మన ప్రపంచంలో అన్ని రోజులకి ఏదో ఒక ప్రత్యేకత ఉంటూనే ఉంటుంది. అయితే అన్ని రోజులని  మన సంతోషాన్ని వ్యక్తపరచటానికి కేటాయించుకుంటే ఈ రోజుని మాత్రం ఏదో ఒక వ్యాధితో బాధపడుతున్నవాళ్ళకి గుండెల నిండా ధైర్యం నింపి వాళ్ళు తొందరగా కోలుకునేలా వాళ్ళ కోసం మంచి కోరుకునే రోజు. అదే వరల్డ్ సిక్ డే. మనింట్లో ఒకరికి ఆరోగ్యం కాస్త బాగోలేకపోతేనే మనం దేముడికి దణ్ణం పెట్టుకుని మొక్కుకుంటాం. వాళ్లకి తొందరగా నయమవ్వాలని. దేముడి ఆశీర్వాదం ఎలా ఉన్నా మనస్పూర్తిగా మనం వాళ్ళ ఆరోగ్యం కుదటపడాలానే ధృడ సంకల్పాన్ని   చూసే   ఆ రోగికి కొండంత ధైర్యం వచ్చి తొందరగా కోలుకుంటారు.    ప్రపంచంలో ప్రతి 20 మందిలో ఒకరు ఏదో ఒక వ్యాధితో బాధపుతున్నారని ఒక అంచనా. రోజురోజుకి పెరిగిపోతున్న వ్యాధుల్లో కొన్నిటికి చికిత్సా పద్దతులు ఉంటె మరికొన్నిటికి ఇంకా నివారణా మార్గాలే కనుక్కోలేకపోతున్నారు. ఎంతోమంది దీర్ఘకాలిక వ్యాధులతో బాధపడుతూ తొందరగా కోలుకోవాలనే ఆశతో జీవితం గడుపుతూ ఉంటారు. రోగికి చికిత్స కన్నా ముఖ్యంగా కావాల్సింది గుండె నిబ్బరతే అంటున్నారు వైద్యులు. ఆ గుండె నిబ్బరతని అందించటానికే ఈ రోజుని వరల్డ్ సిక్ డే  గా  ప్రకటించారు. మనం వ్యక్తిగతంగా వెళ్లి రోగాలతో బాధపడేవారికి చేయూత ఇవ్వనక్కర్లెద్దు. ప్రపంచంలోని అందరు ఒక్కసారి ఆ రోగులకి తొందరగా నయమవ్వాలని మనస్పూర్తిగా కోరుకుంటే చాలు. అదే ఈ  రోజు జరుపుకోవటంలో ఉన్న ప్రత్యేకత. ఎదుటి మనిషి కోసం మన వంతు సాయం మనం చెయ్యటంలో ఉండే తృప్తిని మనం కూడా ఆస్వాదిద్దాం. సర్వే జనా ఆరోగ్య ప్రాప్తిరస్తు. --కళ్యాణి

An active Blood stream in the body is vital to any human being. Maintaining the right blood pressure has become not so easy these days. A study by American Heart Association reveals that people who spent more than four hours per week in exercising had a 19percent lower risk of being affected with high blood pressure than those who ddn't exercise much or no exercise atall. Every year, there are more number of middle age people being diagnosed with high blood pressure due to an inactive lifestyle and bad eating habits. How to curb this issue is a major concern among their children and family members. That has a negative effect on everyone around...not to just sit and worry, its about time to get up and get going...maintain an active lifestyle to live better. A strong and efficient heart naturally lowers the blood pressure in the arteries, it pumps blood naturally and so there is no stree on the heart too. In addition,exercising may reduce the stress on mind, as every vital organ of the body follows a good rhythm...controlled breathing, good functioning of the heart, well- maintained blood pressure, all these encourage a more efficient supply of oxygen and nutrient dense blood delivered to the body cells. Whatever has happened with ones blood pressure balance, can be set right ! If one is suffering from high blood pressure, seeing a related Doctor regularly is important..its not just when you feel like going to a Doctor. Some Doctors dont recommend Medicines immediately...they try to resolve the issue with making few changes to the diet, and introducing the patient to an exercise regime, if not, he/she can ask if thet can start exercising at that stage while still on medication. Start with a warm-up kind of routine. * Monitor the blood pressure at the onset of any program you follow. * Even a light walk for 5-10 minutes everyday can be a good start. * Make sure to consult an expert fitness instructor who handles health concerns too. Remember--- you are not here for weight management ! * Aerobic activities, walking, light logging, swimming and cycling could be helpful. Increase intensity gradually. * If you are suggested Weight Training, then make sure to breathe through each exercise as holding your breathe can spike your blood pressure. * Practice variety of weights and resistance bands, yoga, pilates, squats and stretching to not get bored and keep yourselves motivated and interested. * If you feel dizzy or light-headed or have the slightest chest pain, stop excersizing and call your Doctor right away. * Unless, adviced not to continue, it is good to keep going the way you started, light and easy. * Don't forget to consult a dietician seeking for changes in diet inorder to maintain the blood pressure and other health factors...sametime let them know you have intentions or have started an exercise regime, and also if you are on blood pressure maintainance medication or not. --Pratyusha

