Health and Beauty,Family and Relationship

Age Management Medicine--Going the Distance

2008-09-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

As a country ,we are ageing fast.Life expectancy of the local population is quickly approaching 80 years.longer lives,unfortunately,mean that we are likely to spend a longer period of time with some form of chronic degenerative illness such as heart disease,cancer,stroke and diabetes.To make matter worse,research is showing a trend towards the earlier onset of degenerative diseases,probably as a result of our stressful and often decandant lifestyles.Thankfully,age management medicine may provide a plausible solution to this problem.While anti ageing medicine has gained much notoreity for its uncorroborated implications,age management medicine,in contrast ,converts known and accepted markers of disease into proactive patient management.This encompasses the goals of helping patients regain and maintain optimal health and vigour,improving their quality of life and increasing their health spans and life spans.
AGEING SUCCESSFULLYIn scientific terms,ageing refers to the gradual changes in the structure of a mature organism that occur normally overtime,and increase the probability of death and disability.this inevitable ans irreversible process occurs from the moment we utter our first cry as a baby,and stirs up much dread in most of us.With a bit of help,however,we can avert these changes and ensure that we age successfully.But what exactly does it mean to age successfully?In 1961,Havighurst defines this as"adding life to the years" and "getting satisfaction from life".Age management medicine strives to fulfill these very objectives-- to reduce the biological effects resulting in cell death and disease,improve function and quality of life,and prolong life.Age management medicine recognises lifestyles modification such as stress reduction,dietary changes and exercise as integral aspects of this battle against time.Patient education is therefore paramount in age management.Ofcourse,dietary supplementation,hormonal modulation and the control of existing medical conditions follow on as an important part of patient management,and must not be neglected.
WHY HORMONAL MODULATION?Hormones are chemical messengers needed for communicatio between cells that control the majority of bodily functions.Unfortunately,a decline in hormone levels,with the exception of the hormones cortisols and insulin,is seen as early as the late twenties or early thirties.This is commonly associated with lethargy,weight gain,an increase in the ratio of body fat to lean muscle mass,mood swings,memory loss and poor concentration abilities,sexual dysfunction,bone loss,an increased risk of oesteoporosis and a decline in cardiovascular fitness.
MENOPAUSE AND PERIMENOPAUSEFor women,menopause,has been identified as a time of drastic changes due to the decline in the female hormone,oestrogen.However,what most women are not aware of is that,prior to menopause,they will experience a time of progesterone deficiency and oestrogen dominance,known as perimenopause.this may start from the age of 35 and is usually accompanied by an increase in bloating,breast tenderness and mood changes prior to periods.But more importantly,this period of oestrogen dominance increases the risk of both benign and cancerous breast lumps,fibriods,endometriosis and endrometrial hyperplasia.Progesterone replacement is therefore important for symptom control and reduces the risk of common gynaecological problems during perimenopause.If progesterone replacement is considered ,it is important to note that progesterone should be replaced instead of progestogens.The latter has different effects from natural progesterone and may be associate dwith increased risk of breast cancer,as well as other side effects such as bloating,breast tenderness and acne.Progestogens may also not have any of the beneficial side effects of natural progesterone on the mood,water retention and sleep.It is also clear now that,if considered,oestrogen replacement should be started as early as possible during menopause.Delayed of the same may prove harmful than beneficial in cardiovascular disease prevention.
ANDROPAUSE AND TESTOSTERONE LEVELSMen experience a similar dip in hormone levels with age,especially during andropause.From the age of 40,free testosterone levels decline at a rate of 1.2%.This is because,with age,total testosterone level declines and oestrogen production increases,bounding existing testosterone levels and rendering them inactive.As a result 20 percentage of men between the ages of 60 and 80 have lower than normal testosterone level.However,being more subtle than the decline of oestrogen levels in women,this often dismissed as a normal part of ageing.This is alarming given the fact that men with 'normal' but sub optimal level of testosterone run an increased risk of developing insulin resistance which in turn result in coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus.Moreover,even though oesteoporosis is commonly thought of as a woman's disease,one third of oesteoporotic fracturers occur in men,with andropause being a significant risk factor.
INSULIN RESISTANCEUsually due to an increase in the percentage of body fat,insulin resistance also increases with age.As a result of this,the amount of insulin produced in the pancreas increases as well.High fasting insulin levels inturn increases the risk of high blood pressure,atherosclerosis and consequently,heart disease,strokes,diabetes and alzheimer's disease.Furthermore,an increase in insulin resistance as wellas an increase in cortisol results in a hike in the average blood glucose level and fasting glucose level.And the higher the average blood glucose,the greater the amount od glycation,a substance responsible for the binding of sugar to protein molecules.Being fifty times more likely to produce free radicals,glycated proteins increase the risk of hypertension,heart disease,diabetes and complications,cancers and alzheimer's disease.Infact ,even when within the normal range of HbA1C levels of five to six percent,there is a 28 percent increased risk of dying heart diisease,stroke,cancer and diabetes.With that said,weight loss and fat loss through dietary changes and exercise,hormonal modulation are important to bring about a decrease in fasting insulin levels.This lowers the risk of developing these common chronic diseases.
To conclude,Age management medicine,therefore,incorporates knowledge of diseases,and their pathogenesis to educate patients and empower them to be proactive in managing their health conditions.Combining dietary changes,exercise,hormonal modulation and convectional management of existing medical condition can help the patients forestall ageing,avert diseases and stay healthy for longer time.

Garlic Sense--The Science behind Garlic

2008-09-08T09:09:00.000-07:00

Garlic is an ingredient used extensively in food.It has also been used as medicine for a wide variety of ailments for thousands of years.Garlic has been the subject for over 2000 scientific publications and is one of the top selling herbs in the health supplement industry today.Garlic has a wide range of well documented effects including boosting the immune function,fighting infections,preventing cancer and providing various cardiovascular benefits--lowering total/LDL('bad') cholesterol,reducing high blood pressure and increasing fibrinolytic activity of the blood thus making it less liable to form clots that can block the blood vessels.Its antimicrobial actions have made garlic a popular remedy for protection against recurrent colds,flu and bronchitis.Garlic inhibits candida albicans and is helpful against recurring yeast infections.All the beneficial effects of garlic are attributed to its sulphur-containing compounds,the most important of which are allicin,ajoene,vinyle dithilins and allylsulphides.Incidentally,these compounds also account for their characterstic pungent color of garlic.Allicin is formed from alliin,which occur when bulbs are crushed or chopped,a process which releases the enzymes allinase present in garlic itself.While alliin is a very stable compound and can survive storage for longerperiods of time.It can easily break down into other compounds including vinyl dithilins,sallylcysteine and allyl sulphides.Some researchers have shown that allicin is very rapidly metabolised in the liver,and hence may exert its medicinal effects indirectly via its breakdown products.
THE MANY FACES OF GARLIC PREPARATIONSVarious types of commercial garlic products are available in the market.These product differ in the method used in processing the garlic components,resulting in significant variations in the nature and potency of medicinal activity shown.Whole fresh garlic and dried standardised garlic extract powder demonstrate the whole spectrum of health effects associated with garlic--anticancer,cholesterol -lowering,anti-atherosclerosis and antimicrobial. The major active constituents are allicin and ajoene.Aged garlic extract,made by adding chopped garlic clove to a dilute solution of ethanol for 20 months and then filtering the mixture,contains sallylcysteine and has been reported to lower choleterol,albeit taken in high doses.Garlic oil,which is prepared by macerating garlic with oil for a period of time lowers cholesterol,but does not appeared to have any of the other benefits of powdered whole garlic.Another type of garlic oil,obtained by steam-distillation,contains primarily allylsulphides with antibacterial and anticancer properties.One of the main difficulties in comparing studies on garlic is establishing the nature and concentrations of active components in the garlic preparation used.Studies have proved that fresh garlic preparations lowers cholesterol and LDL more effectively compared to aged garlic.HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST GARLIC PRODUCTBesides allicin,ajoene amd allylsulphides,there are many other compounds ingarlic that contribute to the medicinal effects of garlic.Therefore,the best product would be one that is rich in all garlic compounds and most resembles whole fresh garlic.The german commission E recommends an effective dose of garlic that is equivalent to 4000mcg of fresh garlic.Allicin is the precursor from which all the main active garlic components are formed.Ideally,a good garlic product should contain plenty of alliin coupled with high allinase activity,which react together to release allicin.The capacity of a garlic product to release allicin is known as its"allicin potential".Studies that report a beneficial effect of garlic and garlic preparations used a form of garlic that delivers a sufficient dose of allicin.As allicin is not produced until it has passed into the intestinal tract,by which time it can be destroyed by stomach acid,the product has to be protected with'enteric-coating'.Preparations which have high alliin content being formed ,and hence will not be effective.Furthermore,some excipients used in making tablets can actually inhibit allinase activity,thus reducing the amount of allicin being released.Thus a wise consumer will choose a garlic product with the following properties:----Made from whole garlic,such as whole garlic extract powder.--Guaranteed tp produce a standardised quantity of allicin for every dose.Based on clinical research,an effective commercial garlic product should provide a daily dose of 4000mcg of allicin potential in order to be effective.This,if a product claims to deliver 750mcgallicin per capsule,you would need to take 5 to 6 capsules a day to obtain the health benefits of garlic.--Enteric-coated to ensure that allicin is not produced until the garlic powder mixes with the fluids in the intestinal tract.This will ensure that all the allicin is available for absorption ito the body.--An added benefit of enteric-coated of product is that it does not give an after taste or after-odour,hence is more socially acceptable.--Pure garlic powder in capsule form is preferred as it does not contain any other excipients that may interfere with allicin productions.

