కాళ్ళ నొప్పులు తగ్గాలంటే ఈ క్రింది చిట్కాలు పాటిస్తే సరిపోతుంది. గోరు వెచ్చటి నీటిని ధారగా ఎత్తి నొప్పి ఉన్నచోట పోయాలి. కాళ్లను కొబ్బరి నూనెతో, వంట నూనెతో గాని మర్దనా చేయడం వల్ల నొప్పి తగ్గుతుంది. కాళ్ల కండరాలకు వారానికి రెండు సార్లు కోల్డ్‌ ప్యాక్‌ వేసుకుంటే రిలాక్స్‌ అవుతాయి. వ్యాయామం, యోగ అలవాటు చేసుకోడం వల్ల శరీరంలో ఒత్తిడి, ఆందోళన తగ్గి కాళ్లు తేలికబడతాయి. వ్యాయామం చేస్తున్నప్పడు కాళ్లు నొప్పిగా అనిపిస్తే చెయ్యడం ఆపేయండి. అదే పనిగా చేస్తే కండరాలు దెబ్బతినే అవకాశం ఉంది. వాకింగ్‌ చెయ్యడం, నిద్రపోవడం, లేవడం ప్రతిరోజూ ఒకే సమయంలో చెయ్యాలి. రోజుకి కనీసం ఏడు గంటలైనా నిద్రపోవాలి. పొగాకుకు, మద్యానికి దూరంగా ఉండాలి. తాగే కాఫీ, టీలలో ఎక్కువ డికాషన్‌ ఉండకుండా చూసుకోవాలి. ఎలా బడితే అలా లేవకూడదు. అలా లేస్తే కండరాల నొప్పులొస్తాయి. అలసిపోయిన కాళ్లను మందులతో తగ్గించే ప్రయత్నం చెయ్యకుండా కాస్త విశ్రాంతి ఇస్తే త్వరగా ఉపశమనం ఇచ్చేవీలుంది. నొప్పి ఎక్కువగా వస్తుంటే వెంటనే డాక్టరుదగ్గరకు వెళ్లడం మంచిది.

  కొంత మందితో మాట్లాడటానికి ఇష్టపడతాం, మరికొంతమందిని చూస్తేనే చిరాకు వస్తుంది. ఎందుకంటే కొందరు నోటి దుర్వాసన సర్వ సాధారణంగా అందరూ ఎదుర్కొనే సమస్య. అసలు నోటి దుర్వాసన ఎందుకు వస్తుంది? మన ఆహారపు అలవాట్లు అందుకు కారణమా, మరింకేదైనా సమస్య కావచ్చా? ఇలాంటి ప్రశ్నలకు సమాధానాలు ఇవిగో... 1. మన నోటిలోని పలు బ్యాక్టీరియా విడుదల చేసే వాయువులు దంతాలు, చిగుళ్లూ, నాలుకపై ఒక పూతగా ఏర్పడి నోటి దుర్వాసనకు కారణం కావచ్చు. 2. సాధారణంగా పళ్ల సందుల్లో ఇరుక్కున్న ఆహార పదార్ధాలు వల్ల నోటి దుర్వాసన సమస్య తలెత్తుతుంది.అలాగే కట్టుడు పళ్లూ ఉంటే వాటిని సరైన రీతిలో శుభ్రపరచకపోయినా ఈ దుర్వాసన సమస్య వస్తుంది. పళ్లూ తోముకుంటె నోటి దుర్వాసన పోతుందనుకుంటే పొరపాటు. పళ్లూ శుభ్రంగా తోముకున్న కేవలం 60శాతం అదీ కూడా దంతాలపై భాగం మాత్రమే శుభ్రపడుతుంది. 3. ఇక పొగ తాగే వారిలో నోటి దుర్వాసన సమస్య అధికంగా ఉంటుంది. 4. తరచూ నోటితో గాలి పీల్చే వారిలో నోటి దుర్వాసన సమస్య ఎక్కువగా ఉంటుంది. అలాగే వెల్లుల్లి, ఉల్లి వంటి ఘాటైన పదార్ధాలు, కాఫీ సేవనం కూడా నోటినుంచి చెడు వాసనను వచ్చేలా చేస్తాయి. 5. ఏదైనా చిగుళ్ల వ్యాధి లేదా దంత సమస్య వస్తొందన్న సూచనగా నోటినుంచి చెడు వాసన వచ్చే ప్రమాదం ఉంది. 6. సైనసైటిస్‌, బ్రాంకైటిస్‌, డయాబెటిస్‌, కాలేయ, మూత్రపిండ వ్యాధులు లేదా ముక్కు, గొంతు, ఊపిరితిత్తులలో ఇన్‌ఫెక్షన్స్‌ వంటి ఆరోగ్య సమస్యలు కుడా నోటి నుంచి చెడు వాసనల వచ్చేలా చేయవచ్చు. 7. నోరు పొడిబారడం, వైద్య పరిభాషలో దీనినే క్సీరో స్టోమియా అంటారు. దినివల్ల నోటిలో లాలాజలం సరైనంత అందక అతిగా బ్యాక్టీరియా చేరి నోటి దుర్వాసనకు కారణం అయ్యే అవకాశం ఉంది. ముఖ్యంగా వృద్ధులు, గర్భిణీ స్ర్తీలు, మెనోపాజ్‌ దశలో ఉన్న స్ర్తీలలోనూ, పలు మందులు వాడే వారికీ ఈ క్సీరోస్టోమియా సమస్య వచ్చే అవకాశం ఉంది.

