Almost every religion in the world recommends fasting. In the Hindu religion fasting is a means of controlling your temptations and spending time in remembering God. Other religions state similar objectives, when they recommend fasting. This is the religious significance. But, does fasting have health benefits too? Read on to find out. Short fasts as they are called, have a lot of benefits than you can imagine. Lasting for 20 - 36 hours, these fasts can reduce risks of heart diseases, diabetes and even some cancers. However, fasting is not for all the people. If you are on medication, you must consult your doctor before you decide to starve yourself. Short fasts are known to improve your body’s sensitivity. How is that a good thing? When your body’s sensitivity to things like insulin increases, it becomes easier for your body to maintain blood sugar levels after a meal. If all the above benefits of fasting have failed to impress you, let me tell you something that will surely motivate you to fast. Fasting contributes to weight loss. Yes, its true. Fasting does help you get rid of excess fat. It is a belief that when people break their fast, they tend to eat more than usual and therefore there is no weight loss. Research rejects this belief and proves that, no matter how much eat in the post fast period, you can’t make up for the burnt calories. Fasting is also known to delay aging. Staying young is not difficult anymore. So now we know that fasting is not only a religious observation but, an exercise to make your body healthy. Kruti Beesam

    Recent studies have shown that those who drink diet beverages tend to snack which in turn gain more weight because of the calorie intake than those who drink beverages laced with sugar. These so called Diet beverages which target those who are conscious of weight gain but studies into how these beverages affect weight control have contradictory results.   To gain a better understanding of the relationship between diet beverage consumption and caloric intake, a research team led by Dr. Sara N. Bleich at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health examined patterns of food and beverage consumption. They used data collected between 1999 and 2010 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a periodic survey of the health and habits of the U.S. population by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The analysis was funded by NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The researchers studied almost 24,000 adults, age 20 and older, who reported all the food and beverages they had consumed in a previous 24-hour period. Results appeared online in the American Journal of Public Health on January 16, 2014. The team found that 11% of healthy-weight, 19% of overweight, and 22% of obese adults drank diet beverages. Diet drinks appeared to help healthy-weight adults maintain their weight. These adults consumed less food and significantly fewer total calories on a typical day than did healthy-weight adults who drank sugared drinks. Notably, obese adults who consumed diet drinks ate significantly more snacks than those who had sugared drinks. Those who drank diet beverages consumed 131 calories per day in salty snacks and 243 in sweet snacks, compared to 107 and 213, respectively, for obese adults who drank sugared drinks. “The results of our study suggest that overweight and obese adults looking to lose or maintain their weight—who have already made the switch from sugary to diet beverages—may need to look carefully at other components of their solid-food diet, particularly sweet snacks, to potentially identify areas for modification,” Bleich says. Source: http://www.nih.gov/

  Cucumber is a prominent member of the gourd family. Gourds have been a major part of the home cuisine from time immemorial these are merely consumed because of the low price tag but the least known fact is that they are also nutritionally very rich. Here is why you should grab some cucumber slices onto your platter: They play a prime role in reducing joint pains and eventually subside arthritis and gout too! Is your Lipid profile scaring you of elevated cholesterol? Include cucumber to your diet to maintain it just right It also aids in weight-loss, when you consume this watery veggie you tend to feel full because of its fiber and water content and thus eat less of the weight putting on food! It helps in keeping constipation at bay! All credits to its fiber which promotes digestion and proper bowel movements Cucumber boosts of some special ingredients which curtail the head-banging headaches! Want silky and shining hair? Make sure to include cucumber in your diet plans! Cucumber also fights off Diabetes and Cancer, two of the most dreaded diseases of our times! Its consumption also maintains the blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart diseases Cucumbers are foods that are vital for remineralizing and rehydrating your body! These are perfect after workout foods! Well, Cumber can be consumed at your will! No limitation applied! Gourds are indeed Guards!! Make it point to chew on this Cool Gourd!

  Our bones usually remain strong through-out our adulthood. Theybegan to thin out once we pass the 30s! In women it is accelerated post-menopause. This is though inevitable, but we can at the least decelerate the pace at which our bones become weak! Calcium is utmost needed for strong bones. afults upto an age of 50 require 1000 milligrams of the mineral, from 51 years onwards 1200 illigrams are to be consumed. when compared to men, women requie a tad more quantity the mineral. Milk being the richest and easily available source. So, make it a point to gulp down a cup of milk be it be low-fat, skim, or whole. If milk does not fit well into your diet, then replace it with yogaurt or cheese, both are excellent options even for lactose-intolerants! Apart from, milk and dairy products, sardines are also great source of calcium, these little fish have all that is required for the replenishment of the bone mass. Green veggies  too have abundance of this bone strengthening mineral. The best way to get our nutrients through food. but if calcium abtained from food is not enough, supplements can fill the gap! These supplement tabs can be taken anytime! And most importantly, the usage of ctable salt should be minimzed, as it prevents the body from absorbing calcium from the food intake. Vitamin D is yet another agent that holds the bones intact! Salmon and other fatty fish have this bone-boosting nutrient. Sunshine is responsible for the production of vitamin D in our bodies on exposure to sunlight! Take Care!! Stay Healthy!!  