ఒకప్పుడు కాన్సర్ అనే పేరు వినగానే జీవితంపై ఆశలు కోల్పోయేవారు. కాని ఇప్పుడు ఇది కూడా అన్ని వ్యాధులలాగే కామన్ వ్యాధిగా మారిపోయింది. బ్లడ్ కాన్సర్  ని సైతం తగ్గించి తిరిగి మనిషికి ప్రాణం పోస్తున్నారు డాక్టర్లు. కాని కాన్సర్ వచ్చాకా చికిత్స చేయించుకోవటం కన్నా అసలు రాకుండా ముందుగానే నివారణా పద్దతులు పాటించటం మంచిది అంటున్నారు నిపుణులు. 2016 నుండి 2018 ఈ మూడేళ్ళ వ్యవధిని we can i can అనే థీమ్  ని ఆధారంగా చేసుకుని అందరు సంయుక్తంగా లేదా వ్యక్తిగతంగా కాన్సర్ పై పోరాడి దాని ఉనికిని సైతం అరికట్టాలని కంకణం కట్టుకున్నాయి ప్రపంచ దేశాలు. మన జీవనశైలిలో కొద్దిపాటి మార్పులు చేసుకుంటే చాలు కాన్సర్ రాకుండా నివారించుకోవచ్చు. యుక్త వయసులో ఉన్నప్పుడు ఆడవారు ఎక్కువగా పీచు పదార్ధం ఉన్న కూరలు, పళ్ళు తినటం వల్ల వయసు పెరిగాకా వచ్చే బ్రెస్ట్ కాన్సర్ ని నివారించుకోవచ్చు అని తేల్చి చెప్పింది ఒక అధ్యయనం. అధిక బరువుతో  బాధపడేవారిలో intestain కాన్సర్ వచ్చే అవకాశం ఎక్కువగా ఉంటుంది. తినే పదార్థాలలో కొద్దిపాటి జాగ్రత్తలు తీసుకుంటూ సరైన వ్యాయామాల ద్వారా బరువు తగ్గించుకునే ప్రయత్నం చెయ్యాలి. గొంతు,నోటి కాన్సర్ వచ్చేవారిలో మద్యపానం అలవాటు ఎక్కువగా ఉన్నవారే ఉన్నారు. కాన్సర్ ని నివారించటమే కాదు అది మన దగ్గరకి కూడా రాకుండా ఉంచటం కూడా మన చేతుల్లో ఉన్న పనే. మనం రోజు ఇంట్లో ఉపయోగించే పండ్లు,కూరగాయలు వాడే ముందు వాటిని వేడి నీటిలో బాగా కడిగి ఉపయోగించాలి. మనకి తెలియక మనం చేసే మరో పొరపాటు బట్టలని డ్రైవాష్ కి వెయ్యటం. ఎందుకంటే డ్రై క్లీనింగ్ చెయ్యటానికి ఉపయోగించే పర్క్రోరో ఎథిలీన్ అనే రసాయనం కాన్సర్ రావటానికి కారణం అంటున్నారు వైద్య నిపుణులు. అంతేకాదు ప్లాస్టిక్ సీసాల్లో నిల్వ చేసే నీరు వాడటం కన్నా గాజు లేదా స్టీల్ కంటైనర్ లలో ఉండే నీరు తాగటం వల్ల  కాన్సర్ మన దగ్గరకి రాకుండా జాగ్రత్త  పడవచ్చు. ఈ రోజుల్లో ఉద్యోగస్తులు తమ హడావిడి జీవనంలో నీళ్ళు త్రాగటానికి ఎక్కువ ప్రాధాన్యతని ఇవ్వలేకపోతున్నారు,కాని రోజు తగినంత నీరు తీసుకుంటూ ఉండాలి. టీ అలవాటు ఉన్నవారు మాములు టీ త్రాగే బదులు గ్రీన్ టీ తాగటం ఉత్తమం. కాఫీ లో కూడా కాన్సర్ ని అడ్డుకునే గుణం ఉండటం వల్ల రోజులో ఒక్కసారైనా కాఫీ తాగాలి. అన్నిటికన్నా కాన్సర్ అనే మాట వినగానే అదొక ప్రాణాలు తీసే వ్యాధిగా దానిని చూడకుండా మన మనోధైర్యంతో దానిని జయించగలిగే ఆత్మస్థైర్యాన్ని మనలో నింపుకోవటం ఎంతో అవసరం. కళ్యాణి

