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Simple ways to keep knee pain at bay this winter!

The foggy and chilly weather during the winter months can bring in a number of ailments. And joints pain is one of the most common complaint that brings people to their doctors. Because cold weather can aggravate arthritis or other inflammatory conditions, causing havoc on already vulnerable parts of the body. What causes the pain? The Barometric pressure drops in winter. Researchers believe that when this happens, inflamed areas of our bodies (knees, hips, hands, elbows, and shoulders) swell. Swelling can irritate nerves, which results in increased pain. How can you reduce the pain? However, there are many things you can do to help your knees feel their best while reducing the pain. Dr Atul Mishra, Consultant knee surgeon and head Orthopaedics at Fortis Hospital, Noida, provides a few tips that will help keep you pain free this winter: Eat a balanced diet: Follow a healthy diet by including seasonal fruits, vegetables, pulses, cereals and dairy products into you...

5 easy ways to get rid of bloated stomach instantly!

It is a common fact that most people tend to eat more when the food is just too delicious or during festive season. But, overindulgence in food can take your health for a toss and may lead to a bloated stomach due to indigestion. Excessive gas in your stomach not just puts you in an uncomfortable situation but can also be a warning of serious health issue. Here are a few ways to avoid bloated stomach: -Chewing your food properly is the key. Eating fast can make you swallow too much of air. -Sometimes sipping a cup of hot water also eases a bloated stomach. -Regularly take probiotics like 'raita' prepared with curd and added with ingredients like grated cucumber and coriander will surely help. -Reduce the intake of salt in your food as it may lead to formation of unnecessary gas in the stomach. -Consume just the right amount of ginger about half an hour before each meal and feel the difference.

Pollution and eye care: Tips to prevent eye infections

Air pollution, which is one of the top ten dangers to life, is also one of the major factors of eye infections, affecting people of all ages. The high levels of pollutants in the air can give rise to a number of eye conditions ranging from simple eye irritation to severe allergy. Common symptoms include redness, watery eyes, burning sensation, itchy sensation, etc. Eye allergies and conjunctivitis, which, if not treated in time, can lead to cornea problems affecting vision. According to experts, pollutants like nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide in the air make the tear film of the eyes more acidic. With Delhi's air pollution reaching hazardous level, posing serious threats to residents' health, especially those with chronic respiratory problems, here are some simple tips to prevent eye infections: Avoid rubbing your eyes directly even if fine particulates enter to avoid Wash your eyes with water Apply a cool compress to help reduce inflammat...

Lower back pain? Try these tips for quick relief

Having a back pain these days is very common due to the hectic schedules and stressful working culture. It not only irritates us the most, but also compels us to visit a doctor. Almost two-third of the population in world, witnesses back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain can be caused by various spinal problems. But, don't worry as as certain physical therapies can prove to be an effective treatment for back pain and provide added benefits of improved psychological well-being and quality of life. Here are a few physical therapies that you can easily adopt and say bye-bye to back pain. -The first thing that you can start with is lying down on your stomach with your arms on your side and turn your head to oneside. Trust me, it is the most relaxing posture and will provide quite relief from back pain. -Choose a chair that is comfortable and support your back. Correct posture is very important to avoid back pain. Don't lean while you sit rather sit err...

Air pollution: What it can do to your kid's health and steps to reduce risk!

Air pollution consists of several main types of pollutants - particulate matter (PM10 or PM 2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO). Children most vulnerable While air pollution is hazardous to every individual's health, children are infants are at greater risk because their immune system and lungs are not fully developed yet. Adverse health effects in children Air pollution makes your child's asthma symptoms worse It can increase respiratory infections It can decrease lung function It can make children more sensitive to allergens Air pollutants increases mortality risks for those living in highly polluted areas It can increase sickness rates What you can do to reduce the risk Check air pollution levels in your area and plan accordingly Avoid outdoor activities when smog levels are high If kids must go outside, try rescheduling energetic activities for early morning Ensure kids put on anti-pollution masks...

Suffering from severe headache? Try these five yoga poses!

