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The Downfall of Hair – Baldness!

    The loss of hair from any part of body, especially head is known as baldness in layman’s terms, medically termed as alopecia. The severity of hair loss can vary from a small area to the entire body, as it is usually occurs physiologically, thus scarring and inflammation are absent, unlike the infection leading to hair loss.   Baldness can occur equally in both the sexes, but the outcomes are dramatic in males. There are few types of alopecia like, male-pattern baldness, alopecia areata and telogen effluvium. Male-pattern baldness is very common, caused due to androgens. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder, when the immune system produces antibodies against the hair follicles. Telogen effluvium is usually thinning of hair occurring due to physical and psychological stresses, usually following pregnancy.   Pattern hair loss by age 50 affects about half of males and a quarter of females. Hair loss can occur due to; thyroid disorders, anemia, protein and vitamin deficiencies, radiation therapy and certain chemotherapies prescribed for HIV/AIDS. As a part of screening the cause of hair loss a number of blood test such as complete blood picture, vitamin B levels, iron levels, thyroid function tests and rarely biopsy of scalp.   Best way is to prevent, by maintaining good hygiene, regular cleansing and nourishing the strand, and maintaining a well balanced diet. Off late the advancements in the field of pharmacology has introduced us with drugs for hair re-growth such as minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia)

The inescapable – Addictions!!

An addiction is a chronic dysfunction of the brain system. Addiction is a condition that results when a person ingests a substance or engages in an activity that can be pleasurable but the continuation of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary responsibilities and concerns, such as work, relationships, or health. Not many people who are addicted realize that their behavior is causing problems for themselves and others. The most common addictions are: nicotine from tobacco, opiods from pain killers, cocaine, tetrehydrocannabinol (THC) from marijuana, the most frequent one is alcohol and most unnoticed one being caffeine. Physical addiction is a biological state in which the body adapts to the presence of a drug so that drug no longer has the same effect, otherwise known as a tolerance. Usually people succumb to stress and indulge in addictive substance to experience few moments of Euphoria-immense happiness. Addictions may result due to brain dysfunctions involving the frontal lobes or due to environment and culture also play a role in how a person responds to a substance or behavior.  Treating any kind of addictions requires how it works psychologically. The treatment modalities includes medications for diagnosed mental disorders, psychotherapy, medical management to cope up with withdrawal syndrome and the best one being self-help groups.   -Koya Satyasri

The airway disease – Asthma!

  Asthma is a chronic disorder, of the tubes that transport air to lungs called airway. Usually the airways are hyperactive i.e. they react in an exaggerated way to the known allergens, as they get irritated and inflamed the airways narrow down reducing the influx of air and precipitating the symptoms.   Other allergic conditions, such as eczema (atopic dermatitis), hay fever (allergic rhinitis), and food allergies, the prevalence of asthma appears to be on the rise. The most important cause is the interaction between the genetic factors and the environmental factors. This usually presents with shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing and wheezing are the cardinal signs, but the only signs.   It can occur in children it is usually brought out by some allergens, mostly animal danders; while the adult-onset asthma is most common which usually occurs following an upper respiratory infections, due to respiratory syncytial virus. Asthma is usually diagnosed by respiratory function tests or allergen test. Asthma is treated with two kinds of medicines: quick-relief medicines to stop asthma symptoms and long-term control medicines to prevent symptoms.

Hiccups!

Diaphragm is a muscular separation between the thoracic cavity and abdomen; its rhythmic contractions play an important role in respiration. Hiccups occur when diaphragm contracts involuntarily and suddenly, this result in snap shutting of vocal cords which produces the sound ‘hic’. Usually hiccups are quite harmless; they are frequently caused by large meals, eating too quickly, drinking too much especially alcohol or carbonated beverages, prior abdominal surgeries, injury or insult to the nerves that innervate diaphragm, cerebro-vascular accidents, brain tumors and even sudden excitement may trigger hiccups.  For most people, a bout of hiccups usually lasts only a few minutes. Rarely, hiccups may persist for longer duration say about an hour or even more or it is hindering your sleep or appetite; that is when we need to consult a doctor, they are rarely an emergency. Hiccups can be prevented by avoiding overeating, eating too quickly, or drinking too much. There some home remedies too, holding your breath, drinking a glass of water quickly, pulling hard on your tongue, biting on a lemon, gargling with water, and using smelling salts. Rarely this condition require formal medications like chlorpromazine, haloperidol or metoclopramide.    -Koya Satyasri