Non-stick pans have been so famous for their very comfortable usage, sametime, for their not-so-healthy non-stick coatings. Some say they are not harmful, some say they turn harmful if the surface is scratched from constant and hard usage. A paper published in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal talks in detail about the health risks posed by regular usage of non-stick pans and the non-stick sprays. The chemicals used in making these pans non-stick are said to cause continued health risks. Many scientists signed the statement which talks in detail about the harmful PFAS ( Poly and Perflouroalkyl Substances). These substances have been linked with causing neurological disorders, cancers of different types to different organs, heart problems and liver toxicity, but still have been used persistently as non-stick pan coatings. It has been observed that many manufacturers have discontinued usage of long-chain PFAS and started using shorter-chain PFAS. However, according to the scientists, these shorter chain PFAS are not as effective in reducing the harmful causes, they can't reduce any risk. Because more amount of these shorter-chain PFAS have to be used to create a non-stick effect as good as that of long-chain PFAS. Hence, the health risks posed by using non-stick coatings not reduced effectively. The paper published calls for scientists to educate the manufacturers more and more on the fatal affects of these PFAS. It also calls for Governments, chemical manufacturers and consumer product manufacturers to encourage a healthy environment and in halting all PFAS production. After reading all this, would you consider using steel, cast iron skillets for cooking your omlets, dosas etc or still buy non-stick pans? According to an ordinary person, using a non-stick pan once a week is not so harmful but how can you guarantee that it is not releasing any toxins into the food we cook ? I have almost removed non-stick cookware from my kitchen...and reduced the usage of the remaining new pans to once in a fortnight..what would you do in your kitchen ?! --Pratyusha

Several important studies have shown that radiation from electro-magnetic fields even in low frequency is one strong cancer causing agent. With millions of cellular phones and wi-fi devices getting manufactured every year, the increasing demand for wi-fi network provisions and usage, availability of internet has had its own advantages..however, most man-made items come with their own disadvantaged and side-effects, and when they are so harsh to even cause major health risks, it becomes difficult to tackle or remove or separate those negative effects from that particular item. With the availability of internet, many people are being saved after a road accident happens or any calamity strikes..but it is so bitter to accept the fact that this same internet, the wi-fi comes as a package along with a life threatening disease causing agent...The World Health Organisation WHO, classified Radiofrequency RF radiation as a possible human carcinogen, in 2011. It has recommended an Environmental Programme by the United Nations, UN, and the funding of an independent committee seeking to regulate the widespread and uncontrolled increase of wireless technologies on this earth. It also calls for protection of pregnant women and children, as everyone belonging to all age groups are using devices with wi-fi facility these days..and looks for strong regulations placed on technology manufacturing companies across the world. Professors from famous Universities such as the University of Washington, University of California-Berkeley, Columbia University and Trent University were part of the committee that developed a letter appealing to the WHO. Further studies and precedents from these Universities acknowledged the health risk posed by RadioFrequency radiation and suggested that electronic retailers warn the customers who-so-ever about the potential risks associated with RF radiation. They suggest the mobile provider retail stores to display the same warning on boards in their stores. The precedents strongly state that if anyone is carrying a cell phone is the shirt pocket, trouser pockets, and when the phone is On and the Wi-Fi is On, he/she is at a greater exposure to RF radiation. Children, were never so mobile and tablet oriented than those of this generation. They spend hours browsing what-not and get exposed to this same notorious radiation. It is the parents' responsibility to keep thise gadgets away from infants even. Pregnant women are actually not supposed to use a cell phone, instead usea landline to communicate at the most to avoid radiation to the unborn child  and herself. It is not just the duty of the mobile manufacturers and network providers to warn their consumers of the RF Radiation, it is every adults duty to stay safe and teach to be safe. Answer is yours ! --Pratyusha

