• Tips for Child Health

    1) Be a good role model
    You don’t have to be perfect all the time, but if kids see you trying to eat right and getting physically active, they’ll take notice of your efforts. You’ll send a message that good health is impor­tant to your family.

    2) Keep things positive
    Kid’s don’t like to hear what they can’t do, tell them what they can do instead. Keep it fun and positive. Everyone likes to be praised for a job well done. Celebrate successes and help children and teens develop a good self-image.

    3) Get the whole family moving
    Plan times for everyone to get moving together. Take walks, ride bikes, go swimming, garden or just play hide-and-seek outside. Everyone will benefit from the exercise and the time together.

    4) Be realistic
    Setting realistic goals and limits are key to adopting any new behavior. Small steps and gradual changes can make a big difference in your health over time, so start small and build up.

    5) Limit TV, video game and computer time
    These habits lead to a sedentary lifestyle and excessive snacking, which increase risks for obesity and cardiovascular disease. Limit screen time to 2 hours per day.

    6) Encourage physical activities that they’ll really enjoy
    Every child is unique. Let your child experiment with different activities until they find something that they really love doing. They’ll stick with it longer if they love it. check out these activities for kids.

    7) Pick truly rewarding rewards
    Don’t reward children with tv, video games, candy or snacks for a job well done. Find other ways to celebrate good behavior.

    8) Make dinnertime a family time
    When everyone sits down together to eat, there’s less chance of children eating the wrong foods or snacking too much. Get your kids involved in cooking and planning meals. Everyone develops good eating habits together and the quality time with the family will be an added bonus.

    9) Make a game of reading food labels
    The whole family will learn what’s good for their health and be more conscious of what they eat. It’s a habit that helps change behavior for a lifetime. Learn more about reading nutrition labels.

    10) Stay involved
    Be an advocate for healthier children. Insist on good food choices at school. Make sure your children’s healthcare providers are monitoring cardiovascular indicators like BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol. Contact public officials on matters of the heart. Make your voice heard.

    For Oral Health

    1) Teach Your Children
    When your child turns 2, you can begin to teach your child proper brushing techniques with no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. You should follow up their efforts by gently brushing the teeth again. Modeling correct technique is important. When your child is about 6 years old, he/she should be developing the dexterity to do it alone. You can then introduce flossing.

    2) Avoid Sugar
    Understand that if your child ingests sugars, it will take the saliva a minimum of 30 minutes to neutralize the acidity that is created by decay-producing bacteria. A sugary snack every hour can mean your child’s mouth is always acid, increasing the chances for tooth decay.

    3) Brush With Care
    When your baby’s teeth begin to erupt, brush them gently with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush using no more than a thin smear of fluoridated toothpaste.

    4) Check Your Water
    Determine if the water supply that serves your home is fluoridated. If it is not, discuss supplement options with your dentist. Keep in mind that toothpastes and various foods may also contain fluoride.

    5) Fight Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
    Don’t let your child go to sleep with a pacifier or bottle filled with anything but water. When teeth are frequently exposed to sugar-containing fluids (including breast milk and formula) for long periods, the potential for decay increases dramatically.

    6) Make a Dental Appointment
    Your child should see a dentist around the time of his/her first birthday and then regularly thereafter. It is important to establish a dental home. Your pediatric or general dentist will teach you how to prevent dental disease, check for cavities in the primary teeth and watch for developmental problems, and set a positive precedent for future visits.

    7) Prevent Cavities
    Ask your dentist about dental sealants and fluoride applications to protect your child’s teeth. Sealants can prevent food from getting stuck in the tiny grooves on the chewing surfaces and topical fluoride will strengthen the enamel against decay.

    8) Keep Your Cool
    If you feel anxious about a visit to a dental professional, try not to convey these feelings to your child. This is very important for emotional well-being. Encourage your child to discuss any fears he/she might have about visiting a dentist, but don’t put any new fears into his/her head. It is a good rule of thumb not to mention the words “hurt” or “pain” as it raises a possibility he/she might not have thought of.
     

    Sources
    http://www.deardoctor.com/articles/top-10-oral-health-tips-for-children
    http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/HealthierKids/HowtoMakeaHealthyHome/Top-10-Tips-to-Help-Children-Develop-Healthy-Habits_UCM_303805_Article.jsp#.Vmle6Lh97IU
    https://www.google.com.np/search?q=images+children&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjW56XWmtHJAhWFI5QKHamQAowQ7AkIKA&dpr=1#imgrc=sLWm5xM8yBjMdM%3A

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  • 12 tips preventing Heart Attack

    Om P. Ganda, MD, at Joslin Diabetes Center, offers seven helpful tips for preventing heart disease.