How to Soothe a Sore Throat

  Going through a sore throat is a big hurdle. As all of us have enough on our plate to cope up with, so we seldom have time to visit a doctor this petite issue. Here are some handy home remedies: Gargling is the best way out, In a 1/2 cup of warm water add 1/8 teaspoon of pepper or 1 teaspoon of salt, it can be used to gargle every other hour Make a strong brew with freshly grated ginger about 3 teaspoons for about 5 minutes in a cup of boiling water and add a spoonful of honey and sip! Slowly chewing on cloves can also give a huge relief Sucking on cough drops stimulates saliva production which keeps throat moist. Pick on ingredient like menthol or eucalyptus are effective                 When your throat is inflamed or irritated it is very important to stay hydrated. So lean on your trusted fluid, Water! If you are sick of gulping down gallons of water then shift to Herbal tea! Either black or green. It is saturated with antioxidants which are thought to boost our immune system and keep away infections! Another sip, in a cup of boiling water incorporate, 2 teaspoons honey and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Allow the brew to cool for a while and then drink An age old remedy for cold and cough is the chicken soup; stewed chicken chunks have anti-inflammatory properties. This will ensure nutrients along with medicinal profits too! Our favorite delicacies, the marshmallows have sore throat fighting properties too. Its additive gelatin coats and soothes sore throat and throat pain! Along with this resting your vocal cords too is necessary step to be taken! The ultimate step should be consulting a Doctor if this botheration doesn’t subside! Ensure your well being!! -Siri Koya

Acute Illness – Typhoid Fever!

Typhoid fever is a one of the life threatening disease in the developing countries, especially for children. It is caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, a less potent form is caused by Salmonella paratyphi. It is a contagious disease that spreads by oro-feacal route, i.e. through contaminated food and water, and through fomites of the infected patient. After being ingested through the oral route, these bacteria travel through the bloodstream to gall bladder, biliary system and lymphatic system of intestines; where they multiply in great numbers. The symptoms gradually appear within 2-3weeks post-exposure. The symptoms include: Fever gradually reaches as high as 104degree Fahrenheit, headaches, generalized muscle aches or weaknesses, poor appetite, lethargy and diarrhea.  The microbes in intestines form ulcers which may bleed, through these breaks the infection may seep into blood stream causing sepsis, pneumonia, inflammations of cardiac muscles, heart valves, pancreas or meninges. These are the dreaded complications.  If left untreated, illness may proceed to such a state wherein the person becomes delirious and may lie motionless and with half closed eyes. A small fraction of the infected people continue to harbor the microbes in their intestines or gallbladder for long time, thought they do not exhibit clinical feature but are capable of spreading the disease. The incidence is high in areas with poor sanitation. These are best prevented by cleanliness and vaccines. However, the traditional medical treatment is with chloramphenicol, as of now antibiotics depending on culture sensitivity are been prescribed.   -Koya Satyasri

