Search results for "health"

Fish is generally a healthy protein choice for everyone.But specially concerning to pregnant women, a new research has found that at least 3 portion of fish a week reduces the risk of the children developing brain disorder.Women consuming seafood while pregnancy tends to boost their children's IQ and fish has proven to be the most beneficial diet out of them.

As per the researchers omega3 fatty acids found in fish known as docosahexaenoicacid is essential for the brain to function properly.

• Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for heart and those at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids decrease risk of arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats).

• It also decreases triglyceride levels, slow growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque, and lower blood pressure (slightly).

A balanced and a proper diet should be maintained during the time of pregnancy. But excess of it can harm your body.Go for a safe, low-mercury fish two times per week. Avoid tile fish, swordfish, king mackerel and shark as they contain very high level of mercury.

Some of the recommended fish for pregnant women are:

Haddock:Haddock is considered a mild fish. It has low levels of mercury. Haddock is one of the most popular types of fish commonly us. It is also high in vitamin B6, which is often given as a supplement with other vitamin medicines.

Salmon: Salmon contains a very low level of mercury. This is a red-fleshed and flavourful fish loved by mass. As recommended this can be enjoyed two times per week throughout pregnancy. If you are moving out for a lunch or dinner Salmon is a good choice.

Sardines: Sardines are an excellent source of calcium, which you'll need to support your bone health while and even after pregnant. This also prevents osteoporosis later in life which often occurs due to loss of calcium in women.
You can also go for Mackerel, Herring and lake Trout. They are mild fishes and they contain enough omega3 acids which will be helpful for your child.

Tilapia: If you dislike fish, you can try Tilapia. It is another white and a mild fish. It can be cooked with spices and savoury vegetables and will not give you the smell of fish.Tilapia is a good source of niacin, a vitamin that helps your baby's brain development.

Trout : This is a freshwater fish that is red in colour. If you are a starter of fish, try with this one. Enjoy it baked or grilled with a squeeze of lemon and a generous sprinkle of pepper.

Bless you and your child a healthy life.

Do you also love sleeping? Here comes a good news for you.According to a study,sleep increases memory power. A proper sleephelps to improve prospective memory which makes people remember things easily.
As per the study conducted by the researchers of Washington University, our brain is divided into two parts:

• One part stores the permanent information. These are the kind of information which never disappears from our memory or starts fading after a long time, for eg: names of our friends and relatives, school time experience, our much-loved outfits etc.

• Another part is the one which keeps the temporary information .This part of the memory is called prospective memory. Human beings uses the prospective memory to keep in mind the little things like taking medicine on time, wishing birthdays to their beloved ones, shopping small household things etc. People often tend to forget these kind of little day to day activities.

However, according to Michael Skoolin and Mc Daniel, whether it's a student flubbing multiple choice tests or a senior citizen confusing about his medications, a 6 to 8 hours sleep is needed for everyone.

Following are sometips you can follow:

• Try to maintain a noise-free sleep. Any sounds in your bedroom should be consistent and soft. If you can't do anything about the noise, try earplugs.

• Keep your room dark as the area of brain that controls sleep is close to the optic nerves and thus sensitive to light.

• Keep the room temperature cool but not too cold. The temperature of your body will fall while you sleep.

• Your mattress & pillow should be comfortable enough to keep your body relaxed while you are asleep. It should not be too soft or too hard.

• Do not keep televisions and computers in the bedroom. Reserve the bedroom for sleeping only.

Few more research has also been done earlier in Psychology about the relationship of sleep and memory but they all focussed on the retrospective memory. In this context, such kind of a study proves to be the best medicine for the people who hate to forget but love to sleep!!

Here are some ill-effects to health due to Loneliness:

• Leads to High Blood Pressure & Depression.

• Loneliness diminishes a person's will power and perseverance.

• A person loses his/her ability to follow a healthy lifestyle.

• It leads to suicidal thoughts & Increasing depression.

• Loneliness can lead to an incurable & a degenerative brain disorder

• which slowly destroys the ability to reason, remember, imagine, & learn.

• Lonely people either overeat or often skip their meals.

• Loneliness leads to higher rises in morning levels of the stress hormone cortisol, affects the immune system.

• Due to loneliness there is greater resistance to flood flow through your cardiovascular system.

In order to aloof yourself from these ill-effects try the following:

• The first thing to remember is to avoid being alone. If you stay alone and have no other option, try and relocate to your friend's place for some time.

• Keep your mind occupied with something which makes you happy. Join a group that shares your interest. It can be any of your hobbies like sports, dance, painting, crafts etc.

• Avoid listening to sad songs. This will only let you undergo unbearable feelings. Choose light music or songs which gives a positive meaning to life.

• Unless and until, you are not physically and mentally fit, you would not be able to lead a normal social life.You need to be healthy to be part of this fast moving world.

