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Did you know bananas have a natural antacid effect?

July 3, 2017 UncategorizedArjun GuptaLeave a comment

Acid reflux or what we call it as indigestion is an uncommon problem today. This generally occurs when your stomach acid and/or its contents flow back into your esophagus. So, what’s the usual action? In usual circumstances, your lower esophageal sphincter would close as soon as the food you intake passed through it. If this is not closed properly, then the acid that is being produced in your stomach will tend to move back into your esophagus. This causes irritation of the lining of esophagus thereby leading to acid reflux.
Well, the symptoms of acid reflux would include:

  • Burning sensation in the chest/upper abdomen/behind the breastbone
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Nausea
  • Heartburn
  • Bloating

You should be well aware of these symptoms because today most of the foods we intake are causing acid reflux and for some of us, it has become a regular problem. For the people who are wondering, is there any home remedy for indigestion at all, we would say that there are several remedies. While we ask you to cut down the food and/or beverages that stimulate the acid reflux, we would also inform you that bananas could come to your rescue. Continue reading the article to know more about this here…
Bananas as Natural Antacids:
Firstly, we need to understand that apart from being a tasty fruit, bananas are high in nutritional value. They have high amounts of vitamins and minerals when at the same time containing no virtual amounts of fat, sodium, and cholesterol. So, how actually your bananas could help you with heartburn? They have a natural antacid effect on your body. Here, let’s recall a point that antacids are the therapeutic agents for heartburns. Now, coming again to bananas, they primarily suppress the acid production in your stomach by coating, and protecting the stomach from acid, thereby helping against the ulcers and ulcer damage. There are two major mechanisms by which the antacid effect of bananas helps suppress the acid. They are as follows:
Firstly, they contain a substance that stimulates the activation of the cells that are making up the lining of the stomach. Due to this, a thicker mucus barrier will be formed to provide the stomach with an extra layer of protection against the acid.
Secondly, bananas contain some special compounds called “protease inhibitors”, which would help in eliminating certain types of bacteria within our stomach that are responsible for the development of stomach ulcers.
Other Useful Properties of Bananas:
Besides the above-mentioned major mechanisms, there are some other useful properties in bananas that help cure heartburns. The bananas are rich in potassium, which would help in digestion, as well as absorption of food into our stomach. Moreover, potassium is known to be an alkalizing agent, which would help reduce the gross acidity of our stomach. Next, bananas are found to help increase the capacity of the sphincter to function properly by giving it the necessary strength to the weak sphincter. Also, the bananas are rich in sulfur content, which again would help in digestion.
Furthermore, the bananas are rich in fiber, which would act as anti-acid reflux by eliminating the toxins that are harmful. In addition to this, the minerals, vitamins especially vitamin B6, and fiber contents of banana are found to help in the strengthening of the esophagus. Finally, these bananas have several elements that help in the suppression of the acid secretion in your stomach and in the maintenance of pH levels in your stomach. Thus, overall it’s the best home remedy for your acid reflux problem.
Using Bananas for Acid Reflux:
Yes, you can eat bananas directly without any additions. You can take them before or after your meals. You can add them to your cereals every morning. And, you can even take them in other forms like:

  • Banana bread
  • Banana muffins
  • Banana sandwich
  • Fruit bowl
  • Banana cake

In addition to these, there are also some other effective ways to take them. Take a banana, peel it and cut into slices. Sprinkle some sugar and cinnamon powder onto it. Now, take them. In another way, you can take them with your oatmeal. Remember, oatmeal is a whole grain food that would neutralize the acidity of your stomach thereby, reducing the stomach and other acid reflux symptoms. Therefore, we would say that taking bananas with your oatmeal is one of the best ways to alleviate your acid reflux. So, what’s the procedure? Peel your bananas and cut them into slices. Add these pieces to cooked oatmeal and stir. Now, eat this as your breakfast every day to alleviate and cure your acid reflux and constipation.
Smoothies:
The other ways of taking bananas would be as your favorite smoothies. Now, let’s see how to prepare your banana smoothies here:
Banana and Avocado Smoothie:
Ingredients Required:

  • Bananas
  • Avocado
  • Cinnamon powder
  • Almond milk
  • Honey
  • Chia seeds
  • Vanilla paste
  • Bee pollen
  • Ice cubes