Ringing Ears - Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a sensation of ringing, chirping, buzzing or hissing in the ears. This disturbance can be intermittent or continuous, it can be loud or low intensity. Usually the ringing sensation intensifies, when the background noises are absent, i.e. background noises mask the tinnitus. This condition worsens with age and time. Tinnitus isn't a condition itself — it's a symptom of an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, ear injury or a circulatory system disorder. Rarely the ringing sensation may synchronize with the heart. It is called as pulsatile tinnitus.  Tinnitus is of two types: Subjective Tinnitus – This is the most common type of tinnitus, which only by the patient himself. This indicates an issue within the outer, middle and inner ear, auditory nerves or auditory pathways concerning the brain. Objective Tinnitus – This is a rare type of tinnitus, which is felt by the doctor himself, while he examines the patient. This is caused due to disparity of blood vessel, middle ear bone conditions and muscle contractions. The most common causes are: Age related disease usually worsening with age starting at 60 years, also called presbycusis. Sudden or continuous exposure to loud noise is also a predisposing factor. Stiffening or bone changes of middle ear bones also called otosclerosis. As a part of Meniere’s disease, due to abnormal inner ear fluid pressures. Benign tumors of the auditory nerve called Acoustic neuroma. Certain atherosclerotic changes in the auditory blood vessel can also lead to this disease. Head and neck injuries may also lead to tinnitus. Tinnitus can be very irritating and disturbing especially while sleeping. The treatment involves finding out the root-cause and treating it. When we fail to find the cause, we are fortunate to have masking devices, which instantly reduce the ringing sensation in our ear. While there is little scope of medications in this aspect, but anti-anxiety drugs and anti-depressant drug have been found to be effective.   -Koya Satyasri

The Lazy Thyroid – Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a medical condition wherein thyroid gland is producing inadequate hormones. As we know thyroid hormones affect our body temperature, the way our heart beats and how well we burn calories. In this condition our metabolism is sluggish and there by the energy production in our body unit is slowed down. The most common cause id thyroiditis which is the inflammation of thyroid gland, of which the autoimmune disorder of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the main culprit, nevertheless some viral infections too contribute. The thyroidal cells are fragile to the radiation insult, a prior treatment for neck malignancies, is a significant predisposing factor. Previous thyroid resection surgeries cut down the bulk of the gland, leaving behind a part of gland which may not be able to produce enough hormones. Iodine is an important constituent of thyroid hormones; a diet deficient of iodine is definitely a big contributor!  Though the symptoms of hypothyroidism are not very clear, but the most common ones are: Constipation, depression, dry and lusterless hair, hair loss, unexplained weight gain or difficulty to lose weight, cold intolerance and slow heart rate. In blood, the TSH levels are arguably high, while T3 and T4 levels are minimal. The complications that come along are: obesity, joint instabilities and joint pain, infertility and heart problems. The most common treat prescribed is the supplementation of synthetic hormone T4.     -Koya Satyasri

The Overacting Thyroid!!

The overactive thyroid usually presents with abnormally high production of thyroid hormones, which is medically termed as Hyperthyroidism. When we synthesize too many thyroid hormones, our metabolism speeds up which may occasionally present as, abrupt loss of weight, palpitations, lot of sweating and feeling nervous or moody; or there may not be any symptoms at all. Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Usually Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism go hand in hand. In Graves’ disease our immune system becomes foes with thyroid gland and starts attacking which leads to over-stimulation and over production of thyroid hormones.  The general symptoms are: feeling of anxiety and nervousness sometimes even feeling breathless, faster rate of heart beating, unusual loss of weight, more frequent bowel movements, feeling hot and sweaty and most important and horrifying thinning and fall out of hair. Apart from these blood tests make the final diagnosis, TSH is usually low, while T3 and T4 are unusually high. Fortunately there is near complete cure! Mostly it is medical management, which includes the Anti-thyroid drugs and sometimes even Radioactive Iodine. When on Radioactive Iodine therapy you should not plan for a baby for at least 6 months and not breastfeed too. Surgery is needed only if the thyroid gland is too big that it is causing hindrance to breathing and swallowing.   -Koya Satyasri 

What is Thyroid? How does it work??

