Archive for March, 2012

Statistics suggest that there are some 35 million obese people in India. Yet, obesity is not seen as a disease here; one of the many ironies of Indian health scenario. The way it has creepily crawled to the top 10 lifestyle problems of modern India is astounding. And this is all the more reason to help alert and educate those who (read majority) are stuck to their couches of just how grim the situation has become. Obesity does not simply take a toll on the physical health but is also a free-ticket to psychological problems like depression, anxiety etc. Sadly, it’s no secret that we all exist in a somewhat callous world full of narrow mindedness, discrimination and unawareness.

Impact of Lifestyle and Imbalance Diet.

Did you know that more than 25 medical conditions or complications are linked to obesity? Diabetes, high BP, cholesterol, heart attack and stroke top the list. Simply put, obesity is the direct upshot consuming more calories than you burn. These ‘extras’ then lead to energy imbalance. Fast food culture being the most popular cause in our fast-paced world is the main convict; it is rich in calories and poor in nutrients. It may suit your schedule perfectly not your body. Environment, peer pressure, genetics’ all these play a role in undermining your say in your weight. But while even obesity due to genetics can be thwarted by your determination and will power, what is peer pressure. Finally, it all comes down to your ability to say no.

Learn to SAY NO when your peers invite you for pizza-burger bash.

Learn to SAY NO to the second piece of burfee or chocolate.

And most of all learn to SAY NO to yourself.

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Summer is around the corner with picnics, parties and outdoors beckoning you excitingly. But its warm rays do make a sizable impediment to good skin care and hair care. A few practical tips and you can beat the heat with closed eyes. A good sunscreen lotion, umbrellas, shades etc are some of the few-words of the times, for you to look hot and not get burned. Counter the relentless attacks of heat and humidity with proper hydration and timely exfoliation. And you can reclaim your glossy skin and lovely locks.

Protect yourself from sun damage.

While summer spells magic to children, you may not entirely agree. Keeping up with their high spirits and relentless energy despite the heat can be amazingly nightmarish. But hey, how about finding some nice summer camps or classes where kids can cool it? These set-ups spring up faster than weeds in rain, so you might want to do a bit of background check. Summer child care is no cakewalk. Ensuring hydration, feeding small at regular intervals, trying to keep them amused indoors; oh the list seem possible perhaps with another pair of hands.

You can make this possible. Gear up and take charge to follow the ‘Eat Smart, Think Smart and Live Smart’ mantra. For an easy summer, drink plenty of water or fluids, cut down on caffeine and alcohol, eat smaller, frequent meals, gorge on cooling fruits like watermelon and muskmelon, fruit shakes, juices and sherbets. Why wait till you feel thirsty? Just keep sipping on fluids regularly and your body will thank you with renewed energy and beautiful skin. Coconut water is fabulous, so are aam panna and curd/yogurt, butter milk, thandai etc.

A minimum of 8 glasses of fluids daily would ensure that you remain hydrated and alert by replenishing water & salts (sodium & potassium) that you lose by sweating.

Constant sweating leaves skin moist and icky, inviting bacterial and fungal infections. Try a non soapy face and body wash. Lemon/orange peels and chilled rosewater can work wonders on your skin. Avoid too much of soap and shift to a lighter water based skin soufflé or moisturizer. Summer care for family is nothing complicated. It is about adjusting and incorporating small changes in your lifestyle. Are you ready now? Fine just dust the coolers and ACs and bring on the summer.

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There is one luxury that is commonly available to all of us and free of charge- sleep. Nothing rejuvenates your body, mind and inner self like a good sound sleep. Nature’s salve to all hassles, has it ever failed to work its magic on you? No. But lately, the salve appears to have lost its Midas touch as it is becoming quite patchy, thanks to the contemporary lifestyle. The most common complaint to be heard today is lack of sleep; again, thanks to the hurry-burry modern life.

Not everyone gets the sleep they need....

Anxiety, depression, bad days at work/home, unwholesome diet or anything that makes a downbeat impact on your routine and biological clock can invite insomnia. Not only does sleeplessness make you drained and less efficient, but may also bring about more health risks like jeopardizing your metabolic system. Are you a victim of these? Most likely.

