How simple changes in our daily routine can help in reducing Obesity
We live in the modern world where the science has improved and provided us with various machines to do most of the work. No doubt we should be proud of it. But do you it is one of the reasons for our becoming over weighted. If you are serious about shedding a pound or two then follow the following simple steps in your day to day life.
1. Lock up all the machines in your house and start working by yourself. If you have maid to do the work sack her. You wash the dishes, wipe the floor and mix batters. Instead of using a drier hang your clothes on the line. If you do so you will end up burning a large amount of calorie.
2. Try out using soft butter instead of a hard one. With a small amount of soft butter you can spread on a larger area when compared to the hard one.
3. When you are offered food at the time you are not feeling hungry feel free to say, “No Thank You.” If you take even a little bit of food then you are just adding the unwanted calorie in your body.
4. If you think your friends or co-workers will be offended if you deny to their dinners offered then speak out to them and tell them why you are doing so and ask them for their moral support. They will only feel happy in helping you with your ambition to reduce weight.
5. Instead of sitting and watching T.V better go out and play something which will burn your calories like- dancing, bowling, golfing, cycling, or may be even brisk walking.
6. If you are on an outing drink no calorie water instead of alcoholic beverages.
7. Analyze and set realistic goals which you think you can accomplish so that you can taste the success and set new goals. If you are not able to accomplish the target you will feel frustrated and will be tempted to quit your plan of reducing weight.
8. Even while watching T.V. you can take a walk in the 3 minutes commercial break.
9. Eat at fixed times and leave the table as soon as you have finished instead of lingering over the last bites.
10. Use good plate psychology. Select the plates with colors which will not increase your appetite. Yes some colors like violet, lime green increases our appetite. The design of the plate also matters. If the plate is bowled shape then it will be better as it gets filled up soon.
11. Eat smaller portion of food
12. Remove all the food stacked at appropriate places like candy bar in the drawer.
13. Eat slowly and chew your food properly. Can you imagine we do not chew our food properly? We have to chew each bite of food 32 times before swallowing it.
14. Do not try to skip your meal. If you do so then you will surely over eat the next time.
15. Do not try to taste the food while preparing it.
If you follow these simple steps for a weak you are sure to reduce your weight by a few pounds. Just try it out!
How to take care of eyes
Our eyes are the most precious organ of our body. It is through it that we look at the beautiful world created by the GOD. With out it we would be in the world of darkness and without the colors of the life.
Your eyes might look great and your eyesight might be fine, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your eyes are healthy.Some sight-threatening conditions, such as glaucoma, have no symptoms and could cause you to lose up to 40 per cent of your sight before you notice a difference.
Now the problem is that how can we take care of such precious eyes and prevent them from being damaged? This question is very common now a days as the tehnological advancement like computers and T.V. have nearly affected the eyes of 90% of the population all around the world!
Some simple steps of protecting our eyes from being damaged:
1. Protect your eyes from the ultra violet rays from the sunrays. You can do this by developing a habit of wearing sunglasses while going out in sun.
2. Take breaks while working on the computer. Just leave your desk after you have worked for an hour or so on computer and take a few strides to say hello to your co worker or just go and get a glass of water for yourself. This will not only improve your health but also gives rest to your eyes.
3. If you wear contact lenses be sure to remove and replace it as directed by the physician
4. Eat foods which are rich in antioxidants such as fruits and vegetables. Researches reveal that Omega-3 fatty acids help in improving dry eye syndrome
5. Avoid smoking as it can double the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration,
6. Wear safety glasses at all times when you are working around the house doing tasks such as hammering, sawing, sanding, cutting, etc. Wear specially-designed goggles when welding, braising, etc. Wear safety glasses even when you are working with cement, mortar, paint, etc., to help keep splashes of chemicals out of your eyes.
7. Have your work place well illuminated. Working or reading with less light may damage your vision as you will have to give more stress on your eyes.
