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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