Taking care of Elderly

We often notice elderly people frequently complaining about their health. The causes behind these complaints are numerous. Reduced secretion of digestive juices, weak gums and teeth, consumption of various medications, lack of physical exercise etc, reduces their digestion capacity.  Unhealthy food consumption at this stage can lead to acidity, constipation, lose motions etc. These further aggravate the existing conditions.  The body of aged persons will be fragile and easily susceptible to diseases, injuries and allergies. Hence a proper care has to be taken about their diet and life style. Here are few tips to take care of elderly at home. These help them to balance their health and lead a comfortable healthy life.

1.Make them to understand the fact that they are young at heart and meanwhile their body needs extra care. 

2.Encourage them to eat soft foods which are easily digestible and get absorbed quickly to provide energy and nutrition.

3.Soft rice, well cooked vegetables, milk, soft pulp of fruits, juices and soups can be digested easily.

4.Deep fried foods, spicy curries can cause trouble.

5.Give them plenty of boiled warm water. This helps to prevent water borne infections.

6.Request them to consume their regular medications on time. Monitor this daily.

7.Get their complete health checked up once in six months.

8.Ask them to apply moisturizing lotion to skin. Skin tends to dry as we age. Dry skin is easily susceptible to fungal infections.

9.Motivate them to be physically active.  Make it a point to accompany them if they are too weak to walk by themselves.

10.Keep them engaged in one or the other activity. This makes their brain active and keeps diseases like Alzheimer at bay. Telling bedtime stories to grand children, giving tips about recipes, teaching embroidery, painting, singing or anything they are good at.

11.Provide non slippery flooring in their room and bath room.

12.Fix horizontal bars in their bathroom to provide grip.

13.They have taken care of us till now. Now it is our turn to repay them by taking utmost care with love and affection.

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of Know for Better

Dry Fruit Milk Mix for Elderly

Aged persons need more nutrients to aid the repair process of body. Their body needs more vitamins and proteins as it experiences continuous degenerative process. Elders‘ diet should be simple, nutritious and easily digestible.  Here is a recipe which help to supply good amount of vitamins, proteins, antioxidants , minerals and many more.

Dry fruit milk mix

Ingredients:
Almonds – one cup
Shelled Pistachios – one cup
Cardamom – 10 in number
Saffron- ¼ spoon
Ragi- ¼ cup

Method:
Roast almond, pistachios, ragi separately in low flame. Allow them to cool. Remove outer skin of cardamom and collect seeds. Blend all roasted ingredients, cardamom and saffron in a blender into a fine powder. Store it in an air tight container. Mix a spoon of this with a glass of warm milk. Stir it well. Sugar, sugar candy, jaggery or date syrup can be added to this for sweetening . This warm drink supplies plenty of nutrients to elderly. Here is a list of benefits of ingredients.

Milk: Milk contains nutrients like protein, fat, mineral matter, water and lactose. It is rich in calcium and vitamins. It is the natural food of all young mammals. Milk is a reservoir of nutrients and forms an important ingredient of a balanced diet. As it is rich in calcium it makes our bones and teeth strong. It helps to nourish the body with high quality proteins and vitamins. Drinking milk everyday helps to keep our body fit. Warm milk induces good sleep.

Saffron: Saffron acts as a cardiac tonic and is used to treat diseases which originate from vitiation of blood. It helps in easy flow of urine. saffron helps to increase appetite .It also reduces indigestion, diarrhea, vomiting and acidity. Saffron is used as an active ingredient in ayurveda preparations for diseases of central nervous system.

Almonds :Almonds are rich source of fiber, proteins, minerals, vitamins and heart friendly fats. The fiber in almonds gives a feeling of fullness when consumed and add up to roughage content of diet. Almonds contain good percentage of proteins.  Apart from these vitamins and minerals like vitamin E, riboflavin, magnesium, calcium, copper and manganese are also present in significant amount. All these nutrient components help to boost body immunity, energy and repairing process of tissues.