• Exercise outside your home. It can be a small walk orjoining a gym. Exercise helps you stay happy and healthy, and going outside your home allows you to interact with others positively.

Therefore, with small change in your lifestyle you can easily avoid loneliness, and maybe someday help others to do the same. Life comes only once, believe it and live it to the fullest.

Do you exercise regularly? No! then start today. It's better to be late than never. As you save money for your retirement age, in the same manner exercising especially after 30's is like saving for your health for later stage of life. "The game isn't over, even if you haven't been active," said Dr. Angela Smith, past president of the American College of Sports Medicine. "Aerobic fitness, bone health, agility, you may be able to catch up. It's remarkable to see the things people can actually do."

If you are in your 40's and starting exercise now, you must know some important facts:

• You must see your doctor to estimate your ability to tolerate the type of exercise you are planning. You should not over do or stress out your body that may give rise to some difficulties.

• Kind of clothing during workout is also an important deciding factor. Clothing won't make you work out harder or a better athlete but if you are comfortable while working out you may workout longer!

• Choose a proper and relaxed environment for the workout.

• Most of the time women complain that they miss out daily workout routine because they don't have time. That's just an excuse. Remember you are doing exercise to keep yourself active and fit not for any championship. Just devote a regular 20 - 30 minutes and you are done.

• If you are not the gym person, at least try to go for a jog or fast walk in the nearest park. Yoga and Pilates are great at this age as they are not strenuous.

Women who begin an exercise program over 40 reap the benefits of lower cholesterol, lower risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Exercise after 40 is the best reason you'll live longer. Dr. Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko, of the University of Illinois hinks people should revisit their routines just as they do their retirement investments. Chodzko-Zajko urges people to find the activity that makes sense to them. "Even walking the dog or spending time outside. Adopt active choices. Be active in your own way."

You may be allergic to some kind of food and thus avoid eating the same but do you know you might be allergic to some smell of food or anything in your environment. Smell is very important in our daily life as this sense helps us gather messages about the environment around however it's sad that smells can also trigger a host of allergies. An allergy or an allergic reaction occurs when the immune system and the sensory organs become hypersensitive and react to even the most harmless elements such as pollen grains in the environment.

According to allergist Dr Shila D'souza, "People are not born with allergies. Allergies are developed during the course of one's lifetime. She further points out that, allergies are not only related to pollen or other pollutants in the air. "Even the smell of perfumes, deodorants, certain soaps, shampoos, air fresheners, paint, may trigger allergies in some people," she adds. Recent studies have also shown that people are allergic to the smell of certain types of foods. This would include certain kinds of oils as well, like sesame oil, or coconut oil."

Allergies should not be ignored as it may increase with time and can be a critical illness. Technically it's not the smell that is allergic but experts believe that it is actually caused by one or many chemicals used for producing such fragrances. A number of chemicals such as cinnamonic alcohol, cinnamic aldehyde, eugenol, isoeugenol, geraniol, alpha amyl cinnamic alcohol, hydroxycitronellal, which are mostly used in the production of cosmetics, perfumes, toothpastes, have been known to cause allergies.

Solution: The best solution is to purchase non-scented products. Before purchasing a product, ask the salesmen to spray the perfume, so you can know in advance whether you are allergic to that particular smell or not. If you tend to fall sick often, then opt for an allergy patch test to help determine which substance you are allergic to.

Rain and Corn goes hand in hand.. It's great to enjoy corn and watching rain from your window. Apart from taste and fun, corn is very nutritious and healthy. It's a great snack that your children will also love if served sautéed with little onion.

Nutrition Value:
• Corn is high in nutrients, which are extremely beneficial for you.
• Rich in Vitamin B1, which is used in the metabolism of carbohydrates,
• Vitamin B5, which helps with physiological functions, folate, that helps generating new cells.
• Vitamin C, which helps fight diseases, corn should be a must in your diet.
• Corn is also high in fiber, which helps you fight digestive problems like constipation.
• Helps to lower cholesterol levels, reduces the risk of colon cancer and is also useful in helping to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics.
• Great for pregnant ladies as Folic acid present in corn is known to prevent neural-tube birth defects.
• Corn is also good for people suffering from anemia.

Try this recipe of baked cream corn; your family will love this:
• 1 (30 oz.) can drained whole kernel corn
• 1 (30 oz.) can creamed corn
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 c. butter, melted
• 1 c. sour cream
• 1 pkg. Jiffy cornbread or muffin mix
• 2 tbsp. sugar

Mix all ingredients together. Bake in a greased 9 x 13 inch dish for 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Recent studies and research has proved that high intake of alcohol during teenage can lead to weak bones and result to osteoporosis. Regular consumption of 2 to 3 ounces of alcohol every day increases the risk of osteoporosis. It interferes with the absorption and use of calcium and vitamin D and other bone nutrients.