This tiny butterfly-like looking gland is the mastermind and controls almost all the glands in our body. It rules over our metabolism, brain activity, energy levels, heart health and especially our weight! Thyroid gland uses iodine as fodder to produce the vital hormones such as, T4 – thyroxine and T3 – triiodothyronine; while it is acted upon by TSH – Thyroid stimulating hormone produced by pitutary gland which is acted upon by TRH - thyrotopin releasing hormone from hypothalamus at the base of brain. The circulating levels of T3 and T4 constantly monitored, any ups and downs are reflected in the form of TSH and TRH. T3 is the most active form of thyroid hormones, while a small fraction of T4 is converted into T3 at the peripheral site, which are rich in fats.  Since thyroid is controlled at different levels, so any break or blockade in this outflow comprising of hypothalamus, pitutary gland and locally thyroid will present as thyroid disorders. Though not all thyroid disorder present them proudly, thus making it hard to diagnose, Nevertheless there are certain key risk factors which fill the missing blanks in our diagnosis such as: Gender, women are more prone to thyroid disorders than men High incidences have been recorded during pregnancy and within one year of pregnancy Consumption of low iodine diet With the increasing age the disease become more prominent Overconsumption of raw food especially Brussels sprouts, soy and spinach. Neck trauma or neck surgeries too increase the risk   -Koya Satyasri

మెదడు బాగుండాలా? రెండు నిమిషాలు మౌనం పాటించండి!

నిశ్శబ్దానికి ఉన్న విలువ గురించి భారతీయులకు కొత్తగా చెప్పాల్సిన పనిలేదు. వేల సంవత్సరాల క్రితమే వారికి మౌనంలో దాగిన జ్ఞానం గురించి అవగాహన ఉంది. అందుకే మనసుని నిశ్చలంగా నిలిపి ఉంచే ధ్యానాన్ని కనిపెట్టారు. ‘ఊరికే అలా రాయిలాగా నిశ్చలంగా కూర్చుంటే ఏంటి ఉపయోగం? అంటూ ఒకప్పుడు గేలి చేసిన పాశ్చత్య ప్రపంచం కూడా ఇప్పుడు మౌనం వల్ల కలిగే అద్భుత ఫలితాల గురించి తెలుసుకుని ఆశ్చర్యపోతున్నారు. మెదడు మరింత చురుగ్గా! ఓ నాలుగు సంవత్సరాల క్రితం నిశ్శబ్దకరమైన వాతావరణంలో ఉంటే, మెదడుకి ఏమన్నా ఉపయోగం ఉందేమో కనుక్కోవాలన్న ఆలోచన వచ్చింది శాస్త్రవేత్తలకి. ఆలోచన వచ్చిందే తడువుగా కొన్ని ఎలుకల మీద ఓ ప్రయోగం చేశారు. రోజుకి రెండు గంటలపాటు ఎలుకలకి ఎలాంటి శబ్దమూ చేరకుండా, ప్రశాంతమైన వాతావరణంలో ఉండనిచ్చారు. దాంతో వాటి మెదడులోని హిప్పోకేంపస్ అనే భాగంలో కొత్త కణాలు ఏర్పడటం చూసి పరిశోధకులు బిత్తరపోయారు. మన జ్ఞాపకాలు, ఉద్వేగాలు, నైపుణ్యాలను నియంత్రించడంలో ఈ హిప్పోకేంపస్‌ది ముఖ్యపాత్ర! అంటే నిశ్శబ్దమైన వాతావరణంలో ఉండటం వల్ల మన మెదడు మరింత చురుగ్గా మారే అవకాశం ఉందన్నమాట. సమస్య మరింత తేలికగా! నిశ్శబ్దంలో ఉండటం లేదా మనసుని నిశ్చలంగా ఉంచుకోవడం వల్ల... సమస్యలని పరిష్కరించడం కూడా తేలికగా మారిపోతుందని నిపుణులు చెబుతున్నారు. మెదడు అటూఇటూ పోకుండా నేరుగా సమస్య మీదే తన దృష్టిని కేంద్రీకరించేందుకు కావల్సిన స్వేచ్ఛ దొరుకుతుందట. సరికొత్తగా, సృజనాత్మకంగా ఆలోచించే అవకాశమూ దక్కుతుంది. మెదడుని అలా నిశ్చలంగా ఉంచే ప్రయత్నం చేస్తే, అసలు ఆలోచనలే ఉండవు కదా! అన్న అనుమానం రావచ్చు. మెదడు విశ్రాంతిగా ఉన్నప్పుడు కూడా, మనం ఏ సమస్యనైతే మెదడుకి అందించామో.... దాన్ని విశ్లేషిస్తూనే ఉంటుంది. శబ్దంతో ఒత్తిడి ఇప్పటివరకూ నిశ్శబ్దం గురించి చెప్పుకొన్నాం కాబట్టి, ఇప్పుడు శబ్దం వల్ల ఏర్పడే ఫలితం కూడా ఓసారి చూద్దాం. చుట్టూ అదేపనిగా శబ్దాలు వినిపిస్తూ ఉంటే శరీరం, ఒత్తిడిని కలిగించే రసాయనాలను (stress hormones)ను విడుదల చేస్తుందని తేలింది. గాఢ నిద్రలో ఉన్నా కూడా పక్కనే వినిపించే శబ్దాలకు మెదడు కంగారుపడుతూనే ఉంటుందట. నిరంతరం రణగొణధ్వనుల మధ్య ఉండే పిల్లల్ని గమనించినప్పుడు.... ఆ శబ్దాలు వారి చదువు, ఎదుగుదల, తెలివితేటల మీద తీవ్రమైన ప్రభావం చూపుతున్నట్లు తేలింది. ఆ శబ్దాలకు అలవాటుపడిన పిల్లలు ఆఖరికి ఎదుటివారు ఏం మాట్లాడుతున్నారో కూడా విశ్లేషించే సామర్థ్యాన్ని కోల్పోతున్నారట!   ఏతావాతా... నిశ్శబ్దకరమైన వాతావరణంలో ఉండే ప్రయత్నం చేయడం, మనమూ మౌనంగా ఉండటం వల్ల అద్భుతమైన ఫలితాలు ఉంటాయని తేలిపోయింది! అందుకే రెండు నిమిషాల పాటు మంచి సంగీతాన్ని విన్నప్పుడు కలిగే హాయికంటే, రెండు నిమిషాల పాటు మౌనంగా ఉన్నప్పుడ పొందే ప్రశాంతతే ఎక్కువని తేల్చారు పరిశోధకులు.