Put all these ingredients into a blender and blend them on a high speed for about three minutes. Your smoothie is ready to consume. We would ask you to consume this at least two times in a week for better results.
Banana and Strawberry Smoothie:
Ingredients:

  • Banana
  • Strawberries
  • Mango juice
  • Yogurt
  • Ice cubes

Here again, blend all the ingredients in a blend on a high speed until the mixture becomes smooth. Take this smoothie regularly.
Another way to consume bananas will be as your milkshake. Note that banana, when consumed with milk, will exhibit the best antacid effect thereby, helping in the reduction of the acid production in your stomach. To prepare the milkshake, you would just need to add bananas and milk (or soy milk) in a blender and blend them at a high speed.
Final Points:
As we described, taking bananas should give you a quick and easy relief from your heartburns. But, you must remember that the bananas should be ripe. Eating unripe bananas would, on the other hand, cause acid reflux. In the same way, overripe bananas also would be more acidic and could cause heartburn. Therefore, you are advised to consume eat fresh bananas which are not unripe or overripe. We would suggest you take three bananas when you have acid reflux to know whether it’s increasing or decreasing your acid reflux problem.

5 Tips for Healthy Breakfast

July 3, 2017 UncategorizedArjun GuptaLeave a comment

If you want to kick start your metabolism and burn lots of calories in a day, it’s important for you to eat a well-balanced breakfast. Remember, eating breakfast would give your brain, as well as the muscles the much-needed energy and nutrients to function properly all through the day. Some recent research studies have shown that breaking your overnight fast with a well-balanced meal is making an impact on your overall health and wellbeing. This fact is especially true with teens and children. Consuming a smart breakfast would help improve behavior and foster a healthy weight. Now, let’s see the top five tips for healthy breakfast here…

  1. Start your day with some Stronger Proteins:

Protein seems to be a missing component in several of our breakfast meals. This is important for our children to go stronger and stay focused until the next meal. We agree that everyone loves carbs. But, it would often leave you to feel hungry before it’s lunch time. This is not the case with proteins. It will keep you full and make your brain sharper. Moreover, they are the building blocks of life! Every one of us needs these nutrients for building complex hormones, fighting diseases, and building new cells. As such, go for lean proteins.
Now, you might be wondering whether you need to miss your favorite carbs while trying to add proteins in your breakfast meals. Actually, you need not have to. You can add proteins to any carb-heavy meal like egg, meat, nuts, beans, and so on…
So, what is the best way to consume enough amounts of proteins in your breakfast? Well, several people say that they take a bowl of cereal with milk for breakfast. This seems to be a good choice. But, the question whether how often do you slurp down all the milk that accompanies your cereal? If you don’t feel to drink this milk, add a boiled egg to your meal for enough protein. As mentioned earlier, these are not the only ways to consume proteins. You can be as innovative as possible!

  1. Incorporate Nutrient-Rich Wholegrain Foods:

Like your proteins, the whole grain foods also would help keep you to feel fuller for a longer time. Remember, a high-octane carbohydrate would help energize our body and brain and these whole grains would provide an extra punch in terms of nutrition. These would come packed with fibers and other essential nutrients and hence they would take more time to digest. Moreover, these whole grain foods would help reduce the risks to the health disorders like type-2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, and stroke.
Here is our thumb rule for whole grain cereals: your food should contain a minimum of five grams of fiber. Also, there should be more fiber content in your meal when compared to your sugars.
When it comes to choices, don’t just restrict with whole wheat. There are several other whole grains to consider, which may include:

  • Oats
  • Buckwheat
  • Rice
  1. Get some Freshness with Fruits and Vegetables:

We would say that breakfast is the ideal time to enjoy the produce needed for your optimal health. As such, get some freshness factor by consuming fruits and vegetables in some form. We have found that the best way to hit your target of vegetables for the day is to start off by serving them breakfast. So, how to incorporate your greens in your breakfast? You can easily add them to your smoothies or mix them with your eggs. Take your spinach this way as it will be tastier at the same time healthier. This way, you would get your nutrients like iron, fiber, vitamins, calcium, folate, minerals, and so on. Also, these are packed with antioxidants, which would assist in detoxifying your body.
Now, coming to the fruits, mixing a glass of fruit juice or a cup of banana, berries, or apples along with cereals or porridge will be the best way to take. You can also include seasonal fruits like kiwi, melons, and whatever is available in the season. The canned options and the frozen foods will be good to be used in yogurt parfaits.