Pistachios :Pistachios are rich in antioxidants, heart friendly fats, phytosterols, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals. The nutrients of this nut help to lower cholesterol level and prevent absorption of cholesterol from food. Consumption of pistachios helps to prevent cancer and diseases of heart. Studies have shown that carotenoids prevent muscular degeneration. The minerals and vitamins of pistachio help to boost body immunity and aid in normal functioning of body.

Ragi:Ragi is minor millet which is a store house of nutrients. The bioavailability of nutrients in this cereal has increased its nutrition value. Ragi provides fiber, starch, minerals and vitamins.
Dry Fruit Milk Mix for Elderly

Prepare baby cereal at home

Parents will be under utter confusion when their tiny tot is 4 months old.  Now they have to introduce him to the world of solid foods. Numerous advertisements on TVs and magazines about baby formula foods aggravate the state of confusion. Did our parents and grandparents face the same dilemma when we were young? How did they react to this situation?

We discussed this topic with elders. We stumbled upon many easy solutions which were healthy, nutritious, devoid of any chemical preservatives and prepared at home with love and care.  Here are few recipes for your precious one.

After fourth month baby requires solid food to cater to its growing needs. For this various vegetables like beans, carrots, green leaves and pulses can be cooked in pressure cooker. The contents are mashed and strained. The soft semi solid food is fed to baby with small spoon.  Take care to select only one vegetable at a time. Cook only few small pieces of it and mash them well. A dash of salt and sugar can be added to enhance taste. Feed this according to baby’s needs. Do not compel him to consume more. Follow his instincts of likes and dislikes. (Usually in beginning baby may take one or two small spoons of this) continuing breast milk along with these is very essential as breast milk provides complete nourishment.

When baby is 7 months old the following cereal meals, prepared at home, can be fed.

Rice cereal:

Ingredients –

    Basumathi rice – 1 cup
    Moong dal or green gram-1/4 cup
    Jeera  or cumin seeds – ¼ spoon

Roast rice and green gram separately till they turn little golden yellow. Roast cumin seeds till they crackle. Turn off heat. Allow all the ingredients to cool to room temperature. Mix all ingredients and coarsely powder them in a blender. Store it in an airtight container. Required quantity of this has to be cooked well in boiling water (hardly takes 5-6 minutes to get cooked) along with little salt and sugar to bring it to a soft semi solid state. Boiled and mashed vegetables can be added to this to enhance nutrition value.

Instead of cumin seeds, powder of elaichi (cardamom) can be added to make a sweet variant of this. Mashed fruits enhance the nutrition value and taste of this cereal.

Ragi cereal

Ragi is minor millet which is a store house of nutrients. The bioavailability of nutrients has increased its nutrition value. Wash ragi and drain excess water. Spread it on a clean cloth and allow it to dry in shade. Roast it in a thick bottomed woke till one or two of it pops.  This has to be floured in flour mill. Sieve this flour to remove husk.  Store it in an airtight container.  This has to be cooked in boiling water to semi solid state. Boiled vegetables or mashed fruits can be added to increase nutritional value of this.

Caution:
1.    Please consult your pediatrician before introducing your toddler to solid food.
2.    Researchers advise to breast feed baby till he is 2 years.
3.    If he develops allergy to any vegetables, fruits or cereal  consult pediatrician immediately
This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of Know for Better Read article at Prepare baby cereal at home

Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar level) in diabetes

Hypoglycaemia is a condition where the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood drops below a certain point – about 3.0mmol/l.

This causes a number of symptoms such as dizziness, sweating, shaking and palpitations, that usually go away 10 to 15 minutes after eating sugar.

What causes hypoglycaemia?
Insulin is normally produced in the pancreas and helps the body's cells absorb glucose from the blood:

After a meal the glucose level rises after a meal to about 7-10mmol/l.

One to two hours later, the glucose level starts dropping again. By the next meal, the glucose level is back to normal: about 4-5mmol/l. The insulin level in the blood has also returned to normal.

Hypoglycaemic episodes (hypos) can be caused by:
over-treatment - the dose of insulin or diabetes tablets is set too high or you accidentally take too much.

mismatched calorie intake versus demand - this happens when your body needs energy but can't get it from your calorie intake ie if you eat less than usual or exercise more.
   
alcohol - alcoholic drinks tend to lower the blood sugar.