Vitamins have been crucial to maintaining our health. They play a major role in keeping life 'alive' in a human body. Vitamin deficiencies are notorious for their harmful affects to every age group of humans. Two commonly known vitamins have made their way into news these days wrt., elderly people and their health. Vitamin D and E are making headlines in medical research too.   A very recent study found that vitamin D deficiency might cause weakness and cause elderly people to trip frequently. Vitamin D supplementation can reduce the risk of falling in this age group. The study had a vitamin D supplement or a placebo delivered to 68 people. Their health was monitored through blood tests and their history of falls was recorded and measured. The tests revealed that the people taking vitamin D supplements fell less than half the number of times people who ddn't take any vitamin D supplements fell. A five year study was conducted on 561 Alzheimer's patients. They were offered a pharmaceutical drug memantine and the placebo. Those who took vitamin E had a reduced progression of Alzheimer's in comparison with both a placebo group and the memantine group. This was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that vitamin E supplementation may reduce the progression of Alzheimer's. However, few opinions on usage of multivitamins that made news these days. They say vitamin capsules and tablets are not so effective, few say they are helpful. What do you believe? I say, its better to consume vegetables and fruits rich in every vitamin and mineral, and utilise sunlight for its rich vitamin D ability. Isn't it safer ? --Pratyusha

For a healthy heart- Many researchers have proved that the risk for a stroke would be lowered by walking daily. It would not only reduce the LDL cholesterol levels that are harmful for your heart, but would also control the high blood pressure that often triggers a heart attack. Walking around 20 minutes a day has shown to decrease the chance of a heart attack by 30%. Obesity- Well! No introduction needs to be made about the problem of obesity now a day. It’s always easy to build up huge amount of calories, but would be a tough job to shed them off. Walking and particularly brisk walking would save your body by converting lot of calories into energy. Almost 100 calories would be disposed off if we walk for 20 minutes. Diabetes- Amazing but true! The American Diabetes Association suggests walking to be good relief for diabetes. If you are not diabetic yet, but has a family history of acquiring the disease, walking would either prolong the onset of disease or slashes off the risk completely. As type 2 diabetes is certainly affected by our life style, a few steps would certainly lower its risk. Vitamin D- We know that getting exposed to Sunlight is a natural way to gain vitamin D. But, people often tend to stay indoors to cope with prolonged working hours. And with the arrival of computer and television, our entertainment has confined to them. With a few minutes of walking outdoor, we would certainly gain some D vitamin. D vitamin is really vital in letting body to absorb vital minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphate, and zinc. Exercise for Brain- Our memories might fade as we get older. But this doesn’t prove to affect people who walk regularly. Studies have proved that people who have a habit of walking more than quarter a mile per day has less incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Further a few studies even suggest that walking would boost your memory levels! Stress buster- Walking is supposed to bring a jovial mood. Walking is known to release endorphins that act as natural pain killers as well as anti depressants. Walking along with a group or walking along the greenery would certainly boost our mood. Shapes up the body- Every muscle in our body gets involved while walking. It not a six pack, we can certainly expect a good body shape by walking. Walking would also let our body to shed off the excess fat that gets accumulated around thighs and shoulders. It even strengthens our bones and reduces the risk of hip fractures.