    If you have diabetes, heart disease can be a serious concern. In fact, cardiovascular disease leading to heart attack or stroke is by far the leading cause of death in both men and women with diabetes, says Dr. Ganda, a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism, and Clinical Nutrition, a Senior Physician in the Section on Adult Diabetes at Joslin, and an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “The good news is that there are steps to take to reduce your risk for heart disease if you have diabetes,” says Dr. Ganda.

    1) Control your weight.
    One of the most important things you can do if you have diabetes is maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, talk to a registered dietitian about healthy ways to lose weight.

    2) Take responsibility for your health.
    Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in America, accounting for 34 percent of deaths, many suddenly and almost all of them premature. This is down from 40 percent just four decades ago, mainly due to treatment of common risk factors. If you have diabetes, your risk increases dramatically. The best prevention against heart disease and stroke is to understand the risks and treatment options. The greatest risk is ignorance or misinformation. The first step is to take responsibility for your health.

    3) Know your risks.
    The most influential risk factor for cardiovascular disease is age – the older you are, the greater your risk. The second is your genetic make-up. Although everyone is excited by the scientific progress in genomics research, conclusive gene tests are still in their infancy. But, as I tell our medical students, “A good family history is a poor man’s gene test.” We have long known that if your parents, grandparents, or other relatives were afflicted with or died of heart disease, diabetes or stroke, your risk is much greater.

    4) Don’t smoke or expose yourself to second-hand smoke.
    The evidence is overwhelming that cigarette smoking and second-hand exposure to smoke increases the risks of heart disease, lung disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke.3) If you already do, make plans to begin a smoking cessation program. “Nicotine narrows and restricts blood vessels; diabetes will also do the same thing to your blood vessels.. You can’t change having diabetes. But you can stop damage caused by nicotine,” says Dr. Ganda.

    5) Maintain a healthy blood pressure.
    High blood pressure, called hypertension, is known as “the silent killer” as it goes without symptoms in most individuals. High blood pressure causes wear and tear of the delicate inner lining of your blood vessels. The higher your blood pressure (BP) the greater your risk. The risk begins to increase from a pressure of 115/70 mmHg and doubles for each 10 mmHg increase in systolic (the larger number) and 5 mmHg increase in the diastolic (the smaller number). Heredity and increasing age raise the risks. Measuring blood pressures at home reflects more accurately your risk than having the blood pressure taken at a physician’s office. It is worth the investment to get a cuffmeter.

    6) Monitor your cholesterol (blood lipids).
    Abnormal or high blood lipids (fats) are a major contributor to cardiovascular disease. Your blood lipids include the LDL (bad cholesterol; remember as “Lousy cholesterol”), HDL (good cholesterol; remember as “Healthy cholesterol”) and triglycerides. The lower your LDL and the higher your HDL, the better your prognosis. The amount of cholesterol in your blood is determined mainly by three factors: the amount produced by the liver (this is largely genetic), the amount absorbed from the intestinal tract (some from what you eat, but a lot more from cholesterol produced by the liver and excreted into the digestive tract) and, finally, age – your cholesterol increases with age. If you are at risk, medication is almost always necessary to lower the LDL or to raise your HDL. The ideal ratio of total cholesterol divided by HDL cholesterol is 3.0. If higher, you might need diet as therapy. The problem with diet is that, in general, it can only decrease total blood cholesterol by about 10 percent. If you have a strong family history or elevated Lp(a) (a rare abnormal cholesterol that increases the risk), drug therapy is usually needed.

    7) Limit your calories.
    Fad diets do not work. If any of them did, we all would be on THAT one, wouldn’t we? The obesity rate in Americans is alarming, contributing to a near epidemic of diabetes, which is a cardiovascular disease. If you have diabetes, your risk is the same as someone who already had a heart attack. Obesity is caused by consuming more calories than your body burns. Abdominal obesity is the major risk. Portion sizes and the amount of sugars in the American diet have dramatically increased over the past few decades. At the same time, the daily amount of exercise has been decreasing. It is good advice to “drink slim” (water, tea, coffee). Use portion control before you start eating and push away from the table before you are “full.”

    8) Get regular physical activity.
    There is a significant body of research that proves the myriad cardiovascular benefits of regular physical activity (that goes beyond weight loss). Start off slowly, and build a plan that works well for you and meets your needs. The Joslin Diabetes Center offers one-on-one consultations with clinical exercise physiologists that are covered by many insurance providers. These sessions are considered diabetes education—not training sessions—and can start you on the path toward physical fitness.

    9) Pick your pills wisely.
    There is a great interest in alternative medicine and understandably so, because patients want to be empowered to take responsibility for their own health. However, many take alternative medicines because of the way they are marketed. The mere fact that a substance is “natural” does not prove its health benefit. After all, nobody in their right mind would take arsenic simply because it is “natural.”

