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Gums Care

  Dental problems are often kept on back burner till they become unmanageable and more painful. Gums issue stand first in such cases. But not all gum problems arise from teeth issues. It is said that when people are too tensed or stressed out then too gums swell and painfully bleed. When our mind is in deep depression,and we have no one to share and come out,that may give rise to gum's sensitivity.   If not treated in right time then it will spoil the teeth too(,cause they are the ones which hold the teeth tight). So, when ever you have pain in gum,just stop and think if you are in any sort of stress,if you find one,check it. If the pain still persists then do visit the Dentist as soon as possible. Keeping the dental problem in a pending track will lead to lose of teeth one by one. Keep the gums clean, massage them with salt once in a week,and use mouth wash too once in a week.Keep your health in priority list,or else it will keep you in patients list every now and then. Happy Gumming!!!! ..... Pushpa Bhaskar

THE GREAT DEBATE OF TEA

  Tea is the most widely consumed drink after water! `Camellia sinensis`- which we popularly call as tea leaves have been used to make a decoction since 5000 years!!! In some places tea used to be consumed as a beverage, and in some places as a medicine. Though the intake of tea has been for centuries in North India… its consumption has gained momentum after the British has introduced it in the 18th century. When it was found that places like Assam and Darjeeling are highly suitable for tea plantation, the Indian Tea Board started promoting tea post-independence.     Contents: Caffeine constitutes almost 2-3 percent of dry tea powder. Its exact composition depends on the environment and process under which the powder was made. Caffeine is known to be the most popular stimulant of our nervous system. However the content of caffeine in tea can be considered safe. Caffeine is considered toxic only if a person takes more than 10 grams of it. But, the amount of caffeine in a glass of tea (125ml) would not exceed 50mg… which means we have to take at least 200 cups of tea per day to prove it lethal!  Apart from the caffeine, stimulants such as Theophylline and Theanine were also present in the tea in small quantities. Traces of aluminum and fluoride can also be found in the tea which finds their place in the tea leaves through the water.   Medicinal properties: There is a huge debate regarding the health benefits of tea. Tea is found to decrease the risk of diabetes, cancer, cardio-vascular diseases and what not! But very few studies found enough evidence to promote the medicinal benefits of tea. Moreover A 2007 study published in the `European Heart Journal` stated that the beneficial effects are lost when milk is added to the decoction. Whenever a study on tea gets published, people often ignore to observe the TEA mentioned in it. The tea we consume is different from the Black tea and Black tea is different from the Herbal tea.  At far, tea can be considered as a best beverage to increase alertness in us. The anti oxidants present in the tea might be of some help for us to stay healthy. But to give a conclusion- Tea is not a miracle drug!   Consumption: Tea is a sort of addiction for us. Apart from keeping us alert… it serves as a time to relax. Having tea together would be a great occasion to spend some time with friends and relatives. Hosting tea parties were found to bring people together, serving as a social bondage. But over intake of tea if harmful right from our teeth to our kidneys! Consuming too much of tea might provide our body with more calories (through sugar and milk) and fluoride (through decoction) which is not a healthy sign. `The safe levels of tea to be consumed` is a topic for another debate. It depends on the size and nature of the drink. We Indians normally consume tea in lower quantities (sometimes as low as 80ml). So 6 cups of tea per day might be concluded as a safe limit. - Nirjara.

Water- The nectar of life!

Man can surive without food for a few weeks, but he can’t live without water for more than a week. In most of the cases, death would be a certainity within 3-5 days of living without water. Our body needs water for many reasons. It’s the main component in our blood which carries oxygen and nutrients, to all over the body. It retains the lubrication in our joints letting them to move freely. Most of us ignore the amount of water lost through evaporation. Too much of water gets excreted from our body through vapour and sweat. The daily requirement of water is to some extent compensated by the food we take. Food like fresh fruits and milk would certainly contribute to the water levels in our body. However experts advice to take atleast two litres of water everyday to let our body fulfilled with its liquid requirements.   Some of the effects of water that we often ignore would certainly let us be aware to intake enough water…. In obesity: If you are in the habit of taking much of food than needed- water might do some trick. Having  good amount of water, a half an hour before meals would let your stomach feel full. Moreover some people even get confused thirst with hunger. They eat food when they feel hungry. So when you are on a diet, drinking water often might drive you towards the goal of slimness. For a glow: Water improves moisture in the skin. Enough water in the blood cells would help in flushing out  the toxins present in the blood, which would result in lesser acne. Plenty of water is suggested in any ailment that’s related to skin. People who has dry skin are advised to take much water to retain the elasticity and moisture in their skin. Kidneys: Kidneys as we know purifies our blood and excretes the waste through urine. Plenty of water would ease them to work better. The condition of stones forming in kidneys, are often associated with drinking less water. That’s the reason why doctors give the advice of drinking much water, to the patients with stones in kidneys. Rejuvinate: Tiredness is the first symptom of dehydration. Having enough water all through the day would keep us fresh. Our body gets dried out easily in cases of physical strain, which is the reason why athletes and labourers take plenty of water in intervals. Not drinking enough water after a physical workout might result anything  from a normal muscle cramp to a stroke. And a lots more… Drinking plenty of water is found to be highly effective during the common cold and cough. Warm water is certainly known to dissolve the phelm in our throat. Taking water at enough intervals is known to retain a jubilant mood among us. As we know that our brain consists of more than 60 percent of water, having enough water would let it function better. Drinking adequate water would also help the digestion and secretion of the foods we take. The benefits of water would certainly reiterate the need to have enough water regularly without any negligence. People often forget to drink enough water even in cases they feel thirsty due to stress in their work or sheer negligence to get up from the seat. So let’s take a bottle of water with us, whenever we move and wherever we work!   - Nirjara.