Here are some yoga poses to relieve headache: Seated spinal twist This pose helps in getting rid of headache and back pain as it increases the flexibility in upper body while stretching the shoulders, hips, and neck. It also improves your posture and spine mobility. Cat pose This pose helps you get rid of headache as it relieves tension in the spine, shoulders and neck. It also boosts circulation in the upper body. Child's pose Child's pose can be the most powerful remedy for stress, anxiety and headaches. This pose helps us to quiet our mind while releasing tension from the back and shoulders. Upside-down seal Upside-down seal is one of the best pose for headache and anxiety. It helps us to quiet mind which further prevents and reduces the impact of headaches. Deep breathing One of the best and easy pose of yoga is deep breathing. Breathing make us get relieved from severe headache by releasing tension in the shoulders and bring mo...

The health benefits of pomegranates

On the outside, they may look a bit like Red Delicious apples – but once you slice them open, you can tell pomegranates are quite different. Unlike apples, the tastiest part of pomegranates is actually their seeds. Just cut off the crown, slice the pomegranate into sections like an apple, and pop out the seeds for a sweet and tangy snack. Tiny as these kernels are, they pack a punch. Full of antioxidants, pomegranate seeds have been found to have a host of health benefits, from lowering cholesterol to combating arthritis. "Pomegranates are known for their high polyphenol content," Marisa Moore, a registered dietitian nutritionist and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told From the Grapevine. Additionally, she said that the fruit offers a good source of potassium and vitamin C. But don't be threatened by the hardened exterior and the myriad seeds within. "With a little time invested to open the fruit, pomegranates make a great s...

Oral care: Ways to get rid of bad breath!

You certainly would not like to have bad breath and end up embarrassed while talking to others . But, the fact is that many people have this common problem - chronic halitosis, or bad breath - mostly originating from the gums and tongue. Follow these simple tips to make your mouth feel fresh and clean while keeping your teeth and gums healthy at the same time: Brush your teeth twice a day to remove plaque and food debris. Try to floss at least once a day. Make sure that you brush your teeth before going to bed. Gently brush your tongue with your toothbrush or use a scraper to get rid of the coating that normally forms on your tongue. Otherwise, it can be a host for smelly bacteria. Rinse your mouth daily using a good mouthwash that prevents bad breath. Ensure that you rinse your mouth after you eat anything. Do not smoke and avoid tobacco products as they can contribute to bad breath.  Avoid foods that sour your breath such as onions, garlic, especially if you are ...

6 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress in 20 Minutes or Less

For most of us, stress is a constant. But every break you give yourself helps, says Alice Domar, PhD, a pioneer in mind-body medicine. “Even just a minute of rest will calm your autonomic nervous system, giving you time to recover,” she says. “If you can squeeze in 20 cumulative minutes a day for a few weeks, you can reset your whole system, making your body less sensitive to stress hormones.” Here, a few quick suggestions. 1 minute: Breathe out “When we get stressed, we tend to breathe very shallowly or hold our breath,” says Domar. “Deep, diaphragmatic breaths increase your oxygen intake and create a sense of calm.” To make sure you’re breathing from your diaphragm (not your chest), place one hand about an inch above your belly button; as you inhale for a count of four, your belly should expand by about an inch. 2 minutes: Eat (a little) chocolate A study published in the Journal of Proteome Research found that eating an average-size bar of dark chocolate...

10 Healthy Food Swaps for Losing Weight

Lighten up your mayo. Swapping your regular mayonnaise for a lower-fat version can save significant calories. Light mayonnaise reduces calories per tablespoon to 35 or so, and total fat to between 3 and 4 grams per serving. Low-fat or reduced-fat varieties usually cut calories and fat to 15 and about 1 gram, respectively. Going from 90 calories per tablespoon to 15 is a significant reduction, and when it comes to losing weight over the long term, these are the kinds of changes that really add up. Try bacon of Canadian descent. Swapping one ounce of American bacon for Canadian bacon saves 100 calories, 9 grams of total fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, and 285 milligrams sodium. That is an incredible difference in nutritional composition for an incredibly simple change, and Canadian bacon also makes a wise swap for other meats like pepperoni. Swapping your bacon is an excellent example of how you don’t have to completely abandon your dietary preferences to get big b...

