Make the most of Strawberries

Strawberries are making their way in the summer menus, so get ready to eat them dipped in chocolate, smothered in cream, dropped in champagne or simply eaten fresh.

What’s more – they can add to your beauty and health too!

Neil Nugent, executive chef of product development at Morrisons, a chain of supermarkets in Britain,provides his top five ways to make the most of your strawberries this summer, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

- Try dipping in a good balsamic vinegar. It’s a perfect appetiser.

- Serve whole with shaved parmesan cheese, a kind of Italian extra-hard cheeses. The salty cheese goes perfectly with the strawberries to create a sweet fragrant flavour.

- Try on a skewer-rub with a little olive oil, then barbeque quickly over hot coals and then serve with freshly ground black pepper.

- Strawberries are perfect for smoothies with a little yoghurt, banana and orange juice.

- Crush strawberries using a fork with a little sugar and freshly chopped mint. This is delicious served with vanilla ice cream.

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Can yoga help treat my PCOS problem?

am a 28-year-old woman and suffer from PCOS. I am taking medication for it, but apart from that I would like to know if there are any yoga poses that I can do to help treat the condition.

I have observed that women who tend to get emotionally insecure and disturbed, are the ones who experience hormonal imbalance leading to conditions like PCOS. First of all  I would suggest that you and all other women learn to be emotionally independent. It is also important to remember that even though most of us are handling a number of responsibilities, our primary duty is towards ourselves and therefore our health is the most important aspect we need to take care of. If we fail to do so, then we will not be able to all the other activities we do. 

When it comes to PCOS I would recommend a lifestyle change. Be more active, get up and walk around every two hours. Indulge in healthy eating habits and you will see a definite change. Apart from that you need to calm your mind and practice relaxation techniques  like Anitya Bhavana, Nishapanda Bhav. Apart from that there are some regualr yoga exercises that you could do to help relieve the condition and its symptoms. 

Here are some yoga asanas that can help: 

Bhadrasana: Also known as the butterfly asana is the best thing you can do for your inner thighs and beat stress. It is one pose in yoga that will help you target this problem area while simultaneously strengthening your spine, muscles of the groins, knees and lower back. It also helps relieve menstrual discomfort and improves digestion. Read more on how to do this asana.

Bhujangasana: Bhujangasana has a number of benefits. It not only helps improve your digestion, is a great way to bust stress, helps relieve upper back pain. It opens up the chest, lungs and shoulders helping you breathe better. Bhujangasana stretches the spine, stimulates the organs in your stomach and abdomen, helps beats stress and fatigue, stimulates the abdominal organs, soothes sciatica and is therapeutic for people with asthma. An added intensive for doing this pose is that it gives you a firmer butt by working out the gluteus muscles. And it’s also believed to awaken your kundalini (dormant corporeal energy or feminine shakti) which will make you better in bed! Read more about how to do this asana. 

Konasana:  This asana is very easy to do and has a number of health benefits. It not only stretches out the spine and heps beat stress and fatigue, but this asana also helps relieve a backache, tones the muscles of your thighs, tummy and legs. Apart from that it also helps relieve the symptoms of sciatica and constipation. 

Chakrasana: This pose is great to stretch the spine and relax the muscles of the back. Moreover it helps relax the mind and make it stress free. Read more about how to do the asana. 

Sukhasana: Also known as the happy pose or easy pose, this asana helps deepen the meditative state and relaxes the mind. It also helps tone the muscles of your back, thighs and groin. read about how to do this asana.

Pranayam: Pranayam is an easy asana tha involves deep breathing. This asana not only helps your body get a large amount of oxygen (a great resource for it to heal faster) but it also helps to make you healthier and beats stress. Read more about how to do this asana. 

You should ideally do these asanas for atleast 5 to 10 mins twice a day would help bring about some relief in your condition. 

Source:in.lifestyle.yahoo.com

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Detoxify, sleep well for radiant skin

Hectic work schedules often keep women away from spending any time on nurturing their skin. But it’s easy to do it at home by detoxifying the body and getting proper beauty sleep.