Some exercises which may help in improving your vision
• Take a pen or pencil and sit at ease. Place it near your nose just between your eyes. Gaze at it for a few minutes. Slowly move your hand holding the pencil away from the eyes till it is at an arm distance from the eyes. Hold it at that position for few minutes. Slowly bring your hand to the former position. Repeat this for 5 times for the maximum result.
• At your free time rotate your eyeballs in the clockwise and anti clock wise direction. Repeat this for 5 times. This will not only help you to relax the tension of your eyes and muscles around them but also help in strengthening your eye muscles and improve your eye sight.
• Regular practicing of Trataka (a Kriya from yoga) will help in activating the tear glands, purify the visual system, promotes good concentration and cures all kind of eye defects. All you have to do for this is to sit with an erect spine and gaze continuously at the flame lit at the same height of the eyes without winking the eyelids for 2-3 minutes, ignoring the irritation and watering of eyes. Start this with 10 seconds and slowly increase the time till you reach 3 minutes in 2 months. Do not forget to relax your eyes after doing this kriya.
Some herbs which help in improving the vision
• Bilberry-It protects veins and arteries in the eye, and helps with night vision.
• Aspalathus- A south African herb also know as rooibos can promote eye health as well as improve immune function
• Mahonia Grape Extract- protects the eyes from UV rays and sun damage.
• Spinach -help in protecting your retina from the macular degeneration that comes with age.
• Carrots which are very rich in Vitamin A are said to improve the vision.
How to have beautiful Eye brows
The eyes are called “the windows of the soul” and, as such, they deserve the best treatment that we can possibly give. Eye includes eyebrows. Eyebrows tell people a lot about you and are very important feature on a person’s face.They help to balance facial features.. If they are not properly groomed, they draw attention to themselves. They give the face an unbalanced and comical look. But it but it is a sad sight to see that it is the most neglected part of the human body.
Our eyebrows tell others about our feelings. Raising a brow shows one emotion while dipping one shows something else altogether. They telegraph our emotions to those who are looking at us. More than that, they show how much respect we have for ourselves. Unruly and untamed brows say we don’t really care how we look, while well-arched, carefully tamed brows say that we hold ourselves in high esteem.
To stress the importance of a well-shaped brow, many of Hollywood’s finest makeup artists say that women with good brows and skin often need little or no make-up at all!
How to have well groomed eye brows?
* Take a long handle brush and align it with the side of the nose and the inside corner of the eye .The eyebrow should begin from the place where the brush meets the eyebrow area.
* The brow should end where, when the brush is aligned with the edge of the nostril and the outside corner of the eye ends on the eyebrow area.
* The brow should be balanced. It should begin and end at the same level. To be sure align your brush such that it is vertical and lie at the beginning and the end of both the brow. Make sure it is straight.
* Align your brush with the outside rim of your iris (the colored part of your eye). This is where the arch should be.
” The brow should be of the same thickness throughout and taper slightly at the end. Align your brush handle with the highest points of both brows to indicate this.
Methods of eyebrow grooming: Though there are several methods by which one can groom her eyebrow the most common methods are Waxing, threading and electrolysis.
Eyebrow waxing has been in use in America for decades and stays quite well for three to ten weeks. You can use both hot and cold wax. But if your skin is sensitive, you may feel some irritation, burning or itching sensation in the area where the wax has been applied. It can be smoothened by applying moisture.
Threading, though new in America has been in use for many decades in Asia. Threading uses a strand of cotton thread, which is twisted. It is pulled along the skin anywhere that stray hairs exist. It can pull one or many hairs up from the roots in a single pass. A single threading may capture all of the unnecessary hair if it is clumped together in the same spot. However, for shaping purposes, it may take between six and eight passes to complete the technique. It does not leave any irritation on the skin.
Electrolysis isn’t new in America. But the fact is that it has now become affordable and an average woman can afford it now! Electrolysis involves the use of a special electrode that delivers a minor electrical shock current to the hair follicle. The current kills the follicle at the same time as it removes unwanted hair.