WANT TO RELAX POST FESTIVAL??

Nine days of pooja ,nine days of cooking and too much of sweets and oil food,nine days of Dandia ,Garba and Bathkamma,nine days of friends and relatives at home,i know your body is asking for break. And it really deserves one. Dasera being a extended festival for 9 days,asks for more attention of your brain and body. So once its done your body and brain should be given a little rest by all means. take out time for yourself  do some relaxing morning walks, yoga, pranayama etc,they surely reduce our stress levels. Coming to house hold cleaning, take some time to jump into this process. Go to your favorite place be it a park, a film, or any place of your choice. Unwind yourselves from all the pressure you have created for the festival arrangements.Take a break from regular cooking and all regular things you do. Go slow,let the body re create the energy lost. All the above said things dose'nt need a weeks time,just a day or two is more than enough.  Once you get this rest you can bounce back into your regular routine. Most of the women feel guilty to take a break or rest for a while. They should remember that even a machine needs resting time,after all we are human, so take it and come back with added energy into your regular life style. Keep rocking!! Happy Relaxing !!! .....Pushpa Bhaskar

THE HEALING FLOWERS OF BATUKAMMA

After all the literature, movements and the media presentations that revolved around Batukamma, probably everyone knows much about the festival. The festival is celebrated at a perfect time where the nature blooms with flowers. Handling the flowers while making Batukamma, spending around them for hours together and submerging them in the village lakes would certainly benefit people, with the medicinal properties associated with the flowers. Some of the flowers that are extensively available and widely used in Batukamma are as follows. And the medicinal properties for which they are known are mentioned. This was intended only for the general awareness and the practical application should always be carried under the guidance of an expert. Marigold: Marigold is called as `Banti` in Telugu language. The official name of Marigold which is `Calendula officinalis` is well known for the homoeopaths! Calendula is well known for its miraculous work on the skin. The extractions of Calendula were used widely in Homoeopathy for the treatment of scars and wounds. It’s supposed to soothe the skin and shield it from bacteria. Due to the antiseptic properties, calendula is often used as first aid for the cuts and bruises. From ointment to soap calendula is variedly used in Homoeopathy. Chrysanthemum: its popular name in Telugu is `Chamanti`. We might not heard about the `Chrysanthemum tea`, but it’s the popular drink in the East Asian countries like China, Vietnam and Malaysia. The decoction made with the dried flowers of Chrysanthemum is believed to be helpful in various ailments. From Headache to Osteoporosis, the tea made out of Chrysanthemum if known to be highly beneficial. Some species of Chrysanthemum are even used as for soup and the petals of the flowers are used for garnishing the dishes. Chrysanthemum is known to increase the blood flow to the heart. It may also increase sensitivity to insulin. The organic compounds extracted from the flower called `pyrethrins` were used as insecticides. As an insecticide pyrethrins work on the nervous system of the insects and destroy them. Lotus: Though many herbal benefits are associated with the lotus… the mentionable one is its cooling effect. The leaves of lotus are used as a packing material by our ancestors to keep the edibles fresh. The leaves and the paste of the lotus flowers are generally applied to control the body heat during the conditions like fever and inflammation.  Any disorder that is associated with skin can be relieved when the leaves and flowers of lotus are kept over it. They are also known to moisture our skin and keep it fresh apart from increasing its complexion. Cockscomb: Called as `Gunugu` in Telugu, and with the scientific name of `celosia argentea`, cockscomb is known for varied benefits of health. It’s particularly known to cure the ailments resulting from the internal bleeding such as bloody stools. It’s also found to be beneficial in diseases of stomach such as diarrhea. Cockscomb is even known to be a great `ophthalmic` which means, it is highly beneficial for the eyes. Its extract is known to sooth the problems of eyes such as bloodshot eyes and blurry vision. Tanner's Cassia: Known as `Tangedu` in Telugu, this plant is used commonly in ayurvedic practice. Though various parts of this plant is used to heal various symptoms, The decoction of its buds is used to control diabetics. The flowers are used to treat excess bleeding during menstruation. - Nirjara