  1. Keeping Yourself Dehydrated:

As we are going without any food all over the night, our body will go without liquids. So, we are prone to dehydration the next morning. In order to avoid this, it’s important for us to take a drink with our breakfast. Remember, if you get dehydrated, it may cause in you, headache, tiredness, grumpy feeling, and much more. More often, dehydration will be mistaken to be hunger and people may find themselves overeating if they are not drinking enough liquids. This is why you are advised to start your day with a glass of water, fresh fruit juices, or herbal tea.
You may tend to drink coffee or tea. We would say this is fine but remember these are not as hydrating as much as the other drinks that are mentioned above. Also, these would contain caffeine, which is to be avoided.

  1. Plan it the night before:

Every morning you would tend to rush up with your breakfast preparation. This would often make you slip away from the daily nutrient intake. In order to prevent this, we would advise you to get organized and prepared right from the dinner table the before night. Make it your routine to prepare a breakfast plan as you get up from your dinner table. You can also set up the bowls and spoons for the wholegrain cereals. If you are planning for pancakes or smoothies, get out the pans or blenders accordingly. It’s not that each morning you need to go for complex breakfast. During some busy days, you can get your family going with something simple and quick.
Sometimes, people tend to skip their breakfast with a reason of no time. If there is no time at home, you must always pack a nutritious meal to eat out in your car or bus. Also, it’s important that you have your first meal of the day within two hours of waking up from your sleep. This is essential for you to get all the benefits that are mentioned above.
References:

  1. http://www.ahchealthenews.com/2016/10/25/6-tips-buying-healthy-packaged-breakfast-foods/
  2. http://www.eatright.org/resource/food/planning-and-prep/snack-and-meal-ideas/4-tips-for-better-breakfasts
  3. https://onceamonthmeals.com/blog/recipe-roundups/5-tips-better-breakfast/
  4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/23/healthy-breakfast-mistakes_n_2877800.html
  5. http://www.shakeupyourwakeup.com/why-is-breakfast-important/healthy-breakfast-tips