During the research, rats were exposed to overdo amounts of alcohol on either three consecutive days or three consecutive days for four weeks. Then they were compared to a group of control rats who received saline. It was found that about 300 bone-related genes were disrupted in rats exposed to acute heavy drinking and 180 bone-related genes were disrupted in rats exposed to chronic heavy drinking. Now you can understand the in take of excessive alcohol is so much dangerous for your bones.

Effect of Alcohol on your bones:
• Low bone mass
• Decreased bone formation
• An increased incidence of fractures
• Delayed fracture healing
• Heavy drinking disrupts the normal balance between bone formation by osteoblasts and the removal of old bone by osteoclasts

It's advisable to avoid alcohol when broken bones are healing, because drinking has a harmful effect on the healing process. Patients with a background of alcohol abuse have a considerably higher incidence of fracture-healing problem than nonalcoholic people.

It's sad but true that the effects of alcohol consumption on bone could not be reversed, despite of whether alcohol consumption continued or was terminated. It's an earnest request to our young generation please limit yourself when it comes to the intake of alcohol.

Missing your first meal - breakfast? Not good! Are you a working women and no time for making breakfast for family. Don't feel guilty, we have some great ideas for breakfast that won't consume much of your time and will also start a healthy day for your family.

Here are some quick breakfast meal ideas:

• Fruits: Start your day with any fresh fruit. They are high on nutrition. Apple is the easiest one, pick one and carry along to save your time.

• Wheat bread: White bread is a big No! But brown bread is high on nutrition and easy to eat. To make it yummy, make a layer of Jam or cheese spread or ketchup and even fresh sliced cucumber and tomatoes are great options.

• Flakes and Milk: Again a great option, healthy and no time consuming. Flakes are dietary fibre and protein.

• Eggs: I love this, boiled, scrambled or may be omelette, whichever you find easy to make. Doctor recommends egg white.

• Sprouts: I personally find them easiest, healthy and tasty also. Soak them overnight and enjoy by sprinkling salt and pepper on it. Small pieces of onions and tomato can add taste to it.

• Milk shake: If you want something filling, any kind of shake is great. Summer is all about mangoes, try mango shake or banana shake. It takes just a minute and very healthy especially for women.

Try these easy breakfasts and start your day healthy. Let us know if you want something you tried when you were rushing for office.

Cottage Cheese: Get low fat cottage cheese which releases hormones that tell your brain when you've had enough to eat.

Sushi: Forget the old saying that sushi is fattening. Latest research has proved it's rich in protein and good for health.

Peanut butter: This contains satisfying healthy fats.

Hummus: Healthy fat with protein.

Dried fruit: Loaded with fibre and has barely any fat. However have in limit as they are high in calories.

Homemade pizza: Pizza is so tempting isn't it? But due to calories you have to break your own heart! Right? No more, try homemade pizza to control calories.

Herbal Tea: Great to curb stress, thus preventing overeating.

After work or evening walk when you enter home in summers, what you look for in your refrigerator? Chilled water? I know difficult to resist but you must keep yourself away from chilled water, during summer! Chilled water reduces the temperature of your body, and you will end up exerting your body to regain the necessary warmth. Warm water is always good as easily absorbed by the body. Check out some important food that your refrigerator must have in summers:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables: Once you open your refrigerator the first hand in thing should be fresh fruits and vegetable. Apples, tomatoes and cucumbers are known for their water content and act as coolants that improve the skin texture. Onions help absorb the heat in the body and prevent sun stroke. Raw mangoes eaten along with onions and a pinch of salt will help you soothe the heat this summer.

• Fruit juices: In case you don't like chewing apples store some fruit juice can. They are healthy, contain fruits and will increase the water content of your body in a jiffy! Tetra pack of these juices is like life savor for busy bees!

• Yogurt: Gone are the days of boring white yogurt, lots of flavors are available in market. Store in some yummy yogurt especially if you are anti milk. It is a coolant and you can scoop a spoonful and feast on it or cut pieces of strawberries or mangoes to add flavor to it! Apart from this, yogurt can also be used for your skin troubles as it cures pimples, acne, dandruff and itchy scalp problems!

• Chocolate: Chocolates, yummm! You don't need a reason or weather to eat them. After a sweaty day when you come back home grab some chocolate and sink your teeth into it. It will soothe you down, calming those frayed nerves. The glucose content boost up energy level.

• Honey: Honey with warm water or lemon juice is homemade recipe to cure a upset stomach. Also keeps your skin glowing! Honey is again a coolant that can be applied on blisters that might surface on your skin during the harsh summer!

• Chilled Milk: I can visualize the reaction of Yuck! But trust me chilled milk tastes better than warm one. To deal with the taste issues, you can add flavors to the milk! Rose syrup or chocolate powder can be used, or simply whip up a smoothie with fresh fruits! It's healthy; it's filling and acts as a coolant.