Whole Grains and Gains   Eating healthy has always been the cliche but how to switch and how to sustain the change has not been an easy thing. However, people these days have learnt it the hard way and many are making changes to their eating habits and lifestyles, all for living healthier and longer. Making sudden changes is also not good as the body is not so used to eating low sodium, low sugar and low carb diets and might suffer with shocks. Smaller and more manageable changes are suggested by the Doctors across the world. Start with the staples, if you hail from countries that offer rice, shift to Brown rice and whole wheat slowly, if you come from the Western world that has bread as staple, eating whole grain breads and cereals helps kick off your so-called 'resolution- lifestyle for 2015' , which i hope we all continue as long as possible. According to The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in America, whole grains can improve blood pressure and gastrointestinal health, promote heart health, and lower the risk of prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Recommended daily portions are 3 to 5 servings of whole grains for adults and 2 to 3 servings for children. - Prathyusha Talluri

 రచ్చ గెలిచిన తులసి     తులసిలోని ఔషధ గుణాల గురించి ప్రత్యేకంగా చెప్పుకోనక్కరలేదు. ఈ పెరట్లోని మొక్క ఎన్నో రకాలుగా, ఆరోగ్యం వరప్రదాయినిగా నిరూపించబడింది ఇప్పటికే. అయితే ఈ మధ్యకాలంలో ఇజ్రాయిల్‌కి చెందిన శాస్త్రవేత్తలు తులసితో సరికొత్త ప్రయోగం చేశారు. సాధారణంగా ఆహారాన్ని నిల్వ ఉంచేందుకు ఎంత జాగ్రత్తగా ప్యాకింగ్ చేసినా, ఇ.కొలి, లిస్టెరియో వంటి బ్యాక్టీరియా కారణంగా ఆహారం త్వరగా పాడైపోతూ ఉంటుంది. ఇలా ఆహారం పాడైపోకుండా ఉంచే గుణం తులసిలో ఉన్నట్టు గుర్తించారు వారు. తులసి మొక్క నుంచి తీసిన రెండు రసాయనాలతో అంటే మిథైల్ ఛేవికల్, ఆల్కహాల్ లినలూల్‌లతో ప్లాస్టిక్ రేపర్‌ను తయారు చేసేందుకు ప్రయత్నించారు.  తులసి మొక్క నుంచి తీసిన రసాయనాలతో ప్లాస్టిక్ రేపర్‌ను తయారు చేసి, అందులో ఆహారాన్ని నిల్వ చేస్తే, ఆ ఆహారం చెడిపోకుండా ఎక్కువ కాలం ఉంటునట్లు గుర్తించారుట. పైగా ఈ తులసి వాసన ఆహారానికి పట్టక పోవటాన్ని కూడా గుర్తించారుట. అలాగే ఈ తులసి రేపర్స్ వలన ఆహారం కూడా కలుషితం కాదు. అలాగే తులసి నుంచి తీసిన రసాయనాలు ఎనిమిది రకాల బ్యాక్టీరియాలతో పోరాడతాయని గుర్తించారు పరిశోధకులు. పెరట్లో తులసిమొక్క వుంటే చాలు ఆరోగ్యం మీ స్వంతం అవుతుంది అని మన పెద్దవాళ్ళు చెబుతుంటే మనం వినిపించుకోవటం లేదు. కానీ ఇప్పుడు ఇజ్రాయిల్ శాస్త్రవేత్తలు  తులసిలో ఎన్నో ఔషధ గుణాలు ఉన్నాయని నొక్కిచెబుతుంటే నమ్మకుండా ఎలా వుంటాం.   -రమ    