Sun, stress, pollution and dirt leads to several skin concerns like uneven skin tone, blemishes and dull looking skin. However, an expert at cosmetic brand Lakme has shared tips on how one can get the desired flawless and radiant skin in the comfort of your home, said a statement.

* Detox your body: Your body is a result of what is going on inside it. Skin problems develop when your skin can’t do its job of eliminating toxins efficiently. Drink warm water with lemon every morning to help flush toxins from the body. Reduce your intake of alcohol for a few days to give your body and skin a break. Up your intake of fresh fruits, vegetables and water to boost the amount of skin-saving nutrients you’re getting.

* Get some beauty sleep: Sleep affects your physical and mental well-being. When you sleep, you’re allowing your body to begin the healing process. Good sleep directly leads to fresh looking skin. Try and hit the sack earlier than you usually do and you will see the result within no time on your skin.

* Skin serum is in: Gone are the days when serum was only for your hair. Skin serums are the latest trend in skin care. Whoever thought skin serums were only used by experts at the salon, think again. You can now use skin serums even in the comfort of your home with ease. Vitamins in these serums help make your skin even and radiant.

* Strip off your make-up before going to bed: Leaving make-up and dirt on skin doesn’t just clog pores but it also causes skin dullness. Always wipe off your make up and wash your face with a face wash to remove all the dirt and grime that your skin has collected throughout the day. Massage your face with a hydrating creme after you wash your face to help replenish your skin while you sleep.

* Don’t forget to apply sunscreen: We know, you’ve heard it a million times, but stepping out of the house during the day without wearing sunscreen is like directly forcing your skin to dullness. Sunscreen not only prevents your skin from tanning but also keeps it moisturized and hydrated throughout the day. Applying sunscreen everyday helps your skin retrieve its natural moisture.

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Women with diabetes at higher heart disease risk: Study

with diabetes are 44 percent more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD) than men with diabetes, a large global study has revealed.

“Taken together, these data provide convincing evidence that diabetes poses a greater relative risk for cardiovascular diseases in women than in men,” said professor Rachel Huxley from University of Queensland in Australia.

The data used stretches back almost 50 years, from 1966 to 2011, and includes 64 studies, 858,507 people and 28,203 CHD events.

Women with diabetes were almost three times more likely to develop CHD compared with women without diabetes, while men with diabetes were only twice as likely to develop CHD than men without diabetes.

Combining the two sets of data showed that women with diabetes were 44 percent more likely to develop CHD than men with diabetes even after consideration was made for sex differences in other CHD factors, researchers noted.

This study, the largest ever of its kind, backs up findings from a smaller analysis including fewer studies that showed a 46 percent increased risk of dying from CHD in women with diabetes compared with men with diabetes.

The sex difference in diabetes-related risk for incident CHD was consistent across sub-groups defined by age and region and remained unchanged after excluding non-fatal CHD events.

The study appeared in the journal Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

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Health Benefits of Motherhood

A woman’s body has a great deal to do during pregnancy.

Sometimes the transformation taking place will cause irritation or discomfort, and on occasions they may seem quite frightening.

All of us are aware about the constant exasperating symptoms like fatigue, morning sickness, mood swings, leg cramps that pregnant women face.

However, in spite of the  roller coaster ride, pregnancy brings several advantages to a mother’s health. After the nine months journey, she receives a lot of benefits that are rarely discussed.

The changes that take place during pregnancy enhance a woman’s well being. Childbirth and breastfeeding also provide benefits of its own to the mother.

Dr. Bhavana Mishra, Consultant Gynecologist at Apollo Cradle shares few positive effects of post pregnancy with HealthyDunia.com:

a. Building ImmunityMany women post pregnancy tend to fall sick at a lesser rate. Due to the hormonal changes during pregnancy, it helps a woman develop her immune system.

b. Reducing Cancer risk
Pregnancy can reduce the possibilities of Breast cancer and Ovarian cancer. There are studies which mention that breast feeding for more than three months helps women protect against breast cancer. One of the possible reasons for the decreased risk is due to total number of lifetime menstrual cycles being reduced due to pregnancy.

