10-second health tips : Health - MensHealth

Live longer and stronger with this feel-good to-do list.

1 Tea off in the morning
Hot tea can slash your risk of kidney cancer by 15 per cent, according to a review in the International Journal of Cancer. Try pu-erh tea, which is better than green or black tea at preventing DNA damage.

2 Sleep smarter
Too much sleep, or not enough of it, can kill you. A British study found that getting more than nine hours of sack time a night, or less than six, doubles your risk of an early death from any cause. Aim for seven to eight hours a night.

3 Pop in your lenses post-shower
Soaping up while wearing your contacts can expose your eyes to infectioncausing waterborne microbes, say University of Illinois at Chicago researchers.

4 Drink wine, stay lean
Polyphenols, the compounds found in red wine, help your body block fat absorption, an Israeli study found. Red-wine marinades work, too.

5 Check your neck
An American Journal of Medicine study found that a mildly underactive thyroid can boost your heart-disease risk by 65 per cent. A quick blood test can assess your level of thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH).

6 Scent your air safely
Avoid air fresheners with phthalates, as it may disrupt hormone processes, the US Natural Resources Defence Council says.

7 Boost your defences
An Archives of Internal Medicine review reports that 400IU of vitamin D a day cuts your risk of an early death by 7 per cent.

8 Lean back
Parking your torso at a 90-degree angle strains your spine, say Scottish and Canadian researchers. Instead, give your chair the La-Z-Boy treatment and recline the seat back slightly. The ideal angle is 45 degrees off vertical.

9 Steam your broccoli
Italian researchers recently discovered that steaming broccoli raises its concentration of glucosinolates (compounds that fight cancer) by 30 per cent. Boiling lowers the levels.

10 Stretch it out
Genes linked to heart disease, diabetes and obesity can be "turned on" if you sit for hours on end, reports a Diabetes study. Hit the "off" button by taking hourly laps during TV, book and web sessions.

Top Health Benefits of Ginger

Water treatment: Lead a healthy life with water

 

The wonder called water

HEALTH: It smoothens wrinkles, fights bad breath, eliminates toxins… Just six to eight glasses of water a day keep you in fine shape.

Water as beauty aid was probably known to prehistoric women. Healthcare specialists have been prescribing it forever. "Drinking six to eight glasses of water a day eliminates toxins, maintains body temperature and homoeostasis," says a lifestyle and age management consultant.

"Our body is made up of two-thirds water; hence, we need plenty of the liquid to prevent dehydration and damage to tissues."

Practitioners of Ayurveda recommend Jala Kunjal, in which you drink salted, lukewarm water on an empty stomach early in the morning. Then, you churn your midriff a bit and force the water out.

Ayurveda claims that Kunjal cleanses the system of dyspepsia, hyper-acidity, indigestion, food poisoning, bad breath and skin/blood disorders. Consult a doctor before you start off, though. In the more merciful "Usha Paana Chikitsa" (dawn water treatment), you drink 1.5 litres of water the minute you open your eyes. The treatment is more effective if the water has been stored in a copper jug. This habit, users believe, fights obesity and keeps out cold-causing germs.

Myriad benefits
We know that right amounts of water intake improve digestion, absorption, circulation and excretion. It keeps cells well hydrated for proper functioning, maintains muscle tone and prevents muscle cramping. It reduces the risk of developing kidney stones, increases energy level, and helps lubricate joints. Two glasses before a meal is a clever tool for weight loss.
One study in Britain came out with curious result. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, women drank one-and-half litres of water daily for eight weeks.
While some volunteers drank regular tap water, others sipped on natural mineral water (it has anti-inflammatory properties) from the Lake District in Britain.
A Visia complexion system analysed the before-and-after pictures for extent and depth of wrinkles, texture of skin and amount of damage.
Astonishingly, those who drank tap water had their wrinkles smoothed out by 19 percent. Those who drank mineral had a dramatic 24 per cent reduction, proving that the kind of water you drink counts too.