 ఇది తింటే ఆరోగ్యం ‘పెరుగు’తుంది! పెరుగు లేనిదే మన భోజనం పూర్తికాదు, పెరుగు బలమని నమ్ముతారు కూడా. అయితే పెరుగు వేడి చేస్తుంది, మజ్జిగగా చిలకరిస్తే మంచిది అని నమ్ముతారు చాలామంది. అలాగే పెరుగు తింటే లావు అవుతామేమోననే భయమూ చాలా మందికి వుంటుంది. కానీ, పెరుగు కొవ్వుకు కారణం కాకపోగా, పెరుగు తిన్నాక చాలాసేపు కడుపు నిండుగా ఉండి, చిరుతిండ్లకు దూరంగా ఉండే అవకాశం కూడా వుందట. పెరుగును ‘ప్రో బయోటిక్’ ఆహారం అంటారు. అంటే లైవ్ బ్యాక్టీరియా కలిగిన పదార్ధమన్నమాట. కాబట్టి తరచుగా పెరుగు తింటుంటే లక్షలాది ప్రోబయోటిక్ బ్యాక్టీరియాను సమకూర్చుకుంటున్నట్లే. పెరుగులో లభించే ఈ బ్యాక్టీరియా  పూర్తిస్థాయి ఆరోగ్యానికి ఎంతో అవసరం. పెరుగుని జీవాహారం అంటారు. తాజా పెరుగుని రోజూ ఆహారంలో  చేరిస్తే పేగుల్లోని ‘ఫ్లోరా’ అనే బ్యాక్టీరియా సమతౌల్యంగా ఉంటుందిట. అలాగే ఖనిజాలని, ‘బి’ విటమిన్‌లోని  సింథసిస్‌ను శరీరం త్వరగా గ్రహించే శక్తిని కూడా పెరుగు అందిస్తుంది. ఇంకా అనారోగ్యానికి కారణమయ్యే బ్యాక్టీరియాతో పోరాడే శక్తి కూడా పెరుగుకు వుంటుదిట. అనేక స్థాయుల్లో ఇన్ఫెక్షన్లపై పోరాడేందుకు రోగనిరోధక వ్యవస్థకు సహకరిస్తూ పరిరక్షణ పదార్ధంగా కూడా పెరుగు పనిచేస్తుంది. ఇక పెరుగులో కాల్షియం ఎక్కువగా వుంటుంది కాబట్టి ఎముకలకు, పళ్ళకు మేలు జరుగుతుంది. ఎప్పుడైనా చాలా టెన్షన్‌గా, అలసటగా ఉంటే ఓ కప్పు పెరుగు కానీ, చిక్కటి మజ్జిగ గానీ తాగితే చాలు. అలాగే మానసిక అనారోగ్యాల్ని తగించటంలో పెరుగు ఎంతో సహకరిస్తుందిట. ఇక పిల్లలకి చిన్నతనంలో వచ్చేవి ఎక్కువ శాతం ఎలర్జీలకు ఆస్తమా వంటి వాటికి ఇది చక్కటి ఔషధంగా పనిచేస్తుంది. ఒక్కమాటలో చెప్పాలంటే రోగనిరోధక వ్యవస్థను బలోపేతం చేస్తుంది. సంపూర్ణ ఆరోగ్యానికి తోడ్పడుతుంది, కాబట్టి పెరుగుని వీలయినంత ఎక్కువసార్లు తీసుకోవటం మంచిది అంటున్నారు పౌష్టికాహార నిపుణులు. కేవలం అన్నంలో తినటం కాకుండా ఓ కప్పు పెరుగుని ఉదయం టిఫిన్‌తో, అలాగే సాయంత్రం స్నాక్స్‌తో పాటు తీసుకోవటం అలవాటుగా చేసుకుంటే మంచి ఆరోగ్యం మన సొంతమవుతుంది.  -రమ  

Boys don’t cry !       The biggest mistake that people (in the Indian society) in general, and mothers in particular, make is to tell their sons: ‘Boys don’t cry!’ It’s not uncommon that the Indian households reverberate with the words ‘Are you a girl? Why are you crying?’, ‘Don’t be a sissy. Stop crying.’ The words would be repeated thousands and lakhs of times till they become part of a boy’s system… till the words get imbibed deep in his psyche. And all this is considered normal. As normal as feeding a child or educating him! It’s a natural part of bringing up a boy. On the other hand, girls are often told – ‘Why are you laughing so loud? Are you a boy?’ So what are we, as parents, trying to prove here? That it’s NOT okay for boys to cry and behave in a sensitive manner but it’s absolutely okay for girls to spend hours crying? Similarly, it’s NOT okay for little girls to laugh out loud and enjoy themselves while little boys can do so without second thoughts? Why is the Indian society trying to inculcate adulterated values in children? Isn’t it unfair that we expect the boys to be insensitive and rough while the girls are supposed to be meek and submissive? Instead of asking your girls to behave, it’s better to ask all children to behave in an understanding and respectful manner towards each other. Mothers, we say, have a much crucial and responsible role in making our boys more sensitive towards the needs of the fairer sex. Do not forget the influence of mothers like Jijabai in the life of sons like Chhatrapati Shivaji. Instead of throwing insults and threats like ‘How can you stay out late? Are you a girl or what?’ and ‘Don’t behave like a tomboy’ at your girls, isn’t it better to tell your boys to be nice, polite and friendly towards girls? Together, let us create a society free of the gender bias and discrimination towards our girls. Let’s not stop our girls from soaring and touching greater heights; let’s not stop our girls from laughing and our boys from crying. Instead, let us teach our boys that it is okay for them to be sensitive and cry once in a while… but it’s NOT okay for boys to make girls, or women, cry! It’s okay if grown-up guys have tears in their eyes while watching a sentimental scene in a movie, but it’s NOT okay for grown-up guys to bring tears to girls’ eyes. It’s okay for boys to wear pink instead of blue but it’s NOT okay for grown-up guys to act rough, violent, disrespectful and ill-tempered towards the fairer sex. Together, let’s pave way for a better society – one that promises a violence-free environment to nurture our future generations of boys and girls with care!  