We can conclude that Eyebrows provide a frame to your face. They are the part, which play very important role in giving the desired look to your face. The purpose of making up your eyebrows is to create a beautiful frame to the face, which will certainly help you improve your overall look. The shape and grooming of your eyebrows will make your eyes look bigger and open up your face more naturally.
Eczema
Eczema is a common term given to many type of skin inflammation. It can affect people of any age even though it is most commonly seen in infants. Statistics show that about 85% of people have an onset of it before 5 years of age. People with eczema often have a family history of the condition or a family history of other allergic conditions, such as asthma or hay fever.
What causes Eczema?
Though doctors are unable to identify the exact reason for the occurrence of eczema it is commonly found that the following reasons lead to its occurrence.
- Extreme or sudden changes in weather conditions
- Undergoing a lot of stress
- Consumption of too much of alcohol or cigarettes
- Chemical sensitivity towards any particular dye used in the manufacture of the cosmetics used by the person
- Hereditary factor. If any one from the family has the history of asthma or hay fever
- Abnormal function of immune system combined with a defect of the skin
- Environmental allergens (substances that cause allergic reactions) may also cause outbreaks of eczema
- Some forms of eczema can be triggered by the chemical substances that are used in soaps, cosmetics, clothing, detergents, jewelry and it comes in contact with the skin.
Symptoms of Eczema:
- Intense itching is the first symptom in most people with eczema.
- Sometimes you may find blisters and oozing lesions in the affected area.
- It may lead to dry, reddened skin that itches or burns.
- Repeated scratching in the affected area may lead to thickened, crusty skin.
- Eczema can sometimes occur as a brief reaction that only leads to symptoms for a few hours or days, but in other cases, the symptoms persist over a longer time and are referred to as chronic dermatitis.
Treatment for Eczema:
Doctors may advise a change in the life style of the affected person and give medication. Some times both are advised for better results. The main aim of the treatment given in such cases are to prevent itching, inflammation and the worsening of the condition.
Moistening the skin by the application of creams or oils/ointments is a very important step for the treatment of Eczema
Natural Cure to Eczema:
- Neem, also known as Sarbaroganibarini meaning “cure for all disease”, due to its anti bacterial and anti fungal properties can be used both externally and internally to cure eczema
- Tulsi also has extensive medicinal properties. The combination of neem and tulsi leaves can offer a natural cure for eczema
- Applying a paste of garlic powder on the affected area is beneficial.
- Mudpack offers a soothing relief from the sense of itching.
- The grounded seeds of Palasha can be mixed with lime juice for preparing the medicinal mixture useful in treating eczema
- A proper diet is vital in curing your eczema.. Scientists have proved that high levels of acidity have a direct impact on eczema. So make sure you have a good diet.
- Applying moisturizer to your skin everyday will give you great relief and stop the itching within a few days.
How to look young after forties
Everyone wants to look good. Everyone wants to look young. However, as a person grows old, the skin tends to loose its elasticity and wrinkles appear on the skin along with blemishes and other skin related conditions and it is one of the signs of aging.
Over the years, people have been trying to figure out ways to look younger for a longer period of time. Several creams and ointments, along with oral medication, as well as surgical treatment options have come up in this regard, which can help your skin look younger for a longer time. But they are costly and do not give a permanent solution to look young. So what should you do? Leave it as such and allow the skin to show the sign of aging? No, not at all!
Why more care for skin is required after forties?
Good skin care is necessary at any given age but special care is required by the time you approach forties as this is the period when your physiology changes dramatically! This is more visible in women than in men.
- As you reach forties there is a decline in the level of hormone and growth factors in the body. This decreases the speed at which the skin renews and repairs itself. Women at this age experience a dramatic hormone change as they either approach menopause stage or undergo it. This in turn reduces the production of sebum, the skin oil leading to the thinning and drying of skin.