    10) Reduce stress.
    Stress contributes to cardiovascular disease and, if severe, can cause a heart attack or sudden death. There are plenty of options that help reduce stress, such as regular exercise, adequate sleep, striving for a good marriage, laughing, volunteering or attending religious services. Watching TV generally does not relieve, but can aggravate stress. Also, try to avoid situations and people who make you anxious or angry.

    11) Stay informed: Science changes constantly.
    The only constant is change. This is especially true in medicine as new techniques and new insights develop constantly. Do not believe every piece of “scientific information” you find in the media or advertisements. An overwhelming number of research studies that make it into scientific publications are poorly designed or yield data that are not representative, e.g., due to a lack of a sufficient number of participants. Keep in mind that many studies are financed or sponsored by individuals or companies with a vested interest in gaining favorable results. The situation can be especially confusing when scientific studies yield different or even contradicting results, and this happens quite often.

    12) Maintain tight control over glucose.
    Tight control can prevent many complications from diabetes and also protects your heart. Shoot for an A1C reading of less than 7%.

    Sources
    http://www.joslin.org/info/7_tips_for_preventing_heart_disease.html
    http://heart.arizona.edu/heart-health/prevent-heart-attacks/10-tips
    https://www.google.com.np/search?q=images+heart+attack&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&imgil=Q35DKRc6kfyHkM%253A%253BCSL0DO7VhjiUwM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.webmd.com%25252Fheart-disease%25252Fguide%25252Fheart-disease-heart-attacks&source=iu&pf=m&fir=Q35DKRc6kfyHkM%253A%252CCSL0DO7VhjiUwM%252C_&usg=__Gpz_pmdvy7lgx6v0cYM_4ejNDDM%3D&ved=0ahUKEwjemZvykNHJAhUGI5QKHYg2DeAQyjcIKQ&ei=T1ppVp62G4bG0ASI7bSADg#imgrc=Q35DKRc6kfyHkM%3A&usg=__Gpz_pmdvy7lgx6v0cYM_4ejNDDM%3D

     

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  • Health Benefits of Honey

    Honey has always been a very popular culinary delicacy as well as an important medical remedy for many millennia. Across the globe, our ancestors seemed to be well aware of the many health benefits of honey. Its earliest known use as a medicinal prescription is found in Sumerian clay tablets that may be almost 4000 years old. Almost 30% of the Sumerians’ medical treatments included honey. In India, honey is an important part of Siddha and Ayurveda – the ancient, traditional systems of medicine. In ancient Egypt, it was used in managing skin and eye diseases, and also as a natural bandage applied on wounds and burns. Several other cultures have also used honey for various medical purposes.

    1. Prevent cancer and heart disease:
    Honey contains flavonoids, antioxidants which help reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease.

    2. Reduce ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders.
    Recent research shows that honey treatment may help disorders such as ulcers and bacterial gastroenteritis. This may be related to the 3rd benefit…

    3. Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-fungal:
    “All honey is antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide,” said Peter Molan, director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand.

    4. Increase athletic performance.
    Ancient Olympic athletes would eat honey and dried figs to enhance their performance. This has now been verified with modern studies, showing that it is superior in maintaining glycogen levels and improving recovery time than other sweeteners.

    5. Reduce cough and throat irritation:
    Honey helps with coughs, particularly buckwheat honey. In a study of 110 children, a single dose of buckwheat honey was just as effective as a single dose of dextromethorphan in relieving nocturnal cough and allowing proper sleep.

    6. Balance the 5 elements:
    Honey has been used in ayurvedic medicine in Nepal and India for at least 4000 years and is considered to affect all three of the body’s primitive material imbalances positively. It is also said to be useful useful in improving eyesight, weight loss, curing impotence and premature ejaculation, urinary tract disorders, bronchial asthma, diarrhea, and nausea.

    Honey is referred as “Yogavahi” since it has a quality of penetrating the deepest tissues of the body. When honey is used with other herbal preparations, it enhances the medicinal qualities of those preparations and also helps them to reach the deeper tissues.

    7. Blood sugar regulation:
    Even though honey contains simple sugars, it is NOT the same as white sugar or artificial sweeteners. Its exact combination of fructose and glucose actually helps the body regulate blood sugar levels. Some honeys have a low hypoglycemic index, so they don’t jolt your blood sugar. (Watch this video Sweetener Comparison where I compare stevia, brown rice syrup, honey, molasses and agave, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each.)

    8. Heal wounds and burns:
    External application of honey has been shown to be as effective as conventional treatment with silver sulfadiazene. It is speculated that the drying effect of the simple sugars and honey’s anti-bacterial nature combine to create this effect.

    9. Probiotic:
    Some varieties of honey possess large amounts of friendly bacteria. This includes up to 6 species of lactobacilli and 4 species of bifidobacteria. This may explain many of the “mysterious therapeutic properties of honey.”