7 Eating Habits For A Healthy Pregnancy

2008-03-17T23:59:00.000-07:00

While you are pregnant,baby only has one source of nourishment...and that's you.This doesn't mean that you need to 'eat for two'.Its does mean,however,that you need to eat sufficiently and sensibly to keep both of you healthy throughout the pregnancy.If you have paid very little attention to your diet before,you really should start eating wisely now.A little forethought and careful planning can make pregnancy a pleasant experience for you and increase the chances of healthy full term baby.Here are seven eating habits for a healthy pregnancy.
Habit # 1 :Balance your DietExtremely poor eating habits before or during pregnancy can harm both you and your baby.If you are under-nourished, you may lack energy or certain nutrients that might need to complications including poor cell development in your unborn baby,low birth weight.Over -nutrition is just as undesirable.Excessive energy(from over eating or habitually taking high-fat foods) causes you to become overweight or obese.These conditions can lead to a higher risk of diabetes or hyper tension in pregnancy,larger than normal babies and other problems.Your diet should consist mostly of carbohydrate foods,more fruits and vegetables,moderate amout of protien foods as well as milk and dairy products,and finally, minimal amount of fats,oils,sugar and salt.
Habit# 2:Go for VarietyDifferent foods provide different combinations of nutrients ( Energy ,carbohydrates,fibre,protein,fats,vitamin,minerals and healthful food components) in differing amounts.In order to gain the goodness that different foods can offer,eat a wide variety of foods.
Habit# 3:Eat According To Your NeedsBaby's growth and the changes to your body call for an increase in total daily energy requirements.So its normal that your appetite may increase a little.However,your body also seems to make more efficient use of the food eaten.This is why many women can achieve normal weight gain during pregnancy without eating significantly more than usual.
Habit #4:Eat Regular MealsStick to three main meals(ie breakfast,lunch and dinner) to keep you and baby going through the day and night.If your main meals are small or if you feel hungry in between,don't hesitate to have a morning or afternoon snack of milk or yoghurt,digestive biscuits,noodles or fruit.
Habit #5:Choose Foods Rich In Vitamins And MineralsWhen pregnant,you need more of almost every vitamin and mineral than usual.Most of these increased requirements can be met through a carefully planned,nutritious diet.Nevertheless,you should conciously give preference to foods that are rich in calcium,iron,Vitamin C,A and B12 and folate(folic acid).try to reduce salt,sugar and overall fat intake.Bowel movement should be regular if there is sufficient intake of water,high fibre foods and vegetables.Some women mistakenly believe that supplements will meet all their nutritional needs and neglect their diets,Unfortunately,this does them more harm than good.
Habit#6:Don't Eat Too Much Or Too LittleOvereating may cause you to gain too much weight in the course of your pregnancy.By the same token,now is not the time to go on a weight-loss diet.both situations could do your baby a lot of harm.However,pregnancy is not a good excuseto gorge yourself.Food craving should be checked if they have low nutritional value.Avoid taking candy,doughnuts,potato chips,sundaes and snacks which have empty calories.increasing weight adds increasing pressure on the veins of the legs and feet,possibly leading to cramps,varicose veins and oedema.
Habit#7:Balance Your Energy Intake With Physical ActivityGetting pregnant is one of the best reasons for leading a more active lifestyle.Whether its taking a walk,going for a swim,gentle stretching or whatever physical activities you enjoy,just do them for atleast 30 minutes(in one session or three 10-minute sessions),everyday.The routine will help you burn off excessive energy from food and improve your digestion,while getting you in good shape to handle the rigours of birth and advancing pregnancies.To look and feel good,expectant mums need to have sufficient rest and exercise.But if you suffer from low energy levels,the answer may be simply inadequate nutrients from your diet.To prevent fatigue,eat well at regular intervals,exercise moderately and drink plenty of fluids.Regular exercise is preferable to sporadic activity.It is best to consult your gynaecologist or obstetrician before embarking on any exercise program.Generally you should avoid exercises which require lying in the supine position(on the back) after the first trimester.This position reduces the blood flow from the heart.Swimming is the ideal form of exercise for expectant mum.The aerobic exercise increases the flow of oxygen to the baby and lessens the risk of developing high blood pressure,varicose veins and hemorrhoids.
-->Vitamin and Minerals good for Baby and You
1.Folate (Folic Acid)--Needed for the development of baby's central nervous system early in pregnancy and it may prevent abnormalities of the brain,spine and nervous system.-Helps blood cell and haemoglobin formation-Needed for building DNA.Sources:-Dark leafy vegetables,Ladies finger,Dried peas and beans,Whole grain breads and cereals,Citrus fruits,Tomato,Banana.
2.Vitamin C--Helps to build strong placenta-Enables body to resist infection-Aids absorption of iron-Promotes formation of baby's gums,bones,ligaments and teethSources:-Citrus fruit(eg orange),Tomato,Potato with skin,Broccoli,mango,starfruit and guava.
3.Vitamin A--Development of baby's skin,eyes,heart,urinary and reproductive organs.-Helps with baby's bone growth.Sources:-Liver,milk,egg,sweet potato,carrot,dark leafy green vegetables,mango,papaya.
4.Vitamin B12--Maintains nervous system-helps form red blood cellsSources:-Liver,lean red meat,fish,poultry,milk.
5.Calcium--Important to ensure the healthy development of baby's bones and teeth.-Prevents baby from meeting his needs by stealing from mother's bones(demineralisation) and ,thereby, putting mother at risk of osteoporosis or brittle bone disease later in life.Sources:-Milk and dairy products,kailan,broccoli,dried beans.
6.Iron--Supports the increasing blood volume produced by mother and baby-Improves level of oxygen carried in blood for mother and baby.-Replenishes blood mother may lose during pregnancy.Sources:-Liver,Lean and meat,spinach,tofu,Dried beans,whole grains and fortified breads and cereals.
7.Foods to avoid--Avoid caffeine,Don't smoke,stay away from alcohol,don't consume over the counter medication.
Closing Thoughts
Eating right ,taking care of yourself and getting good prenatal care will pave the way for an easier delivery and a healthier baby.Nutrition is also direct linked with your skin and hair.It affects how you feel, too.If your normal diet usually consist of a coffee at breakfast,some finger food at lunch and fast food yet again at dinner,this is a good time to change your habits and look forward to a beautiful baby.