- Another problem of older skin is inflammation. Though this is not visible with the naked eyes, it increases the production of harmful free radicals and leads to increased cell damage, degradation of skin matrix and other problems
The following skin tips can help you keep your forty something skin looking as youthful as possible.
- Identify the type of your skin: Generally with age the skin tends to become drier. This is because the skin tends to lose collagen and elastic fibers as it grows old. So it becomes a necessity to evaluate the type of skin and change the skin care products.
- Cleanse your skin regularly: It is very important to remove the make up and dirt on your skin. Use the cleanser that does not irritates your skin.
- Limit the usage of scrubs: Exfoliating scrubs can be helpful to physically remove dead flaking skin. But it is advised not to do it more than once in a week.
- Moisturize regularly: AS the skin gets drier as it ages, it is better to start using richer emollient moisturizing lotions.
- Protect your skin from sunshine: Even though you have not used the sunscreen lotion in your youthful days, it is better to start using them now!
- Ensure hydration: Proper hydration of skin is necessary for optimal anti aging routine.
- Use less of make ups and cosmetics: People generally end up using heavier make-up in order to hide the aging signs and make their skin look young and radiant. However, this has an adverse effect on the skin; heavy foundation and excessive compact powder can actually create a cakey impression and highlight the wrinkles and fine lines on your face. Moreover, the harsh chemicals contained in these products may seep into your skin and further degrade the internal tissues. Instead you should use creamy and hydrating skin care products that don’t highlight the age lines but makes the skin appear smooth and supple.
How to keep your skin look radiant naturally?
- Barley grass is one of the most incredible products of this decade. It improves the skin texture and the dryness associated with aging
- Wheatgrass juice helps in cleansing the lymph system, building the blood, restoring balance in the body, removing toxic metals from the cells, nourishing the liver and kidneys and restoring vitality
- Naturally absorbent and extremely gentle on the system, bentonite clay can treat various skin and internal ailments Many beauticians state that clay has no equal as a facial conditioner
- Adding bee pollen to the diet will give you the glow of health. Blending it into magic potions help to smooth soothe and rejuvenate every inch of the outside body.
- Drink 10 to 12 glasses of water every day. It will keep your skin glowing.
- Apply the peel of the fruits and vegetables that are cut to your face and rinse after 15 minutes. With tap water. This will help you look younger and the skin softer.
Right way to shop if you want to loose weight
Loosing weight is not as easy as one thinks. Many people trying to lose weight are seen having “fad diet” that are found around. But beware of it. It will only help lose weight fast but it is not good for your health.
Remember that you have to reduce your weight gradually and not over night. When you start to diet you will find that your weight is reduced much and then the amount of weight loss is reduced. It is because at first you loose more water weight. If you are on the right path then your weight loss will slow down to 1 pound per week.
Never fast to lose weight. Make a habit of eating in small quantities if you wan to reduce weight and eat the right food. For this you would have to shop the right food!
If you are really interested in losing your weight then you have to remember the below points while purchasing bread and cereal.
- First thing to keep in mind is to Shop right after breakfast or lunch when junk food and rich desserts won’t seem to appeal you.
- Try to consume whole grain varieties which include whole wheat, multigrain, rye, millet, oat and cracked wheat.
- If you are to consume bread daily check out the label and go in for the variety which has at least 2 grams of fiber per slice. You can also go in for wheat bread.
- If you want to reduce weight then select low calorie bread for yourself.
- While selecting the cereals go in for those varieties which have at least 2 grams of fiber per serving. In order to do this you have to check the components of the pack.
- In some packets of cereals the quantity of sugar and salt is more than the required one. That is they are excess of salty or sweet. In order to avoid ending up buying them check the total amount of carbohydrate in the label. It is always preferable to buy those packets which tell about less than 6% sugar in a serving.
- Do pick up some unsweetened hot cereals. You can sweeten them with the help of the fresh fruit. These unsweetened cereals may be either instant or to be cooked as it makes no difference when it comes to reducing the weight.