        Free Your Mind with Meditation : Watch Yoga expert Dr C.V. Rao talk about what is Dhyanam ( Meditation) ? Who can do it and what are the benefits of Meditation on the Mind. Practicing Dhyanam helps in focus and concentrate on any specific thought or action.If the practice of Meditation/Dhyanam is incorporated in your life , you can deal with everyday stress and other issues and free your mind and lead a healthy life.  

  Good news for those suffering with baldness and hair loss ! Researchers at Columbia University Medical Centre (CUMC) have identified the immune cells responsible for destroying hair follicles in people with alopecia areata, a common autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. In a breakthrough, apparently the scientists discovered a cure for baldness after they found a drug which restored the hair of three patients within five months.Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disease that causes disfiguring hair loss. The disease can occur at any age and affects men and women equally. They report initial results from an ongoing clinical trial of an FDA-approved drug, which has produced complete hair re growth in several patients with moderate-to-severe alopecia areata. Three of the participants experienced total hair regrowth within five months of the start of treatment. In the current research, the team first studied mice with the disease, then tracked backward from the danger signal to identify the specific set of T cells responsible for attacking the hair follicles. In mice with extensive hair loss from the disease, both drugs completely restored the animals' hair within 12 weeks. Each drug's effect was also long-lasting, as the new hair persisted for several months after stopping treatment. "We've only begun testing the drug in patients, but if the drug continues to be successful and safe, it will have a dramatic positive impact on the lives of people with this disease," said Raphael Clynes, who led the research, along with Angela M Christiano, professor in the Departments of Dermatology and of Genetics and Development at CUMC.

  We daily take 3 to 5 pounds of food which provides nearly 10,000 calories if fast foods else it provides nearly 1000 calories if they are the combination of veggies, fruits and nuts. Now the biggest question is where are those calories being distributed, Here is the list.. PUMP IT UP . we give 7 calories  for heart to keep it beating . CLEAN MASTER.  we give 5 calories for kidneys to keep our blood away from waste. BREAKING DOWN.  We give 10 calories for stomach and are used to digest the food. BE BRAINY. 13 calories for healthy neural function. LIVELY LIVER.  20 Calories go to our liver for Detoxification and protein synthesis. KEEP MOVING.  33 Calories are used by our muscles to bend , flex, Boogie. ALL OTHER ORGANS.  12 Calories go to rest of our body  parts. So people, eat healthy and stay fit.   

    Are you tired of finding excuses to skip your workouts?? Either you are too lazy to move out for your warm and cozy home sweet home to sweat out  Or are you too tired to drive and hand-over yourself to your ruthless trainer! Any day dancing at your will to your favorite tracks can be a reliable savior! Dance is a form of emotional expression, social interaction, exercise or to attain spiritual calmness. Dancing need not be professional; it can be freestyle or hooligan-style unless you don’t harm others or yourself! While dancing, make sure you shake and stretch every muscle. Dancing is not a complete substitute of your workouts. When compared to workouts, dancing does not aim to tone up certain targeted areas. Dance is generally regarded as aerobic exercise which reduces the risks of cardiovascular diseases, weight control and other diseases related to physical fitness. Psychological well-being is also noted in people who enjoy grooving to tunes!! Dancing at your will is a great stress-buster; it makes you feel much better than your workouts at gym as you are not forced to dance! Strathclyde University inferred from their findings that even in old and middle-aged women who were dancers were more agile and have stronger legs than women of same age who indulged in exercises like swimming, walking or any other form of physical exercises. Dancing for 15 minutes is equivalent to 10 minutes of workout for average-built people. Dancing is also a Therapy besides being a Pastime!!