FACTS ABOUT IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional disorder in the world. According to the World Health Organization 30% of the total world's population has iron deficiency anemia. In the developing world the numbers may be a lot higher. Indian women especially are noted to have this deficiency in large numbers.   Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia include - • Fatigue • Shortness of breath • Headache • Irritability • Dizziness • Craving for ice or clay • Weight loss ABSORPTION OF IRON Generally, about 10 to 15% of iron in the diet is absorbed by the body, though individual variations occur. The human body is calibrated to maintain iron levels/stores within normal limits. Thus, absorption increases in individuals who are iron deficient and decreases in normal individuals to prevent iron overload. Heme iron, found in meat, poultry and fish is much better absorbed by the body than non heme iron found in vegetables, legumes, grains and fruits. Consequently, vegetarians are sometimes at increased risk for developing iron deficiency. Eating heme iron or foods rich in vitamin C in a meal, enhances absorption of non heme iron consumed in the same meal. Vegetarians must be careful to include foods that contain vitamin C such as oranges, orange juice, lemon juice, cantaloupe, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes and bell peppers in their meals to enhance absorption of iron. Tea and coffee decrease iron absorption in a meal and should be only consumed within a gap of 1-2 hours at least before or after intake of food. Most often iron supplements are recommended to combat this problem by physicians, however it needs to be within the limits. IRON TOXICITY/ POISONING Too much iron is also harmful and can result in a condition called hemochromatosis. Iron overload can even be fatal. That is why though dietary iron intake is safe, iron supplements should be taken only under the advice of a physician. (especially children - ALWAYS KEEP IRON SUPPLEMENTS OUT OF CHILDREN'S REACH). SYMPTOMS OF IRON POISONING: • Fatigue • Anorexia • Dizziness • Nausea • Vomiting • Headache • Weight loss • Shortness of breath • Grayish color to the skin   Courtesy Glow With Health Wellness Solutions

Honey! Honey!

Honey was associated with the mankind for over 5000 years. People have been well aware of its medicinal properties in their day to day lives. The Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese and Indians have counted honey as a part of their traditional medicine. Though a lot is said and heard about honey, here are a few benefits which were well accepted and proved to be accurate.   Cough: Honey was found to be a remedy like a cough syrup. Honey in warm water or honey along with lemon seems to have a soothing relief for the patients. It was found to be effective in relieving even from the ailments associated with the respiratory track such as bronchitis. Honey was found to form a protective layer in the throat to counter act the cough. Wounds:  In a 2005 study published in the British Journal of Surgery, a case was mentioned in which the patients when applied with honey on their wounds had remarkable recovery. Being a natural antibiotic and antifungal, it would keep the wound clean and safe from the invading organisms. As we are not sure of the purity of the honey in our kitchen, it is not advisable to apply it on open wounds without a professional advice. However honey can be applied to the scalp as an effective solution to fight the dandruff. Memory:  Having a good and consistent memory is a dream of every one. Honey contains a good amount of antioxidants which are good for our immune system along with our neurons. Honey helps the body to absorb the calcium much effectively. In some cases it was even advised to take honey along with calcium supplements. Calcium as we know is good for our bones and brains. Digestion: Honey is known for its pro biotic bacteria which is often called the friendly bacteria. The natural contamination of honey can prove dangerous to infants. But for the grownups, honey acts as a healer of ulcers that were present in their intestines. It also acts a mild laxative and regulates the bowel movements. Instant Energy:  If you are not diabetic and looking for instant energy, a spoon of honey might be handy. Honey contains two kinds of sugars- glucose and fructose. Glucose in honey gets absorbed immediately by the body giving us instant energy while the fructose gets absorbed slowly resulting in sustained levels of energy. Athletes who get fatigue often prefer honey.   Honey is related to a long list of properties that’s hard to accommodate in a few pages. From insomnia to cancer honey was always suggested as a remedy. But certainly a spoon of honey a day might be good for our health along with our taste buds! --Nirjara

Eat Right

If you start loving yourself more than loving "Junk" food you can see the difference it creates in life on your overall well being! Try it yourself, rest be assured you are not going to lose anything when junk is thrown out. courtesy Glow With Health Wellness Solutions

Get Moving for a Healthy Weight during Festive Season

Festive season and you simply cant sit worrying about your bloated tummy and increased weight, after every festival lunch. If you want to achieve a healthier and leaner body, then there is only one best way around, You have to Get Moving !!! Where you have to start and what to start with is determined by your current level of activity...if you are a sedentary type of person, then begin with Brisk Walking, 3-4 times a week..if you have been there already, step it up to the next level, Light Jogging or increase your walking speed and no.of days you walk in a week. If you are using a treadmill or an elliptical, then pump it up to a longer duration. Or change the type of workout once your body gets comfortable with the current workout type. Try cycling, swimming, light jogging or floor exercises along side your regular speed walking schedule.   Here is a sample workout schedule for the Beginners, those in the Intermediate level and for those in the advanced level: Beginners: to begin with Brisk Walking * Week 1- 15minutes a day- 3 times a week * Week 2- 20minutes a day- 4 times a week * Week 3- 30minutes a day- 4 times a week * Week 4- 45minutes a day- 5 times a week Intermediate Level: to Step up to Cycling or Slow Jogging * Week1- 20minutes a day- 3 times a week * Week2- 30minutes a day- 4 times a week * Week3- Increase cycling or Jogging speed- 20 minutes a day- 4 times a week * Week4- continue same speed- 30 minutes a day- 5 times a week Advanced Level: try a totally new workout type. Simultaneosly, you have to eat healthy and avoid fatty foods, consume 8-9 glasses of water in a day. It is very important to build and maintain good muscles during healthy weight management.   --Pratyusha

Get Some Exercise At Work!