Best Benefits of Pomegranate Juice for Skin, Hair, and overall Health

May 2, 2017 Health TipsArjun GuptaLeave a comment

Best Benefits of Pomegranate Juice for Skin, Hair, and overall Health
Pomegranate, which is popularly called as ‘seeded apple,’ has a wide range of benefits. Medically, this fruit is full of flavonoids and antioxidants. It’s because of its properties and benefits that the fruit is being widely cultivated in several parts of the world today. Although we are already aware that this fruit has several health benefits, we are still unaware of the best benefits of pomegranate juice for skin, hair, and health. It’s time for us to learn about these. So, just keep reading…
Best Benefits for Skin:
Your skin will be called healthy not only when it appears beautiful, but also when it offers a protective layer against the potential infections. As such, your pomegranate juice with all the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties will give you the radiant and the glowing skin. So, what an ounce of pomegranate juice will provide your skin? Let’s see here:
Healthy Skin:
As might be already aware, pomegranate is rich in vitamin E, which is an important nutrient required to maintain the skin’s health. Your one cup of pomegranate juice will give you 1.8 mg of this nutrient. In other words, it is almost 14% of the daily recommended level.
Skin Protection:
For your skin to function healthily, Zinc is important. This is the mineral that regulates the development of basal cells and assists in the healing of wounds. Also, Zinc has a role to play in protecting your skin from damages. This important Zinc is present in pomegranate and a cup of its juice will give us about 11 mg of this mineral. This is equal to almost 15% of the daily recommended intake.
Melanin Production:
Copper is a mineral that is required by us to produce melanin pigment (that gives color to the skin). This is also needed to protect our skin from sunlight. This copper is found to be present in our pomegranate and one cup of pomegranate juice will give us almost 500 mg of this mineral. This is nearly 53% of the recommended levels.
Anti-Aging:
A balanced diet that is rich in pomegranate juice will do wonders in terms of anti-aging. Its juice is known to slow down the aging process. Also, it would reduce the wrinkles, as well as fine lines caused due to constant exposure to sunlight. Furthermore, the juice would help sustain the regeneration process and prevent the hyperpigmentation.
Dry Skin Soothing:
In simple terms, pomegranate juice is found to be suitable for all skin types. In particular, for dry skin types, it is known to penetrate deep into the skin and provide the much-needed moisture and hydration. This way, it soothes your dry skin.
Scar Healing:
As mentioned above, pomegranate juice will help regenerate the cells in both the epidermal, as well as the dermal layers. Thus, it would facilitate the faster healing of scars. Also, it would protect your skin from sunburns and would help heal the damage caused to your skin due to sunlight exposure.
Best Benefits for Hair:
Again, this fruit contains a lot of nutrients that can benefit your hair in several ways. Let’s see them here:
Hair follicle Strengthening:
Taking pomegranate juice regularly would strengthen your hair follicles thereby, preventing hair fall. Thus, this would give your hair a healthy, as well as lustrous look.
Hair Loss Treatment:
Drinking this juice regularly will treat your hair loss too. The punicic acid that is present in this fruit would help strengthen your hair and keep it thicker and healthier. Moreover, it would enhance the blood circulation in the scalp and stimulate hair growth.
Best Benefits for Health:
As everyone is aware, the juice of pomegranate has a lot of medicinal properties. So, what are the best benefits? Check below:
The Rise in Immunity:
As mentioned earlier, the juice of pomegranate is full of antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. These would be promising to raise the immune levels thus making us stronger. Thus, the body will become capable of fighting against microorganisms. It’s to be noted that this juice has the ability to control even the HIV transmission, which is the deadliest infection ever.
Healthy Pregnancy:
The vitamins and minerals that are present in pomegranate juice would help make sure a healthy pregnancy. They would help have healthy blood flow to your fetus thereby, supporting its growth. Moreover, these nutrients would help prevent premature labor.
Blood Pressure Regulation:
Taking this juice regularly will keep your blood pressure in check. It would act as a natural aspirin in the prevention of blood coagulation and the blood cells clotting. Thus, the lesions will be reduced and inflammation of blood vessels will be regulated. All these would make your blood thinner thus making it flow normally.
Heart Health:
The juice of pomegranate will make the arteries flexible and reduce the risks of atherosclerosis. It will reduce the levels of bad cholesterol or what we called as LDL and increase the levels of good cholesterol or HDL. Thus, the risks of blocks in the arteries will be decreased largely.
Cancer Prevention:
Pomegranate juice is known to eliminate the free radicals in our body. The antioxidants that are present in it would the neutralization of toxins. Also, it would induce a process in your body that would self-destruct the cancer cells. Moreover, it would block the aromatase enzyme that aids in the development of breast cancer. Thus, pomegranate juice is found to be beneficial in cancer prevention.
Blood Sugar Control:
Diabetes is a major disorder today. It can be seen that the fruit juices are increasing the blood sugar levels in general. But, pomegranate juice is quite different in this. It does not increase the blood sugar level, although it contains fructose in it. Several research studies have proved this!
Anemia:
Anemia is the medical condition, which is caused when the number of red blood cells decreases below the normal levels. The iron that is present in the pomegranate juice will help produce these blood cells thereby, curing this deficiency disorder.
Remember, pomegranate juice has, even more, benefits for skin, hair, and health than the aforementioned ones. We have learned only the best ones here!
 
References:

  1. http://www.stylishwalks.com/amazing-benefits-pomegranate-juice-skin-hair-health/
  2. http://stylesatlife.com/articles/pomegranate-benefits/
  3. http://www.thehealthsite.com/news/5-reasons-pomegranate-is-good-for-the-skin/
  4. http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/best-benefits-of-pomegranate-juice-for-skin-hair-and-health/#gref
  5. http://www.healthbeckon.com/pomegranates-benefits/
  6. http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/skin-cosmetic-benefits-pomegranate-juice-9539.html
  7. https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-pomegranate.html
  8. http://www.beautyandtips.com/healthy-eating/20-beauty-and-health-benefits-of-pomegranate-juice-and-pomegranate-seed-oil/
  9. http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/top-10-health-benefits-of-pomegranates/#gref