Tips to Fight Flatulence     How to cure Flatulence:Flatulence a very embarrassing problem for women and that too when in public usually occurs when a particular type of food you eat does not get digested as well as it should in your stomach and small intestine. When this largely undigested food reaches your large intestine, bacteria will begin to break it down and  it will start to ferment and cause gas in the stomach. Some of the foods which are likely to cause gas  could include: •Dairy products like processed cheese and panneer •Vegetables like onions, radishes, cabbage,  carrots, sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and legumes, certain pulses and •Fruit sugar, which is especially high in prunes, raisins, bananas, apples, apricots and fruit juices from prunes, grapes and apples •Fiber foods and restaurant food where they put flavor additives. •Fatty foods and carbonated drinks and •Artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol may also cause flatulence. Tips to prevent Flatulence from building up Observe your eating habits and the food that you eat which can cause gassiness and avoid eating them for sometime till you are relived from the problem Drink probiotic milk which will keep your gut clean and subside gassiness. Exercising helps in ensuring the food gets digested quickly and prevent gas. Try including heat producing foods like pepper, coriander, peppermint and ginger in your foods. Drink lots of Rasam which is excellent as a digestive and helps control gas. Check out the other health benefits of Rasam…  

Drinks To Lose Belly           A refreshing drink or a tiring or sunny day can relieve the stress that a woman encounters. But did you ever know the amount of calories present in a particular drink. Did you know that there are a few drinks that can help you reduce your belly in a simple manner ? Here is the list for all those who are craving for a flat tummy to look more appealing and hot !!!       1. Drinking water is a healthy way to reduce tummy. However, to make the regular water more interesting, flavor it with herbs, mint, lemon or cucumber to enhance the taste.          2. A full glass of water melon juice carries no calories and it is also very light and refreshing.        3. Iced Tea with pepper mint flavor is one perfect choice on a sunny afternoon.         4. A glass of pineapple juice blended with flaxseed oil is the most effective drink to reduce belly.        5. Green tea is the best flat belly drink         6. Dark Chocolate shake is effective as it lessens food craving. In this way, one can easily acquire a flat belly. 

Anti depressants can affect your Love Life Effects of Anti depressants: According to a new Health study among women who are on  anti-depressants says that  a particular drug type called the  tricyclic antidepressants affect your sexual feeling and your love life.  According to the study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders , drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which work mainly through the serotonin system, were found to be affecting men’s feelings while drugs called tricyclic antidepressants seem to affect women’s feelings.During the study, they compared the effects of SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants on the love lives of 192 people with depression – 123 women and 69 men – and whose mean age was 41. Researchers found that those taking SSRIs were more likely to say they felt less at ease with sharing their partners’ thoughts and feelings. Men taking SSRIs reported being less likely to ask their partners for help or advice.  “The loss of sexual desire and sexual feelings are common manifestations of depressive illness itself,” said Hagop S. Akiskal from the University of California, San Diego, who conducted these studies. Women on tricyclics were more likely to complain about disturbances in their sex life than men who had been taking tricyclics, the study noted.