If you feel that your sedentary work style is adding calories to your body, discover some ways in which you can burn calories while doing your work at your desk. These are nothing but simple changes in the way you do things at office. The first and the most simple thing you can do at your desk is a leg exercise. Put your feet firmly on the ground and sit straight. Now lift your legs parallel to the ground and hold them there for 7-10 seconds. Don’t stop with doing it once. Repeat it ten times and you will burn many calories without your knowledge. Another way of burning calories, which we have all forgotten is walking! Even at work, we must seek opportunities to walk whenever possible. The reduced amount of walking in our lives is because of advancements in technology, that require us to move less. You can always change this if you want to. Simply walk to your colleague’s desk if you want to say something to him or her. Avoid using emails to communicate. Did you know that you can burn as many as 100 calories by just smiling for 20 minutes in a day? Yes, its true, smiling for 20 minutes in instalments can help you get rid of calories while keeping you and others in a pleasant mood. Instead of sipping your tea or coffee at your desk, use this time to walk around a little. Get some fresh air for as long as you enjoy your refreshment. Once you are done, you can get back to work. This will give your body some movement and avoid storage of fat. If you think you cant spare time during working hours, try to do something on the way to work. Park your vehicle at a distance from your office and take brisk walk to cover that distance. This way will ensure some exercise to your body at least twice a day. These tricks will help you stay fit and sedentary life will not deteriorate your health any more!   Kruti Beesam

Article 2 - Me, I, I am Exploring within

  Friends, when we are born, the first few months and for some who are lucky enough, for the first few years we are with ourselves. Whatever's happening around doesn't really effect us. We don't have the fear of being judged. We don't have the fear of hunger. Things just happen. We don't doubt if we will be taken care of. As we grow older, we slowly start comparing ourselves with our sibblings, parents, etc.  We begin to resemble   we slowly start identifying ourselves with people around us. As we start observing people around us we slowly start identifying ourselves with our environment, people and situations. I think this is quite a natural process for all of us. So let us all accept and agree the way life unfolds. Everything would be fine  for all of us, we see happiness in people, situations and things around us. We start thinking that they are the reason for our happiness. Slowly we want reasons to be happy, until we see these very acceptable situations become unacceptable and pose difficulties in our lives. We find reasons outside us for our miseries and difficult situations too. Because of the HABIT that we slowly develop of looking around for whatever is happening, we start looking for the causes for our difficulties. We start blaming people, situations and some times our own karma for the troubles we face. Little do we know that this blame game only worsens our situations! By blaming, I believe there is only one relief, responsibility of acting on the problem. We wait for the situations or people to change to get relief from our problem-which never happens. In some cases, even if situations and people change you will notice the problem still persists, at your personal level, the suffering is still there. So now the question arises as to how we can overcome these problems or difficult situations? And the answer is very simple. TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY! It's a simple three word sentence! But, let me tell you though this sounds very heavy, painful and difficult, once the responsibility is taken you can experience lightness. You feel as though the responsibilities on your shoulders are all at once gone! To start with, you can take responsibility for small difficulties in our lives. Let's make it a HABIT. It could start with things as trivial as-when your little one drops the half empty glass and you have to clean up or when your child hurriedly comes up to you in the morning for a signature and it's almost getting late to catch the school bus. When I score less marks. Or when the child scores less marks.   It's MY RESPONSIBILITY to allow the child finish drinking first and then pickup the glass myself. It's MY RESPONSIBILITY  to check the kids diary before they go to bed. It's MY RESPONSIBILITY  that I could have given more try to my self in preparing for the exam. It's MY RESPONSIBILITY to ale the child understand. Make sure you feel lightness on your shoulders when you say to yourself "it's MY RESPONSIBILITY ". Otherwise you may be either feeling a bit too guilty or the situation is too hard to take the responsibility. So  in such case allow and respect the feeling that come naturally and takes even smaller trouble.   There is a hidden lesson in all the difficulties and troubles we face. Once we take it as "MY RESPONSIBILITY " the lessons can be learnt very easily and there are more chances that the lessons will be clearly visible. Once we are firm with the affirmation " IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY " with more and more smaller things in life, experiencing the lightness,  we are slowly paving path to prepare ourselves I accepting and learning from life's tougher situations.   nagavalli

'Milk Does Your Body Good' - big lie!!