Health Benefits of Using Honey in Daily life

April 30, 2017 Health TipsArjun GuptaLeave a comment

Daily exercise and nutrition diet is key to a healthy and fit body, and honey is best for nutrition. It is the oldest sweetener on earth. The golden sweetener is full of antioxidants and flavonoids which gift you high energy and healing power. I suggest you take honey for your house, not only for the kitchen but for your medicine cabinet also.
In a study, it has been found that more than 65% reduction in your productivity is due to bad eating habits. Be it unhealthy food or timing issues in your diet; it is slowly affecting you from inside.
In last few decades, our traditional food has got replaced by junk and fast food and the percentage of junk food consumption has increased drastically. People of all age group have adopted this bad habit. If we continue doing this, our upcoming generation is predicted to be born with disabilities.
Let me brief some of the major benefits of honey:
Heal your heart diseases and cancer with honey
The antioxidants and flavonoids in the-oldest-golden-sweetener help fight against cancer and heart diseases. Raw honey is best for medicinal use.
The darker the honey, the more are the antioxidants in it.
Regulates blood sugar:
Even though honey is sweet, but it is not same as normal white sugar or any artificial sweet syrup. The combination of fructose and glucose present in honey helps the body to regulate the sugar level.
Beautiful glowing skin
Apply it on your face in winters or give yourself a honey facial for a younger glowing skin. The anti-bacterial qualities of honey are useful for your skin, Your grandmother (just like mine) might have told you this use of honey. Get a honey facial or put on a honey pack with other ingredients like Vitamin e to moisturize and nourish your skin.
Cure to ulcers and other gastrointestinal issues:
Honey is a natural medicine to ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders.
Anti-bacterial:
Honey has noticeable long life, all thanks to the bees who add enzymes to honey that makes hydrogen peroxide and make the honey anti-bacterial. It is the only thing that never gets spoiled. I have never heard in my home that honey is spoiled.
Increases athletic performance:
Ancient athletes used to take honey with dried figs to perform well in the playground. Modern studies have taken it into consideration and it is now verified to be helpful in maintaining the glycogen level and improve the recovery time.
Use it for Cough medicine:
A cough is a real irritating disease that doesn’t even allow you a proper sleep. In winters, if my adorable toddler feels discomfort due to the cold and cough, I just take some honey on your finger and allow the little one to lick it.
I use it for adults also, a simple home remedy can help relief from cough. Take some fresh ginger juice, a spoonful of honey and black pepper; mix well and eat slowly. If required take lukewarm water only.
Healing wounds and burns:
Honey is the best home remedy as it has some natural properties like antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial. Applying a layer of honey after cleaning the wound is a very fast way to heal wound and cut, this method is being used since the medical facilities were not much developed because it keeps the affected area infection free and reduces odor and pus. Moreover, it reduces the pain within minutes which is a big relief for the patient. Raw honey is the best.
 
Now that you know the benefits of this magic resource, so make use of it.
 
Resources:

10 Health Benefits of Honey

10 Ways to Use Honey (in your food and on your skin)

Healthy Foods

April 27, 2017 BlogArjun GuptaLeave a comment

Eating a diet rich in some vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may protect against certain types of cancers
“What you saw today is what you reap tomorrow,” we all know this famous saying which is not just for deeds but also for what we eat! A healthy diet now will lay a healthy foundation for your better tomorrow. Over the last decade, burgers and rolls have replaced our lunch while junk foods have replaced our dinners. These are the main reasons behind many diseases common today.
Good nutrition along with the regular exercise will help you achieve a healthy weight, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve the overall health. For a busy, stressful and sedentary lifestyle, a diet which provides all the vital nutrients and proteins is a must to have to make you feel light and competent. All the talk is of no use if you fail to have a healthy diet, so here are the key facts that will lead you to  a healthy diet:
1. Productivity
In 2012, Population Health Management discovered that 66% loss of productivity is found in individuals with unhealthy eating habits. It was also found that the practice of eating healthy food helps increase one’s concentration and thus increases the productivity of a person.
2. Fight depression and anxiety
We become what we eat, so try to eat only healthy food. Junk eating habits tend to make us lazy and lethargic whereas healthy eating keeps us light and energetic throughout the day. Foods that are rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins, such as fruits and vegetables are known to reduce the risk of depression and anxiety. Inclusion of salmon, nuts, and other fatty fish is also often advised.
3. Weight managements
Do not think that you have to eat less to reduce weight. It’s completely wrong! Teenagers, especially girls are quite often seen skipping meals. But the human body tends to store fat when it’s deprived of its necessities. So eat sufficiently with healthier options.
4. Health improvements
Dietary habits of childhood are likely to be carried to adulthood. If you are inclined towards following unhealthy habits, you are prone to having type 2 diabetes, hypertension and increased body weight. Inclusion of antioxidants, fruits and vitamins is good, as they have additive or synergistic actions of phytochemicals. These directly reduce the chances of chronic disease and in some cases, even cardiovascular diseases.
Here are a few tips to adopt healthy eating habits with little or no efforts:
– Drink at least 10 glasses of water every day. There is nothing beautiful than supple skin and water is a must for it. Drinking 2 liters of water everyday will not only keep you hydrated but eliminate toxins from the body.
– Have your meals on fixed times and do not skip them.
– Increase your physical activity with small changes like walking to metro stations, or choosing stairs instead of the lift.
– Pre-plan your cravings. If you have cravings for dessert or a snack during afternoon, try to eat something healthy, like digestive biscuits or a cup of yogurt instead of ice cream.