Whole Wheat Bread

A healthier option to refined wheat is whole wheat, according to many experts. This is not wrong. Without a doubt, whole wheat is healthier than refined wheat. However, the problem is that whole grain foods may not necessarily really contain whole grains! Almost every whole grain food contains grains that have been powdered into fine flour, which increases blood sugar levels in the same way as refined grains. What works in whole wheat bread favour is that whole wheat has more fiber and more healthy nutrients than refined wheat bread, but these health benefits may not be sufficient to negate the bad effects of its high glycemic index (Glycemic index measures the effect of carbs-rich foods on blood sugar level).

Agave Nectar

Marketed as a healthy alternative to sugar, the truth is that agave nectar is very unhealthy, in fact, more unhealthy than sugar. Sugar is not good for health because of its high fructose content, but agave nectar has more fructose than sugar. While sugar has 50 percent fructose, agave nectar (or agave syrup) has as much as 70 to 90 percent fructose. Fruits also contain fructose, but they are healthy foods because the fructose content in them is low. When consumed in small amounts, fructose is not harmful. It is only when consumed in large amounts that fructose is harmful, because it increases our risk of being insulin resistance, causes high triglycerides, high blood sugars, abdominal obesity, and a host of other health problems related to metabolism. Instead of agave nectar, use a natural sweetener that has low fructose content, or use brown sugar or caned sugar that are unrefined.

Breakfast Cereals

Breakfast Cereals Image source: http://www.stealingshare.com/ The truth about cereals being a healthy breakfast item couldn’t be more wrong. Cereals are usually rich in refined carbohydrates and sugar, two ingredients that are fattening for your body. When you eat processed cereal as your first meal, your blood sugar levels and insulin levels increases sharply, and then crashes after a few hours, thereby triggering an almost irrepressible craving for foods rich in refined carbs later on in the day. In other words, you are pushed into a blood sugar roller coaster. You will then tend to eat foods you should really be avoiding and your daily total calorie will be higher than your body requirements, leading to weight gain. Image source: Old World Garden Farms That said though, not all types of cereals are unhealthy as a breakfast item. Pick a cereal which is low on high-refined carbohydrates or sugar, and contain more of natural fruits and nuts and other natural ...

Common Artificial Sweetener Xylitol Is Deadly For Dogs

All dog lovers love to give their dog a treat, and why not if Fido has been good.  Some times the treat is a treat humans eat too. Warning – Be careful when you give your dog treats that are not made for dogs . A common artificial sweetener called xylitol, found in many human foods, is deadly for dogs . Xylitol is a sugar alcohol. This artificial sweetener is made from birch, raspberries, plums and corn. Some Human Products That may Contain Xylitol … That Dog Lovers Often Give Their Dogs Please note: We have only included the most common human foods dog lovers often give to their dogs.  The list of foods that contain xylitol is really quit endless, as many manufacturers use xylitol for new products every day. Please be sure to read the ingredients of human foods before you give it to a dog. Various Peanut Butter Spreads – Many dog lovers put peanut butter inside rubber dog toys to keep their dogs occupied while he tries to get the yummy peanut b...

8 Foods That Prevent Cancer

1.    Cauliflower Image source: Simply Scratch Cauliflower contains sulforaphane, a compound that has been shown to have anti-cancer effects. Sulforaphane are released when cauliflower is broken down, so focus on chewing it before swallowing. This compound seeks and destroys certain cancer cells without harming your healthy cells. There are plenty of recipes available online on how you can add cauliflower to your meals. Cauliflower and broccoli have similar effects, so add broccoli to your list of foods too. 2.    Carrots Image source: http://eatbelive.com/ Even though carrots are mainly thought to be good for one’s eye sight, researches from the last ten years suggest that they are also good against some types of cancer, one of which is prostate cancer. A study was done on mice who were fed an increased carrot intake, and the study showed that carrots could stop the growth of prostate cancer. Carrot have many other health benefi...