Coping up with Graying!

Well graying of hair is pretty natural, it is considered normal when it occur with age. It is considered premature when the first grays appear by 20s in Americans and by 30s in American-Africans, while in Asians the cut-off is by mid 20s. By naturally people are known to go salt and pepper by the age of 50. Gray is caused to the failure of the cells to produce the pigments that keep the hair strands black. Rarely graying is caused by medical conditions like pituitary disorders, thyroid disorders and vitamin B deficiencies. However, to the contrary to our beliefs graying not at all related to stress. But our genetic make-up plays a major role in graying of our hair. Graying can be fought back if the underlying medical condition can be corrected. It is just not the scalp hair that goes gray but also the eyelashes and eyebrows. The gray hair is frizzier than the normal hair. The measures include; intake of food rich in vitamin B, or the B complex supplements, dyeing is one way or concealing with touch up products. Some of the kitchen remedies; Tea aids in restoring the natural color, black teas work best for darker hues, chamomile for blondes, and rooibos for redheads. The potato skins also act as natural coloring agents, the peels are to be boiled in water cooled down is to be pour after hair washing and conditioning; and rinsed off with lukewarm water.   -Koya Satyasri

The itchy Eczema!!

  Eczema is one of the most embarrassing and irritating medical condition, wherein the skin is inflamed and irritated. The most commonly form of eczema is atopic dermatitis, due to which we are genetically prone to allergies such as asthma, hay fever and other allergic conditions. This is condition usually affects infants more often than adults. The affected infants usually outgrow their eczema within a decade, while adults usually do not get rid of their eczema.   Eczema can affect any part of skin; eczema is almost always accompanied with itching. Itching usually precedes rashes, and these rashes usually appear over face, back of the knees, wrists, hands, or feet. It may also affect other areas as well. The affected areas are scaly, thickened and very dry. In fair-skinned individuals they appear as reddish and brownish patches, while in dark-skinned individual they present as pigmented patches.  Over scratching of the eczema can lead to infections and leave behind ugly scars.   The causes of eczema are not known, but are known to run in families like the allergic conditions like asthma or hay fever. Eczema usually co-exists with allergies or it can be because of defect in skin barriers which leads to loss of moisture and retention of germs. Usually affects, people who are in constant interaction with animal dander and pollen.   The treatment is usually staying away from the allergens, to find out the allergens the physician may perform a simple allergy test. Simple measures like body lotions and moisturizers used over the dampened skin right after bath can be very useful.  --Koya Satyasri

Painful and Sudden Spasms!!