- Only purchase those cereals which are having less than 2% fat in them. You can get a variety of packs of cereals. Avoid the ones which add nuts, seeds and oil.
- Lastly do not forget to check the ingredients on the label. Have a look at the order of the list. The thing with the maximum percentage is to head the list. So in the items you purchase- wheat, oats, rye, or corn should be on the top as they are the ones you are looking for.
Why do some children speak late?
Learning to speak is a natural process which follows a set pattern among all the children. Generally it is seen that even an infant turns his head to see in the direction of the noise. So it is a proven fact that speech and hearing goes together. The child will tend to speak those words which he hears. What ever he hears gets embedded in his mind and increases his vocabulary and he uses them in his speech. Normal speech development covers a wide range of styles. It is common to notice that some children speak clearly but say very little; others chatter away the whole day, but in a language which others may find hard to understand. In general, if a two-year-old child understands what is said to her, and communicates using gestures and facial expressions and pronounces some words then there is no need to worry.
It is seen quite common that children start talking at the age of two. But it is common to find that 14-20% of pre school children have problem with their speech pattern though this may last only for few more years and there is nothing much to worry. But some times it may so happen that it carries on for a longer time and it becomes a point of concern as they may be thought as retarded.
There are two sets of children who do not start to speak at proper time. One set of children show drawn-out within themselves and another set who show intelligence and excellent mental capacities. A parent can assess how well his child speaks by looking into his speech pattern and talking note of his vocabulary, fluency, articulation, comprehension, voice etc There is a need to worry about the first set of children and they may be retarded while the second set of children are quite normal with a high amount of intelligence. Both these set of children should be handled with care love and affection.
Extra care should be placed while handling the second set as they may be very often treated as retarded children and their ambition being shattered. We have to find out the reasons why such children who show a high amount of intelligence do not speak properly. It has been proved that if the child is feeling that he is not being listened properly and is ignored then he tends to talk less. It is because’ If they feel that parents and others are focusing not on what they say, but how they say it, they may come to feel they’re being attacked for expressing their feelings and thoughts, which can have negative emotional consequences” as quoted by Jayne Comins.
If the child is speaking less or very few words it is not a cause to be panicked but you can very easily tackle this problem by showing care and affection and making him feel secure. The more secure he feels the more he will try to express. Some times it may also happen that the child tries to speak out some thing which he finds difficult and is being made fun of then he will never try to speak out those words again as he will feel humiliated. That is why it is clearly said that the child should feel secure and safe so that he can express himself freely.
It is really difficult to say why the speech pattern differs -Why some child speak early and some late; some are chatter box while some speak very less. It may be due to any of the following reasons-normal delay, late speech development, genetic problem, Social/environmental, Emotional trauma, Neurological, Repeated ear infections, Dyspraxia or it may be concentrating on some other development like motor development.
But whatever the reason is -Routine developmental checks as a toddler may help in preventing early speech problems.
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SNORING
Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. Sometimes it may be soft but in most cases it is loud and unpleasant. Snoring can not only affect the quantity and quality of your sleep but also cause problem to anyone who is sleeping near you. So finding out the cause for your snoring and finding the right cure is very essential
Where does the snore sound come from?
A narrow airway gets in the way of smooth breathing and creates the sound of snoring. It may be caused by poor sleep posture or abnormalities of the soft tissues in your throat.
Causes for snoring:
Snoring is commonly caused due to a blockade of air between mouth and nose
* Snoring may also result from over weight
* If you are endowed with large tonsils or adenoids, then it is more likely that you snore.
* If you have cold or stuffy nose you are likely to snore
* Having a long soft palate or uvula might lead to snoring
Evaluating how and when you snore will help you to find out the cause for snoring.
a) if you snore with closed mouth you have a problem with the tongue
b) if you snore with open mouth you have a problem with the tissues in your throat
c) If you snore only on your back the problem is mild and can be cured by changing life styles
d) If you snore in all sleep position your snoring is more severe and it requires immediate attention
Simple steps to stop Snoring:
· Reducing your weight if you are obese.