What happens during a hypo?

You can experience some or all of the following symptoms:

paleness
   
shaking
   
perspiration
   
a feeling of weakness
   
rapid heartbeat
   
hunger
   
agitation
   
difficulty concentrating
   
irritability
   
fatigue
   
blurred vision
   
temporary loss of consciousness
   
confusion
   
convulsions
   
coma.

This means loss of consciousness can occur without warning.

To avoid this, you are advised to:

maintain a higher level of glucose in the blood
  
measure your blood sugar level more frequently.

How is a diagnosis made?

Diagnosis is made by measuring the blood sugar level with a glucose meter.

A glucose level below 3.0mmol/l indicates hypoglycaemia.

Some people experience symptoms when their blood sugar level is higher than this – eg at 4.0mmol/l. (Therefore 'four is the floor' for blood glucose levels.)

Hypos can't be detected with urine tests for glucose.

How is hypoglycaemia treated?

Mild hypoglycaemia is treated by drinking or eating about 10-20g sugar, eg in the form of sweetened juice, milk or glucose tablets.
   
In the case of a more serious hypo, an ambulance should be called. The paramedic will then give glucose intravenously or glucagon (GlucaGen) (a glucose-increasing hormone) is injected into a muscle, or into the fatty tissue under the skin.

Your partner and other family members can also be taught to give glucagon injections at home.

A glucagon kit can then be provided so if you suffer several hypos with unconsciousness, immediate treatment is available. In this way, a hospital visit can be avoided.

If you experience hypos repeatedly, you should measure blood sugar level at least four times a day. This allows you to adjust your insulin and know when you need a snack.

What can I do about hypoglycaemia?

Be familiar with the warning symptoms of hypoglycaemia. This way, you can get treatment quickly. When in doubt, measure your blood sugar levels.
   
Always carry sugar – preferably glucose in a rapidly-absorbed form such as glucose tablets.
  
 Measure glucose levels regularly. How often depends on your lifestyle – it's something that a combination of practical experience and expert advice will determine. It can vary from one or two readings a week to several readings a day. Knowing how your blood sugar levels change with various activities means you can adjust your level of insulin and minimise the risk of a hypo.
   
Follow the dietician’s advice and maintain regular eating habits. Some people experience symptoms of a hypo just before a main meal. To avoid this, have snacks between meals to prevent sugar levels dropping too steeply.
   
Take care when exercising: exercise lowers glucose levels in the blood. You can counter this by taking less insulin than usual beforehand or by eating more before, during or just after exercise. Remember that hypoglycaemia may occur some hours after exercise.
   
Carry an identity card that lets others know you have diabetes.

At night

For many people with diabetes, a low blood sugar level during the night is a big problem because you can sleep through it.

If you wake up with a headache and feel unusually irritable, measure your blood sugar at about 3am.

Lower your risk of a hypo by measuring blood sugar at 10pm or 11pm. If it's below 8mmol/l, eat a snack.

Alcohol lowers the blood sugar just like insulin – so avoid alcoholic binges.

After drinking a lot of alcohol or dancing, eat a snack before going to bed.
In the long term

Normally, hypoglycaemia is easily treatable. A few mild episodes in a week are not harmful.

It starts to become dangerous only when the glucose level keeps dropping below acceptable limits – the brain's principal source of energy is glucose.

Also  Read  Erectile dysfunction in Diabetes


http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/diabetesbloodsugarlow.htm

Diabetic Shoes & Foot Care Tips

Proper footwear should be worn when a person has diabetes. Diabetic shoes have many benefits over traditional shoes.  Mainly, the shoes have more room, are non-slip and provide cushioned & removable insoles. This article will present shoes made to help diabetics along with tips on how to take care of their feet.

Proper foot care is especially critical for diabetics because they are prone to foot problems such as:

    Loss of feeling in their feet (tingling or numbness)
    Changes in the shape of their feet
    Foot ulcers or sores that do not heal properly due to restricted blood flow

Tips to Keep Diabetic Feet Healthy

The following steps can be performed everyday to help prevent serious complications from diabetes:

Take Care of Your Diabetes
 Make healthy lifestyle choices to keep your blood sugar close to normal. Work with your health care team to create a diabetes plan that fits your lifestyle characteristics. Research the effects of sweeteners put into foods.  Natural sources of sweeteners tend to work best (cane sugar instead of high fructose..).
 