    We all know that Holy Basil or the Tulsi as it is commonly known in Indian households is an integral part of the Hindu household. Popularly known in the western world as Holy Basil, where it is used in salads and Italian cusines and the Latin name is Ocimum tenuiflorum or Ocimum sanctum. Medicinal Value Tulsi is widely used in Ayurveda for medicinal purposes. Eugenol which is found in the plant is believed to be the main element responsible for the medicinal properties of the Holy basil. The plant has also been found to have antimicrobial properties, because of  the ursolic acid and carvacrol constituents found in it. The tulsi/basil plant is used to cure most the common diseases, has anti-aging benefits as well as being useful for diabetics and people with heart disorders, cleans the skin when the juice is applied on the face.  For Respiratory problems The leaves of the tulsi are effective expectorants and promote the release of mucus in bronchitis and asthma, thus, facilitating breathing. A decoction made of tulsi leaves, honey and ginger is effective for asthma, bronchitis and influenza. Immune-enhancing Along with antimicrobial properties, the phytochemicals present in tulsi offer antioxidant as well as immune-enhancing qualities. It also has adaptogenic properties, which enhances the body's ability to adapt to stress. If you have a garden, grow the plant in a single line closely in front of the door or if you have French Windows you could grow it near them.  The idea is  to grow them like a hedge and get as much benefit of the plant. It Is believed that air around the house gets purified because of  the phytochemicals present in tulsi/amla. If you live in an apartment you can always grow the Holy basil in a small pot as well and purify the air in your balcony. If you are living in cold countries where there is no sunlight throughout the year and it is not possible to grow the plant, you could buy a  bottle of basil/ tulsi juice or oil or dried tulsi/basil powder and keep it  in your home. You can banish the common cold and cough and is a wonderful medicine for children too .You could add a spoon of honey to the juice and give it to the children. It also makes a great mosquito repellant and keeps them away from you when you rub the tulsi/basil oil. So try and make this wonderful plant an integral part of your home!  

  We are all aware of the fact that the food that is popular among the population today, does not make any positive contribution to our health. So its time we give up our present food habits and turn towards a balanced diet. When I say balanced diet I mean, a meal consisting of fruits, vegetables, protein and dairy products. We have only read about this for a science exam in school. Its time we put that lesson to practice. This article will describe to you why each of the above mentioned things are essential and you decide whether to accept or reject my suggestion. Fruits and vegetables will give you those vitamins and nutrients that are exclusively available through them. They are low in fat content and high in water so you don't have to worry about adding to your calories. The next thing that must be on your plate is a good source of protein. The main function of proteins is to repair and help in the growth of your hair and nails along with helping in healing of wounds. So if you want lovely hair and quickly healing wounds, protein is a must! There is nothing new I can say about the importance of dairy products. Its known to all that they are the richest sources of calcium. So if you dont want a calcium deficiency, make sure you get at least 200ml of milk everyday. What are you waiting for? Start a healthy life today! -Kruti Beesam  

    Alternate healing methods for chronic pains and diseases are often considered as they provide treatment for various health issues. One such chronic problem which both men and women face are Varicose veins .This a condition where a person has dilated, tortuous and elongated veins, especially on the legs. The causes of varicose veins are mainly due to standing for long hours at work, genetic tendency, during pregnancy and due to obesity. Now there are various treatments for varicose veins. Through non-medical treatment where postural corrections and lifestyle changes are recommended, wearing suitable stockings to hold the legs and if the problem is too severe surgical treatment is also prescribed but in rare cases. Since the pain is persistent and takes time to cure, one could try Homeopathic treatment. This works very well for those who have mild to moderate cases of varicose veins.  It significantly helps to reduce pain and controls more varicosity and reduces swelling in the legs. Homeopathy is known to also help significantly in the cases where varicose leads to varicose ulcers. It is strongly recommended for all cases of varicose veins and though the dosage prescribed may be for two or three months they work well and show good results.

    Pneumonia is the inflammatory disease of the structural unit of lung called alveoli – the microscopic air sacs. Every year about 7% of the world population is victimized by pneumonia and about 1% of the victims end up dying. Previously pneumonia was considered as the captain of mans death, but with the advent of drug and vaccines its killing spree is under-control. The main causes of pneumonia are bacteria and viruses, certain other microbes, certain drugs and autoimmunicity too cause pneumonia. It is mainly targeted to the geriatric and pediatric groups, nevertheless the chronically ill patients succumb to death because of pneumonia. Though, pneumonia is a respiratory disorder, its symptoms are wide spread in other system too. The most common symptom is the cough, it is productive and occasionally blood stains are also seen in the sputum. Other symptoms include: High fever accompanied by shaking chills, shortness of breath after mild exercise or during sleep, stabbing pain during deep respiration, frequent headache, nausea, abrupt mood swings, low blood pressure with high heart rate, vomiting, muscular aches, fatigue and joint pains. The most striking and prominent symptom is the blue-tinged skin! The preventive measures include the vaccination and environmental measures. There isn’t a specific vaccination. But the vaccines affective in shielding against pneumonia are: Influenza vaccines, pertussis, varicella and measeles. The environmental measure would be smoking cessation and air pollution control. The management of pneumonia is by the simple antibiotics, rest and analgesics. Take Care!! .....SIRI

  we know, many woman have great love towards High heels. few wear it for fashion, few to look tall if they are short. reasons might be many, but the effects caused who wear them will be same. here is a  warning for all High heel lovers.wearing high heels could alter the position and function of a woman's foot. high heels squeeze the toes causing capsulitis, a painful inflammation of the joints where the toes attach to the foot, Also, frequently wearing high heels can lead to the condition called Achilles tendonitis, which is caused by extra stretching of the Achilles tendon when you kick off your shoes and the heel comes down to the floor at the end of the day. health comes first than fashion. Right! So Flats are the best suggestion for women. Take care.  