  'Milk Does Your Body Good' - big lie!! Unfortunately, the myth that conventional pasteurized milk has health benefits is a persistent one, even though it is far from true. Conventional health agencies also refuse to address the real dangers of the growth hormones and antibiotics found in conventional milk. As far as possible avoid drinking pasteurized milk of any kind, including organic, because once milk has been pasteurized its physical structure is changed in a way that can actually cause allergies and immune problems. Important enzymes like lactase are destroyed during the pasteurization process, which causes many people to not be able to digest milk. Additionally, vitamins (such as A, C, B6 and B12) are diminished and fragile milk proteins are radically transformed from health nurturing to unnatural amino acid configurations that can actually worsen your health. The eradication of beneficial bacteria through the pasteurization process also ends up promoting pathogens rather than protecting you from them.   How about Raw Milk is it healthy? Various means to increase milk production cause induration and infection of the udder (mastitis) resulting in pus and bacteria in the milk. Most dairy farmers try to control certain infections in cows/buffaloes with huge doses of antibiotics, which may also end up in the milk. Children are particularly vulnerable; these antibiotics inhibit the development of the immune system, and cause antibiotic resistance. Despite the antibiotics every glass of milk contains an estimated 1 – 7 drops of pus! Pesticides Pesticides used on the feeds for the animals are concentrated in their milk and meat. The ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) researched milk for 7 years taking 50,000 samples from across India. They found large amounts of DDT, and HCH (an antibiotic that is routinely given to the cows in their feed). Under the food adulteration act only 0.01 mg/kg of HCH is allowed. They found 5.7 mg/kg on an average in milk. In India some pesticide levels can be as high as 570 times the permissible levels! They also found arsenic, cadmium and lead. These cause kidney damage, heart disease, brain damage and cancer. (source-Sharan)     How about losing chance of intake of protein and calcium that comes from Milk?   Our body needs sufficient intake of protein and calcium on a daily basis no doubt and there are many non-milk sources of food from which this intake is manageable!   A very high protein diet is harmful because it increases acid in the body. To neutralize this acid, calcium is leached from the bones, resulting in osteoporosis. Even though cow’s milk contains a high percentage of calcium our body cannot retain much of it because of it’s high protein content. Reports show that osteoporosis is more prevalent in countries with a high milk intake, like the USA and Sweden. (source-Sharan)   courtesy Glow With Health Wellness Solutions

Age Old Drug – Garlic

Garlic has almost 5000 years of stable history as a culinary element as well as a medicinal herb. The Sulfur elements (such as `Allicin`) present in garlic are the major reason for its burning taste and pungent smell. The Indic religions such as Hindu, Buddhist and Jain has cautioned of its excess usage in food. They felt that it would imbalance the temperature in our body and would heighten our desires. But `Allium sativum`- which is the scientific name of garlic proves to be a miracle drug if taken in small quantities.  It is indeed a major drug used in homoeopathic practice. A few of the benefits associated with a regular intake of garlic are…   Blood Pressure: Garlic is known to control hypertension. It is often considered to be as effective as the basic drug administered for B.P in allopathy.  The extract of garlic found to stabilize the blood pressure of the patients just over a period of 6 months.   Cholesterol: Garlic is found to decrease the LDL and increase the HDL cholesterol levels. HDL cholesterol in other words is called as the `good` cholesterol which would decrease the risk of a heart attack. It would not allow any plaque to be accumulated along the arteries, thus lowering the risk of a stroke.   Cancer: A study in 2014 on Korean population showed enough evidence to prove that, people who intake garlic frequently has less risk of a gastric cancer. It’s also believed to work effectively on colon, breast, prostate and lung cancers as well.   Day to day: A study showed that 60– 70% of the symptoms associated with cold have receded within a couple of days after having garlic. The extract of garlic is also found to cure the fungal infections on the skin. It’s also found to be effective in the cases of fever and cough.   Natural pesticide: The extract of garlic if sprayed on the plants can prove to be a perfect pesticide. It’s a common belief for thousands of years, that garlic is a good repellent of insects. In fact, the pungent smell that garlic produces is to protect itself from being consumed by insects and animals.   A regular intake of 2-3 cloves of garlic is found to be useful in obtaining the medicinal benefits from garlic. However garlic is found to increase the body odor, which might affect our social relations. Having garlic cloves roasted or consuming them along with milk might decrease such odor.   -Nirjara

Had a Better Skin

  One of the most important roles of the skin is as a protective barrier against exposure to the elements and environmental pollutants. It is important that you nourish and support your skin in this protective role, whether you are a man or a woman. -Catch some sleep in the name of rest if not beauty Get sufficient beauty sleep. Remember, it’s called “beauty sleep” for a reason and if you are well rested, it is reflected in your skin. On the other hand, if you are tired, your skin looks tired. Unfortunately, tired skin looks old, dull and sallow. A lack of sleep leads to stress which can directly effect how the skin functions. And not in a positive way. In fact, a restless night of sleep can make any current skin conditions you have appear even worse. So, get into a nighttime routine, turn off your devices, TV, phone , computer and your mind and try to get some much needed sleep! -Kick the bad habits Healthy habits = healthy looking skin. Bad habits = not so healthy looking skin. Remember to always follow the obvious rules of skincare. Too much alcohol is dehydrating to the skin. Smoking depletes the oxygen from our skin, which can age it. Lying in the sun without broad-spectrum sunscreen will not only burn the skin, it will age it faster than you can imagine. And eating a diet of junk food and grease will only lead to skin that looks, well, like junk food and grease. So try to kick the bad habits all together if you can. If something isn’t healthy for our bodies as a whole, it certainly isn’t healthy for the skin. The only difference is we can see the effect on our skin and can’t see what’s happening on the inside. Take a daily multivitamin. Cut back on sugary and fatty foods, and choose nutritious ones, instead. And, of course, stay hydrated by drinking sufficient water. This helps hydrate the interior, living layers of skin. It’s all about going back to the basics in the pursuit of healthy looking skin. -Avoid germs at all costs The skin is our first line of defense against all things physical, chemical and environmental. And it also helps to keep germs from entering our body. Germs and bacteria on our skin can cause irritation, blemishes and breakouts. We need to be very conscious of where those pesky little invaders are and destroy them. Carry hand sanitizer with you at all times and, use it. Every time you touch your face you run the risk of transferring germs from your hands to your skin. So hands off. Only dry your skin with a fresh, clean towel and be sure to clean your makeup brushes on a regular basis. Wipe down your cell phone with a bit of hand sanitizer to keep your cheeks free from skin ravishing germs. Keep it clean always This is the most obvious tip of all, but skipping it can be disastrous for your skin. Everyone, man, woman and teen, must wash their face every morning and evening before bedtime. Cleansing helps remove dirt, oil, makeup and germs from the skin. By keeping skin clean and free from impurities you are more likely to fend off breakouts and dull looking skin. Choose a cleanser that is suitable for your skin type and wash away the grime from the day for beautiful soft, smooth, clean skin. Sometimes the obvious things are the ones we tend to forget. Remember, the healthiest skin is always the most beautiful!   courtesy Glow With Health Wellness Solutions