Check Your Feet Every Day
    Due to numbness, you may have foot problems that you may not be aware of so you should check your feet for cuts, sores, red spots, swelling, or infected toenails. If you have trouble bending over to see your feet, use a plastic mirror to help. You can also ask a family member to help you. Important Reminder: Be sure to call your doctor immediately if a cut, sore, blister, or bruise on your foot does not heal after a day.
     
Wash Your Feet Every Day
    Wash your feet in warm, NOT HOT, water. Do not soak your feet because your skin will get dry. Before bathing or showering, test the water to make sure it is not too hot. You should use a thermometer or your elbow. Dry your feet well. Be sure to dry between your toes. Use talcum powder to keep the skin dry between the toes.
     
Keep the Skin Soft and Smooth
    Rub a thin coat of skin lotion or cream on the tops and bottoms of the feet. Do not put lotion between your toes, as this might cause infection.
     
Wear Shoes and Socks At All Times
    Wear shoes and socks at all times. Do not walk barefoot, not even indoors. It is extremely easy to step on something and hurt your feet. Always wear seamless socks, stockings, and nylons with your shoes to help avoid the possibility of blisters and sores developing. Be sure to choose seamless socks that are made of materials that wick moisture away from your feet and absorb shock and shear. Diabetic Socks made of these materials help keep your feet dry. Always check the insides of your shoes before putting them on. Make sure the lining is smooth and there are no foreign objects in the shoe, such as pebbles. Wear shoes that fit well and protect your feet.
     
Protect Your Feet From Hot and Cold
    Always wear shoes at the beach or on hot pavement. Put sunscreen on the tops of your feet for protection from the sun. Keep your feet away from radiators or open fires. DO NOT use hot water bottle or heating pads on your feet. If your feet are cold, wear seamless socks at night. Lined boots are good to keep your feet warm in the winter. Choose socks carefully. DO NOT wear socks with seams or bumpy areas. Choose padded socks to protect your feet and make walking more comfortable. In cold weather, check your feet often to keep your feet warm avoid frostbite.
    
 Keep the Blood Flowing to Your Feet
    Put your feet up when you are sitting. Wiggle your toes for 5 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day. Move your ankles up and down and in and out to improve blood flow in your feet and legs.

        DO NOT cross your legs for long periods of time.
        DO NOT wear tight socks, elastic, or rubber bands, or garters around your legs.
        DO NOT wear restrictive footwear or foot products. Foot products that can cut off circulation to the feet, such as products with elastic, should not be worn by diabetics.
        DO NOT smoke. Smoking reduces blood flow to your feet. If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, work with your health care team to lower it.
   
 Be More Active
    Ask your doctor to plan an exercise program that is right for you. Walking, dancing, swimming, and bicycling are good forms of exercise that are easy on the feet. Avoid all activities that are hard on the feet, such as running and jumping. Always include a short warm-up or cool-down period. Wear protective walking or athletic shoes that fit well and offer good support.
    
Communicate With Your Doctor
    Ask your doctor to check the sense of feeling and pulses in your feet at least once a year. Ask your doctor to tell you immediately if you have serious foot problems. Ask your doctor for proper footcare tips and for the name of your local podiatrist.

Footwear

Before, diabetic shoes used to be clunky and boxy but now Diabetic Shoe Style has evolved to a point where they are stylish & comfy at the same time!  Aetrex makes a special line of stylish diabetic shoes for men and women: The Apex Ambulator Line. The Ambulators can be found in our popular diabetic shoes links below. Key features of the Ambulators include slip-resistant soles, 1/2? removable depth to accommodate orthotics and many new styles. Please read our previous article about diabetic shoe inserts for additional information about diabetic foot risks.

http://www.orthoticshop.com/blog/diabetic-shoes-foot-care-tips/

Tips to start a business from home

It is a dream of every house wife or a woman to become financially independent. Women can handle multiple tasks effectively and efficiently. This quality of managing multiple tasks efficiently ,  is a boon to her. It is not difficult for a lady to run her own home business if she determines to earn her income. Here are few guidelines about how to start a home business.