Studies prove Honey cure for Canker Sores   Honey for mouth ulcers:Now for those who don’t use the word Canker sores which in normal parlance means ulcers or sores in your mouth. These mouth sores make it difficult for you to eat and talk and are caused either due to lack of Vitamin B and if the body produces too much heat, or triggered because of acidic content in certain citrus fruits. If the sores are severe it would be best to seek a doctor’s intervention and if it continues for more than three weeks you must visit the physician for treatment. One of the easiest and sweetest ways to cure these sores is by applying honey on the afflicted part. According to new research in the journal Quintessence International, honey can be just as safe and effective for treating canker sores as a topical corticosteroid. In this study, researchers randomly divided 94 subjects with 180 canker sores into three groups. One group was given honey to use as a treatment for the sores, and the other two groups were given a topical corticosteroid or Orabase treatment (a paste that acts as a protective barrier). All participants were asked to wipe the lesion with a sterile wet cotton pellet, and apply their given treatment to the spot after meals for eight days, stopping use if and when the canker sore was fully healed. They were also told to record pain level and any reactions in a journal, while the researchers evaluated the size and inflammation in the office over the course of the study. So the next time you have a mouth canker/sore apply honey to your heart’s content and you don’t need to worry if this goes inside your stomach either…

Pranayama to Reduce Menstrual Stress Watch  Rajeswari Vaddiparthi - Yoga Therapist show us Pranayama techniques which will help reduce the cramps and pains associated with Menstrual Cycle or periods.   .

Switch over to Natural Deodorants   DIY Natural Deo:Using chemical laced deodorant sticks have known to cause many problems including cancer. Some of the deo sticks contain aluminum when applied to armpits can affect your immune system as the lymph nodes are present there. And if you have the habit of shaving your armpits and you apply the deo there can be equally harmful.  You could find deos which are made with natural ingredients in the market but these can be quite expensive. So the easy and cheaper alternate would be to make one at home and we have exactly the right easy DIY recipe where the ingredients are found in your own home... DIY Deodorant Recipe – Ingredients -> 6 Tbs of coconut oil ->1/4 cup of  baking soda ->1/4 cup of  cornstarch ->Few drops of Essential oils (optional) like  lavender or rose for the pleasant scent . Process 1. Mix baking soda and cornstarch together in a glass bowl. 2. Pour  in the coconut oil  into this dry mixture and using a whisk mix it well. 3. To this paste add  a few drops of your favourite essential oil. 4. Store in small glass jar and apply  teaspoon of this mixture after your bath. TIP : Wait for the mixture to dry before you put on your clothes if you are worried about staining . Switching over to a chemical-free deodorant will be a natural and healthier choice. Do try this and let us know…

Why should I get the B12 Test done? B12 Test in Women:You start feeling dizzy, unexplained fatigue, forgetfulness and you end up at the doctor’s clinic. The doctor examines you and prescribes a series of test including the B 12 test which is quite expensive. The first doubt would be as to what is the link between your symptoms and B 12? The common most problem among women apart from anemia, thyroid and calcium deficits is the low levels of B 12 vitamins. After the onset of marriage, motherhood and raising children, women tend to neglect their overall body health. Usually after breast feeding which depletes your calcium and vitamin levels this B12 deficiency puts the mother and child at risk for Neuro problems.   This test is prescribed when you start feeling these symptoms of fatigue, tingling in the hands and feet, problems with balance, confusion, weakness, loss of appetite and lethargy. Also, if your doctor suspects you might have anemia, you might be tested for B12 deficiency.Another reason is people who are vegetarians may not get their required dose of Vitamin B 12 which can be found more in meat and dairy products like, eggs, fish, poultry and meat. So additional supplements would be needed through medication, if the B12 levels are low. B12 is an important vitamin for many basic bodily functions, like the brain health, blood cell production, and proper nerve functioning. Low B12 levels can lead to serious nerve damage and deteriorating brain functions if not verified and treated properly. The test is fairly simple— a presription for the test and some blood drawn from your hand which only takes a few minutes, but can provide extremely valuable information about the presence or absence of this importnat vitamin in your body. As we grow older we need to get this test done as and when prescribed by your physician so that you maintain optimum levels of B12 for better health and energy.

Early age dieting affects health in older age   Dieting at a young age:With young girls as young as 15 or even younger who have become conscious of their looks and weight due to peer pressure are not realizing the long term damage they may  be causing to their health later on. The earlier in life a woman starts dieting, the worse long-term consequences it can have for her health, a new study suggests. In the study, presented Tuesday at the meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior in Seattle, researchers asked 1,340 college-aged women when they first started dieting, and then followed them for 10 years to examine their dieting habits and health later in life. They found that an early age of first dieting was related to extreme weight-control behaviors, greater alcohol consumption and misuse, and a greater chance of being overweight or obese at the 10-year follow-up. Since the new study found a link between early dieting and later, risky health behaviors such as abusing alcohol or going on fad diets, it is important that parents, mentors, and health care providers screen young women for these types of behaviors such as fad dieting as it can impact their health negatively for years to come. The new research is a reminder that, while losing weight is generally good for health, an unbalanced approach may lead to health issues such as eating disorders in the long run and  the only solution to this is to  make permanent lifestyle changes, ideally with the help of a professional.