Know The Significance Of Fasting

  Fasting in the month of Shravan is considered very auspicious. Knowing this a lot of Hindus indulge in this activity, in this month. But are they all doing it right? There is a no answer to this as everyone is following their own method. Before taking up a fast, one must know the actual meaning of fasting.It is a method of cleansing your body and also a way of understanding your self control. It does not have to be a traumatic experience. Fasting in this month has a scientific reason along with the religious one. During this month people refrain from eating non vegetarian food. This is because of the simple fact that Shravan falls in the rainy season in which there is a greater possibility of animals carrying diseases in their body. It is also said that, this is the breeding time of many of the marine animals. The female wish could be carrying their eggs and killing an animal when pregnant is considered a greater sin than otherwise. While fulfilling your religious duties, you must not neglect your health. To create a balance in both these aspects, there are a few things you must keep in mind while fasting in this Shravana Masam. It is observed most often that people who fast a lot tend to be on the heavier side. This is because of the habit of eating deep fried snacks, during and after fasting. Most people like to eat things like potatoes, sabudana, fried foods and sweets during this time. Also since you have not eaten for long, you tend to eat more after you break your fast. Since cereals and pulses are not had for the entire month of Shravan, people must include 500-750 ml of milk in their diet along with 30-50 gms of paneer or channa. They must also have a lot of dry fruits during this time. Fasting for the whole month with limited nutrition may cause constipation. To avoid that drink about 8-10 glasses of water per day. Kruti Beesam

Super foods for the stomach..

This monsoon, plan and eat foods that enable fast digestion. Ginger: Ginger contains an active constituent gingerol, which is responsible for its hot, pungent taste, as well as its stimulating and healing properties. Ginger is often used as a therapeutic spice, working on the digestive system by encouraging secretion of digestive enzymes. Fennel: (SAUNF) Fennel contains anethole, which stimulates secretion of digestive and gastric juices. Fennel also contains aspartic acid, which acts as an anti-flatulent. * It is no wonder, many of us are in the habit of chewing fennel seeds after meals. Fennel is a digestive herb with many medicinal and culinary uses. It acts as a popular "after mint". Yoghurt: Yoghurt contains probiotics which are responsible for several activities in the gut; such as producing lactase; killing harmful bacteria and improving digestive tract function. Fenugreek: (METHI) I Fenugreek leaves and seeds assist digestion, help relieve constipation and help overcome flatulence. Tip: You can soak fenugreek seeds overnight and eat them next morning to help relieve you from digestive disorders. Mint: Mint is used as a treatment for indigestion, colic, heartburn and flatulence. It also can stimulate the appetite and cure nausea and headaches. Peppermint tea can help soothe a dry throat. Bay leaf: Bay leaves are used to treat migraines, stress and anxiety. They also improve digestion and help detoxify the system. courtesy Glow With Health Wellness Solutions

Me, I, I am Exploring within

Hi friends welcome to this new article "Me, I, I am exploring within". The articles that would be followed will be a journey together for all of us. In the forthcoming articles we will be discussing different life situations that we face on day today basis. Situations that most of us could very easily relate to........from the moment we get up in the morning to the time we go to bed. In this fast moving life with a very easy access to information we read lot on life style management, better living, quality living so on. Many self help books. And we are really glad to see there is more awareness and people are willing to work in this direction inspite of very busy schedules. In this series we look into little things In our lives that can change our lives in a very big way. How perception about ourselves can change our life and life around us. Most of the time we look around for solutions, but the truth is 'we are the solution'. It's like searching for the keys in the garden when they are inside the house. We will be working on dealing with fear, sadness, anger, guilt and similar emotions that most of us hold within our selves. When we see such emotions popup, let us look into the root cause for all these emotions. It's always important to work, understand and resolve the cause for the rooted emotions which give us more pain than contentment. In the process of understanding the root cause we will know that it's not good to bypass such emotions.   We will see how life can take a 'U' turn once we learn to slowly heal and replace these painful emotions with more good emotions like boldness, calmness, deserving. We learn how life is only about simple things. Tiny things of happiness and gratitude shift our lives to the next level. Respect and allow the life the way it moves instead of forcing it with our emotions and thoughts. To start with let's start with a journal. Let's start writing a journal, first one week lets just write down with what kind of thoughts we get up in the morning. Just before sleeping tell to yourself "I am going to write down the thoughts that cross my mind in the first few minuets after  I wake up". Have the journal and the pen along the bed side. If  you are really not able to define and write down your thoughts, see how your body feel, light heavy, lazy, painful. Look into the body part that pains. A this point if there is any thought do not hesitate to write. In a day or two it will be easy to remember the thoughts   Let us all promise ourselves and do it. And just be a witness and see how the day goes. If time permits it's a good idea to write down few word about how the day was before going to bed. Happy week Nagavalli Cherukuri Rebirther