  Improves Learning and Memory Studies reveal that people who sleep for the required hours are far off better than those who do not get enough sleep by having a better memory and learning power. Thus, lack of sleep results in lack of memory and eventually, lack of learning. Good sleep alerts the mind and body, preparing it for accepting and learning new information through a process, known as memory consolidation. Hence, this primarily contributes to the critically importance of sleep for children and students. Most students stay awake the whole night to prepare for the upcoming exam not realizing that learning and memory function would be better when they get a proper sleep. Prevents and Cures Diseases One of the major health benefits of sleep is that it assists the body in fighting and recovering from numerous diseases and health problems. Why do your elders suggest you a sleep when you are down with a minor headache? Simple, sleep gives your body a chance to repair the damaged cells and functions, strengthen the immune system and avoid the beginning of other likely problems. Furthermore, proper sleep helps you to deal with physical and mental stress in a better way. Keeps your Weight under Control Are you one of those who’ve been following a strict diet and still putting on weight? Sleep is the answer to your question. Sleep is directly related to the metabolism of our body and hence affects gain and loss of body weight. Shortage of sleep gives a chance to the carbohydrates and fats to accumulate in the body to use them in dealing with the physical and mental stress on body. Per se, it affects the metabolism resulting in weight gain. Also, lack of sleep can cause hormonal changes thereby affecting our appetite. Balances our Moods How do you feel after a bad night’s sleep? Are you fresh and happy or irritable and distracted? Definitely, you are bound to feel sleepy the entire day, resulting in a bad day, undoubtedly. Conversely, observe your mood when you receive a good sound sleep. You will surely be perky and energetic. This is exactly the impact of what sleep has on your daily moods. Prevents Sleep Disorders Disturbed sleeping patterns can further lead to the development of various sleeping disorders, one being insomnia. Eventually, this lack of sleep can induce increased hypertension, stroke and heart diseases, and reduced strength in fighting with stressful circumstances. Therefore, the best way to keep sleeping disorders at bay is have a good night’s sleep. Ensures General Safety There have been two contrary thoughts on the state of a person while he is asleep. While one states that a person is most weak in his sleep, the other comments on the improvement of the person’s health while sleeping. Good sleep enhances body and mind alertness and hence, helps in preventing numerous mishaps and accidents that can otherwise occur due to lack of sleep. The story about ‘a man falling asleep while driving had to pay for his life’ sums up the entire concept behind sleep and safety.