    10. Beautiful skin:
    Its anti-bacterial qualities are particularly useful for the skin, and, when used with the other ingredients, can also be moisturizing and nourishing! For a powerful home beauty treatment for which you probably have all the ingredients in your kitchen already, read Carrot Face Mask.

    11. Boosts Memory
    The sweet nectar is loaded in antioxidants that may help prevent cellular damage and loss within the brain. A 2011 study published in Menopause found a daily spoonful of Malaysian honey may boost postmenopausal women’s memory, which can provide an alternative therapy for the hormone-related intellectual decline. After four months of taking 20 grams of honey a day, the women were more likely to have better short-term memory than their counterparts who took hormone pills.

    12. Sleep Aid
    Honey can be a health aid for sleepless nights. Similar to sugar, honey can cause a rise in insulin and release serotonin — a neurotransmitter that improves mood and happiness. “The body converts serotonin into melatonin, a chemical compound that regulates the length and the quality of sleep,” Rene Ficek, registered dietitian and lead dietitian nutritionist at Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating in Chicago, Ill., told Medical Daily in an email.

    Sources
    http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-health-benefits-of-honey.html#ixzz3tuQW8IyB
    http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-health-benefits-of-honey.html#ixzz3tuP78rFq
    http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-health-benefits-of-honey.html
    http://www.medicaldaily.com/liquid-gold-7-health-benefits-honey-could-heal-your-whole-body-325932
    https://www.google.com.np/search?q=honey+images+pictures&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwixwKO-gNHJAhVJG5QKHWNcCgoQ7AkINA#imgrc=eIoOVRcyPV1dsM%3A

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  • Home remedy for Jaundice

    Jaundice
     Yellowish discoloration of the whites of the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes caused by deposition of bile salts in these tissues, occurring as a symptom of various diseases, such as hepatitis, that affect the processing of bile. Also called icterus .

    A correct dignosis of underlying cause is vital for taking remedial measures for Jaundice.However certain food are known to alleviate the symptoms and help improve liver functioning. The following are some natural foods that are effective in Jaundice.

    Home remedy for Jaudice

    1) Tomato juice: One glass of tomato juice, mixed with a pinch of salt and pepper, taken on empty stomach in the  morning is a very effective home cure for jaundice.

    2) Radish leaves: Radish leaves contain compounds which induces appetite and regularises the bowel movements.  Take some radish leaves and extract juice from it, with the help of a sieve. Drink about half a litre of the extracted  juice daily, in about ten days the patient should get relief from the disease.

    3) Papaya leaves: Add one tablespoon of honey to one teaspoon of papaya leaves paste. Eat this regularly for about  one or two weeks. This is a very effective home cure for jaundice.

    4) Sugarcane: The properties in sugarcane helps in proper digestion and proper liver functioning, thereby helping  the patient to recover quickly from jaundice. Take a glass of sugarcane juice and add some lime juice to this. Drink  this juice twice daily for better results. Ensure to clean sugarcane properly before extracting juice from it.

    5) Basil leaves: Take about 10-15 basil leaves and make a paste of it. Add half a glass of freshly prepared radish juice  to it. Drink this daily for about two to three weeks for better results.

    6) Gooseberry: Gooseberry is rich in vitamin C and is a very useful in alleviating the symptoms of jaundice.

    7) Barley: Boil a cup of barley water in about three litres of water and allow it to simmer for about three hours. Drink  this water as frequently as possible throughout the day for treatment of jaundice.

    8) Lemon: The anti inflammatory property in lemon helps in treating jaundice. Lemon also unblocks the bile ducts ,  thereby making it the most effective home remedy for jaundice. Squeeze the juice of 2 lemons and add it to a glass of  water. Drink this minimum thrice a day , as it protects the liver cells from damage.

    9) Pigeon peas leaves: Extract juice from pigeon pea leaves by crushing them and take at least 60ml of this juice daily  for treating jaundice. The leguminous beans of these are also very nutritive and can be added in the diet.

    10) Almonds: Take about 8 kernels of almonds, two dates and five cardamoms and soak them in water. Leave it  overnight. In the morning, remove the skins and make a paste of it. Add some sugar and butter. Take this mixture  several times a day.

    11) Turmeric: Take a glass of warm water and add a pinch of turmeric to it. Mix well and drink this three or four  times a day.

    12) Snake gourd leaves: Take about 7-10 leaves and boil it in a cup of water and allow it to cool. Take 10-15 coriander  seeds and boil it in half a litre of water. Mix it with the previously prepared decoction. Drink at least thrice a day for  effective cure of jaundice.

    13) Aloe Vera leaves: Take the pulp of the leaves of Indian aloe vera and mix it with black salt and ginger. Take this  every morning for about ten days.

    14) Beetroot and lemon: Take one cup of beetroot juice and mix with equal quantity of lemon juice and drink this  regularly for a few days for effective results.