Before starting a business it is very necessary to look through oneself and find out what you are best at. It is always good to start a business which involves things that passionate you.  For example if you are fond of gardening  and have a huge back yard , you can think of going a step ahead and open a nursery of samplings, bonsai plants, ornamental plants and plan to supply flowers to florists or hotels. So the first step is to focus on your talent which can be monetized.

The next step is to survey the market. You must have a good knowledge about your competitors and the way they run their business. Analyzing the demand for the goods which you are going to provide is also important. A good market survey always gives an idea how well you can run the business.

The third step is essentially a brain storming session to get an idea of selling something unique. A unique product which attracts a consumers’ attention can be a big hit in market. This can be in the form of packages, combo offers, free gifts for customers etc.

Get well equipped in the field that you have decided to start a business. Joining short courses which give you a certificate and also enhances the knowledge about your business topic can help you in a long run.

Prepare a flow chart of your business and analyze it repeatedly. If needed consult business experts around you.

Keep a small home office ready to run your home business effectively.

Starting own home business, that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. However, cautious planning and good market survey can help you turn a venture into a huge success. Quality of goods and good service always helps you to get a broad customer base.

http://know4better.com

10 steps to start your own internet business

Starting an online business has a great advantage. It helps you to spread your business globally. Let us discuss about launching online business with 10 steps.

1.Decide the type of business which you are willing to do. Analyse how well equipped you are.

2.Draw a flow chart about the type of business, subjects involved, topics to be discussed and products to be sold.

3.Discuss about the land rules if you are selling goods like articles, medicines, clothes etc. Because exporting goods to other countries need licenses and permission from government. Procure the needed documents.

4.Register a domain name with domain registering companies like Godaady, hostgator etc.

5.Select a suitable website template which caters to the needs of your business.

6.A basic knowledge about html coding is very essential before starting your own website. This can be acquired for free through many easy html tutorial classes available on internet.

7.Prepare a website which has at least ten pages.

8.When you are ready with website and domain name contact a host provider to host your website. Godaddy.com, wbws.net, hostgator.com etc offer hosting services. Select the suitable plan. Always select the minimum plan as you will be having an option to upgrade whenever you need. Upgrading does not disturb your website or display.

9.Start promoting the website and expand your business with the click of mouse.

10.Continuous promotion of website, new contents of website and quality service help to build a large customer base for your business.

http://know4better.com

Tips to Create a HOME OFFICE with minimum investment

When a house wife decides to earn from home, there is a need to create a working atmosphere where she can sit and work without any disturbances. Establishing a small home office with the things available at home is a better idea to start the office with very minimum investment. Here are few tips to start a home office with minimum investment.

•Find a place at your home where you think you can sit and work without any disturbance. It may be your bed room or corner of your hall or place below stair case or car shed.

•If that place is not well lit, fix a LED bulb according to requirement. 

•Place a table and Chair in this well lit area.

•Fix a spike buster near table which caters to different needs like plugging PC, laptop, printer etc.

•Old wooden boxes or metal trunks can serve the purpose of side table. Drape these with a good cloth.

•Fetch pencil holder (a nice coffee mug serves the purpose), stick notes, pencils, pen, erasers and position them on table.

•Place a tray on side table to hold the written matters.

•If you wish to separate this area from other parts of home, a partition or curtain can be used.

•Now a small office is ready for would be entrepreneur.

http://know4better.com

Earn from home – advantages for house wives.

It is a common complaint from every working house wife that she does not get sufficient time to spend with her husband and children.  The responsibilities of house wife double when she works outside. She has to balance between home and office ,as both are demanding.  It is better to keep eyes open for options of working from home.

Working from home has its own advantages.  Few are listed here.

•The pressure of commuting between home and office reduces. This helps to cut the commuting cost, time and stress.

•Ample of time is left to take care of children, monitor their home work, and cooking healthy food for them.

•There is no need to cater to moods of senior officers.