Tattoos are not new to this world...Decades ago, the older geenrations had tattoos too, but they were traditionally made with natural materials. Tattoos these days are made using heavy metals, harmful inks etc. Noone cares about the ingredients of a tattoo ink. The U.S. Food and Drug Administratin doesnot require tattoo companies to print their ingredients on the ink containers and so we are unaware of how they are made. A study links commercial tattoos to the spread of Hepatitis C. It was found that more cases of hepatitis C infections were recorded among people who had tattoos than any other person. Tattoo markers may have been the largest single contributor to this increase in the infection among people. Many tattoo ink pigments are industrial-grade colors used for inkjets-printers, automobile paints. Though the FDA doesnot ask the tattoo makers to print their ingredients, it warns that tattoo inks may possibly cause allergic reactions, infections, tissue scars, skin inflammation and potential complications with MRI scans. The carriers solution that tattoo makers use contains harmful substances such as methanol, detergents, formaldehyde, other roxic aldehydes, denatured alcohol. These names shout of notorious items harmful to health. Good news that people who had tattoos for long are now considering to get them removed and hence, we see more sign boards advertising of stores offering tattoo removal solutions. It may be due to changing fashion, changing relationships, boredom to see the same design on hands or elsewhere on the body, everyday...sometimes, the job environment that doesnot encourage an informal appearance. An interactive poll revealed that one-third of Employing Managers would think twice about promoting someone with tattoos and piercings and may not consider hiring atall. Due to changing likes and dislikes, demands from the world, Healthier alternatives are springing up with more natural and less permanent solutions, custom made temporary tattoos, henna tattoos, permanent organic tattoo made of inks that fade off faster over time and such. Overall, it saves so much money to not get a tattoo atall !! --Pratyusha

The heart works tirelessly to keep us alive. Its time we understand and appreciate some facts about it. The Library of Science’s Mystery series has reported that the heart is the most hard working muscle in our body. It pumps 2,500 gallons of blood everyday with the ability to beat 3 billion times in a lifetime. Too much sitting can also cause harm to your heart. A survey on 30,000 people from as many as 52 countries revealed that those who own a car and a T.V were a risk of a heart disease that is 27 percent greater than those who do not own these.One way to deal with this kind of lifestyle is to bring a change in food habits. Including fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, high fibre gains and olive oils rich with monounsaturated fats can be very beneficial. People with a heart problem must follow this diet in order to avoid another episode of a heart attack. Interestingly, such a diet can be successful in keeping you healthy even without weight loss. Did you know? Pollution can harm not only your lung but also your heart. Its true! It has been found that greater exposure to different kinds of pollution can cause an increased risk of arrhythmias. So, remember to take care of the heart that works so hard for you. Kruti Beesam krutibeesam@gmail.com

Recent study proves that Black raspberries are the new Super Food on the block. Specially the ones grown in central Europe. A Poland University study confirms that in comparison to Raspberries and black berries, Black Raspberries have excellent health healing capabilities with amazing anti-oxidant qualities. Researchers say, they treat heart diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases and arthritis. With a sweet-sour flavor, that beautiful little fruit does alot good to our health and body. It cleanses blood, regulates menstrual cycle, controls urinary functions, benefits liver and kidneys, enriches blood quality, treats anemia. Many of us donot know but Raspberries in general, can be used to induce and promote labor at childbirth. Raspberry leaf strengthens uterus and supports optimum hormonal patterns during pregnancy. Dried unripe raspberry fruit is considered beneficial to the kidneys because of its astringent quality, the Chinese believe. It improves human visual capabilities and cures blurred vision. Ripe raspberry also helps improve human vision. Blackberry is closely related to raspberry with its blood-building qualities. They are used to treat anemia, diarrhea and balancing the urinary system. You maynot find black raspberries everywhere, however, consuming the regular raspberries, blackberries, all otherberries is good too. -Prathyusha