Healthy Heart Habits

2008-03-17T23:53:00.000-07:00

Cardiovascular disease(CVD) has more often than not been considered a man's disease--yet the truth of this axiom is quite the reverse.As lifestyle trends change globally,more and more women are becoming prone tp CVDs--the major problem that arises here is that women tends to develop heart disease much later in life compared to men as they are protected by high level of oestrogen.Further,CVDs in women tend to exhibit different symptoms as compared to men and studies show that women also experience more 'silent' heart attacks i.e. they may not always know that they are having cardiac arrest.While it is essential that women should make lifestyle changes to keep CVD at bay,knowledge and acceptance that CVDs are no longer the sole domain of men is the first step to having a healthy heart.Although you cannot help in cases when the heart disease is caused due to heredity,family history and some unavoidable factors.
Here are some basic healthy heart habits that every woman,and man for that matter,should incorporate into their daily routines:1.Have a balanced and nutritious diet that includes grains,fruits,vegetables and low in saturated fats,cholesterol and total fats.Most of the experts say that total fat intake should be 25 percent of calories or less,and some would aim for 20 percent or less.SATURATED FATS--It is advisable to restrict saturated fats from your diets mostly found in meat,butter,cream and other animal products.To accomplish that ,people should eat only three ounce of red meat per week.Several studies have shown that even a moderately low-fat diet can reduce blood-cholesterol levels by about 10 percent,which translates into 20 percent reduction in heart-attack risk.CHOLESTEROL--The cholesterol from foods such as eggs and shrimp has less impact on heart disease than does saturated fat,which the liver turns into cholesterol in the blood, where it can clog the arteries and cause a heart attack.How ever reducing dietary cholesterol is less crucial than cutting back on total and saturated fat.FRUITS AND VEGETABLES--Fruits and vegetables are also good sources of dietary fiber ,as are grains and legumes.Half the experts,pointing to evidence that fibre can help lower the risk of heart disease.Soluable fiber has its own part tp play in keeping your body healthy--preventing heart disease.New studies show that the fiber forms a gel in the intestine that traps and ushers cholesterol out of the body.It can help reduce insulin levels,which inturn lowers triglycerides(another major risk in heart disease).
2.Supplement right by going for vitamins and nutrients that will help you attain and maintain a healthy system--omega 3 fish oil is one of the more popular supplementation that has proven to be effective in keeping CVDs at bay.A moderate diet of poly-and monounsaturated fats can lower blood-cholesterol levels when substituted for saturated fats.In recent years much attention has focused on omega-3 fatty acids,found in some fish oils,which reduce the risk of heart disease and help prevent blood clots that can trigger heart attacks.It is more recommended to eat fish two or more times a week.
3.Regulate your blood pressure levels and adopt an active lifestyle as this not only has a positive effect on stress,obesity and hyper tension,but also promotes mental and emotional well being.Extra pounds can increase the risk of hypertension,diabetes and heart disease.salt can pose problems for the millions of people who have high blood pressure.There is noproof that drinking coffee increases the risk of heart disease.You probably donot need to skip coffee breaks unless caffeine gives you the jitters or you have medical problems such as stomach ulcers or an irregular heart beats.
4.Alcohol--One of the most consistent findings in the diet -health arena has the medical community in a quandary:It seems that one or two alcoholic drinks a day reduces the risk of heart disease.(one drink is equivalent to 12 ounces of beer,five ounces of wine or one and a half ounces of spirits).Alcohol appears to raise levels of HDL cholesterol,the protective component of blood cholesterol,which is diffcult to raise by other dietary means.Red grapes may also do the trick for non-drinkers.
5.Garlic--Garlic has wide variety of well being documented effects including boosting the immune function,fighting infections,preventing cancer and providing various cardiovascular benefits--lowering total/LDL cholesterol and increasing fibrinolytic activity of the blodd thus making it less liable to form clots that can block the blood vessels.
6.Smoking--Quit smoking as statistics show that smoking is the leading cause of coronary heart disease and lung cancer in US.Smoking is not at all safe ,when it comes to heart disease.Even passive smokers are affected badly when they are in da?ily contact with active smokers.Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,800 chemicals,which can damage your heart and blood vessels,thereby making your heart weak.Your heart tends to work harder ,when you smoke nicotine contained cigarette which in turns results in increasing your blood pressure and heart rate.Women smokers are at greater risk of having heart attack or stroke from those who donot smoke.The good news, though, is that when you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease drops dramatically within just one year. And no matter how long or how much you smoked, you'll start reaping rewards as soon as you quit.
7.Exercise and active routine--Physical activity is always good for your health and this is true when it come to the health of your heart.Regularly exercising can prevent you from having fatal heart disease.Physical activity does not mean that you need to do strenous exercise,even brisk walking can do wonders,but should be followed on regular basis.Combination of physical activity with healthy eating lifestyle is perfect tonic for healthy heart.Regular physical activity helps in preventing heart disease by increasing blood flow to your heart and thereby strengthening your heart's contractions so that your heart pumps more blood with less effort and force. Physical activity also helps in controling your weight and reducing your chances of developing other conditions that may put a strain on your heart, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. It also reduces stress, which may also be a factor in heart disease.
Most importantly,go for regular screening and heart check ups.Just like cancer,early detection can make things much better for you and in most cases ,prevent fatality because "Prevention is better than cure".Keep your heart healthy by following these healthy habits.

Family,Relationship and Society

2007-09-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

Marital Rape--An Alarmingly common reality

Marriage is our society's most cherished and sacred relationship.Sex in marriage is not just a form of physical unioun,it is also held as spiritual union that has the potential to bring deep fulfillment and joys to the sexual partners.To talk of "marital rape" is therefore is shocking and contentious and create confusion--especially since rape is widely regarded as a sexual transgression and abuse by sheer force,while marriage is seen as involving socially sanctioned sex wherein both partners have agreed to cohabit.There are hundred of stories that expose women's real life experiences of sex in marriage.They show how sex can be nonconsensual,forced and painful for married women.What exactly is Marital Rape?Consent to sex is automatically assumed in marriage,yet we all know from personal experience how our sexuality is an aspect of our conciousness and is more than just an instinctive drive.Yet women are expected to be sexually available to their men irrespective of their personal desires,and people at large donot think of sex by coercion in marriage as rape.In reality,women's experiences in marriage of nonconsensual and coercive cover a spectrum of forms wherein the use of verbal threats,physical violence and injury and even the use of weapons is made by their own husbands in the privacy and legitimacy afforded by marriage,to thrust unwanted forms of sex .Much of sexual violence in marriage is rotine and made invisible through factors like the culture of silence,ideas of masculinity and feminity,and the sacred nature of the marital union.Loyalty to the family,fear,inability to leave the relationship due to dependencies,acceptance of sex even against one,s wish as a husband's right and a wife's duty,and other such restraints keep many women from talking of the violence in their bedrooms even to their close friends and relatives.There is an urget need to create institutional responses to this much hidden crime.Women need first of all,to break the silence surrounding this violence and see the possibility of defining a changed socio-cultural context.The criminal justice system,the healthcare system and especially the mental care system,shelters homes and counselling cells need to recognize ad respond to the sexual dimensions of violence against womens in homes.This endeveour can be positively impacted if we as women,refuses to be creatures of male lust and aggression.Admitting our own discomfort with being sexually abused and coerced by our own men is the first step to challenging social expectations that emphasise women,s sexual subordination as essential for social and familal stability.