Still, experts doubt if just drinking water gives the skin a radiant, youthful complexion and irons out wrinkles. Water travels in the system rather quickly. Your dry skin/wrinkles could be a genetic or environment consequence. It is possible that once the toxins are flushed out internally, acne breakouts are less likely.
So, is water a skin tonic? "Washing the face is the least talked-about topic, but if done properly, it can promote a healthy glow," says Dr. Kousalya. Warm water opens up your pores and cold water closes them, so wash your face with warm water before using skin cleansing products and cold water after.
Washing the face three times a day cleanses the skin, cools skin temperature, improves circulation, and stimulates nerve endings.
Check your skin type (dry, oily, combination, sensitive, ageing, sun-damaged) and follow the skincare ritual, she says.

Avoid an overkill
And, don't obsess about the '8-by-8' rule – drinking eight ounces of water eight times a day. Ayurveda clearly says that water intake should only be to the extent of quenching thirst. Excess intake might even turn out to be negative; it can upset the balance.
So, listen to your thirst signal. Doing sweaty work? Drink to prevent dehydration and heat sickness. Fever? Sip warm water. Pregnant? Nursing? You'll need more liquid intake. You could get the extra glasses from food (rasam is good example), fruit, veggies milk, buttermilk and tea.
Water in the right quantities stimulates blood circulation. It regulates the skin's natural balance. Warm water hydrates, revitalizes, detoxifies and oxygenates the skin.
Externally, it gets rid of blackheads and makes large pores smaller. Drinking water makes the body more relaxed and invigorated. It replaces the moisture lost in everyday activities.
No contest. Water wins. Just make sure it is free of chemicals.

FOR A GLOWING YOU!

• Wash your face twice to remove make up. The first wash removes the make-up; the second cleanses the skin.
• Steam your face for five to seven minutes once in 10 days; it opens pores and washes away hidden dust.
• Be gentle with your skin. Don't over-wash to scrub hard; it destroys suppleness.
• After washing, gently pat your face dry
• Ice-massage the face for a minute before make-up. It acts as a toner, and the make-up will stay longer

Courtesy: The Hindu – 24-01-2011

Miracles of Watermelon!

Miracles of Watermelon!

Watermelons may relax blood vessels, improving circulation and even improving libido and erectile function, according to Medical News Today. Watermelon gives you a sweet treat with nutrients that benefit your body. Watermelon's citrulline converts into arginine, an amino acid that benefits the heart and circulatory system.

Watermelon Nutrients

 

 

 Watermelon and fresh watermelon juice contain more lycopene and beta carotene than tomatoes and tomato juice do. Dark red watermelons are particularly rich in these protective phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are natural plant compounds that trigger positive health effects in the body.

A 1/2 cup of diced watermelon contains only 25 calories and 6 grams of carbs, with no fat and no sodium, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It supplies 10 percent of your daily vitamin C and 8 percent of vitamin A, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Vitamins C and A are antioxidants that protect your cells from damage.

Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Preliminary research suggests lycopene has an effect on the carotid artery's thickness and may help to prevent cardiovascular disease by protecting LDL, "good" cholesterol, from oxidation, according to Ronald Ross Watson and Victor R. Preedy's "Nutrition and Heart Disease: Causation and Prevention." High concentrations of lycopene in body fat are associated with lower rates of heart attack, especially in nonsmoking men, the authors report. Protecting your heart's health is crucial to maintaining good circulation. Oxidation of LDL refers to negative changes in LDL that may lead to heart disease. Consuming watermelon juice increases lycopene more than consuming tomato juice does. Watermelon and other foods rich in antioxidants help prevent LDL oxidation and the risk of atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries that causes dangerous problems with circulation, the authors say.

Lower Blood Pressure

Watermelon extract reduced blood pressure in obese, middle-aged people who had prehypertension or hypertension, according to American researchers who reported their findings in the June 2012 issue of the "American Journal of Hypertension." The researchers concluded that the results suggest watermelon extract reduced arterial pressure, although further research is needed. Most of the study subjects were obese, post-menopausal women with mild high blood pressure.