These days, for the very slightest of the pains we pop in a pain killer tablet. We should take one, when our agonies are beyond our brink! We resort to the ‘Pain Killers’ very casually, rightly these should be called Pain killers with added miseries!! The frequent intake of these pills leads to peptic ulcers, renal failure, allergic reactions and occasionally, hearing loss too. Their intake paramount the risk of hemorrhage, by affecting our platelet functioning, which plays a prime role in blood clotting.  Instead peep into your kitchen for some pain killers! According to Danish Researchers, Ginger is thought to ease muscle and joint pains, swelling and stiffness. Add 2 teaspoons of chopped ginger to your daily meals and say goodbye to achy joints! Fed up with toothaches? Chewing on a clove for two straight hours can ease toothaches and inflamed gums states UCLA researchers. Adding ¼ teaspoon of grounded cloves also maintains blood sugar levels and slackens cholesterol. Our commonest foes are Headache, Arthritis and Gout which can be battled out by a bowl of cherries. These are very modest on your stomach and tongue too! When an agitation is put up within you stomach, nibble on fish. Its fatty acids are potential anti-inflammatory agents! Bloating of tummy is also very annoying but a common issue, Stanford University California recommends a cup of pineapple as an antidote Foot pains can be pacified by warm salt baths. Salt being anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial can cure foot pains within four days!! Is your work piling up because your spine refuses to stand still? A cup of grapes can be of great help! It boosts up the blood flow which is essential in healing back tissues! Next time make sure you have a cup of grapes at your working desk! When migraine never seems to die even after gulping pain killers,  then catch hold of a cuppa! Coffee speeds up and increase the effectiveness of the pain killers Instead of popping in too many Pills!! Try these and stay ache free!!

It is very depressing to know that our standard diets are filled with sugar. Moreover most of us have a sweet-tooth, which is uncontrollable in many! Sugar besides being sweet it is also lousy on our health! The sugary foods we crave for may not be too sweet after all! A normal individual consumes about 20 teaspoons of sugar every day, while the recommended allowance; for women is no more than 6 teaspoons a day, for men no more than 9 teaspoons a day. While our younger folks consume a whooping amount of 32 teaspoons a day! We develop a liking towards sweetmeats because it releases opiate-like substance that activate certain areas of brain, Thus Sugar is addictive The refined sugar we consume in bulk is devoid of nutritional value besides it empties calories. It acidifies our digestive system and drains out vitamin and minerals particularly calcium from bones and teeth. It also depletes potassium and magnesium. It suppresses our immune system and lead to overproduction of enzymes, thus pressurizing Pancreas It causes high blood pressure, skin complications and acne by impairing liver  functions It compresses the blood flow, inducing dental caries and elevates visible wrinkles, thus giving us an aged look! Consumption of refined sugar causes Vitamin B deficiency thus leading to cardiovascular diseases, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, indigestion, obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. The production of sugar is growing faster than its consumption which makes it cheaper and easily available! The soft drink grab are the main sources of sugars in our diet. An average can of soda has about 40 grams of sugar i.e., 10teaspoons of sugar. So stay away from Cola Cans!! The abrupt withdrawal of refined sugar from our diet is not advisable; instead gradual removal of sugar is much more desirable. The other better substitutes would be honey and jaggery Kick out the sugar coatings from your diets!!

Simple tips for healthy digestion Luxurious living is nothing but having healthy life till your last breath. Once a health expert said to me, “what’s the fun in kicking the bucket time and again and make noise… Kick once strongly and make a goal. I find this statement so very true. Being Fit and fine throughout the life is the best thing one can desire for… believe me nothing can beat this feeling . But how? How do we achieve this? Answer is simple.…. Having good eating habits can alone help you to be there. These habits should be in correct time and correct place to guarantee that your digestive system is in right place.  Here are few simple tips for healthy digestion: Do’s: • Ensure that your food contains more of Fruit juices, leafy vegetables, butter milk, fibre food and you drink plenty of water. • Try to reduce the intake of Meat, starched and oily foods during late evenings. If you happen to eat them drink more water and butter milk. • Always finish your dinner as early as possible; make sure you have 2 hours gap between your supper and sleep. • Stay no to Spicy foods, Tea, Coffee and alcohol before you hit the bed. Don’ts • Never ever swallow food without chewing. • Don’t continue eating even though your stomach is sending a no signal. Have some gap and feel comfortable after completion of meal. • Don’t consume too much of water while eating your food; wait for 20 minutes after the meal and then drink water. • Mid night meals lead to acidity, try to avoid them; whenever you are feeling acidic, give some gap, do fasting by slipping a meal; during this time take cold milk and more water to bring your appetite back to normal. • Avoid stress in your life. M.S. Bhavana  

