing pressures. Coronary Artery disease (CAD) is mostly seen in post-menopausal women. Diabetic women get affected even at younger age.

What is CAD? 

CAD is a condition where cholesterol deposits at the lining of the coronary arteries that supply to the heart. This narrows arteries and obstructs blood flow to the heart. The blocked artery thus causes a heart attack.

Interventional cardiologists opine that unknown to many people, heart disease is the number one killer of women and often acts differently than the way it affects men. Risk factors include diabetes, hypertension, hyper lipidemia,smoking,obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Family history also plays a role. During heart attacks women experience nausea, vomiting,indigestion, shortness of breadth or extreme fatigue- but surprisingly many times no chest pain.

Unfortunately these symptoms are easy to attribute to something other than the heart. Women are also more likely than men to have 'silent heart attacks' - an attack without any acute symptoms, that are diagnosed only later when subsequent cardiac symptoms are re-evaluated  and tests are performed.

Before menopause, the estrogen hormone plays a vital role in protecting and maintaining adequate levels of 'good' high-density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol, which inturn protects the body's overall cardio vascular health.

Estrogen also works to relax the smooth muscle of arteries helping to maintain normal blood pressure and prevent some forms of blood vessel damage.

There are many factors that can contribute in increasing risks of heart diseases in post-menopausal women - diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are the main culprits. Other factors include stressful lifestyle, women with a family of the disease, ones who do not indulge in any physical activity and those who use birth control pills indiscriminately. 

What should we do?

Dietary changes, weight loss, lipid lowering medications, quitting smoking, and under taking regular exercise are important lifestyle measures. Heart attacks in women often strike without any warning, so make sure we go for regular health checks.

Prevention is better way to deal with health conditions. 

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Make your nails stronger...

Many faces problems with brittle nails. Besides good nourishment, a little more care is what is needed.
When your nails are too brittle, soak the fingertips for 10 mins in warm pure almond oil or olive into the nails. Then massage the oil into the nails.

The best source of heathier nails is your diet. So include adequate protein and calcium in your diet, such as skimmed milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, egg, fish and sprouts. You can even dissolve a teapoon of gelatin in a little boiling water, then cool it and to fruit juice. You can do so for about ten days. So instead of applications, nourish yourself with balanced diet.

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How important is Breakfast

Eat Breakfast like a king, lunch like a Prince and dinner like a Beggar, so goes on old saying. But in today's world of hurry, breakfast is the biggest casualty.

People often ask as to why breakfast is important. The answer lies in the word 'breakfast' itself. The word originated from the fact that after dinner, we do not eat whole night (minimum 8 hours) and this is a long time for a body to go without food. During daytime, we keep on eating and munching after every 3-4 hours. But the duration between dinner and breakfast is often long, sometimes even 12 hours. So it is equivalent to a fast. Hence the meal that is taken in the morning is breakfast.

Those who avoid breakfast are less productive and less efficient than those who eat breakfast. Children who regularly eat breakfast think faster and clearer, solve problems more easily and are less likely to be restless and irritable early in the day. So the message is loud and clear to 'be particular about breakfast'.

Many people skip meals to lose weight. But the first meal of the day is important for a healthy start. The reason for it is simple. Skip breakfast, and the gap between dinner and lunch next day is almost 16 hours. During this time the level of blood sugar drops. Glucose, the principle fuel for the brain and the central nervous  system helps, carry on routine activities like talking, thinking, even walking. For effective functioning of the brain, any stored carbohydrates have to be broken or fat and protein turned into a usable form. Without breakfast the body is deprived of vitamins C and D, calcium, iron and fibre.  This is the one reason people find it difficult to concentrate, solve problems, memorize things and often become moody. A Canadian study says breakfast boosts memory and those who eat breakfast perform better.

A study also found remarkable improvement in those people suffering from memory problems and those with early signs of adult-onset diabetes. Another report states that school students consuming breakfast were less absent and had higher math grades and were less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and hyperactivity. Moreover, breakfast helps determine and maintain a desired weight. A wholesome breakfast ensures one does not indulge in calorific-ally dense  food or overeat later in a day. Due to prolonged hunger one eats more food higher in calorie count.

Eating something is better than nothing. It helps raise blood sugar levels. So have an apple on the way to work.

This proves that why we should eat a proper and wholesome breakfast. The body's stress hormone levels are highest in the morning due to hunger. Eating food helps the body to overcome this stress. Try not to skip this most important meal of the day and see how your health and performance at work improves.

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Ginger - Effective Curative

Ginger is considered as small medicine cabinet by itself. It is effective in lessening motion and morning sickness and protect one against stomach upset.

A cup of ginger tea or a glass of ginger ale can quicken relief from stomach flu.

Ginger herb is richly loaded with anti-viral compounds that help fight rhinovirus which causes common cold. But if we take beyond a certain dose, it might overheat our body.

When we are down with a cold, intake of water wherein which, a piece of ginger is well boiled and a table spoon of honey added, will have a soothing effect.

The same ginger tea can be made with a table spoon full of ginger added to water and let it steep for 10 mins and then drain it.

Ginger tea, which is free from caffeine is an ideal drink for the cold and flu season.

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