So what can you do? Some small changes here & there, a bit of diet-organizing & some smart timing of schedules. It is most fascinating to note that solutions to our worst problems lie in simplest of steps. You just need to take that stride. Timely meals & standard workouts along with your daily routine!

Following a regular sleep schedule is the first and foremost step. Try to wake up & go to bed at the same time in order to set your body clock. Also, let’s keep the bed only for sleeping & NOTHING else. Why let TV, internet, radio, books, iPod, phone & whatnot come between you & your beauty sleep? Try out massage or yoga that enhance the blood circulation and help to relax your body and mind. These are a few small steps that can go miles. If the problem runs deep, don’t take drastic measures like popping sleeping pills; instead see a Doctor.

A good sleep is like a hearty dip in the fountain of youth. Sleep your way to a happier, healthier and younger you.

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The nutritional needs of men and women are as different as it is possible to be. No, this doesn’t mean men need to eat more than women or vice versa. Being less muscular than men, women would need plenty of iron and adequate proteins but lesser calories to start off with. Know what you eat! Sounds cliché, but there you are!

Food for a balanced diet

Though most women like to blame their problems on calories, an average women need is 1800 calories every day. Again, if you are into strenuous physical activities like sports or working outdoors, it escalates even more. No, don’t even think to cut back on fats; it won’t get rid of flabs. Good fats from vegetable oils, fish etc are not to be pushed out but devoured. How else would you absorb the fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E and K? Given the ambiguity of dietary needs from person to person, health experts try to monitor these needs at levels like adolescent girl, working woman, lactating or single mothers; as individually as possible.

World often expects you to be a super woman. Running a house, managing kids and a furious desire to ace in office work often chase each other while being crunched unmercifully by time. But hey, its possible. Just increase your iron intake. Iron is an unavoidable and irreplaceable aspect of women’s diet. Iron deficiency reduces work capacity. Now that got your attention, didn’t it? Iron consumption means goodbye to anemia and fatigue. It thwarts everything that stands between you and you becoming a super-woman.

For iron to make any impression on your body, it needs a push from Vitamin C, D and Calcium. Women need iron way more than men. So go for a diet that includes meat, fish, and poultry, spinach, in vegetarian foods beans, lentils, peas and legumes; all rich in Iron. However some experts say that vegetarian source of iron is harder to absorb.

Calcium is a plus, not just when your bones are growing (till your mid 20s) but also to maintain the bone strength well past menopause. And you certainly cannot overlook Vitamin B and folic acids as they have a major say in your reproductive health; this is for both men and women!

Keep it simple – Focus on whole, plant-based foods. Include fish in your diet, if you can. Whether you like milk or not, body needs Calcium. Other foods such as spinach, broccoli, that you can tolerate. Protein is good but not above the brim. It can push out Calcium and all your hard work for bone weight and strong teeth will go down the drain. Boost your intake by including supplements and fortified cereals. Let’s wind up with the usual advice, try to cut back booze and caffeines (tea, coffee, energy drinks).

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Women’s social status has finally marched out of the home and she is now as much a provider as a home maker. Societal change has started to prompt changes in the way we look at the overall well being of the fairer sex. Keeping with time the phrase Women’s Health now incorporates a much wider spectrum, including the traditional premises of reproductive health. India is a young country and health issues of the youth needs to be addressed with vigor and decisiveness.

Despite almost two decades of rapid economic growth women’s health outcomes in India are comparatively worse than other corresponding fast growing regional economies. Surprisingly this is not only true for the underdeveloped and underprivileged segments of the population. Even among the educated elites health and nutritional concern and awareness remains appallingly low. Basic lack of awareness makes women vulnerable to a whole host of health issues. Women’s empowerment and overall development are not stand alone pillars – they are intrinsically linked to her overall well being and development.

Information is key, it is the power that helps decision making but where to get it. Societal mores and self appointed guardians of moralities mean little or no sexual health education in schools. This would supposedly make young minds ‘promiscuous’. Television, internet, etc have virtually brought a whole new into our homes – a world which the well informed would be better equipped to navigate. Mobile phones with their improved technology are regarded as the pet gadget of common man. Perhaps that is why mobile services find it easier to reach people any where and any time. MObq health care service too says a similar story. By making you aware and alert of health facts that you should but do not know. By urging you to give a decent priority to health. By giving you handy tips to follow through.

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