· Stop smoking if you are in habit to it.
· Alcohol and medications increase muscle relaxation leading to more snoring.
· Sleep on your side to prevent the tongue from blocking the throat.
· Elevate the head of your bed four to five inches which will ease your breathing.
· Clear your nasal passage if you feel a blockade
. Practicing “lom anulom” pranayam for 5 minutes regularly will help you get relief from snoring.
Some Herbs which helps to get relief from Snoring:
Herbs can be taken orally, as a nasal spray, placed under the tongue or added as aromatherapy to the room while you sleep. While there is no one herb that appears to cure snoring combination of various herbs prove to be effective.
· A combination of passion flower and peppermint leaf powder is beneficial for mild cases of snoring
· Adding valerian root to passion flower and peppermint mixture is effective for offsetting bouts of snoring.
· Adding liquid eucalyptus or peppermint drops to a humidifier or vaporizer can help open your airways while you sleep.
· Drinking a mixture of honey and ginger can also help coat your throat to relieve some of the mucus at the back of your throat, which helps open your airways prior to sleep.
High Blood Pressure
Blood Pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it refers to High Blood Pressure. This may damage the body in many ways. High Blood Pressure as such has no symptoms all the while it may lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and many other health problems.
On an average every one out of three suffers from high blood pressure. That is why knowing your blood pressure numbers is important, even when you’re feeling fine. Blood pressure numbers include systolic and diastolic pressures. The former is the pressure while the heart pumps blood and the later is the pressure while the heart is at rest.
You will most often see blood pressure numbers written with the systolic number above or before the diastolic, such as 120/80 mmHg. (The mmHg is millimeters of mercury—the units used to measure blood pressure.). 120/80 mmHg, is the normal pressure found in the adult.
Causes for High Blood Pressure:
Generally Blood Pressure tends to rise with age but there are some other conditions which may lead to increase the blood Pressure.
- Chronic kidney disease, thyroid disease, and sleep arena may lead to increase in Blood Pressure
- Blood Pressure may increase in women if they use birth control pills
- Obese people tend to have High Blood Pressure.(HBP)
- Long lasting stress will lead to HBP.
- A family history of HBP raises your risk for the condition.
- Unhealthy Life style habits will lead to HBP. It includes eating too much of Sodium, drinking alcohol, no physical exercise, smoking etc
Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure:
High Blood Pressure as such has no symptoms and signs and it can remain in the body fro longer period with out the individual knowing it and all the while damaging different organs of the body. How ever rarely there is a head ache problem due to High Blood Pressure. So it is always advisable to have your pressure checked regularly.
Effects of High Blood Pressure:
High blood pressure has its main effects on the Nervous system, the Kidneys and the Eyes.
The nervous system: headache, dizziness, stroke, vertigo, tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
Kidneys: hypertension can lead to kidney failure.
Eyes: long-standing high blood pressure can lead to defects of vision, bleeding in the retina of the eye, and eventually blindness.
Treatment of High Blood Pressure:
- Relief of stress brings down the high blood pressure to a considerable level.
- Intake of a balanced diet, helps to control the High Blood Pressure
- Regular exercise is very helpful in reducing the High Blood Pressure.
- Many drugs and medicines are available in the market which can help you in controlling the high pressure. But these must be taken on the advice of the doctors.
Some herbs help to control the Blood Pressure:
- Garlic: Garlic is a wonder drug for heart. When people with high blood pressure were given one clove of garlic a day for 12 weeks, their diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels were significantly reduced
- Hawthorn: The herb hawthorn is often used by traditional herbal practitioners for high blood pressure.
- Arjuna: Bark of Arjuna tree has been found to be rich in Co-enzyme Q-10 which is highly prescribed in cardiology departments now a days to prevent heart problems







