Good hair day

Your hair is a surefire indicator of just how healthy you are. And chances are, if you're facing a hair problem, you also have a health problem. Here are simple rules to get that gorgeous crown and to make all your days as good hair day !

1. Clean Hair

First hair care starts with clean hair. Too much cleansing, however, can be damaging.The scalp produces an oily substance called sebum which coats each hair and keeps it looking shiny and soft. Shampoos are designed to remove excess oil, grease and dirt and to exfoliate the skin cells which clog and suffocate the hair follicles. It is important to choose a shampoo according to your hair type.

2. Combing the hair

Never comb or brush wet hair, as it is more susceptible to stretching and breaking when wet. Finger comb it in gentle massage-like movements.Wait until it is damp before styling. A two minute brushing, stroking and combing routine is sufficient massage exercise for the scalp.This will help distribute natural hair oils and improve blood circulation. Never use force while brushing, always brush with gentle outward strokes.

3. Hair and general health

It is very important to get a regular hair check up done as it is the body’s barometer indicating good health or the lack of it. It can be an early indicator of many diseases such as: Thyroid , Parathyroid, Addisons diseases , Cushing's syndrome , Anemia , Dietary and mineral deficiency , Hormonal imbalance , Ovarian cyst disease, Tooth problems .

5 things you hate can boost your health

The so called 'bad' things can help you to live longer :

Sunlight

Exposure to the sun’s rays is necessary to survive, but don’t stay out too long. It can also cause a lot of skin problems. Sunlight is good for asthmatics who benefit from the ultraviolet rays.

Beer

Drinking moderate amounts of beer can actually help improve cardiovascular functions. The trick is to drink, as we said earlier, in moderate amounts.

Marijuana

It’s medicinal, strictly! Marijuana, often associated with memory loss, is ironically now being hyped as a way to stave off the ultimate form of memory loss: Alzheimer’s. It has been found that the anti-inflammatories found in the drug prevent the clumping of brain proteins.

Anger

Occasional bursts of anger are good for your health. Anger can be an even more effective coping mechanism than becoming afraid, irritated or disgusted.

Magggots

Maggots are creepy and slimy and eeky, but they can actually save your life. Certain maggots placed on serious wounds, bite away on bacteria and dead tissue, stimulating healing and helping to prevent infection.

6 Myths about your Teeth

White teeth are healthier teeth

You can help to keep your teeth as white as possible by brushing regularly with fluoride toothpaste and flossing. Whitening has no side effects on the health of the teeth, neither do white teeth mean that there are no existing underlying dental diseases.

I have to see a dentist every month

Your dentist will recommend how often you should come in for check-ups, but if you have very good oral health this might be only once every six month.

Only the sugar in sweets, cakes, fizzy drinks and chocolate is bad for my teeth

While all these foods are bad for your teeth (and your general health), remember that dried fruit, fruit juice and honey also have natural sugars in them that can cause tooth decay. Limit these foods and brush your teeth twice a day.

There’s no need to brush milk teeth

Even though your child will lose their milk teeth, they still have to be brushed with the right technique. Brush your baby’s teeth twice daily from the moment their first tooth cuts through.

I’ll need false teeth when I am older?

Improvements in dental hygiene mean that far more of us will keep our natural teeth into old age.

I need to visit a dentist only if my tooth pains.

Prevention is always better than cure. If you get your cavities filled regularly, the chances of further decay of teeth and the associated pain are reduced drastically.

Amazing Facts

( A funny ancient illustration showing dental extraction )

Did you know your current mouthwash probably contains more alcohol than a 6-pack of beer?

Your toothpaste may contain a kind of SOAP that drastically dries out your mouth!

Bad breath does NOT come from the stomach!

Out of breath ? Try lemon

A cold glass of lemon water may protect your lungs against asthma. In fact, adding all things citrus such as grapefruit, oranges and lemons added to your shopping bucket may help reduce your risk of developing this respiratory problem, regardless of how active or how old you are.
Like most fruit, citrus is packed with nutrients that can help keep you healthy in general, and the ample amount of vitamin C in citrus fruit may have a particular benefit, it reduces risk of asthma. It has been found that adults who ate little or no fruit and shunned citrus were significantly more likely to have the wheezing and gasping symptoms of asthma.