  Salads : Surprisingly salad are being tagged unhealthy for the sole reason that they are brimming with preservatives and other additives and thus adding an unceasing amount of sodium and sugar which are proven bad for us. Moreover the raw veggies cannot be trusted to be devoid of the chemical fertilizers. Instead it’s better to have veggies that are sautéed in olive oil Trail Mix : Nuts and dried fruit trail mix is a complete misnomer for a healthy snack. As these have the salted nuts and sweetened dried fruit which are sometimes added upon by chocolate. These are full on loaded with sodium and sugar. So jus t a hand full of the trail mix can add on about 300-plus calories!! So read the nutrition labels carefully and replace them with the fresh fruits, unsalted nuts and unsweetened dried fruits Fat free Products : Stay away from the fat free trap. Just because something is fat free doesn’t become healthy. These fat free goods are pumped with loads of sugar. Instead of the sugared goods its better too add on honey or jaggery because they have iron supplements too. Energy Drinks : Wanna boost up your spirits?! Grabbing an energy drink is the unhealthiest way. These Drinks have high amounts of caffeine and sugar which act as stimulants. Our belief, that these supplement for the nutrient is just so wrong. They neither are healthy nor are supplementing our nutritional needs, its best to avoid them. Instead a Banana or water can rehydrate as well as energize us. Frozen Foods : These frozen or the processed foods may seem as the simplest way to check our calories; unfortunately these are far lagging behind at nutrition levels. During preservation process Vitamins are drained out primarily Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2 and Vitamin A. During preservation the pathogens are deactivated but not wiped out thus they resume their growth when the food defrosts, this is a major hazards. Not all frozen foods are labeled healthy foods, before gulping some of these make sure to check out the nutrition facts first!   These are been stereotyped as healthy, though they might prove dangerous to our well being. Keep them away!!   - Siri

  Some foods can prove to be very good for the mastermind organ, Brain. Specific nutrients can also affect cognitive processes and emotions thus controlling the brain functioning. Some of the brainy foods are: Beets : This root vegetable helps in boosting the brain power. Scientists at Wake Forest University stated that the natural nitrates available in Beets are responsible for vasodilatation thus enabling better blood flow to brain and enhancing mental performance. It is a great source of folate manganese and betaine which also reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases Sage extracts : It is indeed sage in its properties! Its constituent compounds prevent the break down of the neurotransmitter; acetylcholine which is chiefly functional in learning, memory and other cognitive processes. Sardine-Oily Fish : This fish is packed with the essential fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated fats and are vital for the functioning of Brain and Retina. It is stocked with Omega-3-Fatty acids, which strengthen the communication between neural cells and reinforce neurotransmitters responsible for mental focus! Egg yolks : Eggs,  more specifically egg yolks are major sources of vitamins and minerals. It contains most of the egg’s fat, cholesterol and protein. Yolks are a leading source of Choline, which is a precursor for acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. According to Swiss researchers, High protein morning meal improves overall cognitive performance Oats : Oats are touted, commercially nutritious and healthy, because of their unique cholesterol lowering properties. Glucose is the primary fuel for our Brain which comes from carbohydrates which are abundant in oats. Lentils : Legumes are intact with folate and Vitamin B aiding in boosting brain power. Folate plays a vital role in decreasing levels of amino acids that impair brain functioning. Flaxseeds : Flaxseeds are the best source of essential fatty acids and Omega-3-Fatty acids which improve the working of cerebral cortex thus strengthening sensory processes. Walnuts : Scientist at Tufts University in Boston found that a diet rich in walnuts can improve mental performance .It boosts brain power because of specific variants of antioxidants and Omega-3-Fatty acids Gulp down the Brainy Foods!! Stayy Brainyy!!   - Siri

  We all believe in the statement that “our food habits and our life style define our age”…. If you have healthy food habits you can stay and look young… this the one good thing we all are aspiring in our lives day in and day out. Few people go to gym and spend time ours together to maintain health. Few people visit parlours and cosmetic clinics to trim down their aging. But do you know that by reducing sugar content in your daily meal you can stay young? How to replace: If are using more sugar in your Tea/ coffee and juices reduce that immediately. If you have a sweet tooth, try to take more fruits which are having sugar in natural form. Say good bye to soft drinks, baked foods and junk foods; Fast foods can slow down your metabolism and push you towards obesity and other health disorders. According to a study, If you like chocolates and eat them often, after few days your habit of eating chocolates and candies only will remain as children’s but you will see early aging symptoms on your face and skin comparative to the people who don’t consume them much. Try to consume drink in milk and juices ( milk or vegetable ) without sugar. You may add honey to them if you want some sweetish taste to the drinks. If you avoid/ cut down the use of sugar in the food given to kids they will enjoy all the food items with their natural tastes. They not only enjoy this when they grow up but live healthily and youth fully.   - M.S. Bhavana