Family,Relationship and Society

2007-09-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

Women--Victims of blind beliefs

The Indian sub continent was partitioned on the basis of religion,but the division has not helped in reducing discrimination against women.The old orthodox community customs and beliefs remain both in india and pakistan.In pakistan,in a remote village in multan,an 18 year old girl was gang raped as a punishment decided by the village eldres for her brother courting a girl belonging to another tribe.In india too several cases of "community justice"inflicted on lovers of different castes are reported.The girl and boy are killed to save the "honour" of the families concerned.Such cases make a splash in newspapers,police register cases and the judicial process,in its long-winding way,dries up as no one cooperates with the prosecution because the whole community has colluded in commiting crime.The instance of an atrocity commited on a young woman in indore was of different nature.Sangeeta sode's crime was going on a pilgrimage to vaishnodevi with a friend without informing her family.How was one know she was not seduced during the pilgrimage?The community leaders organised an agnipariksha to prove her chastity.The ceremony required holding a heated iron rod in her hand.It is some consolation that after a furore was raised against the gang rape in multan,the pak authoroties prosecuted the criminals responsible for the crime, the village head man and the rapists.After a speedy trial,6 persons involved were given death punishment,a remarkable judgement in a case where community collusion was involved.In india,heinous crimes against women go practically unpunished because of the delay in courts.Women just go to courts for the justice and what they get are dates,another dates and some more dates.Situation differs only if you belong to some good and well-known family.If we take the case of sangeeta as an instance,would the same punishment be given ,if the same thing has been done by a boy.This is where question stops????

Family,Relationships and Society

2007-09-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

Thank God For Little Girls

Women's who has ambtions for their daughters are simple homemakers,full time mothers.The kind whose universe revolves around their family and their children and who might have put their own ambitions on hold just to be there 24x7.They were selected by an MNC for writing award-winning essays on what they wished for the future of their daughters.They would have some very definite views on what they wanted their daughters to be ----everything that they themselves could not be.After all, psychologically ,most of us wish that for our kids.We want our children to be famous.We want our children to be the singers we never were.Or climb that mountain we only stared at from base camp.Or soar the heights of success that we felt too dizzy to fly.Ofcourse, they wanted their daughters to be achievers.But these women not once mentioned that they wanted their children to become doctors or engineers.What each mother wanted was to let her do what SHE,the child,wanted.Without coercion.Without restraint.Each mother seemed to have decided that no matter what her daughter's choice,the mother's role would be to be there at each step.Their wish list for their daughters was equally heart-warming.Some women would like their daughters to learn to be independent and confident.Some hoped that their daughters would learn from their faliurs.When asked one women put it very beautifully as she said--"I want her to know that success could also be tinged with failure,and that you may not learn much from success,but failure will teach you a lot.I am sure that there are thousands of mothers out there,who may not be as eloquent but nonetheless are spinning out equally pragmatic and sensible dreams for their daughters.Teaching them to sift truth from fiction.Showing them how to fly high with their feet firmly on the ground.What we know need is a similar exercise on what mothers are dreaming for their sons.To start with,we need women teaching their boys that their sisters have the right to the same ambitions they have.Then we will not need a woman's qouta in Parliament.And the glass ceiling will have been shattered once and for all.

Exercise to slim your Waist line

2007-09-26T00:12:00.000-07:00

"Stand with your feet wide apart and the arms stretched out .Twist the body,first to the left,then to the right and repeat it several times"

How to make Cleansing cream at home

2007-09-18T23:41:00.000-07:00

Cleansing creams are used not only to lift the dust ,but also to remove stale make up.Make up has waxy base which cannot be properly penetrated and cleansed simply by using soap and water.A cleansing cream or lotion is essential for this.Here are few cleansing creams which are very easy and quick to make in the comfort of your home:--

Rose Water Cleansing Cream
Galen,A greek physician of the 2nd century,made this cleansing cream with the following ingredients:--
1 1/2--Tablespoon beeswax or white paraffin wax
1 Tablespoon emulsifying wax
4 Tablespoon mineral oil
6 Tablespoon rose water
1/2 teaspoon borax and
a few drops of rose oil(perfume)

Melt the wax and oil together,and at the same time heat the water and borax and make sure that the borax is completely dissolved.Remove both bowls from the heat and pour water in to the oil.Continue stirring until a white cream starts to form.Add a few drops of rose oil when the mixture begins to cool.Carry on beating until the mixture thickens...

I hope you all will like the recipie.In my next post i will add another new recipie of cleansing cream..

Wanna Check Out Your Current Weight And Required Weight Without Spending A single Penny---Here Comes"www.MyFitnessPal.com"..

2007-09-16T23:42:00.000-07:00

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Here is the link :--http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calorie-chart-nutrition-facts

There fore ,with the help of all these features,you can easily know the actual figure or correct idea of your diet regime and also about the present weight and the required weight.Visit and join at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/.
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CAN STRESS TRIGGER ACNE PROBLEM? WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

2007-08-15T23:43:00.000-07:00

Everyone experiences stress. Without it would be so laid back we would hardly move, our lives would be at a standstill and we would be incapable of reacting to danger.Stress, in physiological terms, means the release of adrenaline into the bloodstream caused by panic or fear. When this happens, the sebaceous glands go into overdrive producing sebum. This increases the likelihood that pores will become clogged with the sticky substance, thereby resulting in the development of comedowns.
Elimination of stress from life completely is not possible. Nevertheless, you can manage your life by adopting some very useful stress management techniques. Establishment of certain habits to encourage relaxation is important to lessen stress from your life. Teens are more prone to this type of outbreak because of hormonal changes.
If you find yourself wanting to manage stress in your life, but you feel you just do not have time to learn a new technique or take on a time-consuming regular activity, you are in luck. These are stress relievers for busy people like you: they are easy, quick, or fit into your schedule with little fuss. If you do not have a lot of time to devote to change, these will give you a good return for little effort.
Taking vitamins can help you in relieving stress. You should take daily vitamins, which will boost your immune system. You should always consult your doctor before taking Vitamin B complex, Calcium and Magnesium, and Vitamin C .But they are best and quick method for stressful people to heal them. In addition, they can help in enhancing beauty.
Listening music is one of the best ways to relieve from stress. Music has proven to provide health and stress relief benefits, and can be easily used in daily life to relieve stress. Busy people can turn on music during their morning routine, commute to and from work, during dinner, or at other times to relieve stress as they go about their daily activities.
Meditation and yoga can also turn fruitful in this process. Yoga, breathing exercises can calm your body and soul too. It is creating wonders since ages. Yoga is also proved in beautifying the skin .One very effective exercise is to 'inhale peace' and 'exhale your stress'.
Aromatherapy is a very gentle form of massage and utilizes essential oils extracted from aromatic plants and herbs. It is based on the belief that smells are very important to your well-being, inducing moods of calm and helping us to re-orientate ourselves. Thus results in distress ourselves. These oils also help in curing acne problems.
Optimists and positive thinkers experience better health, less stress, and more 'luck' in life. While it takes a little practice to develop a more positive frame of mind, the practice takes little extra time and can really change your whole experience of life and how you live it. After some initial learning and a bit of practice, and the rewards are continual, which is a pretty bit payoff. Not sure if you are an optimist or pessimist?
It is said that "Man is a social animal" and socializing plays a pivotal role in curing stress. So go ahead and meet people you know or start making new friends. Chats with them on topics, which make you, laugh. Establish close ties with family and friends. A group support will tremendously boost your immune system.
Eventually, you can help yourself. Try to adopt these methods in your life for a stress free life and acne free face. Live it. After some initial learning and a bit of practice, and the rewards are continual, which is a pretty bit payoff. Not sure if you are an optimist or pessimist?