•Arguments with colleagues and the headache of getting the work done from co workers can be completely avoided.

•You are the boss of your home and job.

•The holidays can be spent with kids without the fuss of leave sanctions.

•Working in shifts is curse to house wives. This is completely avoided when you work from home

•Ample of time is left to take care of your health and spiritual well being. Health is the asset of human beings. 

•There are millions of house wives who earn substantially by working from home.

•You can lead a dignified life without much stress.

When you start working from home lot of time is left for you. You can hit the gym as part of weight loss program, take care of your hair which is in need of it from a long time, redo your home settings and feel proud of your capabilities.

http://know4better.com

Daily routine to overcome erectile dysfunction

All men experience erectile dysfunction at one or the other time when they are sexual active. There are many causes behind this.  The process of erection includes involvement of nerves, arteries, muscles and soft tissues.  It happens through a series of responses from these tissues for the stimulation. Any break in this chain of responses can lead to erectile dysfunction. Even damage to any of the tissues and organs mentioned above can cause erectile dysfunction.

The most important causes of erectile dysfunction are stress, obesity, increased cholesterol, smoking alcohol, working in shifts, few medications, addiction to recreational drugs etc can cause erectile dysfunction. Almost all systems of medicines explain about sexual dysfunction. They also suggest the remedial measures according to their principles.

Here are few tips to overcome erectile dysfunction. These have to be incorporated in daily routine.

1.Always rise early. This keeps your mind and body fresh.

2.Drink a glass of warm water with a dash of lemon and a spoon of honey stirred into it.  Consume this in empty stomach.

3.Keep a habit of emptying bowel as soon as you wake up. Constipation can also lead to erectile dysfunction.

4.Practice deep breathing exercise or paranayama for at least 15 minutes in early morning. This helps to focus your mind and increase attention span.

5.Go for a brisk walk for 30 minutes daily. This helps to burn excess calories.

6.Take a healthy diet which is devoid of high calorie ingredients. Intake of high calories leads to obesity which is the main cause for erectile dysfunction.  A well planned weight loss program helps to shred excess fat.

7.Include green vegetables and fruits in your diet.

8.Practice Yoga and Meditation at least thrice a week to reduce stress.

9.Plan your next day programs on previous night. This helps to reduce confusion and stress at work place.

10.Reduce consumption of alcohol and number of cigarettes.

11.Taper consumption of coffee, sweets and deep fried foods.

12.Do not carry workload to bed room.

13.Drink a glass of warm milk before going to bed. This helps to supply calcium and fat necessary for production of male hormones and catalyzing enzymes.

14.Keep your bedroom neat and clean. A tidy and clean bed room helps to relax. A relaxed mind always helps  in successful sexual activities.

15.Take weekend breaks to relax and enjoy with family.

Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction Due to Over Masturbation

Weight loss cooking tips

Obesity has become a major health problem. This problem has to be addressed with a priority. Even though a help from health professional is needed to fight this condition, it is the efforts of an individual which counts in large. Major ailments like heart diseases, joint pain, elevated blood pressure, polycystic ovarian diseases, low sperm count, erectile dysfunction, diabetes etc surface when a person develops obesity. Health professionals advice to exercise regularly (to burn already accumulated fat) and to reduce calorie intake through diet. Here are few tips for healthy cooking which help to reduce adding extra calories to your recipe.

•    Steam vegetables instead of frying in oil. Let them be parboiled to keep the nutrients locked.
•    Use olive oil or rice bran oil to season the recipe.
•    Do not add oil to a salad.
•    Shallow fry food items than deep frying.
•    Always use nonstick cooking vessel which needs very less oil to cook.
•    Use jaggery (gur) or honey instead of refined sugar.
•    Use steamed sprouts, green salads for filling.
•    Prepare your own sauces at home without using preservatives.
•    Use whole cereals and grains to prepare breads, rotis and naans.
•    Use vegetable juices with mint and spices as appetizers instead of creamy soups.
•    Fruit salad with honey can be a best choice for desert.
•    Roast papads instead of deep frying them in oil.