C vitamin secrets

Morning walk for 20 to 30 minutes keeps a person fit and healthy; however many people complain about not finding time for walks and feel helpless too. But recent research taken place in the area of “health and nutrition” says, if one can consume sufficient amount of Vitamin “C” ,then it gives the same benefit and can save your health. This gives so much of relief to people over there. There are many benefits of vitamin “C”. It protects our bones, helps to build tissues and plays a key role in iron absorption. It is also a very potent antioxidant. “You must make sure that you get your daily dose of vitamin C as it is a water soluble vitamin and not much of it is stored in the body,” say experts. Vitamin C is commonly used to treat cold and related problems. It also helps to cure major issues like,  scurvy and brain related problems. Being a wonderful antioxidant, vitamin C can help us to maintain a healthy body. Vitamin C also helps in absorbing iron in to body quickly, so when ever iron supplements are given with combination of C vitamin this will speed up the absorption process. C vitamin is also called as best anti depression element. It helps for our physical and mental well being as well. Sources of Vitamin C:   * Citrus fruits are the best source for vitamin C. A lime per day gives required amount of Vitamin C. * Bell pepper is also rich in vitamin C * Broccoli is another wonderful vegetable with full of vitamin C. * Papaya is a fruit gives you sufficient vitamin C.  if you can consume a cup of sliced papaya per day it takes care of your C vitamin need. * Strawberries are juicy, containing full of vitamin C. * Tomatoes are also great source of vitamin C and very easy to get. Bhavana

మ‌న ప‌సుపుకుంకుమ‌లు క్షేమ‌మేనా!