  “Tulasi” scientifically known as  Ocimum sanctum is not only our  holy plant but has lot of medicinal values.  Juice extracted from Tulasi  leaves will build resistance power and immunity in our bodies and can  be consumed as home medicine for several  health disorders. If you are suffering from seasonal fevers like malaria  or  dengue then  extract 1 spoon of Tulasi juice  and prepare a decoction with that and  consume like tea for 2-3 times in a day. Tulasi leaves can increase memory power in children and it also gives  strength to the nervous system in the body. therefore try to give 10-12  leaves to children every day. Take around 10 Tulasi leaves, add 1 tea spoon of Ajwain (also known  as carom) , prepare a decoction and drink twice a day to get relief from  respiratory problems. Combined paste of Tulasi leaves, Neam leaves added with turmeric powder  can reduce your skin disorders if applied regularly to the acne face and  effected areas. Tooth problems like tooth decay, gum disease  and  bad breath  can be  cured using Tulasi leaves powder   mixed along with tooth paste. If you are having severe head- ache,  Take some Tulasi leaves powder and  mix it with sandal powder make a paste using rose water and apply this on  your forehead to get a quick relief. So, If you have Tulasi plant in your premises make use of it ; if not then   plant Tulasi immediately and stay healthy.   - Bhavana

  Undoubtedly we all are rain lovers and love to enjoy during this Monsoon season by doing so many adventurous things right from Crazy drives to Trekking…. Eating road-side chat to experimenting in different hang-out spots. Drenching ourselves completely is the most maddening and fun full part during the rainy season. However we tend to fall sick so very often which might cause so much of disturbance in our daily routine. To avoid this situation and stay fit and healthy during the Monsoon, Here are few tips for you: 1. Avoid outings when you expect a heavy pour. If you still have an emergency to go out, try to carry your umbrella all the time. Even if you are travelling in car, still try to have an umbrella as it protects you from sudden showers when you are walking down the parking area. 2. Whenever you get wet, you must take bath and also wash your hair with lukewarm water; mix 1 spoon turmeric powder and 2 table spoons of rock salt in 1 bucket of water and use this for bathing. 3. Try to add 2-3 drops eucalyptus oil in 1 full bucket of Water and take bath with this water. 4. Never skip your early morning walks and jogging as that makes you lazy. If you cannot complete the full session, at least make it half; so that, this will help you to continue better workouts in future seasons. 5. Don’t neglect your health disorders; Even if you have little cough or cold or fever, visit your doctor immediately and get the right medication done. 6. If you have small kids in the family, reduce your outings and cut down on your eat outs. As food is the major source to spread allergies and infections. 7. Cut down the junk foods from your routine and fat contained food from your regular diet as digestion process will be little dull during Rainy season. 8. If you have severe cold, it may lead to constipation also; take more of semi liquids and fibre food. 9. Being discipline at food and exercise can definitely help you to be fit and fine throughout the season. All the best!! Have a healthy and Happy Monsoon!!   - Bhavana

  Hypertension is chronic medical condition where in the blood pressure within the arteries is elevated, thus pressurizing our wonder organ Heart, as the heart pumps against increased resistance. According to, American Heart Association Journal Hypertension the risk of elevated blood pressure rose by 27% among the children and adolescents during the 21st Century. Nevertheless our older population is always at risk. Higher Body mass indices (BMI), larger waistlines and eating excess sodium are being cited as the main reasons!! It is fascinating to know that larger hip diameter is more likely to be harmless than the larger waistlines. Their ratio must be maintained at and around, 0.7 for females and 0.9 for men. As blood pressure increases with age our elders are always at risk. As a part of their treatment the other medical ailments are also to be considered to avoid any side effects. They also have postural hypertension. So, insist your doctor to measure Blood Pressure while standing and lying down. Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attacks), heart failure, aneurysms of the arteries, peripheral arterial disease and is a cause of chronic kidney disease. It is not impossible to avoid this dangerous Non Communicable Disease; All we need to do is to reduce the sodium intake; by reducing the sodium intake the systolic pressure can drop by 1.5mm Hg, By maintaining a healthy BMI of 20-25,Compulsory physical activity for 30minutes or more, Increase of intake of fruits and vegetables!! Stay Calm!! Stay Fit!!   - Siri