1. Protein foods in descending order placed first in the meal Foods high in protein quality require heavy duty stomach acids in higher quantity for digestion, whereas foods with lesser protein quality, starches, leavy greens, in comparison, need very little stomach acids. When protein foods such as lentils, meat, eggs, nuts are consumed at the end of the meal, the remaining stomach acid is not sufficient to digest these proteins. Legumes are best eaten before grains. 2. Salty foods to be consumed at the beginning of the meal Salt stimulates gastric juices for the digestion of all other foods that are consumed later. Usually protein rich foods such as meat and legumes are prepared using more salt for easy cooking and better taste too. Soups are traditionally served at the beginning of the meal, however they are better consumed first if they contain protein substances...else, if the first consumed items are too heavy then just a water based soup such as Rasam is better consumed at the end of the meal inorder to dilute the initial digestive juices needed for protein breakdown, .. These salty foods, otherwise have another feature...if consumed at the end of the meal or after the meal, in a limited quantity to get relief from stomach destress conditions such as belching, vomitings, heartburn etc. in these situations, just a small piece of salted gooseberry or a salt plum can help reverse the discomfort condition. Salt is best in combination with food at the beginning of the meal and as a digestive aid at the end of the meal for problem relief in special situations. 3. Proteins, fats and starch based foods are best combined with leafy greens or non-starchy vegetables 4. Fruits and Sweets should be consumed alone, or in small quantities at the end of the meal. Because of their simple carbohydrate structure, sweets and foods digest very fastly and they tend to monopolize all the digestive functions, the other items consumed in that meal ferment. Sweets and fruits combine very poorly with starches, proteins and leafy greens. Following these basic guidelines will make meal time a healthy milestone everytime. Our ancestors and elders taught the same..yet most of us have altered them for comfort, convenience and due to negligence.....one rule is to never neglect and alter the best rules...specially with food and health. --Prathyusha Talluri

High blood pressure is probably the most common symptom found in the present day lifestyle. Once a person is diagnosed with hypertension, it might be irreversible. But the dieticians were advising to take a few precautions in food to control high B.P. These are a few of such suggestions…     DASH!   DASH stands for ‘Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension’. It is a continuous approach to have food that helps in controlling blood pressure. It is aimed to cut down the sodium levels in the food. Standard DASH diet allows the daily intake of just 2,300 mg of sodium per day, and Lower sodium DASH diet allows just 1,500 mg of sodium. For convenience lets be aware that one tea spoon of salt contains around 2,300 mg of sodium! DASH is not only aimed to reduce the sodium levels in the food. It also aimed to include the nutrients such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.   BANANA   Many researches has proven banana to be miraculous for the BP victims. If taken daily, banana can reduce the blood pressure levels up to 10 percent! Bananas are enriched with high levels of Potassium and vitamin C which are good in controlling hypertension. Surprisingly only 1 mg of sodium is present in 100 grams of banana. So including a banana per day can be a lucky charm for B.P victims.     SPINACH:   Popeye probably loved spinach to control his hypertension! Spinach is rich with potassium, folate, and magnesium which are effective in controlling blood pressure. It also contains Vitamin A, B, C and K in considerable amounts. Though Spinach is rich in vitamins and minerals, the fat and sugar contents in it are negligible.  Including spinach in our food either as a curry or as a salad would always prove healthy.   BEETROOT:   The pungent taste of beet root juice may initially be disliked. But as you drink a glass of beet root juice daily, you might find the taste appealing. The nitric oxide produced after consuming Beet root is known to relax the blood vessels and improve the blood flow. According to an Australian study- regular intake of beet root juice would considerably reduce the systolic blood pressure.     WATERMELON:   Watermelon is not just a refreshing food for summer. It’s highly beneficial in the cases of hypertension. An amino acid called ‘L-citrulline’ is known to open up the arteries and reduce blood pressure. Watermelon is rich in potassium and low in sodium which proves to be an ideal food for hypertension. Besides, watermelon contains an antioxidant called ‘Lycopene’ that keeps the immunity intact.   The above mentioned foods are the once we often ignore to be helpful in hypertension. Foods such as skimmed milk, garlic, oranges, carrots, beans would also prove beneficial in maintaining ideal levels of blood pressure. - Nirjara.