c. Reduces Menstrual Problems
Once the menstrual cycle start post pregnancy, there are very less chances for her to experience pain. The probable reason behind this reduction in pain is due to the prostaglandin receptor being eliminated in the uterus post pregnancy. Prostaglandin are the hormones that enable the contraction during labor. Due to its elimination, there are fewer menstrual cramps experienced.

d. Adopting Healthy Lifestyles
Pregnancy motivates women to gain healthy habits and avoid consuming unhealthy elements. For instance, many women tend to quit smoking or consuming alcohol during pregnancy and this helps them continue to resist themselves in future. Pregnant women learn to stick to a healthy diet and a regular exercise schedule which helps them maintain themselves. Diabetic patients also learn to manage their diets through this period.

e. Greater receptiveness towards sense of taste and smell
Pregnant women have an increased level of estrogen in the body which creates a natural barrier that keeps her away from perilous elements like alcohol and tobacco. Since the woman’s body is detoxified from nicotine and alcohol, her sensory organs show better receptiveness towards the sensation of taste and smell. Since most women usually continue abstaining from consumption of tobacco and alcohol, her sense organs show better development.

f. Healthy hair and skin
Due to the improvement in blood circulation and the skin retaining moisture during pregnancy, there is a visible radiant glow in her skin. Women often experience less hair loss during pregnancy which leads to growth of a thicker and stronger mane later.

Since she takes care of her health and lifestyle a lot more during pregnancy, she tends to have an increased awareness about the sense of well being. Healthy habits inculcated during pregnancy also help women to emerge as strong, fit and happy women.

Pregnancy helps enhance a woman’s well being physically and mentally. Post pregnancy, women tend to notice a lot of changes in their body that are beneficial.

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Hypertension now affecting youngsters, says Indian report

 

Internationally, 17th May is observed as World Hypertension Day.
According to Global Burden of Disease Study, blood pressure tops the list of risk factors for death and disability globally.

In developing nations, around 640 million people suffer from this disease.

Hypertension is common around the world and many people are unaware that they suffer from this modern epidemic. It is considered to be a silent killer because it has no obvious symptoms.

Hence this World Hypertension Day, efforts are being focused so as to improve prevention and control hypertension by creating awareness about the diseases.

Today Indus Health Plus released Healthcare Abnormality Report that revealed hypertension is getting common among the younger generation.

The study was conducted in three major metros of India i.e. – Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. It was observed that Bangalore reported highest numbers of hypertension cases (12.8 %) followed by Mumbai (9.40) and Delhi (7.29 %).

In Bangalore it was observed that 1 out of 4 IT professionals are suffering from hypertension. It is alarming that around 31% of IT/ BPO professionals are hypertensive and about 5% have malignant levels of hypertension. 6.9% of females are suffering from hypertension and are considered to be prone to this disease as compared to men. 18% of youngsters between the age group of 20 -25 years and about 23% youngsters in 26 – 30 years reported stage 1 hypertension.

Mumbaikars diagnosed with high BP almost 45% of them are under the risk of stroke and 25 % are at risk of suffering from heart diseases. Male and female in the age bracket of 35 – 50 years have been diagnosed with diabetes and kidney diseases which are increasing hypertension cases. Obesity is also increasing the risk of high BP in Mumbai.

In New Delhi, 16% of ischemic heart diseases, 21% of peripheral vascular disease and 29% of strokes are attributed to hypertension. Youngsters between the age group of 25 – 30 years are falling prey to this disease. Prevalence of hypertension among obese is high. It was observed that those under the radar of high blood pressure also had diabetes mellitus and 35%   of them were under the risk of heart problems.

In the study it was observed that high stress level at office and home are increasing the risk of hypertension. High intake of junk food, no exercise, hectic lifestyle, smoking and alcohol consumption are increasing the risk.

Mr. Amol Naikawadi, Preventive Healthcare Specialist, Indus Health Plus says, “Increasing number of hypertension cases have been observed in younger generation and middle age group. People often tend to ignore symptoms such as headaches and anxiety. While one keeps a watch on such symptoms it is advised to monitor BP quarterly above the age of 35.  Below the age of 35 one should monitor it every 6 months. But if one is already a BP patient then it is mandatory to go for monthly check up.”