  Spasms are sudden involuntary contractions of a muscle or a group of muscles or hollow organs, mostly accompanied by a burst of pain. It is usually caused by overuse and muscle fatigue, dehydration  and electrolyte abnormalities. The spasm occurs abruptly, usually very painful, and is short-lived. It may be relieved by gently stretching the muscle. Though extremely painful, they resolve by themselves, if recur and fail to resolve then medical attention should be sought.   In certain hallow organs; the smooth muscles in the walls go into spasms causing significant pain which should not be neglected. The pain might be colicky, as in the pain comes and goes off, the most common causes being pain associated with menstrual cramps, diarrhea, gallbladder pain, and passing a kidney stone.   The management includes prevention, which holds a high place. As a part of it keeping well hydrated is the best medicine, this doesn’t mean filling up with water but also loading in essential minerals, and also giving adequate rest to the muscles. Medications usually prescribed are painkillers and followed by physiotherapy or slow mobilization. In advanced cases, Botox injections to paralyze the affected muscle and relieve the spasm. --Koya Satyasri

Driving away Impurities – Detoxification!

  Of late, the spotlight has been focused on detoxification. Well it is process of eliminating toxins and impurities from the body. It has been an imminent part of Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine systems from centuries; detoxification is about resting, cleansing and nourishing the body from the inside out. By kicking out the toxins and loading in the nutrients, detoxifying can help protect you from disease and renew your ability to maintain optimum health.   Literally, detoxification is cleansing the body. This includes the process of eliminating impurities from lungs, kidneys, liver, intestines, lymphatic systems and skin. The detox process includes; resting the organs through fasting, stimulating the systems to clear out the toxins, improving the circulation and replenishing the nutrient stores.   Well it is advisable to detox at least once a year, keeping in mind the amount of adulteration and contamination of the environment. There are some signs that call for immediate detoxification; unexplained fatigue, mental confusion, allergies, irritated skin, puffy eyes, bloating and frequent episodes of illnesses.   The process is taken up by juice fasting, and it is NOT advisable for nursing mothers, children, and patients suffering from chronic degenerative diseases, cancer or tuberculosis; without medical supervision! --Koya Satyasri

Clearing the slush from Liver

Liver is one the most hardworking organ apart from heart; it helps in keeping the body fluids free of toxins not just that it also releases digestive enzyme which aid in absorption of nutrients. Basically liver regulates each any everything that comes into body it utilizes whatever it can while eliminating the useless things, these are recognized as harmful! When liver is over-burdened with work of getting rid of toxins or harmful stuff it surfaces certain symptoms such as; headaches, lethargy, irregular digestion, weight gain, fatigue, skin discoloration or pain in the right upper abdomen. The non-diet method i.e., by making some changes in the food habits rather than cutting down on food, of keeping our liver toxin burden free are: Keeping away any amount and any type of alcohol. Enormous amounts of water with a slice of lemon act as a water filtration system. Eating good quality foods rather counting on calories, such as leafy greens packed with magnesium, chlorophyll, Vitamins A and C, along with fresh vegetables and fresh fruits. Taking supplements is also essential, B vitamin and selenium are important since they help metabolize substances in the body that help keep your liver healthy.  Certain foods are liver-friendly. Garlic rich in allicin and selenium are the natural liver cleansers. Citrus fruits high in vitamin C and selenium aid in liver cleansing activities. Beet and carrots rich in flavonoids and beta-carotene stimulate liver functions. The beverage – green tea has antioxidant assist liver function. The wondrous avocados glutathione, a compound that is necessary for the liver to cleanse harmful toxins. Apples are rich in pectins which eliminate toxins cutting down the work of liver.   -Koya Satyasri

The well-guided – Duke Diet!!