  Over the years, Ghee has been held culprit for fat in our bodies. Though the ancient cooking wisdom suggests the usage of ghee, the health conscious Indians have been avoiding it for decades. But the present dieticians were suggesting us to add a few teaspoons of cow ghee to our recipes. The reasons being…   Brain food Our elders used to advice us to add ghee in the food, especially for the growing children. They used to insist that ghee has a positive role in the development of our brain. Various researches were proving it right. Ghee contains huge amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids. There is enough evidence to prove that Omega 3 fatty acids would help our mental health. Apart from improving the memory, they were even found to treat psychological ailments like depression. Digestion Most of the cooking oils might slow our digestive process down. But ghee is known to stimulate the secretion of digestive acids and fasten up the process. Adding a tea spoon of ghee to the foods that are hard to digest would make things better. Ghee would also improve the taste of the food we take, thereby inducing the salivary glands to produce more digestive juice. Ghee is prescribed in ayurveda for treating ulcers and constipation. The ‘butyric acid’ is known to heal the intestines and clear many digestive problems. Shedding weight Ghee contains high levels of saturated fat which might increase the cholesterol levels. But if you are healthy and your cholesterol levels are normal, ghee would help your body to retain a perfect shape. ‘Conjugated linoleic acid’ (CLA) in the ghee is known to fight cancer and reduce obesity. Ghee is known to contain amino acids that mobilize the fat and prevent it to clog in particular places. For glowing skin Ghee is rich in vitamins A and E, which are good for skin. Besides the nutrients, the cholesterol provided by ghee would give a healthy shape to the body. Ghee also retains the moisture in the skin. It can also be applied directly to cure dry and chapped skin. Ghee is the best moisturizer for the lips. In ayurveda, ghee is even applied for healing the burnt wounds. Antioxidants: Ghee is said to boost the antioxidants in the body. The antioxidants would work against the free radicals that reduce the immunity in our body. From eye to heart, the antioxidants would help in the health of various organs. Besides they would boost our immunity and slows down the process of ageing. These are just a few reasons to add a tea spoon of ghee daily to our diet. Ghee is believed to effect a soothing relief in various chronic ailments such as in arthritis. Every once in a while some research comes open proving the benefits of ghee, which of course has been known for centuries by our elders. - Nirjara.

  Having a flat stomach is what everyone wants, but very few know that, all you need to do is change your diet to achieve this goal. However, food is not the only thing that must change in your life. You must also take care to get the right amount of exercise and sleep.   So what can give you that amazingly flat tummy that you always wanted? There’s a list of things that can do the magic for you. First among these is Salmon. Being rich in Vitamin D, it helps in this purpose as it has been found that insufficient amounts of this vitamin can lead to abdominal obesity. Apart from this, salmon also contains Omega 3 fatty acids that are known to reduce belly fat. Another option is to include eggs in your diet. Besides being a rich source of Vitamin D, they also contain Choline which has a major role to play in fat metabolism.   As it is obvious, low calorie food can take you closer to achieving a flat stomach. One such thing is, cucumber! It is high in water content and low in calories. It will keep you hydrated, add only 45 calories to your body and keep the unwanted fat from settling around your belly.   Intake of Greek Yogurt can give you a flat belly and make you look nothing less than gorgeous. The calcium and some other minerals in it can slow down the production of the cortisol hormone which is known to contribute to the storage of belly fat.Similar is the case with the inclusion of olive oil and whole grains in your diet. Eating these food items can get your body to the shape you always wanted. Now, getting a flat stomach is not difficult at all. --Kruti Beesam

These are the days of Air Pollution! Though the transport and technology has made our lives easier… they have induced the pollution levels too. From industries to individuals, everyone is contributing their own way for the pollution. The harmful components in air such as zinc, lead and hydrocarbons were known to affect our health in more than many ways! From headache to lung cancer… air pollution can be a culprit for many diseases. The low temperatures and fog in the winter would turn the pollution deadlier. A few precautions to reduce the affect of air pollution in our lives are…   Living in a safe home If you are living in a rented or leased home, you always have a choice to change it. It you feel enough signs of heavy pollution around your home, move to a home that is far from dust and pollution. A few amenities might be lost and a few more hours might be needed for travelling. Still, a residence in cleaner atmosphere would always do well for your health. If we don’t have a choice except to live in polluted surroundings, let’s make sure not to let the pollution in the house. Growing plenty of trees, installing air filter and chimney might be some of the few measures to check the pollution that enters the house. Watch the timings: We can’t do much about our office timings. But for other purposes, it’s better to choose the timings which involve least traffic. Odd hours in the day such as early morning and mid afternoon would be clear from traffic bound pollution. This would save time and health as well. Take an alternate route: Whenever you are on a travel, explore the possibility of varied routes to reach the destination. If there is an alternate route for travel, choose the cleanest one. It might take a few more minutes to reach the destination, but a route with less traffic and pollution won’t wear you out. It might even rejuvenate you with fresh air and peaceful environment. Smoking: Smoking in public is nothing but stepping into their private lives. Don’t tolerate anyone to smoke right in front of your lungs. Remember! Passive smoking kills you faster. Move away from the place or request the smoker to quit smoking in your presence. If you have the habit of smoking, try to cut off the habit. Protection: We can be saved to certain extent from pollution by protecting ourselves with a mask, gloves, lotion etc. Eat lots of nutrients and drink lots of water to retain your immunity. Don’t neglect the long standing ailments such as a dry cough. Consult a doctor as immediately as possible. Don’t forget to inform him about the extent of pollution you were facing daily. - Nirjara.