    15) Chicory plant: All parts of chicory plant is useful in curing liver problems. The flowers, seeds and roots are the  more common parts used. The juice of chicory help treating the enlargement of spleen, sluggishness of the liver and  it also promotes healthy secretion of the bile .

    16) Jaundice berry: Make a juice of the bark of jaundice berry and take a teaspoon of this several times a day , daily.

    17) Chamomile: Tea made of chamomile is very effective cure for jaundice and should be at least once a day for  several weeks and can be continued after cure of jaundice as a preventive measure.

    18) Buttermilk: Take buttermilk and add roasted alum and add some black pepper and mix well and drink at least  thrice a day for better results.

    19) Banana: Crush ripe banana and add some honey and take this at least twice a day for better results.

    20) Carrot juice: Make fresh carrot juice and drink several times a day for effective cure of jaundice and it can be  included in the diet also.

    21) Bitter luffa: Squeeze and pound bitter luffa , to extract its juice . place the juice in the palm of the hand and draw  it through the nostrils. Yellow liquid will flow out the nostrils as a result of this .when the toxic matter is evacuated  in considerable amount the patient will feel relieved. Seeds of bitter luffa can also be used for the same purpose.

    22) Bael leaves: Take baels leaves and grind to make a powder. Mix it to a glass of water. Drink this once a day for  effective cure of jaundice.

    Preventive measure

    Jaundice that is caused by alcohol related liver disorder or by viral hepatitis can be prevented.

    People suffering from alcoholism can prevent or reduce the risk of Jaundice by avoiding alochol. Jaundice caused by hepatitis A and B can be prevented by taking vaccination. (Hepatitis C has no vaccination as yet).

    Other Jaundice underlying diseases like cirrhosis, thalassemia, hepatitis A, cholestasis are inherited or autoimmune disorders can not be prevented.

    Foods To Avoid

    1) Avoid spicy and fried foods.
    2) Avoid junk and carbohydrate rich foods as liver needs to produce more bile to digest these foods and that may  aggravate the condition.
    3) Avoid alcohol, coffee and tea. Drink boiled water and avoid non-pasteurized milk.
    4) Pulses and legumes should be avoided.

    Sources:
    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/jaundice
    http://home-cure.net/remedy-treatment-jaundice/
    https://www.google.com.np/search?q=jaundice+image+photos&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj4lOCFytDJAhVX1I4KHVCpBrEQ7AkINA#imgrc=j9Lau7PHFMbzaM%3A

     

     

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  • 5 Health Benefit of Sweet Potato

    a) Superior fiber content

    Sweet potatoes contain almost twice as much fiber as other types of potatoes. Contributing close to 7 grams of fiber per serving, they make an excellent starchy addition to any meal. The high fiber content gives them a “slow burning” quality. This basically means their caloric energy is used more slowly and efficiently than a low-fiber carbohydrate.

    b) Heart-healthy

    They contain a large amount of vitamin B6. This vitamin is crucial in breaking down a substance called homocysteine, which contributes to hardening of the arteries and blood vessels. Vitamin B6 helps keep the walls of these important blood passageways flexible and healthy which allows blood to flow freely.

    In addition, sweet potatoes contain high amounts of potassium. Potassium plays an important role in lowering blood pressure by ridding the body of excess sodium and regulating fluid balance. It is also an important electrolyte that helps regulate the natural rhythm of the heart, and maintains normal function of the brain and central nervous system.

    c) Rich in beta-carotene

    Beta-carotene or vitamin A is an important antioxidant. One medium sweet potato provides your body with the complete recommended daily allowance of vitamin A and then some. Vitamin A is useful in the prevention of several different types of cancer as it is one of the most potent antioxidants out there.

    Beta-carotene also helps to internally protect your skin from sun damage by both deflecting and repairing cell damage caused by excessive UV exposure. It also is an excellent nutrient for eye health and has been linked to prevention of vision loss and macular degeneration.

    d) A great source of manganese

    Manganese is a little-discussed trace mineral that has some great health benefits. It is a pivotal component in the metabolism of carbohydrates which helps support healthy blood sugar levels. This can help stabilize the appetite for hours as opposed to the temporary satisfaction that comes with most other carbohydrates.

    It also is a cofactor in enzymes that play an important role in the generation of energy as well as the efficient utilization of antioxidants. It is used for the treatment of anemia and is useful as a treatment for several premenstrual symptoms in women as well.

    e) Rich in vitamins C and E

    As if being one of the top vegetable sources of beta-carotene weren’t enough, sweet potatoes are also rich in vitamins C and E. These are potent antioxidant vitamins that play an important role in disease prevention and longevity.

    Both vitamins also play a huge role in the health and beauty of your skin and hair, making them popular supplements. The combination of beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C in one food makes the sweet potato one heck of a “beauty food”. These nutrients all contribute to a healthy, glowing complexion and vibrant hair.