The Human Body Is the Best Picture of the Human Soul

April 27, 2017 BlogArjun GuptaLeave a comment

Ludwig Wittgenstein once said that “The human body is the best picture of the human soul.” He insisted on the fact that a healthy and fit body will display the state of the soul it resides in. Modern lifestyle keeps us busy at all times and so much tasks in hand regarding schooling, jobs and family matters drain out all our energy.
At times when we are surrounded by such pressures, an effective tool which can look after our health, both mentally and physically is relaxation. Art of yoga gets you a correct way of enjoying relaxation. It may be difficult to find time or while you are trying to calm down, it may happen that your mind starts wandering on various things that have to be done. But it’s worth noting that our stress hormones are reduced during meditation, yoga or other physical exercises. So let’s see what you can do every day to have a healthy body and mind for a better life.
• Breathing
Long breaths calm down the restless nervous system and bring us back to living. It is advised in panic attack cases till the medical help arrives and is also highly recommended by yoga sutra.
• Concentrating
At times we like to sit alone in a corner with a warm cup of coffee to have some personal time. It is okay sometimes but it may give more space to think about a lot about the current situations. Remember what they say ‘it’s all in the mind ‘and by doing this, you tend to worsen the situation. What’s best is to do the opposite and run or practice a challenging asana. This will help you drain out all the stress and negative energy in your mind and body.
• Replace what’s negative
Many surveys and experiments have proved that there’s nothing more harmful for a person than a negative thought in his mind. So next time when you feel surrounded by cynicism, try to do something cheerful; like talking to a close friend or getting lost in the world of great books.
• Laughter- the best medicine!
Laughter keeps the heart healthy and is helpful to relieve some physical symptoms generated by stress. It releases a hormone called endorphin which is a natural painkiller. Feeling of self-worth, self-confidence, optimism, and a positive state of mind are created by endorphin. It also stimulates the felling of forgiveness.
• Yoga
Yoga is a combination of deep breathing and pose that involves both stationary and moving poses. Yoga helps t develop flexibility, stamina, strength and balance along with reducing stress and anxiety. When brought into daily practice, the response of the body can be strengthen. For beginners, Hatha yoga is advisable as it is reasonably gentle and helpful in relieving stress as well. While selecting any yoga classes, search for labels similar to ‘for stress relief’, ‘gentle’, ‘for beginners,’ etc.