Healthy Heart Diet for Longevity

2007-08-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

Forget about what you know about eggs,nuts and margarines.Forget about the US department of Agriculture's food pyramid.The low fat high carbohydrate diet that has been promoted for over a decade to prevent coronary heart diease may not be the best diet after all.Researchers from the famed Harvard University have now presented a healthy heart diet that question the original diet-heart hypothesis.The new healthy heart diet is based on large numbers of diet studies involving hundreds of thousands of people.In the proposed new healthy heart diet they have put rice,bread,sugar right on the top of pyramid-to be eaten moderately.And good oils have been put at the bottom of the pyramid.This radically changes the current thinking on diet.Here we give some foods that is considered to be a healthy heart diet and some to give a pass.We also address some controversial foods.
1. TEA- The recent study says that consumption of 1 to 2 cups of tea a day resulted in 46% decrease in the development of hardening of arteries and lowers the risk by 69% if taken 4 cups.Black tea is a healthy heart diet which contains fairly high levels of compound called flavanoids,a family of antioxidents known to protect against free radical damage in heart arteries.
2. NUTS-Nuts are also considered as a healthy heart diet although they have been much feared because of their fat content.The study involving some 90,000 women showed that women who ate an ounce of nuts atleast five times a week for 14 yrs lowered their risk of heart disease by 30%.Nuts are rich in fibre and monosaturated fats, knownto counteract heart disease.Nuts are also rich in various antioxidants.
3. Garlic/Onion-Heart healthy diet consist of eating garlic and onion daily.It helps in detrmining artery-clogging and even heal a damaged artery.Even quarcetin,an antioxidant found in onion has been found to be useful.Studies are showing that onions can increase good cholestrol.Eat them raw for best effect.
4.Red Wine-A recent study from the medical center in boston reported that people who drink alcohol thrice a week are less likely to develop heart disease than are nondrinkers.Red grapes may also do the trick for non-drinkers.
5.FISH-The study has proved that fish is also considered as a heart healthy diet and has been scientifically validated and accepted as part of mainstream medicine.However beware of contimination of fish-especially the predatory type.
6.Soy Protien-The Food and drug administration of US have concluded that 25gm of soy protien as a part of diet low in saturated fat and cholestrol can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.However,this should not be the main stay of your diet.
7.Chocolate- Chocolate helps your heart as well-the darker the better.Its flavanoids,a family of antioxidants,help the body resist cell damage from free radicals.Hence making it a heart healthy diet.
8. Honey-Drinking honey with water increases the antioxidants level in the blood.But,make sure it is pure and unadultereted.One of the easiest ways to make sure that honey is stored in glass bottles and not plastic containers as plastics are known to get etched with pure honey.
These are some of the heart healthy diet ,free of cholestrol.But you could lack choline which can give rise to liver damage if you stop eating high cholestrol food completely.Choline is a b-complex vitamin.found in foods such as eggs and liver.

A Move for every Mood--Workout for those moody blues.

2007-08-14T00:48:00.000-07:00

As urban life gets tougher,more competitive and increasingly stressful,finding a
few quick and easy exercises to elevate your mood is the call of the day.Here
are some fast mood-lifters;do them anytime,anywhere.They may look rather
cartoonlike,and so may you,but to your surprise you will find that they have an
instant reaction!And you need not haveto do any of them in public.You can do
the following once or more times,depending on how you are feeling.
VENT YOUR ANGER
The silent screamThis will help you releasing your anger via making the actions of a scream,a
silent one,and will give you a surprisingly instant fix.Open your mouth, take a
deep breath and let go with all you have,without making a sound.A Deep BreathWith your eyes open or shut.slowly take a deep breath and then release it just
as slowly,drawing your awareness towards the breath,imagining giving vent to
your anger when exhaling compard ti inhaling.
WORK YOUR DEPRESSION
CardioNeed a quick pick me up?Cardio exercise is a fabulous mood-lifter.Take a walk.You could team this with a strength exercises by carrying weights
while walking.After a few minutes of walking,break into a little jog.Go in for a session of aerobics.The music and the tempo helps a lot.Swim a few laps.The water will relax you and the exercise will help you get back
in good form.Take the stairs.Or skip rope.Go biking,but not on the streets.Cycle around in a par,beauty in nature is
always a mood booster.
Smile/LaughIf you are feeling a bit blue,force that smile or laugh and see how good you will
start to feel!
STRESS BUSTER MOVES
The Hair PullStress starts in the mind and accumulates all over.Run your hands to various
parts of your hair,clenching down and pulling upwards,slightly straining the
hair at the skull.Hold this position for a moment or two.Work through the entire
scalp in this way.
Forehead tappingUsing the pads of your fore and middle fingers((not the bony tips of the
nails),firmly tap away on your forehead,covering the entire surface area.Feel
the stress drain out of your face and skull like sand out of bag.
WAKE-UP CALL FOR BOREDOM
Upward StretchStretch upward and outward to shake yourself out of a spell of lethargy.If the
body feels awake and alive,so will the mind.
YawnIf you need a quick wake-up call,force a yawn and see how alert and alive you
immediately feel!Yawning is the body's natural way of bringing you back into focus.

WHAT VITAMINS HELP IN ACNE PROBLEMS AND TREATMENT

2007-08-14T00:09:00.001-07:00

Intaking vitamin supplements for getting rid of acne can really be effective.As vitamins give a boost to your immune system,thus fight with bacteria causing acne.Oral skin supplements promises to beautify your skin from within.Overtime, your skin quality will improve making it more beautiful,younger and blemish free.Specifically,while oral supplemnts are effective for skin health,what are these supplements and how effective are they?
The fact is most people are deficient in vitamins, minerals and herbs that are important for your body to function properly. Only 9 to 32 percent of Americans eat the recommended three to five servings of vegetables every day. Remember, your skin is the largest organ of your body. It requires proper nutrition to function properly. Just like every other part of your body.
The facts is that our body needs proper nutrition which is unable to get from our daily diets .Here are some vitamins and minerals which act as an antioxidants to fight from free radicals and results in acne free skin.Excessive doses can be just as harmful as deficiencies,so it is best to abide by recommended daily allowance.
VITAMIN A-- Vitamin A is critical for the normal life cycle of skin cells.Vitamin A deficiency causes skin to become dry ,fragile and prone to acne and blemishes.Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant needed to rid your body of toxins.On the other hand, excessive vitamin A intake can cause serious toxicity and should be avoided.Vitamin A is found in carrots, green vegetables, oranges and bananas.
VITAMIN B-complex--Vitamin B complex is found in sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and green peppers. Vitamin B also acts as an antioxidant. If the acne is caused by stress, Vitamin B can replace nutritional deficiencies caused by the stress and which may be contributing to the acne. Vitamin B5 is particularly beneficial.
Zinc--Zinc, especially in the form of zinc gluconate or zinc sulfate, can help prevent acne. Zinc helps heal blemishes, reduces inflammation, and reduces androgenic hormonal effects on the skin.
Vitamin E is excellent for speeding up the healing process, due to its antioxidant capacity. It also helps with the absorption of vitamin A.
VITAMIN C also helps in healing acne problems especially with bioflavanoids.It has got anti-inflammatory substance.Vitamin C and E and beta-carotene has been touted as anti oxidants that reduce free radicals.
These all vitamins and minerals will give your immune system a great boost and also helps in healing acne and blemishes.But getting them all seperately will affect your pocket and will be expensive ,so the best method is to take multi-vitamins to cover them all.What,s more ,there is nothing to lose and everything to gain since multi-vitamins are simpler to take and cheaper than taking individually.