Prolonged use of respiratory drugs can be ineffective Lung diseases and drugs:A new study by the Scientists from The University of Manchester has revealed that drugs which are widely used to treat respiratory diseases, like asthma and pneumonia, work with the body clock, and render them ineffective.   Scientists from The University of Manchester have found out that cells lining the lung airways have their own body clock which is the time-keeper for lung inflammation – both conditions cause swelling (inflammation) in the lungs and more severe lung inflammation happens as a result of the loss of the body clock working in these cells. The team also uncovered how glucocorticoid hormones from the adrenal gland are vital in controlling the level of inflammation in the cells lining the airway and concluded that the rhythm of the clock in the lining of the cells in the lungs is important for lung diseases like asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Loudon said that they have defined a major circadian control on lung inflammation which affects responses to bacterial infection or pneumonia. Source:Nature Medicine

Dont fall prey to Lifestyle diseases Women's health:As a working women or housewife health is the next important priority we must give apart from our family. If you are healthy and fit you can take care of things at home and work. According to a recent ASSOCHAM survey, three out of four working women in India, in the age group of 32 to 58 years, suffer from lifestyle, disease and around 42 per cent of them suffer from problems like backache, obesity, depression, diabetes, and hyper-tension and heart ailments.     The need to balance work and home adds to this as we end up neglecting our health. We have health information at our finger tips, gyms close to our houses , Yoga sessions happening right in our apartments . Too tired to make your salad, you have people getting chopped salads and juices at your door steps! And yet we fail to make use of these and neither do we motivate ourselves to work at home. There is no alternative and we need to wake up and smell the coffee and take that step to health and fitness. There are four simple ways to stay healthy and keep stress at bay and they are: Regular exercise & workout Fix and have a balanced diet which has to be filling and filled with the right nutrients Manage work life balance and manage Stress. Make out some personal time for yourself and pursue your hobbies. Professional success is your birth right but so is good health and to attain this you shouldn’t let yourself fall prey to these lifestyle diseases.   Stay Fit and Stay Healthy!

Get your dose of Mg for better sleep Getting good sleep vs. Insomnia are two paradoxes which need to be addressed. For good sleep you need to eat healthy and as part of the essential nutrients one should have foods which have magnesium present in it. Now why Magnesium may your question: Magnesium boasts of numerous relaxing properties that can help you fall asleep the moment you hit the sack. Magnesium lowers anxiety, relieves headaches, reduces high blood pressure, and can even relieve PMS. While a magnesium 400 milligram supplement can help  make sure you consult your doctor before taking any supplements. Eating magnesium-rich foods is by far a more effective way to get this healthy nutrient in your body. Nuts, carrots, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, fish, whole grains, dark chocolate, kiwi fruits and bananas are all rich in magnesium.

Younger women prone to Heart attacks than Men   Heart Attack in Young Women:According to a study which was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology it has been found that younger women are more likely to die of heart attacks when compared to men. Aakriti Gupta, an Indian-origin researcher at the Yale School of Medicine, has found that women who have longer hospital stays are more likely to die in the hospital after a heart attack when compared to men.  In the study, the team analyzed 230,684 hospitalizations for heart attack in patients in the age group of 30 to 54 years. The study found that heart attack hospitalization rates for patients under age 55 have not declined as quickly as they have for Medicare-age patients, which have seen a 20 percent drop. Men were more likely to have high cholesterol while women, especially black women, were more likely to also have hypertension, diabetes and heart failure. "This shows that we need to raise awareness of the importance of controlling cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking in younger patients," Gupta said. It would advisable to be check the cardiovascular risk factors, which includes early identification and treatment of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking and diabetes in younger women at an early stage.  

The Camel pose for Thyroid-Ustrasana Watch Rajeswari Vaddiparthi  show us the Ustrasana  or the Camel pose  which is very useful for Thyroid Patients. This helps in stimulating the Thyroid glands and she also shows Sitali Pranayama to cool down the body and de-stress oneself.   In the final part of the video she shows us the benefits of doing affirmations along with breathing exercises.

Yoga for a Healthy Menstrual Cycle Yoga for a pain-free Menstrual Cycle: Watch Rajeswari Vaddiparthi  show us Yogic postures for pain free periods.These asanas also help in regulating your period cycles and ease cramps.