  శ్రావ‌ణ మాసం వ‌చ్చిందంటే చాలు ప్రతి హిందూ స్త్రీ కాళ్లకు ప‌సుపుతో, నుదుట కుంకుమ‌తో క‌ళ‌క‌ళ‌లాడుతుంది. అమ్మవారికి పూజ చేయాలన్నా, ముత్తయిదువుల‌కు వాయినాలు ఇవ్వాల‌న్నా, పేరంటాళ్లకు తాంబూలం అందించాల‌న్నా ప‌సుపుకుంకుమ‌లు త‌ప్పనిస‌రి. కానీ మ‌నం వాడుతున్న ఈ ప‌సుపుకుంకుమ‌లు ఎంత‌వ‌ర‌కూ సుర‌క్షితం అంటే కాస్త ఆలోచించ‌క త‌ప్పదు! ఏదో లాంఛ‌నం కోస‌మో, ద‌గ్గర‌లో ఉన్న కొట్లో దొరుకుతోంద‌నో చాలామంది ఏ కుంకుమ‌ని ప‌డితే ఆ కుంకుమ‌ని వాడేస్తుంటారు. ఒంటికి రాసుకునేందుకు కూడా దాన్నే ఉప‌యోగిస్తుంటారు. కానీ ఇప్పటి కుంకుమ మ‌రీ ముదురు ఎరుపు రంగులో ఉండ‌టం, రోజుల త‌ర‌బ‌డి ఆ ఎరుపు ఒంటి మీదే ఉండిపోవ‌టం మ‌నం గ‌మ‌నిస్తూనే ఉంటాం. కుంకుమ‌లో క‌లుపుతున్న కృత్రిమ ప‌దార్థాలే దీనికి కార‌ణం.     మ‌న పెద్దలు కుంకుమ‌ని ఇళ్లలోనే చేసుకునేవారు. ప‌సుపుకి సున్నాన్ని, ప‌టిక‌నీ క‌ల‌ప‌డం ద్వారా కుంకుమ‌ని త‌యారుచేసేవారు. ఉత్తరాంధ్ర వంటి కొన్ని ప్రాంతాల్లో ఎర్రటి రాళ్లను పొడి చేసి కుంకుమ‌గా వాడుకునే సంప్రదాయం కూడా ఉంది. కానీ ఇప్పుడు బ‌జార్లో దొరికే కుంకుమ‌ల్లో అధికభాగం లెడ్‌, మెర్క్యురీ వంటి హానికార‌క ప‌దార్థాల‌ను క‌లుపుతున్నారు. వీటిని ఒంటికి రాసుకున్నప్పుడు ఇందులోని 60 శాతం కెమిక‌ల్స్‌ మ‌న చ‌ర్మం మీద ఉండే సూక్ష్మర‌క్తానాళాల ద్వారా మ‌న శ‌రీరంలోకి వెళ్తాయ‌ని తేలింది. వాటివ‌ల్ల చిన్నపాటి దుర‌ద‌లు మొద‌ల్కొని న‌రాల బ‌ల‌హీన‌త వ‌ర‌కూ చాలా శారీరక ఇబ్బందులు ఏర్పడే ప్రమాదం ఉంది. మ‌రీ మాట్లాడితే కేన్సర్‌కు దారితీయ‌గ‌ల `కార్సినోజ‌న్‌` అనే విభాగం కింద‌కి ఈ ప‌దార్థాల‌ను చేర్చవ‌చ్చు. ఇక చిన్నపిల్లలు ఇలా త‌యారైన కుంకుమ‌ని తెలియ‌క నోట్లో వేసుకుంటే అది విషంగా ప‌రిణ‌మించే ప్రమాదం ఉంది. ఈ ప్రమాదాల‌న్నీ తెలిసితెలిసీ చాలా సంస్థలు ఇష్టమొచ్చిన‌ట్లు కృత్రిమ ర‌సాయ‌నాల‌తో కుంకుమ‌ను త‌యారుచేస్తుంటాయి. త‌యారీ తేలిక‌గా ఉంటుంద‌నో, వినియోగ‌దారుల‌ను ఆక‌ర్షించేలా ఎర్రటి ఎరుపులో ఉంటుంద‌నో, ఎక్కువ‌కాలం నిలువ ఉంటుంద‌నో... కార‌ణం ఏదైనా క‌స్టమ‌ర్ల జీవితంతో ఆడుకుంటూ ఉంటాయి. వీటిని నియంత్రించాల్సిన ప్రభుత్వం కూడా చూసీచూడ‌న‌ట్లు వ్యవ‌హ‌రిస్తూ ఉంటుంది. కుంకుమ ప్యాకెట్ మీద దాని త‌యారీలోకి వాడిన ప‌దార్థాల గురించి ముద్రించాల‌న్న విష‌యాన్ని కూడా ఈ సంస్థలు ప‌ట్టించుకోవు.         దుర‌దృష్టం ఏమిటంటే కుంకుమ‌నే కాదు మ‌న‌వాళ్లు ప‌సుపుని కూడా క‌ల్తీ చేస్తుంటారు. ప‌సుపు ఆ రంగులో ఉండ‌టానికి కార‌ణం `curcumin` అనే స‌హ‌జ‌మైన ప‌దార్థం. కానీ ప‌సుపుని చ‌వ‌గ్గా, ఆక‌ర్షణీయంగా త‌యారుచేసేందుకు `మెటానిల్ ఎల్లో` అనే ర‌సాయ‌నాన్ని క‌లుపుతారు. మెటానిల్ ఎల్లో క‌లిసిన ప‌సుపుని వంట‌లో వాడిన‌ప్పుడు అది మ‌న లివ‌ర్‌ను దెబ్బతీసే ప్రమాదం ఉంది. ఇక శ‌రీరం మీద దీన్ని రాసుకున్నప్పుడు లేనిపోని చ‌ర్మవ్యాధులన్నీ వ‌స్తాయి.   ఇప్పుడు మార్కెట్‌లో దొరికే ప‌సుపుకుంకుమ‌లు ఎంత‌వ‌ర‌కూ సుర‌క్షిత‌మో చెప్పడం అంత తేలిక కాదు. ప‌సుపుని కాస్త వేడినీటిలో వేసి, దానికి కొన్ని చుక్కల హైడ్రోక్లొరిక్ యాసిడ్ వేసిన‌ప్పుడు ఆ నీరు ముదురు రంగులోకి మారితే.... అందులో క‌ల్తీ జ‌రిగింద‌ని చెప్పవ‌చ్చు. కొన్ని సంద‌ర్భాల‌లో వాటి రంగును చూసి వాటిలో కృత్రిమ రంగుల‌ను క‌లిపి ఉంటార‌ని పోల్చుకోవ‌చ్చు. ఏదేమైనా శ‌రీరానికీ, వంట‌ల్లోకీ వాడుకోవాల‌నుకున్నప్పుడు కాస్త ఖ‌రీదు ఎక్కువైనా న‌మ్మక‌మైన సంస్థలు రూపొందించేవాటినే కొనుక్కుంటే మంచిది. ఒక‌వేళ వాటిని శ‌రీరానికి రాసుకున్నప్పుడు అక్కడ చ‌ర్మం ఏమాత్రం తేడా వ‌చ్చినా వెంట‌నే ఆ ప్రాంతాన్ని శుభ్రప‌ర‌చుకోవాలి. ప‌సుపుకుంకుమ‌లు రాసుకున్న కొన్నిరోజుల పాటు ఆ ప్రదేశంలో మంట కానీ దుర‌ద కానీ ఉండి త‌గ్గక‌పోతే వైద్యుడిని సంప్రదించ‌డం మంచిది. ఇక ప‌సుపుకుంకుమ‌లు కంట్లో ప‌డ‌కుండా జాగ్రత్త తీసుకోవాలి. అలాగే చిన్నపిల్లల‌కు వాటిని దూరంగా ఉంచాలి.  - నిర్జర‌.