Burning FAT

Your body needs sufficient vitamin C to burn fat and burning fat is key to keeping excess pounds away. So pop your C supplement, or snack on some C-rich orange / lemon before your next power walk. To keep the pounds you dropped from coming right back, you could start your day with some grapefruit, have an orange after lunch, or fill your dinner plate with C-rich veggies like red bell peppers and broccoli. So don’t skip your morning orange / lemon juice. And for a sophisticated twist to your lemonade, add some grated cucumber or ginger to your drink.

Wine , Fish and Chocolate fights with Wrinkles

WINE
Drinking alcohol in moderation protects against heart disease, diabetes and age-related memory loss. Any kind of alcoholic beverage seems to provide such benefits, but red wine has been the focus of much of the research. Red wine contains resveratrol, a compound that contributes to its benefits — and, according to animal studies, may activate genes that slow cellular aging.
FISH
Thirty years ago, researchers began to study why the native Inuits of Alaska were remarkably free of heart disease. The reason, scientists now think, is the extraordinary amount of fish they consume. Fish is an abundant source of omega-3 fats, which help prevent cholesterol build-up in arteries and protect against abnormal heart rhythms.
CHOCOLATE
The Kuna people of the San Blas islands, off the coast of Panama, have a rate of heart disease that is nine times less than that of mainland Panamanians. The reason? The Kuna drink plenty of a beverage made with generous proportions of cocoa, which is unusually rich in flavanols that help preserve the healthy function of blood vessels. Maintaining youthful blood vessels lowers risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and dementia.
Courtesy TOI

Love in the time of AIDS

The doumentary Love (and Babies) in the Time of AIDS, A Journey to India follows HIV/AIDS activist Thembi Ngubane, 23, as she travels from her humble home in Khayelitsha, South Africa to the bustling centre of Bollywood in Mumbai, India.

The movie, initially shown in Africa this past year to commemorate World AIDS Day, focuses on Thembi’s discovery at the age of 16 that was living with HIV. Her ex-boyfriend had died from the disease.

The revelation transformed Thembi from a carefree girl into a young woman focused on staying healthy for her unborn child while spreading awareness about the deadly virus and the importance of education in HIV prevention.

”When you are dating a person, you are young and you think this person is cool and you think you are the only one. All that love stuff is all you think of,” Thembi says in the documentary. “I was sure I caught the virus from him.”
Courtesy : mediaforfreedom.com

Eat and get glowing skin

* Low-fat dairy products.

The best sources for vitamin A. The health of your skin cells depends on dietary vitamin A.


* Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, plums.

These four fruits rate the highest when it comes to ‘total antioxidant capacity’. And you do know that antioxidants are great secrets to healthy skin!


* Healthy Oils.

Get the ones with essential fatty acids, like olive oil and canola oil. Good-quality oils keep skin well-lubricated.


* Wholewheat bread, muffins and cereals.

These are rich in selenium, which is known to work well against acne and also as an antioxidant.


* Green tea.

This deserves a category all its own in any article about foods for skin. It is anti-inflammatory and protects the cell membrane. It may even help prevent or reduce the risk of skin cancer.

* Water.
While the exact amount you should drink each day varies, no one disputes the role that good hydration plays in keeping your skin looking healthy and youthful. Though fluids like juice and soups are good, nothing works better than water.

It is For your eyes only

Eye Care: Some Dos & Don’ts

1.Never work in dim light

2.Wear sunglasses out in the sun

3.Do not read continuously in moving vehicles, take break .

4.Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables such as carrots, spinach, papaya and mangoes because these are enriched with beta carotene and are excellent for healthy eyes and proper vision

5.Apply cucumber water or thin slices of cucumber to the skin around the eyes, especially if this skin is looking dry . It improves your vision and also reduces puffs and bags under the eyes. This the best and easiest eye care tips .

6.Apply all-natural eye drops .

7.Splash eyes with cold water. Apply cotton wool pads, soaked in warm milk, light tea solution or rose water on the eyes. Press gently and leave for 10 minutes

8.Do regular eye exercise and make it a practice.