Science in the Kitchen

2007-08-14T00:08:00.000-07:00

Which contains more Caffeine--Tea or Coffee?
Do tea or coffee have different effects or does the caffeine level depend on the type of tea or coffee?Tea does indeed contain more caffeine than coffee,but only by dry weight,not by its final concentration in the cup of tea that you drink. Because much more coffee powder than tea leaves are used to brew the respective drink,coffee typically ends up having a considerably higher caffeine concentration.he caffeine content of different varieties of coffee and tea plant can vary widely. The effect of equivalent amounts of caffeine is the same regardless of its source.As drunk in India,a cup of strong tea contains about the same amount of caffeine as a weak cup of instant coffee.Tea also contain small amount of theobromine and theophylline,which act like caffeine. But they have relatively weak stimulant effects.If you are regular caffeine consumer(three or more cups of tea or coffee a day),you will feel a noticeable benefit with the first cup of tea or coffee in the morning,mainly caused by removing the fatiguing effects of overnight caffeine withdrawl. In contrast,tea or coffee, consumed before bed time,has a lesser impact,because having consumed several cups during the day,the bed time cup of tea or coffee will tend only to maintain the body's level of caffeine.However,if the interval were long,it may keep you awake.
ONIONS THAT DONOT MAKE YOU WEEP
According to Dr Shinsuke Imai from chiba,Japan, and his colleagues,it may soon be possible to grow onions that taste as good as original,but do not make you shed tears while chopping them.They have identified the gene that is responsible for making the tear inducing chemical substance.It would not be difficult to make genetically modified(GM) onion varieties that lack the substance all together.Now they have shown that the chemical is made by separate enzymes altogether.So a GM onion,lacking the enzymes,would not irritate your eyes,but taste very similar to the original.
WHY DO ONIONS MAKE YOUR EYES WATER?
The strong smell of fresh onions comes from the sulphur-rich chemicals contained in them.Cutting or peeling the onion releases this chemical,which readily evaporates and soon reaches the eyes.This sulphurous and acidic chemical irritates the nerve endings in the conjuctiva,the transparent tissue that cover the eye and the underside of the eyelids. An instinctive reaction of the irritated nerves is to send signals which stimulate the tear glands in each eye to produce extra tear liquid which is mostly water.
However ,before the new onions appear in the market,try one of the following tips:--1.Wear swimming goggles
2.Slice the onion under water
3.Before slicing the onion,wash it and keep it wet
4.Wear contact lenses if you are using them
5.Breathe through your mouth.In order to ensure that you breathe through your mouth,hold a metal spoon lightly between your teeth.Holding the spoon upside down works best.
6.Hold a slice of lemon under lips while slicing
7.Hold a sugar cube between your teeth to absorb irritant
These will help you in keeping you away with those rolling tears without losing the tasty aroma

Growing with Menopause

2007-08-14T00:07:00.001-07:00

Menopause is a normal part of life.For most women,this process begins silently somewhere aroud age 40 when periods may start becoming less regular.Menopause basically symbolizes a time of change,when a women ceases tohave her menstrual cycle.Many womwn are beginning to have it earlier due to environmental changes such as genetically-modified food,which have impact upon hormonallevels.
WHAT CAUSES MENOPAUSE?
Declining levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone cause changes in your periods.Surgical removal of your uterus (hysterectomy) alo makes your periods stop and menopausal symptoms may start right away,no matter what your age.
WHY ARE THESE HORMONES REQUIRED IN THE BODY?
Estrogen and progesterone are necessary for normal menstrual cycles and for successful pregnancy.They also help in the development of breast and sexual organs.Estrogen also helps to keep bones healthy.It helps women keep good cholestrol levels in their blood.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF MENOPAUSE?
Changing hormonal levels can cause a variety of symptoms that may last from a few months to few years longer:
1.Irregularity in periods:Periods may become less regular or lighter than normal.Others have a heavier flow and may bleed a lot for many days.
2.Hot flushes:A hot flush is a sudden feeling of heat in the upper part or all of your body lasting between 30 seconds and 5 minutes.
3.Vagina and bladder problems:The genital area can get drier and thinner and make sexual intercourse painful.Vaginal infection can become more common.
4.Sex:In many women the sex drive is lowered .
5.Sleep problems:Women may suffer difficulty i sleeping and disturbed sleep.
6.Mood swings:There may be a relationship between changes in estrogen levels and a woman's mood, thus resulting in mood swings.At one time you would be happy and on other ,annoyed .
7.Heart and bone diseases:As estrogen is responsible for keeping women's bone healthy ,thus a deficiency may lead to osteoporosis.Estrogen is also responsible for keeping cholestrol level under control.During menopause,cholestrol level go up and put women at risk of heart disease.
WHAT IS HORMONE REPLACEMENT?
Your doctor may suggest taking estrogen and progesterone,known as homone replacement therapy or HRT.It involves taking estrogen and progestin.
WHAT ABOUT PHYTOESTROGENS?
An increasing number of women are adopting alternatives to HRT.Phytoestrogens are estrogens-like substances derived from plants,and are structurally similar to estrogens.They are found in cereals, vegetables,legumes(beans),and some herbs.Soy,wild yams and herbs such as black cohosh,asparagus racemosus and dong quai,contain phytoestrogens and may relieve some symptoms of menopause.
Women in some countries such as japan,appear to experience fewer symptoms of menopause than women in western countries because their diet contains more phytoestrogens.phytoestrogens also offer long term benefits such as lowering risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.Along with phytoestrogens,calcium and magnesium supplements are also recommended.
However,special precaution are to be taken if you have been operated for breast cancer and is on chemotherapy.
HERBS RICH IN PHYTOESTROGENS:
1.Ashoka(Saraca indica) and Shatavari(Asparagus racemosus):Both the herbs provide rich source of plant estrgens,which helps regulate the hormonal imbalance and thus helps in relieving symptoms of menopause.2.Yashtimadhu(Glycrrhiza glabra):It is a natural source of estrogen with antioxidant,analgesic property to relieve frequent urination and prevent vaginal dryness.3.Bala(Sida cordifolia):It also possesses analgesic property and thus relieving from frequent urination.4.Mandukaparni(Centella asiatica):It is helpful in calming the mind and reducing symptom of anxiety during menopause.
STAYING HEALTHY EVEN DURING MENOPAUSE
To stay healthy you can make some lifestyle changes:- Don't smoke.- Eat a healthy diet that is low in fat and cholestrol,high in fibre and include fruits ,vegetables and wholegrain foods.- Lose weight,if you are over-weight.- Take part in weight bearing exercises such as walking,jogging,running or dancing,atleast thrice a week.- If you frequently feel an urgent need to urinate,ask your doctor about tecnique such as pelvic exercises,biofeedback and bladder training that can help you improve muscle control.- Get regular pelvic and breast exams,pap tests,and mammograms.
Eventually it is always you who can help yourself,your will power and positive attitude to keep you remain healthy during this phase of your life.