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  • 10 Tips for Happier and Healthier life

    1) Eat ‘primally’
     Common sense dictates that the best diet is one based on foods we’ve been eating the longest in terms of our time on this planet. These are the foods that we’ve evolved to eat and are best adapted to. Studies show that a ‘primal’ diet made up of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, as well as meat, fish and eggs, is best for weight control and improvement in risk markers for illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes. This ‘go primal’ food philosophy will enable you to cut through the marketing hype and dietary misinformation, and allow you to make healthy food choices quickly and confidently.

    2) Keep hydrated
    Water makes up two-thirds of the body and performs a plethora of functions, including acting as a solvent, carrier of nutrients, temperature regulator and body detoxifier. Maintaining hydration can have a profound influence on our vitality and energy levels, including mental alertness. Aim to drink enough water to keep your urine a pale yellow colour throughout the course of the day.

    3) Eat mindfully
    In our fast-paced world, there can be a tendency to eat while distracted and shovel in more food than we need and, at the same time, miss out on culinary pleasure. Many of us will benefit from eating mindfully. Some things to think about here are avoiding eating when distracted, eating more slowly, and taking time to taste food properly. One particular thing to focus on is chewing your food thoroughly – not only does this help us savour food, it also assists the digestive process.

    4) Get plenty of sunlight in the summer…
    Sunlight, and the vitamin D this can make in the skin, is associated with a wide spectrum of benefits for the body including a reduced risk of several forms of cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis, as well as improved immune function. As a rule of thumb, vitamin D is made when our shadow is shorter than our body length, ie when the sun is high in the sky. While burning is to be avoided, get as much sunlight exposure as possible for optimal health.

    5) ….and in the winter
    Low levels of sunlight in the winter can cause our mood to darken. Even when it’s cold outside, it pays to get some external light exposure in the winter, say during lunchtime. Another option is to invest in a sunlight-simulating device and use this daily from October through to March.

    6) Get enough sleep
    Sleep has the ability to optimise mental and physical energy, and optimal levels of sleep (about eight hours a night) are linked with reduced risk of chronic disease and improved longevity. One simple strategy that can help ensure you get optimal amounts of sleep is to go to bed earlier. Getting into bed by 10pm or 10.30pm is a potentially useful investment in terms of your short- and long-term health and wellbeing. Shutting down the computer or turning off the TV early in the evening is often all it takes to create the time and space for earlier sleep.

    7) Walk regularly
    Aerobic exercise, including something as uncomplicated and low-impact as walking, is associated with a variety of benefits for the body and the brain, including a reduced risk of chronic diseases, anti-anxiety and mood-enhancing effects. Aim for a total of about 30 minutes of brisk walking every day.

    8) Engage in some resistance exercise
    Resistance exercise helps to maintain muscle mass and strengthens the body. This has particular relevance as we age, as it reduces the risk of disability and falls. Many highly useful exercises can be done at home, such as press-ups, sit-ups and squats. Invest in a Dyna-Band or dumbbells to extend your home routine to other exercises, too.

    9) Practise random acts of kindness
    Random acts of kindness are good for givers and receivers alike. It could be a quick call or text to someone you care about or have lost touch with, or showing a fellow motorist some consideration, or giving up your seat on a train or bus, or buying someone lunch or giving a spontaneous bunch of flowers.

    10) Practise the art of appreciation
    Modern-day living tends to be aspirational and we can easily find ourselves chasing an ever-growing list of goals, many of which can be material. Some of us could do with spending more time focusing not on what we don’t have, but on what we do. Our mood can be lifted by giving thanks for anything from our friends and family to a beautiful landscape or sunset.

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  • Tips for Malaria Prevention

    Malaria

    Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. Four kinds of malaria parasites infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae. In addition, P. knowlesi, a type of malaria that naturally infects macaques in Southeast Asia, also infects humans, causing malaria that is transmitted from animal to human (“zoonotic” malaria). P. falciparum is the type of malaria that is most likely to result in severe infections and if not promptly treated, may lead to death. Although malaria can be a deadly disease, illness and death from malaria can usually be prevented.

    Protecting yourself from mosquito bites is one of the ways to keep yourself safe from malaria.

    7 Malaria prevention tips.

    If you are travelling to malaria-prone areas, follow these malaria prevention tips as recommended by Dr Limin Wijaya, Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group.

    a) Take the right type of anti-malarial medicines for the country you are travelling to. The choice of anti-malarial prevention tablets will also need to take into account your medical history, age and other concurrent medications. You must take them daily or weekly, depending on the medication choice, prior to travel and upon return from the malaria area.
    b) Protect yourself from mosquito bites by sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net.
    c) Wear socks, long pants, long-sleeve shirts and blouses.
    d) Spray DEET mosquito repellent onto your clothes and the exposed parts of your skin.
    e) Make sure the room doors and windows are closed properly and screened with gauze to prevent mosquitoes from getting in.
    f) Spray the room with an insecticide before entering.
    g) Pregnant women and young children should avoid travelling to malaria-prone areas.