      There are certain sayings which have been passed on from generation to generation. These were certain rules which were ought to be followed, so our forefathers attached a panic to these rules. So, that we would stick to it! And inculcate good habits. If you go out with wet hair you will catch cold! Certainly you will feel cold but health-wise you will be fine. A study carried out by Californian scientists revealed that wet hair has no relation with you catching cold. Moreover they stated that feeling cold does not affect your immune system for you to catch cold! Gum stays in your Stomach for Seven years! It was said so that the high school kids would get rid of their habit of constantly chewing the gum. Yes, it is true that it hard to digest this piece of candy. Doctors point out that, similar to other non-food objects that the kids swallow take a tour of the intestinal tract and are finally kick out through stools. Gums may be hard to digest but they do not cause any kind of stomachaches and fuss! You should not swim for an hour after eating! It is said so because after we eat the blood circulation to our muscles and limb is reduced and pumped in for digestive system, so if swim or exercise vigorously after a meal we might not have adequate blood supply to the muscles and end up drowning because of cramps. But the fact is that, our ability to exercise reduces significantly but it does not inhibit us from swimming. Drinking warm milk makes you fall asleep! Well, this is partly true; milk has the amino acid – tryptophan which induces the production of sleep-hormone, thus inducing sleep, though there is not enough tryptophan to induce sleep in our daily servings. But many oppose this interpretation, they say that warmth of the milk relaxes or a feeling full stomach make you feel drowsy. Take Care!! .......SIRI

  According to The World Health Organization, depression will be second most prevalent cause of illness induced disability by 2020.Depression is a mental disorder which is characterized by a persistent low mood accompanied with low esteem and by a loss of interest and pleasure. When are you vulnerable?? • The hormone estrogen has been implicated in depressive disorders due to the increase in risk of depressive episodes after puberty, the antenatal period, and reduced rates after menopause. • The decreased amount of monoamines such as neurotransmitter • Aspects of personality and its development appear to be integral for the occurrence and persistence of depression, with negative emotionality as a common precursor for depression • Poverty, social isolation and abuse increase the risks of mental health problems • Alcoholism and Drug use cause the depress central nervous system The best therapies include: Art therapy, Playing outdoors, Yoga, Meditation, Playing with a Pet, Talk Therapy, Massage, Exercise, Adequate Sleep To some extent, Caffeine, Fish Oil and Alcohol also help! While some psychologist consider it to have evolutionary purposes. They say that it enhances the mental skills. Sadness focuses the brain‘s attention and make us better equipped to make good decisions How to prevent Depression from hacking you?? • Be happy, Take time to focus on things which you love, to meditate is to turn on the Pleasure state! • Be in Nature, as nature supported humans to evolve and so now too it will. Add some plants to your surroundings to create nice environment around ourselves • Eating right, Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats and lots of water will assist us during this rough patch • Exercise. The right kind of exercise can do wonders for your body and mind. Not only will it get us leaner, stronger, and help us live longer, it also improves our mood. - Siri

  In this fast-paced world it is very important to get updated with the upcoming advancements and also very essential to keep one calm and composed through-out! Keeping calm not only benefits you but also the people around you and will spread a good word about you and your behavior! If you fail to keep calm all by yourself! It’s alright we can simply employ our foods for this task! Here are some foods that can undeniably chill you! It is said that if the stomach feels good you too feel good! Cauliflower which is full of fiber promotes healthy digestion and pampers your stomach! Spinach which boasts of its long list of micronutrients tend to maintain the adrenal glands and their functioning, basically calming the adrenaline rush! The sweet strawberries also help in calming the mental commotion due to inflammations, owing to its anti-oxidants! Fish like salmon or tuna are loaded with Omega-3-Fatty acids which are prime inducers of soothing mood! Coconut Water is high in potassium and magnesium, which is rehydrating and re-energizing thus making you feel born again amidst of tiredness! Tea with the flavor of Holy Basil or Tulsi lowers the levels of stress hormones, improves mental clarity and memory, says Researchers at University of Massachusetts Eggs take pride to be touted as one of the efficient calming foods because it is brimming with nutrients that amplify pleasure and make pain more tolerable! Stay Calm and Composed!