“Hypertension if not controlled in time it can cause stroke, heart attack and kidney diseases. Therefore at Indus Health Plus, our focus on this ‘World Hypertension Day’ is to educate people about this disease and inculcate the importance of preventive healthcare practice amongst masses. Timely and regular check-up can reduce the risk of hypertension” Mr. Naikawadi added.

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40 is not too late to hit the gym

Even if you are above 40, it is not too late to hit the gym as researchers have found that “relatively intense” endurance exercises confer benefits on the heart irrespective of the age at which a person begins fitness training.

“Despite biological changes with age, the heart still seems – even at the age of 40 – amenable to modification by endurance training,” said David Matelot from the “Inserm 1099″ research unit at the University of Rennes in France.

“Starting at age 40 does not seem to impair the cardiac benefits,” he added.

The study was performed with 40 healthy men (without cardiovascular risk factors) aged between 55-70 years who were divided for assessment according to the level of exercise they took and the ages at which they began.

Ten people had never exercised for more than two hours a week throughout their lives, and 30 had exercised for at least seven hours a week for over five years – either beginning their programmes before age 30 or after age 40.

When the researchers tested the men on fitness measures like heart rate and maximal oxygen uptake, both groups of men who trained regularly fared about equally, and significantly better than their peers who had never trained.

“It is never too late to change your way of life and get more physically active,” Matelot said.

“Using the stairs rather than the elevator, or gardening regularly, can also be beneficial,” said the findings recently presented at the “EuroPRevent Congress” in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

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Too much exercise can be a bad thing

One tries different workout methods to look fit but too much exercise can lead to damage too, says an expert.
Whilst diet is almost always carefully planned out, or at least thought of, many fail to realise the impact training can have on the rest of their body, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Whilst brisk walking for 30-45 minutes five days a week has been shown to boost immunity, more strenuous activities may have a negative impact on the body, says fitness expert Erin McCann.

“When the body is exposed to physical stressors such as exercise it responds in a similar way to how it does when exposed to mental stress – the hormone cortisol is released.

“Cortisol stimulates energy production and improves muscle endurance which supports fight or flight reaction. Cortisol however also acts as an immunosuppresant and following even just a moderate workout, immune function can take up to 72 hours to fully recover. This leaves individuals open to viral or bacterial infections,”said McCann.

McCann suggests top three ways to support immune function:

i. Incorporate adequate recovery time into your workout schedule. This will aid muscle recovery, reduce the risk of injury and improve immune health.

ii. Increase consumption of immune supporting nutrients and antioxidants through food. Examples include Vitamin C containing foods, like berries and broccoli, as well as zinc rich foods like eggs and pumpkin seeds.

iii. Supplement with immune boosting nutrients and herbs that are not commonly found in an ‘every day’ diet. Examples of these unique immune supporting agents are astaxanthin, reishi mushroom, bee propolis and olive leaf. Astaxanthin is a carotenoid with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, and is often used by athletes to support muscle recovery and immunity.

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Foot care regime for summer

It’s easier to protect your feet during winter, but one can put the best foot forward in summer too by following simple steps like washing them properly, using coconut oil and more.
The tips should be followed religiously to get the best results,says capital-based dermatologist Dr. Deepali Bhardwaj, The Skin & Hair Clinic.

Here are the tips:

i. Wash feet daily: Summer is the time when you sweat a lot and so do your feet. This attracts lots of dirt and dust. So, make sure that before going to bed, you wash your feet with cold water for around 15 minutes.

ii. Moisturise daily: Use any lotion or foot cream and make it your daily routine to apply it on your feet. But don’t go overboard with moisturiser especially between your toes as it might cause fungal infection.

iii. Apply sunscreen: When you choose to uncover your feet, apply sunscreen on your feet to protect them from scorching heat.

iv. Choose comfortable footwear: Give your feet space to breathe by wearing comfortable footwear preferably made of mesh fabric.

v. Use coconut oil: Apply coconut oil on your feet and keep it overnight. Make sure to wear a pair of cotton socks after application.

vi. Shea butter treat: It is very effective to take care of chapped feet. Soak them in a tub of warm water with a teaspoon of shea butter in it.

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