Stroke

April 27, 2017 BlogArjun GuptaLeave a comment

Know the warning signs
Stroke is a case of emergency. Acting fast during this critical time is vital to save the patient. Even if you cannot diagnose it as stroke, getting the patient to a nearby hospital or even calling 911 is worth trying; since the patient will be able to get some support which is very necessary. It will not only save the patient’s life but will also help prevent any long-term disabilities.
Through a research, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke found that patients treated with anti-clotting drugs during the first 3 hours of having stroke symptoms have 30% more chances of recovering without any major disability.
FAST
The National Stroke Association came up using the term “FAST” to explain symptoms of stroke to people.
F – Face: a drooping or uneven smile on the patient’s face is a warning sign.
A – Arms: weakness or numbness in the arms and legs on either side of the body is another warning sign. If you are not sure about this, try to raise any one hand. If it drops immediately, it’s a sign.
S – Speech: slurred speech is another sign. Ask the patient to repeat something and you will understand if the language is unclear.
T – Time: you have to act as fast as possible if someone near you is having a stroke.
Other than these, the following symptoms may be seen:
– numbness in limbs, most likely on one side
– vision troubles in one or both eyes
– trouble in walking
– overall fatigue
Preparation and prevention
Such emergency cases can happen any time. Being prepared for this usually means having knowledge of the following things –
• “FAST” should be known by your friends and family.
• Have an updated medical history of the patient
• Have an emergency contact list on your phone.
• Have a copy of the current medication with you.
• Educate your children on how to call for help.
• If possible, try to get the address of a heart specialist in your area
How to prevent stroke?
After having the first stroke, there are chances of having another stroke sooner or later. So it is always best to prevent it. Following steps will guide you for prevention of stroke:
• Add vegetables, fruits, nuts and beans to your diet.
• Food full with fats should be avoided.
• Intake of sugar should be reduced. Along with sugar, salt, fats and refined grains should also be reduced. Cut down on cake and confessionary items. Even use of high calories beverages should be avoided.
• Exercise and increase your daily physical activity. A simple morning walk for 30 minutes will be good.
• Reduce the intake of alcohol.
• Tobacco intake should be reduced. Tobacco has a content, named nicotine that thickens the blood and thus increases the changes of stroke.
• Follow the current medication as advised. For paralysis or during major operations, patients are often kept on blood thinner. It is important to take them in order to keep the blood thin and help it flow towards all parts of the body.

Meditation

April 27, 2017 BlogArjun GuptaLeave a comment

A regular practice can calm your brain, help your heart, and even make you a better person.
Our state of mind defines our thinking process which in turn decides our actions and behavior. With meditation, this state of mind is elevated. Meditation, also known as “dhyana” in Sanskrit, is the key to maintaining a peaceful soul. It forms one of the eight limbs of Yog shastra. Except for spirituality, there are many other perks of this practice. Many changes have been felt by people who regularly practice meditation, thus turning their lives to a positive direction. But it is often believed that meditation is very tough and difficult to practice. No, this is not true. Let’s learn how to mediate in the simplest form.
How to mediate?
Sit in a comfortable place and if you can’t sit on the ground, use a chair with flat surface. Upon closing your eyes, start focusing on your breathing. Initially you will find yourself wandering in thoughts. It’s okay, you don’t have to suppress them. Just let them pass and try to focus again. Soon your mind will come to the initial focus point and thus you will experience peace.
Importance of Meditation
1. One can attain calmness by the daily practice of meditation. Mental serenity will be present in every work performed by the person. With each passing day, you will experience a difference in your lifestyle which is better than the past.
2. The busy lifestyle in this 21st century often fills up our mind with stress. It’s worth noting that our levels of stress hormones are raised with no relaxation, thus causing anxiety. Too much adrenaline and cortisol in our bodies can cause our blood pressure to rise, making our brains behave differently. Meditation reduces the stress and also promotes good chemical production in the body, like serotonin.
3. Disturbed sleep at night is a common scenario and sound sleep is very essential for the body to function efficiently. The main reason behind our troubled sleep is that our mind works faster than required when we sleep. Practicing meditation daily relieves stress, thus helping in having sound sleep.
4. Meditation is a long-term practice which delays the process of biological ageing. Meditation has this credit, as it decreases the production of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are the main cause for tissue damage, ageing, and in some cases, even cancer.
5. It is a known fact that there’s nothing more harmful in one’s mind than a negative thought. So next time when you feel surrounded by cynicism, try to add meditation in your routine. It also helps reduce anger and fight depression and anxiety. 15-20mins of meditation is usually recommended to reduce both depression and anxiety.
6. Meditation also has benefits like better emotional stability, increased concentration, calmer body and mind, and less stressful life. It also helps reduce blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels. You will find yourself enjoying small things in life, like watching kids playing in the garden or someone’s genuine simile. Thus this inner energy sourced by meditation will help you become a better person.