Considerations

Even though watermelon is sweet, it has a low glycemic load. Glycemic load considers the amount of carbohydrate per serving, offering a more accurate gauge of a food's impact on blood sugar than the glycemic index alone does. Never attempt to self-diagnose or self-treat a health problem. Talk to your doctor about any medical concerns. Delaying appropriate treatment for a heart or circulation problem can have serious consequences.
 
 

Tummy Troubles - symptoms and treatment

Tummy Troubles - symptoms and treatment

Ever heard of irritable bowel syndrome? If cramps in the tummy are common place for you, it's about time you learnt more about it. That bothersome tummy ache may be more than just your everyday indigestion. Let's talk about some. Is that terrible tummy ache taking the wind out of your sails? Making you sleepless, stressed, and irritable? Well, it's not just your mind that is irritated but something deep down in your belly your bowel! Get up and get cracking, because it might be a case of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) also known as spastic colon, IBS is a functional bowel disorder characterized by mild to severe abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating in the stomach, constipation or diarrhea and alteration of bowel habits. However, IBS does not permanently harm the intestines. And you can control the symptoms by consuming the right diet, managing your stress and following the right medicine regimen. Here's how; Signs to watch out for There are no specific causes that lead to IBS. It is most often a result of a sensitive colon or large intestine. Here's what you must watch out for Irritation in the large intestine Loose motions for 10 -12 weeks in a year Recurring tummy ache Bleeding/spotting in the stool Getting up in the middle of the night to go to the washroom Significant weight loss in a very short span of time Recent changes in bowel habits Depression, stress, anxiety Stress and IBS It might sound strange but stress can stimulate colon spasms in people suffering from IBS. It happens because the colon has several nerves control the contractions of the colon and cause abdominal discomfort when we are stressed. Now you know where those cramps come from? Stress management is an important part of treatment for IBS. Here's how to manage it: Stress reduction training and relaxation therapies such as meditation in conjunction with medical aid Regular exercise, such as walking or yoga Changes to the stressful situations Tummy treatments IBS has no specific treatment but there are certain ways in which you can alleviate the problem. Most important, the patient and the doctor must share a good relationship. The doctor should be able to calm the patient down and tell him/her there is no reason to panic. Patients suffering from IBS are often called "doctor bargainers" because they tend to change their doctors often, thinking someone would have the remedy! However, what they must understand is that it's not a disease but a functional disorder. Certain drugs can help ease this tummy troubler, so do consult your doctor. Following the correct guidelines can help you go a long way in treating the problem. Let it go! Chennai Times February 27 2009

Seasonal Diet, Body and Skin Care

Seasonal Diet, Body and Skin Care

This section provides you with usefull information on Seasonal care and tips and technics to maintain a healthy body and a healthy skin. Skin care depends on various other factors of the body condition. Fruits and vegetables are having abundant sources of vitamins and minerals to keep your body fit and healthy. A good skin can be achieved by ensuring that all natural elements required for it are given accordingly. Sunlight, water, fruits, milk and many other such things provide lot of value to skin

Get rid of unwanted hair: Because the amount of body hair varies considerably from woman to woman and there is a wide range that is considered normal, someone may think she has excessive hair but not be considered hirsute Treatment for eyes : Home remedies for puffed eyes and dark circles. Treat your eyes for a rejuvenated and refreshing appearance Summer Care - Beat the heat with fruit juices:Juices of grapes, watermelon, banana, jack fruit, lemon and pineapple are essential during summer. Summer Care - How to avoid Heat exhaustion: Avoid Heat Exhaustion by consuming lot of water and eating more fruits and vegetables. Tips to treat tired eyes: Most computer users suffer from the problem of tired eyes, dark circles and headaches. Follow these ten tips to avoid them.