Exercise For The Eyes

1.Lift the eyes to the ceiling and then to the floor. Repeat. Look straight ahead, then to the left and then to the right. Repeat. Make a circle, first clockwise and then anticlockwise, with the eyes. Repeat

2.Rub your hands together until they feel warm, close your eyes and cover them lightly with cupped palms. Without applying too much pressure on the closed eyelids, place your palms on your eyes so that your nose remains uncovered, and no light rays are able to enter the eyes. Take deep breaths slowly and evenly, and relax yourself, and after your eyes see nothing but blackness, remove your palms from your eyes. Repeat

Pain in the Neck

Cervical spondylitis occurs as a result of aging and changes in the joints of the vertebral column, mostly due to the wearing of discs in between the different vertebrae, which in turn impacts the bones and tissues of the vertebral column. Any activity that puts undue stress on the neck for prolonged periods can cause this condition.

The symptoms are :
1. Neck pain (may radiate to the arms or shoulders)
2. Loss of sensation or abnormal sensation of the shoulders, arms and (rarely) legs
3. Weakness of the arms and sometimes of the legs too
4. Neck stiffness that progressively worsens
5. Loss of balance
6. Headaches, particularly in the back of the head
7. Loss of control of the bladder or bowels (if spinal cord is compressed).

The prevention
It is difficult to prevent this condition, but you can reduce the risk of developing it.
Take a break when driving long distance, watching TV or working on a computer. Don't hold your head in the same position for very long period.
Protect your neck from injury by using a seatbelt when sitting in a car.
Those who smoke and consume tobacco in any form should stop it completely.
Practice a good posture

Courtesy : TOI

Your favourite hand gel is not enough to wash off germs

Doctors and nurses on the go often skip soap and water in favour of an alcohol-based hand gel, thinking the quick-acting goo will kill bacteria on their hands and curb the spread of infection. It turns out that’s not enough.
In a Nebraska hospital, medical workers nearly doubled their use of the alcoholbased gel, but their generally cleaner hands had no bearing on the rate of infections among patients.
The doctor who studied the problem pointed to many villains: Rings and fingernails that are too long and hard to clean, poor handling of catheters and treatment areas that aren’t sanitized.
“Hand hygiene is still important, but it’s not a panacea,” said Dr Mark Rupp, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He led the study at the adjoining Nebraska Medical Center.
The results of his study appear to contradict hospital guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that say better hand hygiene — through frequent washing or use of hand gels — has been shown to cut the spread of hospital infections.

Big-bréasted womens more prone to diabetes

Girls with big bréasts have a 68% higher chance of developing diabetes by middle age than their small-bréasted counterparts, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
The decade-long study to find link between big bréasts and diabetes development among nurses in the US shows that those with bigger bréasts at 20 are at 68% higher risk of developing the disease in later years.
Joel Ray, professor of medicine at the University of Toronto and a clinician-scientist at the local St Michael’s Hospital, said this was “the broad conclusion” of his research team on the basis on the study that was published on Tuesday.
“Our findings are based on data from the Nurses Health Study II project in 14 American states. In a nutshell, 92,102 nurses were studied for link between their brēast size and their chances of developing diabetes by the age of 35. The bigger their bréasts are at the age of 20, the bigger their chances of developing diabetes,” Ray said.
However, Ray was quick to add that the brēast size could be one of the factors, apart from smoking, family history, diet and ethnicity that trigger diabetes in women.
“Obesity remains a big factor. Obese women tend to have larger bréasts, thereby becoming more prone to diabetes,” he said.

Healthy E

Wrinkle-free skin, ravishing raven locks—all courtesy vitamin E.

This anti ageing, fatsoluble vitamin is also known as tocopherol .
There’s more to vitamin E than simply countering wrinkles.

Vitamin E : An excellent antioxidant, it helps the cells to function better. It also provides oxygen to the tissues. It’s needed for reproduction, fertility and vigour. It helps dissolve blood clots and prevents their formation, thus countering vessel blockages. It prevents formation of excessive scar tissues and, in some cases, even melts them away. It prevents heart disease, asthma and arthritis. It’s beneficial in treating menstrual cramps.

How to get rid of morning sickness

Try the following tips :

* Mix half a teaspoon of ginger juice, one teaspoon of fresh lime juice, one teaspoon of mint juice and one teaspoon of honey to be taken three to four times a day.

* Juice from 15-20 tender curry leaves with two teaspoons of lime juice and one teaspoon of honey to be taken four times a day.

* One teaspoon of mint juice, lime juice with honey, three times a day.

* Don't drink and eat at the same time. In other words, drink your fluids between meals, instead of during meals, to avoid too much bulk in the stomach.