Excercise

April 27, 2017 BlogArjun GuptaLeave a comment

Regular exercise can help prevent heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol
The human body today has evolved from its nomadic ancestors who were habituated to find shelter and food after lot of travelling or efforts. Our body still needs that physical fatigue to function efficiently. Modern technologies have made our lives quite simple. Whatever tiredness we feel is related to mental but not physical. We need that physical fatigue for proper functioning of our bodies.
Exercise acts as a savior in this regard. It doesn’t have to be very vigorous unless you want to build a muscular physic. For a healthy body, a regular walk for 30 minutes will be enough. Adding simple exercise in daily routines, like walking to the metro instead of a taxi, taking stairs instead of the elevator and having a balanced diet will help have a healthy body.
Benefits of Exercise
1. Increased level of energy
Cardiovascular system provides oxygen and nutrients to the muscles in our bodies. Exercise increases the efficiency and strength of this cardio vascular system. With more oxygenation of muscles, you start having more energy than usual.
2. Improved muscle strength
Muscles, joint, tendons and ligaments wear off with age. They lose their flexibility and thus staying active becomes difficult. However, these issues can be avoided by practicing exercise on a regular basis. Strengthened ligaments and muscles keep the joints aligned and thus reduce the risk of lower back and joint pain.
3. Reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Blood sugar levels are balanced with regular exercise, thus helping in preventing the type 2 diabetes. Moreover, obesity keeps at bay with regular exercise, which is one of the primary factors for type 2 diabetes. With a balanced diet intake and regular exercise, this disease can be delayed or prevented completely for a long time.
4. Maintaining a healthy weight
It is a known fact that exercise helps burn calories. It helps you develop more muscles which in turn provides higher metabolic rates. This will help you burn calories even when you are not exercising. As a result, you lose weight and physically look better, thus increasing your confidence.
5. Having a healthy heart
LDL cholesterol is bad for health while HDL cholesterol is good. Exercise helps you maintain correct cholesterol levels in the body with reduced blood pressure. This lowers the stress on your heart. Heart muscles are also strengthened by exercise. Thus the risk of coronary heart disease is lowered.
6. Improved brain functions
Blood flow and oxygen supplied to the brain are increased through exercise. Exercise stimulates the brain to release hormones whose job is to help in production of hippocampus cells. It is the part of the brain that helps in learning and memorize things. Thus cognitive ability is boosted and concentration is increased. Therefore, the risk of cognitive degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s is lowered.

Health is not valued till sickness comes

March 22, 2017 BlogArjun GuptaLeave a comment

Good Health is the greatest blessing that needs to be cherished and taken care of. Each and every activity that we go is governed by our health. The quote “Health Is Not Valued Till Sickness Comes” seems to be very apt nowadays as people tend to overlook their health since they feel that they have other more important things to accomplish. But, we need to ask ourselves that, will we be able to accomplish even a mundane task if our health is not good.
A person enjoying good health can do all his or duties with a lot of enthusiasm and vigor. Also, a person in good health can achieve better result than a person suffering from some sickness.
Everybody knows the importance of good health and what can be achieved when a person is in good health, then why so many people tend to ignore this and ignore their health.
Why we do we ignore our health?

  • The first reason is laziness. Many people find taking care of their health a very big task. For example we know that one must not sit immediately after eating our meals, but still many of us ignore this and immediately sit or even lie down immediately after our meals. Another example, even if we have to go to a small distance, we prefer our vehicle, instead of walking. All these lazy habits deteriorate our health.
  • Another reason is defining our priorities. As there are many other important things to do like studying or making our career, we have pushed taking care of health at the last spot of our priority list.

We realize this after the damage has been done. Due to the constant stress, improper diet and unhealthy lifestyle, the health gets even more affected. Our energy level decreases, brain gets fogged, body becomes lethargic, eyes get affected, muscles gets stiffed are some of the many problems that are face nowadays, even by young generation.
What can be done to maintain good health?

  • EXERCISE: Daily exercise even for few minutes can work wonder. Start by exercising little and the exercises you are comfortable with. You can always increase it according to your comfort.
  • WALKING: Walking can be a booster for body and mind. Talking a walk in fresh way can rejuvenate us.
  • NUTRITIOUS DIET: Taking healthy food can maintain a healthy weight and can reduce the risk of other diseases.
  • STRESS FREE LIFE: Free your mind from unnecessary anxieties and stress. This will enable you to have sound sleep and keep you healthy.

Benefits of Good Health:

  • You will be more energetic and feel livelier. Exercising stimulates a chemical known as endorphin that makes you feel good and happy.
  • If you are in good health, you may even live longer.
  • Many diseases can be avoided by taking good care of health. This will also cut down your medical bills.
  • You will tend to do all your work more efficiently with great results as you will be energetic and will have more stamina. This will even boost your confidence level.