Growing with Menopause

2007-08-14T00:07:00.000-07:00

Female hair loss--How to control and maintain healthy hair

2007-08-14T00:06:00.000-07:00

While women worry about losing their figures,some worry about losing their hair.Although hairloss is more common in men,it can affect women with genetic tendency towards this problem.It is caused by effects of Androgens(male hormones which women also have, but at very low level).These hormones restricts the growth of the hair which results in a characteristic thinning on the front and top of the scalp.
The hair become finer and do not grow as long as they should,and the scalp eventually becomes a little more visible.This form of hairloss affects 10% of all women aged 18-40, 25% by the age of 50, and staggeringly high 60% by 70 years of age.
A growing number of women in stressful jobs suffer from hair loss.Modern life and high stress levels associated with fast moving life styles can have a truly dramatic effect upon hair.Considerable stress can also be placed on a mother by the often formidable demands of her family.
Many parts of the body can suffer the effects of stress,but it shows very quickly in the hair because the lifecycle of the hair is interrupted,causing it to fall out prematurely.By the time one particular hair is replaced another two have fallen out,so the overall effect can be significant thinning of the hair.
In addition,another crucial factor is to take action quickly.
Natural hair loss solutions — the Women to Women approach
If your hair loss is mild to moderate, the most important thing to do is weigh the immediate stressors in your life against how much support you’re giving your body. Start with an honest inventory of your healthy and not-so-healthy habits. Then take some steps toward shifting the balance to the support side. Here’s what we recommend:DIET- Your hair is nourished by your bloodstream and lack of nutrition will result in dull and lifeless looking hair.Nourish your hair with hair foods such as palak,paneer and milk as they are great for your hair.Any diet rich in protien will also help in decreasing hair loss problem.Eliminate dietary causes of hair loss. Eat a balanced diet comprised of whole, protein-rich foods — the more organic the better. Avoid or limit refined sugar and other simple carbohydrates to ameliorate insulin sensitivity. Read about our nutritional and lifestyle guidelines. Address vitamin deficiency hair loss. Take a rich multivitamin daily that includes hair-healthy vitamins such as B, C and E. Other important nutrients are calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and iron. A fish oil supplement containing vitamin D and essential fatty acids will help boost immunity and soothe inflammation. Consider herbal supplements. Kelp–derived supplements add iodine to the diet, which assists in the manufacture of thyroid hormones. Ginkgo biloba increases blood flow to the scalp (without androgens). Scalp massage and acupuncture can be helpful in stimulating blood flow to the scalp and supporting normal follicle function. Balance your hormones. If you are premenopausal, consider using a natural USP progesterone cream to naturally rebalance your hormones. Natural progesterone is safe for use for one year post-menopause too (there’s no evidence that further use after menopause is unsafe, but out of an abundance of caution, we don’t recommend it). Examine your emotional health and your relationship with anger. Rage may be associated with higher levels of testosterone. Finding healthy ways to express yourself and your anger can go a long way toward reducing stress. If you are under severe psychological stress, your hair loss should improve a few months after the stress is relieved. See your health care provider. If your hair loss does not improve with these measures after six months, talk to your practitioner. He or she may recommend undergoing the tests I outlined above. Ask to see the results and where they fall in the range of normal. The closer to the midline the better. If you notice any irregularities, talk to your practitioner about targeted supplements or treatment targeted toward hair growth.

DETOXIFY--THE BASIC OF A DETOX DIET

2007-08-14T00:05:00.000-07:00

Do you often feel sluggish,lethargic,bloated or suffer indigestion after eating?Are bad breath and irregular bowel movement common occurences?If you awnsered positive to these questions, its probably time to detoxify.Detoxification neutralises and eliminates any bodily toxin- compounds that harm the structure or function of body cells and tissues.Also,"detox" gives the body time to rest ,cleanse, and recharge itself.Although the body is capable of detoxifying on its own,through defecation and urination,detox advocate points out that modern lifestyles have piled on toxins faster than our bodies are able to remove them.A detox will improve your well bieng in the short term but,if you adopt its lessons of clean living,it could do wonders on your long term health and fitness too.Aproper detox diet doesn't just help the body speed up its waste disposable capabilities , it also provides all the vitamins and nutrients the body needs to repair and strengthen itself.If you put the right fuel in your car,it works perfectly.If you put in diesel by mistake,it stops.The same goes for your body.Feed it exactly what it needs and it will do its absolute best by you.
DETOX STRATEGYExperts concur that there are three methods of detox fasting--juice fast, water fast, and dry fast.A juice fast refers to a diet of fruit and vegetable juices;a water fast simply means all you ingest is water;while a dry fast means abstinence from food and water and is the most severe.Of the three,juice fast is more suitable for the people to start with as our degenerated system will be unable to endure just water,let alone no food and water.
Experts also encourage abstinence from cooked foods during detox,as more more vitamins and minerals will be retained when foods are eaten raw.A juice fast can also be fortified with supplements like whole plants extracts of spirulina,brussels sprouts,chlorella and broccoli.However due to the average person's dependence on carbohydrate-and protien rich meals ,it is necessary to detox in stages.He must be slowly weaned off carbohydrates and protiens .while the intake of juices is slowly increased.
Detoxing atleast 3 to 4 times a year ,with each round of detoxing lasting ideally 3 weeks to allow the digestive system ample time to rest is recommended.Durin detox, it is advisable to limit exercises.And instead of gorging on rich and unhealthy foods all year then embarking on an intensive detox programme for a few weeks,it is much better to adopt a regular,controlled cleansing diet.
Eat plenty of fibres everyday,which can be derived fron foods like beetroot,brownrice,cabbage,broccoli and organically-grown fresh fruits.The necessity of detoxing strikes home when experts liken detoxing to maintaining toilet sanitation- despite flushing toilet everyday,you still need to clean the toilet thoroughly every so often.If not it will clogged.Its exactly the same with digestive system. Initially you may find that detox diet makes you feel worse! Those who drink lot of tea and cofee may experience mild headaches over the first day or two without it.You may also feel quite tired as your bodyhas become so dependent on artficial stimulants,but this will pass quickly too.Other early sympyoms include a coated toungue and bad breath which will be short livedIn the even longer term it helps in losing weight.
It's exciting, it's a journey.So make plans

How to fight Depression

2007-08-14T00:04:00.000-07:00

Depression is a stress-related mental illness.It is more common in women than men.Study shows that one in six women and one in nine men suffers from depression.Lack of purpose in anybody's life may lead to depression and if not cured instantly,may furthur force a person to commit suicide.
Depression doesn't always have a particular cause and can strike suddenly.Depression and stress go hand in hand or one may call depression as an advance version of stress.
Depression cures-you are your own helper.Here are few tips for depression cures :-
1.Get yourself occupied in doing things you have always cherished.keep yourself busy in doing motivational activities.Doing inspirational things helps in beating depression. Listening to soothing music,taking hot shower bath,reading motivational books,,take a long walk..etc. are some of the instances of depression cures .
2.Regular exercise can help in relieving you from depression.Exercises releases endorphins which is known as a happy element and help you by giving a natural boost.yoga and meditation can do wonders and has been proven since long.Meditation needs lots of concentration which really helps in curing stress and depression.
3.It is said that "Man is a social animal" and socialising plays a pivotal role in curing depression .So go ahead and meet people you know or start making new friends.chat with them on topics which make you laugh.Establish close ties with family and friends.A group support will tremendouly boost your immune system.
4. Getting lots of sunshine around you and keeping your room always bright is one of the depression cures element.Lack of exposure to sunlight is responsible for the secretion of the hormone melatonin, which could trigger a dispirited mood and a lethargic condition.Melatonin is only produced in the dark. It lowers the body temperature and makes you feel sluggish.
5.Depression cures also involves less intake of fatty foods,sugar,caffeine etc.Sugar and coffee may increase your energy initially but later on they will turn into a depressant and make yourself feel lethargic.Similarly, alcohol will also help in forgetting your problems primarily but eventually it will aggravate the situation.
6.Last but not the least,don't underestimate yourself in front of anybody.No man is perfect and commiting mistake is human tendency ,so you are not exceptional.Never use phrase like i m good for nothing or i am useless ..as they lower down your confidence and morale.Keeping a positive attitude towards life is what needed in depression cures .
Trust me these tips really works .Just give them a try to lead a confident and motivational life.As i have mentioned earlier that you are your own helper..So adopt these depression cures and beat depression and stress.