*Take a walk. Exercise can sometimes help alleviate symptoms. Plus, it's good for your body. Be sure to check with your doctor before trying anything more strenuous than a walk, however.

*Don't forget to brush. If you do succumb to vomiting, take good care of your teeth by brushing afterward (at least rinse your mouth if you can't brush right away). Otherwise, the frequent contact with the harsh acids in your vomit can eat away at tooth enamel.

courtesy: TOI & howstuffworks.com

Skipping Fun

* Skipping is something everybody can do in their spare time

*It’s a simple and fun exercise and once you get the hang of it, you’re bound to like it

*Skipping is not complicated at all. It’s as simple as popping a pill. All you need is to learn the ropes (pun intended)

*Skipping is certainly not rocket science. All you need is a bit of muscular coordination

* The effort it takes to jump the rope for 10 minutes equals to running a mile in 8 minutes

* One hour of skipping burns 1,300 calories. Not bad at all for something that only requires a piece of rope and some free time. What say?

* Skipping also does a better job of protecting your joints from strain injury

* Skipping is good for your arms. As the shoulders get a really good workout from keeping that rope in motion.

Courtesy: TOI

Heal with Haldi ( Turmeric ) !

Intestinal Disorders:

Turmeric is an antiseptic. The juice or powder, mixed in buttermilk or plain water heals intestinal problems, especially chronic diarrhoea and flatulence.

Worms:

About 20 drops of the juice of raw turmeric, mixed with a pinch of salt, taken first thing in the morning daily, is considered an effective remedy for expelling worms.

Anaemia:

Turmeric is rich in iron. A teaspoon of raw turmeric juice, mixed with honey, taken every day is beneficial.

Measles:

Turmeric roots dried in the sun, ground to a fine powder and mixed with a few drops of honey and the juice of a few bitter gourd leaves makes a concoction to cure the bothersome measles.

Asthma:

A teaspoon of turmeric powder with a glass of milk, twice or thrice daily, works wonders for the painful bronchial asthma.

Cough and Cold:

Turmeric is an effective household remedy for chronic cough and throat irritations. Mix half a teaspoon of fresh turmeric powder in 30 ml of warm milk for a quick cure. To prepare this, milk is poured on a hot ladle with turmeric in it and boiled over a slow fire. In case of a running cold, smoke from burning turmeric can be inhaled. This increases the discharge from the nose and brings quicker relief.

Mud therapy !

Naturopathy in the form of regular stomach mud baths came to Gandhiji's rescue. So, what makes naturopathy work? Naturopathy stimulates the body’s natural healing processes by ridding it of waste products and toxins. This is achieved by activating the body through baths and massages and is supplemented by a diet that suits the system.
Mud Therapy simplified
This exploits the beneficial effects that the application of thermal mud has on the organism.
This is a kind of generalised thermotherapy with a high therapeutic effectiveness in the treatment of many locomotorium disorders.

Methods
Partial mask with shower to remove mud

Partial mud mask + therapeutic bath in hydromassage pool

Partial mud mask + ozonised hydromassage in individual tub

Total mud mask + therapeutic bath in hydromassage pool

The Most Nutritious Fruit !

This attractive fruit has a reddish-gold skin and inside creamywhite edible seeds. It is these seeds that give it its name, which means grain apple. Eating a pomegranate is quite hard work, as each fleshy seed must be picked out individually, but their delicate, slightly tart flavour and refreshing juicy texture make the effort worthwhile. Be warned, however, that the juice from the fruit leave indelible stains.

Pomegranates are not only delicious and beautiful, they’re also one of the most nutritious fruits you can eat. High in vitamin C and potassium, a good source of fibre and low in calories. Pomegranate juice is high in three different types of polyphenols, a potent form of antioxidants. The three types—tannins, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid—are present in many fruits, but pomegranate juice contains particularly high amounts of all three. As antioxidants, they are credited with helping in the prevention of cancer and heart disease. So, whether you crunch fresh pomegranate seeds or drink the juice, feel guilt-free as you enjoy each delicious mouthful—you’re doing your body a favour!

Top 4 time waster :Waste your time and be healthy !