From Christmas to Pongal, these are the festive days that we rejoice with delicious food. But spicy food comes with a cost! They might sometimes cause acidity and heartburn. We often grab an antacid to pacify the acidity. But experts warn against the frequent usage of antacids. Most of the antacids contain either ‘aluminum hydroxide’ or ‘magnesium’ which might lead to various side effects. Instead, few natural remedies can be trusted for countering acidity. Fennel seeds:   In India- It’s always been a part of the tradition to have Saunf (fennel seeds) after a heavy meal. Saunf is rich in minerals and dietary fiber. It would not only act as a mouth freshener after a meal, but would also fasten the digestive process. Consuming tea made with fennel seeds would also aid for an effective digestion. Besides, Saunf is also known to be effective in digestive problems such as indigestion, bloating and constipation. BANANA:   Most of the dinners in India would be complete only with a piece of banana. Banana is thought to reduce the acidity by create a protective lining within the stomach. It would not only be digested quickly, but would also help in nourishing the friendly bacteria in the colon. A ripe banana is supposed to be more effective in reducing the acidity. Ajwain: Ajwain (vaamu in Telugu) contains ‘Thymol’ which is known to improve appetite and purify digestive tract. Now a day, water with concentration of Ajwain seeds can be sought from any medical stores. Or else, few seeds of Ajwain can be chewed along with salt for immediate relief from acidity. Ajwain can also be boiled in water and be taken in the form of tea. Milk:   A glass of milk after a heavy dinner would not only help in digestion, but would also provide good sleep. Milk contains Calcium which helps our digestion. The same calcium is also responsible for activating the sleep process. Dairy products such as curd and buttermilk would also keep your stomach cool. Baking soda: Many are not aware of Baking Soda as an antacid. Baking soda is nothing but a chemical called ‘Sodium bicarbonate’ which is known to be a natural antacid. Mix ½ to 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glassful of water to be relieved from the heartburn. Baking soda is believed to have a neutralizing affect on acidity. - Nirjara.

Christmas and New Year are certainly the best occasions to celebrate. We might be invited for a party that can’t be denied. However, such parties with varied and vast food might be a cause of concern for our health. Here are a few tips that can be followed to let the party be just an occasion to celebrate.       Know the dish: Don’t rush along with others to join the queue for serving. Know the menu and avoid any food items that might not be suitable for you. Don’t feel shy to make sure of the ingredients when you are in doubt. For example: Some people may not be able to digest the food made with Vegetable oil (Dalda). So the tip we should remember before pouncing on the food is ‘Be sure of what you are eating’.     Don’t be tempted: Food available in parties might be added with flavors and colors to tempt the guests. So know your limit and eat accordingly. Having too much of delicious food to eat might be occasional. But let’s not make it also an occasion for health problems. If your host is insisting to have one more chunk of sweet, convey him that you had more than enough.   Natural food: Parties also provide for nutrient and fibrous food such as raw vegetables, salads and buttermilk. Be sure that you have them in your plate along with the rest of the menu. Such combination would let you have a wholesome meal. They would increase your appetite and compensate the hazards of eating spicy food.   After the party: Even after being so cautious, you can bet to come out of the party with a bulging belly. So be sure to have something that would fasten your digestion. A piece of banana or a glass of milk would work as natural antacids that save us from the heartburn. Water made up of Ajwain seeds would also certainly improve the digestion.     The day after the party: Try to get involved in some physical workout, the day after the party. This would not only burn the excess calories, but would also bring back our digestion to normality. Go for a long walk or take the staircase as a way to exercise. Eat less food on the day after the party. Instead, have plenty of liquid foods such as coconut water and fruit juice.   - Nirjara.