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  • Lung Cancer: Causes, Symptoms and Preventions

    Lung Cancer

    Lung cancer is a disease that may be caused by air pollution. According to LungCancer.org, lung cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. Over time, the abnormal cells can develop into tumors and impair the lung's primary function: to supply the blood, and therefore the body, with oxygen. LungCancer.org states that there are two principle types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC and small cell lung cancer or SCLC. According to a 2002 study by C. Arden Pope III, Ph.D. and colleagues published in “The Journal of the American Medical Association,” long-term exposure to combustion-generated fine particulate matter poses a significant risk for cardiopulmoary and lung cancer mortality. A 2000 study by Fredrik Nyberg and colleagues published in the journal “Epidemiology” concludes that urban air pollution boosts lung cancer risk, and that motor vehicle emissions may be particularly problematic. – See more at: http://www.livestrong.com/article/176670-diseases-caused-by-air-pollution/#sthash.QPaUzMdK.dpuf

    There are two different types of lung cancer – small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) – which differ in terms of how they grow and spread to other parts of the body and how they’re treated.

    Lung cancer is usually fatal – the overall survival rate is about 16% at five years after diagnosis. In 2010, lung cancer was the most common cause of death from cancer in New Zealand, accounting for 19% of all cancer deaths (ahead of bowel / colorectal cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer).

    The reason for the low rate of survival is that lung cancer tends to spread (metastasize) rapidly to other parts of the body very early after it first forms, i.e. before it is diagnosed.

    Causes

    The development of lung cancer is strongly associated with cigarette smoking – approximately 90% of lung cancers are attributable to tobacco use. Pipe and cigar smoking can also cause lung cancer, but the risk is not as high as with cigarette smoking. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds, many of which are cancer-causing (carcinogens).

    Passive smoking, i.e. the inhalation of tobacco smoke by non-smokers who live or work with smokers, is also an established risk factor for the development of lung cancer.

    Although the majority of lung cancers are linked to tobacco smoking, not all smokers go on to develop lung cancer suggesting that genetic susceptibility (i.e. family history) may play a role in the development of lung cancer.

    Other causes of lung cancer include air pollution (from vehicles, industry, and power generation) and inhalation of asbestos fibres (usually in the workplace).

    Signs, symptoms, and diagnosis

    Symptoms of lung cancer are varied and warning signs are not always obvious. Up to 25% of people who get lung cancer display no symptoms. In people who do display symptoms, they include the following:
    a) Persistent cough and hoarseness
    b) Shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest pain
    c) Blood-streaked sputum
    d) Chest pain
    e) Frequent episodes of bronchitis or pneumonia
    f) Weight loss, weakness, and fatigue.
    A wide range of diagnostic tests and procedures are used to diagnose lung cancer, including taking a patient history, physical examination, blood tests, chest x-rays, computerized tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, bone scans, bronchoscopy, cytological studies of sputum, bronchial washings, and fine needle biopsy. Many of these procedures are also used to determine the stage of the cancer.

    Treatment

    Treatment for cancer involves a combination of surgery to remove cancer cells, and chemotherapy and radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. Lung cancer is incurable unless complete surgical removal of the tumour cells can be achieved.

    Surgery is the most effective treatment for lung cancer but only about 20% of lung cancers are suitable for surgery i.e. Stage I and II NSCLC and cancer that has not spread beyond the lung.

    Radiation therapy may be used for both NSCLC and SCLC and is a good option for people are not suitable for surgery or who refuse surgery.

    Chemotherapy is used for both NSCLC and SCLC. Chemotherapy drugs may be given alone or in combination with surgery or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is the treatment of first choice for SCLC since it has usually spread extensively in the body by the time it has been diagnosed.

    Also used in the treatment of lung cancer are targeted therapies. These are drugs (gefitinib and erlotinib) or antibodies (cetuximab, bevacizumab) that block the growth and spread of cancer by interfering with specific molecules involved in tumour growth and progression. They are used in some patients with NSCLC that does not respond to standard chemotherapy.

    Prevention

    The most effective measure that can be taken to prevent the development of lung cancer is to stop smoking. Reducing exposure to passive smoking is also an effective method of prevention.

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  • Rabies – Causes, Symptoms and Preventions

    Rabies
    At a Glance
    Rabies is a life-threatening condition that causes tens of thousands of deaths worldwide every year. Dogs are the most common source.
    It’s caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system. The virus is transmitted to humans via bites and scratches from infected animals.
    Rabies can be treated with the rabies vaccine if you seek medical attention as soon as you think you might have symptoms. To help prevent it, make sure that you and your pets are vaccinated.
    Rabies — the word probably brings to mind an enraged animal frothing at the mouth. An encounter with an infected animal can result in a painful, life-threatening condition.