DAYDREAMING
It might feel like the ultimate waste of time, but it’s just the opposite. Recent research suggests that during daydreaming, your brain may actually be processing important issues that aren’t relevant at that immediate moment, like strategising about tonight’s dinner to wondering about your kid’s mysterious cold. So forgive yourself for spacing out during that boring PTA meeting: Though you may not even be aware
of it, you’ve got other things on your mind.
NAPPING
It does a mind and body good. A 15-to-20-minute snooze can make you more alert and energised and improve your stamina, and longer naps can even help you learn and retain information better. That’s all the excuse you need to rest those drooping eyelids for a minute. MESSINESS
It is in the eye of the beholder. Just because you are less organised, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are slower or less efficient than those who have less scatter on their desk. And if you’re naturally a little sloppy, what really wastes time is struggling to maintain strict order. Sure, always searching for your keys isn’t exactly time efficient, but think of the treasures you’ll discover.
GOSSIPING
Whether positive or negative, it is a great way to pass some time. Gossiping helps us relate and bond with our peers over shared values and sentiments. In fact, it may even increase your endorphin levels, which reduce stress and lower your heart rate. No wonder they call it the gift of the gab!

Pic from : http://www.istockphoto.com

Enjoy : No hangover !

How to get rid of a hangover

* Drink plenty of water before going to bed as well as when you wake up in the morning.

* Eating some foodstuff while and after you are drinking will slow down the rate at which alcohol enters the blood, thereby reducing the hangover.

* Consume vitamin C tablets, as they lead to the breakdown of alcohol content in the body.

* Try to eat starchy foods to slow down the alcohol absorption.

* Limit yourself to less than one drink per hour.

* Try to alternate your alcoholic drinks with nonalcoholic beverages such as water.

* Stick to non-carbonated drinks as carbonation can speed up the alcohol absorption.

* Try to avoid sweet drinks (and sugary foods) while you drink. The sweet taste of the drink can make it difficult for you to judge how much alcohol you’re actually consuming.

* Exercise will help get rid of your hangover by helping the body rid itself of toxins. The increased circulation gets blood and oxygen to your oxygenstarved brain. A good, brisk walk will also increase circulation with the results mentioned above.

* One of the quickest ways to cure a hangover is to make a banana milkshake sweetened with honey. The banana helps calm the stomach, and with the honey, builds up the depleted blood sugar levels.

Control diabetes with Homeopathy !

Having to give up on pudding is not really the worst thing about diabetes. Diabetes can cause blindness after 15 years; approximately two per cent diabetics turn blind, while about 10 per cent develop severe visual handicap. This apart, it can also cause disability of the lower limb and escalate heart diseases and kidney failure. And though heavily underestimated, diabetes is actually the fifth leading cause of death worldwide.
And if you thought diabetes affects only the old, it would be good to let you know that at present there are 40 million Indians affected by diabetes, out of which almost 35- 40 per cent are people in the 25-35 years age group. More than 1800 cases of diabetes are diagnosed everyday. India has the largest number of diabetics in the world.
Studies show Indians carry certain genes that increase susceptibility to diabetes and lack those that provide protection. Primarily an urban disease, causative factors include family history, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and a faulty high fat and energy diet. Primarily, however, fact is that Type II or non-insulin dependent diabetes that accounts for around 90 per cent of all diabetes cases worldwide is essentially a lifestyle illness that makes homeopathy the treatment of choice. Studies and clinical evidence prove as much. In one instance, in hundred cases of diabetes treated with homoeopathy, 84 per cent cases showed normal blood sugar levels. Another group that supplemented treatment with homeopathy showed 97 per cent improvement as compared to 47 per cent without homeopathy. Homeopathy lowers the risk

factor of diabetic complications like diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy.
According to a study carried out at Glasgow Homeopathic, a double blind
randomised, placebo-controlled study for diabetic retinitis showed that 47 per cent patients given homeopathic medicine experienced improvement in central blood flow to the eye whilst a further 52 per cent patients showed improvement in blood flow to other parts of the eye.
Homeopathy controls diabetes by improving the patient’s immune system thereby helping the body absorb insulin better. It is both effective and safe, as it does not have dangerous side effects like hypoglycaemia that can lead to cardiovascular failure. Homeopathy can be used in the early stages of diabetes even as the first line of treatment. Homeopathy can also be used for those diabetics already on medicines without tampering the effect of the other medicines.

Homeopathic medicines for diabetes:

* Syzygium Jambolanum Q : Diabetes with great thirst, weakness, emaciation, profuse urination.

*Insulin 6c — indicated in diabetes with skin irritation, boils or varicose ulceration.