  Papaya contains a high amount of potassium and the flesh of papaya is very high in Vitamin A. Papaya seeds and leaves are useful in treating intestinal worms found in the body. Papaya helps prevent constipation and also aid in digestion. Papaya contains the protein called papain which is a digestive enzyme that helps in natural digestion process. Papaya juice helps in alleviating infections of the colon by clearing away the infection, pus and mucus. Regular consumption will help in improving the problem. The skin of papaya is excellent for treating skin wounds and places that do not heal quickly. Papaya is low in calories and high in nutritive value hence it is an excellent food for those on a diet. Regularly consuming papaya helps to relieve morning sickness and nausea. Papaya has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-cancerous properties. The anti-inflammatory properties in papaya will help reduce pain for those suffering from arthritis, edema and osteoporosis. Papaya is very good for those who frequently suffer from cold, cough or flu because intake of papaya boosts the immune system. The high concentration of Vitamin C and Vitamin A contained in papaya is very beneficial to strengthen the immune system. Papaya is also very good for the hair and helps in controlling dandruff. Papaya shampoos are good for the hair and are available in many health stores. Raw papaya also helps in reducing menstrual irregularities for women. Papaya helps to ease the condition by promoting natural flow of menstruation. Papaya cleans the stomach and studies have shown that papaya alone eaten for 3 to 4 days has a highly beneficial tonic effect upon the stomach and intestines.

  Eyes are the most delicate part of our body. They need to be given proper care, not just to improve eyesight, but also to preserve our vision. Your eyes almost do the same amount of work as much as walking 80 KM per day! So, while doing so much of physical work, they need proper food. Eat a lot of green vegetables, carrots, seasonal fruits, etc, these give your eyes extreme energy to cope with the enormous work they do. Smoking is a big ‘no no’ when it comes to happy eyes. Try and avoid being in a place where someone else is smoking too. Passive smoking also has an enormous effect in stressing your eyes. Protect your eyes not only from that smoke, but also from vehicular pollution and dust. Always wear eye shades (goggles) when stepping out. Never strain your eyes. Don’t try to read anything that is smaller than your reading capacity by squinting or moving too close to the material. Don’t stress your eyes by watching too much T.V. Rotate your eyes in clockwise and anti clockwise direction every night before sleep. And get enough sleep. Weekly once, keep a slice of cucmber or potato on each eye for 15 minutes before sleep. This will allow your eyes to distress. Remember, Love your eyes and they will love you back. Happy eyes are attractive eyes.   - Radha Krishnaveni

  Off course, the best way to lose weight fast is to fast. But apart from a strict diet and consistent exercise, see if these tips can help you facilitate your eating habits and catalyse your weight loss. Cheat treats: Too strict a diet will leave you feeling deprived of your favourite foods, making you unhappy in return. Always have a cheat meal or cheat treat to feel that you are not depriving yourself totally of whatever you deserve. Full breakfast: Never skip breakfast. Skipping breakfast will make us feel hungry much before lunch time and attract short eats, more in number. Eat slowly: When eating, it takes 20 minutes for your body to register fullness. you can save 70 calories by eating slowly over about half an hour versus eating in under 10 minutes. If you ate slower at every meal, that would translate into losing about two pounds a month. So, think twice before bingeing. Use a smaller plate: When you use a smaller plate to eat, you tend to keep serving more frequently. The effort put into serving so many times, will help you eat less. Also, even a small serve in a small plate will make it look fuller and you are mentally bound to think that you are eating enough. Did these help? Don’t forget to tell me.   - Radha Krishnaveni

  Fruit is one instant food that we find in abundance, large range, and a variety in every season. Every fruit has its own goodness to it. If we start to look into the customised benefits of every fruit, then we would be writing a whole big thesis. So, let us look grossly into the main benefits of fruits in general. Most fruits are naturally low in calories, sodium and fat – with zero cholesterol! Fruits provide many essential nutrients that we need more of, including: Potassium – Important to help combat high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease. May also reduce the risk of developing kidney stones and help to decrease bone loss. Dietary fiber – Important to help reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Also important for proper bowel function. Vitamin C – Important for growth and repair of all body tissues and keeps teeth and gums healthy. Provides antioxidant defense against infection and disease. Folate (folic acid) – Helps the body form red blood cells and helps reduce the risk of birth defects. Fibre-rich fruit satisfies your hunger with fewer calories, helping you to maintain a healthy body weight. Fruits are a source of phytonutrients or compounds that naturally occur only in plants and are associated with a wide range of potential health benefits. Phytonutrients work synergistically with the vitamins, minerals and fibre in whole fruits to help reduce disease risk.   - Radha Krishnaveni