The idea of the Duke Diet is – Weight loss is much easier and more effective if done under the supervision of an experienced support team, which would include; nutritionists, exercise physiologists, medical doctors, and psychologists to help us change our eating and exercise habits. It is rather easy to join in a centre, where the specialists are approachable; nevertheless the online programs are also quite effective. The duke diet plan is a low-carb and low calorie diet, it is a well known fact that fruits and vegetables are not only packed with disease-fighting nutrients, but they're also great for losing weight and maintaining weight loss. These are also packed with fiber and water, thus producing satiety and reducing our appetite. By filling more than 50% of our plate with fruits and vegetables, there is less room for junk food. Maintaining schedule is also very essential, studies have revealed that we have failed to recognize the hunger clues, thereby over-indulgence into meals. It is advisable to have five to six small meals. The emotional eating is yet another obstacle in our path; we should cross-check with our mind, if we are hungry? If we are feeling low? What else can substitute it? Keeping a record of what and when are we eating, this aids in balancing out diet and counting on the calories too. Even though we stick to the diet of 1,200 to 1,800 calorie plan, occasional indulgence into sweets is exempted, but it need not be followed by over exercise or starving. Over all, this plan requires good motivation, to stick to the plan and physical exercise!   -Koya Satyasri

Hamptons Diet!

This diet is midway between Atkins diet and South Beach diet, while some believe it to be an upgraded version of Atkins diet. It was put forth by the New Yorkers. This is a low-carbohydrate diet, where the carbohydrate allowance is based on the weight loss targeted, to reach a goal of shedding more than 10 pounds then 40g or less carbohydrates are allowed, when the target is less than 10 pounds about 60g  of carbohydrate is served. This diet focuses more on the quality of food rather than quantity of food; by good quality of food we mean restricted carbohydrates, lean proteins and fats mostly mono-unsaturated fats. The differentiating factor is the inclusion of Macadamia nut oil, from most of the low-carb diets. The diet promotes the consumption of salmon and fish rich in omega-3-fatty acids. Nuts are the best friends of people on this regime. Fruits, vegetables, and grains are limited since they are high in carbohydrate. Special supplements are recommended to boost levels of nutrients such as chromium, carnitine, and essential fatty acids. Since this is an extreme diet, like this carbohydrate restricted one, are not very healthy choices, but may produce instant results. The Hamptons diet is a regime for people with plentiful money as the basic oil used the Macadamia oil is very expensive. Moreover it is not very well-balanced as it is devoid of fruits and vegetables!   -Koya Satyasri

The charming diet - South Beach Diet!

This is one of the recent diet plans promoted by cardiologist Arthur Agatston, in the year 2003. This diet has its origins from the glamorous city of Miami, thus also called as modified low-carbohydrate diet. It emphasizes eating high-fiber, low-glycemic carbohydrates, unsaturated fats, and lean protein, and high-fiber foods making the diet nutrient dense. Though it is a low-carbohydrate diet but the carbohydrate content is not as low as typical low-carbohydrate diet. At least 140 grams of carbohydrate is allowed for consumption unlike typical low-carbohydrate diet allowing up to 100 grams. The foods with low glycemic index are more likely to be included than the high glycemic index foods. Evidences have shown that high glycemic foods tend to increase your blood sugar faster, higher and longer than do foods with a lower index, moreover high blood sugar boosts the appetite, thus predisposing to over-eating, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The South Beach Diet plan can be followed in a step-wise pattern. It has three phases: The first phase is designed to reduce the cravings of high sugar and refined starched foods, which kick starts the weight loss. It is followed by a phase wherein whole-grain foods are added to achieve the target weight. The final phase includes maintenance phase which includes lifestyle modifications. This is one such diet which can be followed through out. As there is no calorie count or prohibited foods!!    -Koya Satyasri