    According to the World Health Organization, up to 59,000 people worldwide die from rabies every year. Ninety-nine percent of them have been bitten by a rabid dog. However, the availability of vaccines for both animals and humans has led to a steep decline in rabies cases in the United States, where there are two to three rabies deaths a year.

    Rabies is caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system, particularly causing inflammation in the brain. Domestic dogs, cats, and rabbits, and wild animals, such as skunks, raccoons, and bats, are able to transfer the virus to humans via bites and scratches. The key to fighting the virus is a quick response.

    Symptoms of rabies

    -The initial symptoms of rabies are mild, but they quickly become serious.
    -The incubation period
    The incubation period is the time it takes for symptoms to develop after a person is infected with the virus. The incubation period for rabies is usually two to 12 weeks, although it can be as short as four days. It is unusual for the incubation period to last for more than a year.
    -The closer the site of infection is to your brain, the shorter the incubation period. For example, a bite to your face, head or neck will have a shorter incubation period than a bite to your arm or leg.
    -The length of the incubation period is important as it’s the only period in which treatment can be successful.-Initial symptoms
    -The initial symptoms of rabies are often vague and it can be easy to mistake them for other, less serious, types of infection. They include:
    a) fever
    b) headache
    c) feeling generally unwell
    d) feeling scared or anxious
    e) Around half of people also experience pain and a tingling sensation at the infection site.

    Advanced symptoms
    Initial symptoms of rabies last for two to 10 days before more severe symptoms start to develop. These typically include aggressive behaviour, hallucinations, agitation and producing lots of saliva.
    When to seek medical advice
    If you’re in a part of the world known to be affected by rabies, always seek medical advice as soon as possible if you’re bitten or scratched by an animal, particularly a dog. You can also catch rabies if you have an open wound that is licked by an infected animal.

    Treating and Preventing Rabies
    a) People should seek immediate treatment by a doctor after a bite or contact with an infected animal. The sooner treatment is started, the more likely a person will avoid developing the disease. Once symptoms appear, the rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin are not effective and death is almost certain. Rabies is a disease that must be reported to the authorities by law in Canada.

    b) The most common treatment of rabies is with postexposure prophylaxis. The first step in treating rabies and to reduce the likelihood of developing symptoms is to wash the wound with soap and water.

    The next critical step to prevent rabies includes a dose of immunoglobulin against the rabies virus followed by a strict schedule of injections of the rabies vaccine. The immunoglobulin provides immediate protection against the virus to “bridge the gap” until the vaccine starts working. The vaccine helps the person’s immune system produce antibodies against the potentially lethal virus. The vaccine protects individuals for approximately 2 years.

    People such as veterinarians or cattle farmers who work with potentially infected animals or humans need to be vaccinated against rabies. They will also have periodic blood tests to see whether they need booster shots of the rabies vaccine.

    You can prevent being infected with the rabies virus by remembering these tips:

    -do not feed wild animals and stay at a safe distance when observing them
    -supervise children and teach them not to approach or touch animals they do not know
    -stay away from animals showing signs of rabies
    -do not bring home wild animals
    -if you suspect an animal is rabid, stay away from it and contact the local authorities
    -if you have pets or livestock, make sure to vaccinate them against rabies

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  • Cause and Cure for Jaundice

    Meaning of Jaundice

    Jaundice, also known as icterus, is a term used to describe a yellowish tinge to the skin and sclerae (the white part of the eye) that is caused by hyperbilirubinemia (an excess of bilirubin in the blood). Body fluids may also be yellow. The color of the skin and sclerae varies depending on levels of bilirubin; mildly elevated levels display yellow skin and sclerae, while highly elevated levels display brown.

    Causes and symptoms
    There are many different causes for jaundice, but they can be divided into three categories based on where they start-before, in, or after the liver (prehepatic, hepatic and post-hepatic). When bilirubin begins its life cycle, it cannot be dissolved in water. The liver changes it so that it is soluble in water. These two types of bilirubin are called unconjugated (insoluble) and conjugated (soluble). Blood tests can easily distinguish between these two types of bilirubin.
    Home Remedies for Jaundice

    1: 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder mixed in a glass of hot water taken 2-3 times a day.

    2: Make a paste of tender papaya leaves. Take 1/2 tsp of this paste with 1 tsp honey.

    3: Boil 1 cup of water, when it boils add 8-10 lemon leaves. Cover and leave for 4-5 minutes. Drink the decoction for 4-5 days.

    4: Lots of lime juice should be consumed.

    5: 1/2 tsp ginger juice, 1 tsp mint juice and 1tsp lime juice to be taken as often as possible

    6: 1 cup of juice made with radish leaves taken 2 times a day.

    7: First thing in the morning, drink 1 glass of fresh Tomato juice. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to this.

     

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