  The most tested and best way to cure a headache is to prevent it. Extreme sunlight, dehydration, irregular eating habits, hunger, strong odours, blasting sounds, sleeplessness, tiresomeness, anything can cause a headache. Best is to identify and avoid these triggers. But, our lifestyles, or some helpless situations would not allow us to avoid these. Then comes the plan B, into the picture. A nice oil massage, steam, and a hot water hair wash can definitely help in washing away the headache. Try and hydrate yourself by drinking a lot of water. A glass of lime water (lemonade) with salt and sugar, will immediately supply any missing hydration, glucose, and salt to your body. Rub some crushed lemon rind on your forehead for immediate relief. It works! Switch off all lights, close your eyes and relax until the headache settles down. Well, if you have the patience, how about a steam inhalation with eucalyptus leaves? At least a massage of eucalyptus oil would help to a great extent. Green tea with lemon can also help in instant relief. Every morning on empty stomach, drink lemon water mixed with honey. This will give a long standing effect on preventing headaches in the future.   - Radha Krishnaveni

Health benefits of Dates Every child in the world dreams of going to a place someday where candies and sweets grow on trees! That dream is not far from reality, for there is indeed one such fruit which is called the ‘candy that grows on trees’. Dates are among the sweetest fruits in the world. These are mostly dark reddish brown, oval fruits. A fully ripe date is plump, with golden brown smooth skin; the inside of the fruit is fleshy with a sticky texture. It contains a single, brown coloured, hard seed about 2–2.5 cm long and 6–8 mm thick. The taste is sweet, like a mix of sugar syrup and honey. Phoenix dactylifera as dates are scientifically known have been in cultivation from time immemorial. Although the place of its origins are unknown but it said that dates originated from lands around Iraq, in the lands on the banks of Nile and Euphrates Rivers of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Date palm is now grown extensively for its edible fruits under warmer climates across all the continents. A fasting Muslim always breaks his fast with Dates and water; this helps avoid overeating of the food after the fast. When the body absorbs the nutritional value of the Dates, the feeling of hunger gets pacified. There are endless varieties of this humble yet precious fruit available. Innumerable health benefits are packed within Dates which makes it wonderful snack for young and old alike. Let us find out why we should include these in our regular diet. 1. Dates are an excellent source of fibre which is beneficial in fighting constipation, intestinal disorders, weight gain, and cholesterol build-up. To get the laxative effect from Dates, you need to soak Dates for one full night in water. You should consume these soaked Dates in the morning. Date also promotes the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines. 2. Dates are heat-producing fruit; it can therefore help give work. energy to people who engage in physical exercise and hard. 3. Dates are an excellent source of iron, which is a major they are very useful in treating anaemia. 4. Dates are very good in Potassium which is an important rate and blood pressure. 5. Dates are also rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, that is an essential constituent of bone and teeth, and required by the body for muscle contraction, blood clotting, and nerve impulse conduction. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper is required for the production of red blood cells. Magnesium is essential for bone growth. component of haemoglobin inside the red blood cells. Hence component of cell and body fluids that help controlling heart copper, and magnesium. Calcium is an important mineral. 6. Dates fight ageing and are a rich source of natural rich in antioxidants prevents or at least delays the occurrence illnesses like cancer and helps to delay ageing. 7. Dates are good for healthy skin, hair and muscle tone. They found in dates the most important group is the group of B vitamins. B vitamins are known to help you keep a healthy skin, hair and muscle tone. 8. Dates are beneficial for healthy eye sight. It is said that eyes. They can also help prevent night blindness problems. 9. Pregnant women benefit greatly from consuming Dates reduces bleeding and pain at the time of delivery. antioxidants. Antioxidants fight naturally free radicals. A diet are an excellent source of vitamins, among those vitamins consuming just one Date a day will help maintain healthy regularly because it helps strengthen their uterine wall which 10. Dates are also recommended for nursing mothers because child healthy and resistant to disease. Dates also contain elements that help alleviate post-partum depression (form of clinical depression that can affect women, after childbirth)   - Veena ShyamRaja