ACNE HOME REMEDIES

2007-08-13T23:57:00.000-07:00

A tremendous range of cosmetics are available in the market today. In the past, women made good use of all kinds of everyday items like fruit, vegetables, nuts, cereals in caring for their beauty. These days even in the most beauty conscious European countries there is a definite tendency towards herbal and natural therapies. Your kitchen larder is the storehouse of beauty aids. You just have to follow a few recopies, pick the ingredients, mix them and you will soon have a beauty lotions and cream.
Skin blemishes come into the blackheads, open pores, spots and acne categories and are mostly combined with the excessively oily skin. Causes can be numerous and among them are over active glands due to puberty, a poor diet, emotional disturbances and a lack of sleep.
If one looks out for the treatments available for acne today, one would be astounded by the available range to choose from. However, there is a great range of products that could help you, but at the same time, they could be quite heavy on your pocket as well. Besides, some of these products might come with side effects. The way out, therefore, are alternative home remedies, which are inexpensive and very safe. Here are some of the home made recopies which can help in healing acne but don't expect an overnight success as these remedies takes time and is having no side effects:-
1. Make a paste of 1 teaspoon pure sulphur powder, 2 tablespoon fuller's earth and 1 egg white. Use this mask everyday to cure acne. Some people are allergic to sulphur, so a skin test behind the ear should be conducted before use.2. Mash and sieve the onion, and mix onion juice with a paste of 1 tablespoon of fuller's earth and 1 teaspoon of honey. It is good to prevent blemishes.3. Milk mask is one of the cheapest masks. Damp some cotton wool with milk and rub it on face. It helps in getting acne free skin and enhances the complexion.4. Mixture of neem leaves with turmeric has been effective in many cases of acne removal.5. Make a paste of orange peel and water. Apply it on the affected area.6. Mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and cinnamon powder and apply on the affected area.7. Drink at least four cups of nettle tea in a day.8. Mix 8 ounce of water and 11 drops of propolis extract. Apply it on the face.9. Intake of aloe Vera juice is always helpful.10. Mix 1 tablespoon potato juice in fuller's earth and apply it on the face for blemish free skin11. Soap your face well, adding a small handful of sugar to lather. Massage this in for couple of minutes, then rinse of with warm water. This scrub is useful for acne and spotty skin.12. Use an oatmeal or almond mask- Mix oatmeal or almond powder with rosewater to make a paste. Apply on the face with special emphasis on the affected area. Leave for 15 minutes. Wash it away with cold water.13. Make a paste of mint leaves and applies it on acne .As mint has cooling nature; it will help to heal acne.14.Neem is known as an antiseptic herb and applying neem to the acne can cure it in few days. Steaming is beneficial for cleaning all types of skin. It cleans the skin all surface dirt, stimulates the circulation and unclog blocked pores. The steam will open the pores and loosen blackheads. To make steaming more beneficial add a tablespoon of herb to the water such as elderflower, camomile, thyme, lavender and rosemary.
These are few homemade recipes which can really do wonders on skin. These all can whip up the circulation by freshening the skin and leave it soft and glowing.Camphor, sulphur, onion, garlic, curds, yeast, fuller, earth, herbs and vegetable juices are useful in treating a blemished pimply skin.So let’s enter into the world of clean, beautiful and youth skin.

HOW TO GET RID OF ACNE

2007-08-13T23:46:00.000-07:00

Just as our eyes are said be the windows to our souls,our skin can be considered the reflection of our inner health.Our skin is a mirror of what 's going on below the surface.To have clear,radiant and glowing skin on the outside,you have to start by cleansing the body from inside.Acne is believed to be due to hormonal imbalance in the body.This usually leads to overactivity of the sebeceous glands,blocked pores and inflammation.Whilst treating the skin externally may temporarily reduce the symptoms ,the problems may be driven deeper if we do not treat its roof.For our skin to be healthy and clear, it is important to keep the detoxification and elimination system running smoothly for this is how the body eliminates toxins and impurities.To enjoy healthy and clear skin,add these herbs into your daily supplementations:BURDOCK(arctium lappa)ECHINACEA(echinacea purpurea)SARSAPARILLA(smilax officinalis)CELANDINE(chelidonium majus)MARIGOLD(calendula officinalis)REDCLOVER(trifolium pretense)These all herbs helps to cleanse the skin from inside,promoting smooth supple skin that indicates good health and well bieng.They are useful in management of acne,boils,skin blemishes and other skin problems.
Now shifting to the other ways to get rid of acnes ,the method includes natural,home remedies,through allopathy and alternative therapy such as homeopathy,acupuncture,naturopathy etc.
Natural method consist of taking utter care of sanitation habits.In the evening remove all traces of makeup with a cleansing cream.Use a mild skin tonic.The tonic will improve the circulation and texture of the skin.Remember to wash your face everynight and cleaning the clog pores will help skin to breathe properly.Furthur applying a moisturiser consisting essence of aloevera or treetea oil will help skin to fight with acne producing bacterias.
Diet is also of vital importance and no skin can be healthy without proper nutrition.Try to avoid too much of carbohydrate ,sugar,fried and greasy foods,cakes and alcohol which can cause blemishes and blotchiness on skin's surface.Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.The skin needs vitamins.VitaminA aids circulation and a lack of it shows in drying,scaliness and a weakness of the epidermis.VitaminB is recommended by many dieticians to clear the skin spots .VitaminC is necessary to purify and vitalize the blood stream.VitaminE makes the skin look more youthful.Drinking sufficient water(atleast 8 glasses a day) improves the complexion and also helps in getting rid of acne.
Homemade remedies can also do wonders on the skin making it more clear and radiant.They are inexpensive and serve the purpose also and easily available in the house.Though they take long in serving the purpose yet they are very popular.Various oils also helps in curing acne such as rose hip seed oil, lavender, sandalwood and primrose oil. Some homemade recipies are:- Applying eggwhite can cure acne and even helps in tightening the skin-Everynight just apply lotion made of glycerine,rosewater and lemon juice.It can also helps in elimination of acne and improving the complexion.-Applying the paste of mint leaves is also helpful.-Ice, the most inexpensive treatment, is also there to cure the irritation of acne. -Toothpaste, which can be found in almost every home, is also considered a good home cure for acne problem. One can apply it on the affected area and then leave it overnight, and in the morning you might get up without the pimple. To avoid red spots on your skin, avoid popping or squeezing the pimples, as it helps in spreading the bacteria, which makes the breakout even more prominent and look bad on your skin. So get rid of these pimples through proper treatment.
If the situation still aggrevates then consult the dermatologist and also can start the allopathic treatment of taking antibiotics,applying steriods etc.

Tips to control acne

2007-08-13T23:41:00.000-07:00

The skin is the largest organ in human body,composed of cells which keep dying and bieng renewed all the time.The skin is one of the greatest indicator of good or bad health.We often face different types of problem related with skin and one of those is ACNE.
Acne makes people look ugly.unattractive and mainly steals their confidence and can even lead aperson to under deep depression.There are many cure for acne like natural,herbal,through medication,proper diet,surgery etc.
Cure for acne in a natural ways incude proper sanitation habits.Washing face everynight and cleaning the clog pores to have a clear complexion.After washing apply an effective night cream having element like tea tree oil or aloe vera which helps in fighting bacteria causing acne.This is usually a free cure for acne which help the skin to breath smoothly at night.
Cure for acne in herbal way includes using home made remedies .This treatment can be adopted by those who are suffering from mild acnes.For them it is not advisable to take heavy antibiotics.Many herbs are there for the cure of acne such as basil,mint,neem etc.Many different homemade acne treatments are used by individuals for a deeper cleansing of the skin when breakouts are common. Creating a face cleanser or mask from the combination of egg whites and lemon juice can be helpful. The mask can be left on the face for 20 minutes, and then cleansed with warm water. This can be a good way for the cure for acne.Various kinds of aromatic oils also there in the market to clear acne problems.
Taking proper diet also is one of the cure for acne.Eliminating certain foods and taking certain ,can help in dealing with the problem.Diets to clear acne are rich in dairy products and whole grains. Those items that are processed are named as the main culprits. Foods that cause acne are not among the vegetable and red meat categories that offer diets to clear it.Diets involving in cure for acne are proven in scientific studies to significantly reduce or eliminate it in people who consume these foods. Items to clear the problem are vegetables, lean meats, fish and fruits. These have all been confirmed to be successful. Natural rather than a refined diet provides the body and skin with the necessary nutrients it needs to support healthy pores and skin.At least eight to ten 8oz. glasses of water is recommended in order to provide proper hydration as well as detoxification to the skin and pores. Another helpful addition helping to clear the problem is the adding of zinc to a daily diet.
There are various circumstances when acnes occur such as pregnancy,age factor, menopause etc and all this is the result of hormonal imbalance ,so under this circumstances one must consult a dermatologist.
Alternative therapy -Cure for acne also includes following method as homeopathy,acupuncture,healing through ayurvedh ,yoga and meditation..But all this method should be adopted in extreme cases.