Click Here to Know about Ayurvedic Weight Loss Fat Burning Herbs

Rapid Weight Loss Tips &Tricks

Today, there are plenty of weight-loss strategies that are guaranteed to backfire.

Here are some weight loss diet tips that can be followed anywhere, everyday:

***Consult the doctor before beginning an exercise or weight loss program.

***Set realistic approaches. The ability to focus and have proper mindset enables someone on a diet to quickly lose those extra pounds. With discipline and proper mind set, a dieter will never be discouraged and lose focus.

***Eat more fibers for it makes a person full sooner and stays in the tummy longer, slowing down the rate of digestion. A single serving of whole grain bread moves fat through the digestive system faster. Grains turn into blood sugar that spikes the body's insulin level. Thus, making the body more energized and ready to tell the body when it should stop burning fats or start storing.

***Don't skip any meals. Eating 3 meals with snacks in between is the ideal way to maintain both energy and a healthy weight. When you skip meals and get hungry, you're more than likely to choose foods that aren't very good for you.

***Learn about how to prepare foods. Instead of deep frying, try grilling, stir frying, microwaving, baking, and even boiling. You should also try fresh or even dried herbs and spices to add flavor to your food. Before you eat any type of meat, be sure to trim the fat and skin off of it.

***Avoid a lot of sugar. Drinks that contain sugar are a major source of empty energy. What this means, is that the drinks contain a lot of energy that your body may not need, and it doesn't contain any vitamins or minerals. If you plan to drink sugary drinks, don't go overboard - limit yourself to 1 a day.

***Avoid thinking about diets. There are no good food nor any bad foods. All food can be a part of a healthy diet, when eaten in moderation. You don't need to buy any low carb, fat free, or even diet foods, as these foods normally have lots of other added ingredients to replaces the carbohydrates or fat.

***Keep away from fried foods especially deep-fried as this contains a great amount of fat. Although fish and chicken appear leaner than beef, this white meat can contain more fat than when a beef is fried. It is recommended for those on strict diet to opt for grilled food as this does not have or contain less amount of fat after the food is cooked.

***Eat small, healthy meals frequently. Five small-serving snacks per day is better than three hearty meals. Eating more frequently, and in small servings, can prevent over-eating. This will also increase your metabolism and make calories burn faster.

***Warm water with just a squeeze of lemon juice before breakfast get the metabolism going for the day, this also help preventing constipation and is excellent for the skin.

***Focus on doing, not losing - Rather than saying that you are going to lose a pound this week, say how much you are going to exercise this week. This would definitely make up of a sensible weight loss plan.

***Look for a weight loss "buddy," club, or support mates. This will motivate you to stay and enjoy your weight loss program.

***Though it's hard at first, try not eating 3 hours or more before bedtime. Eat slowly. The body is slow to register when you are full and it is easy to eat too much if you are racing through your meals.

***Use whole grains wherever possible. The fiber will give you a fuller feeling and also help your digestion.

***Keep a note of everything that you eat and drink. You do not need to estimate calories. Just write down what it was that you had and the approximate quantity. You will find that being more aware of what you are eating helps you to plan healthy meals and snacks.

***Engaging in Aerobics. Aerobics are not only good for the heart by increasing cardio-vascular endurance. Aerobics also help in increasing lean muscle mass while simultaneously decreasing excess body fat. Aside from these, aerobics make the metebolic process more efficient and its rate high, even after a long while. Imagine burning fat efficiently while driving along the freeway or even while watching television.

All in all, discipline and consistency is still the best practice and the key to a rapid weight loss success. Light dieting, workout, and right amount of supplementation applied in a regular way everyday will result in faster weight loss than having a massive action only to be followed a return to old habits as this would only lead to gaining more weight than when the weight loss plan has started.

Click Here to Know about Ayurvedic Weight Loss Fat Burning Herbs

http://www.amazines.com/article_detail.cfm/474390?articleid=474390&em=1&title=Rapid%2CWeight%2CLoss%2CTips%2C%26Tricks

Blood Pressure Guidelines - The Dos and The Don'ts

Blood pressure guidelines, if followed properly, can help immensely in maintaining normal blood pressure, keeping hypertension and its associated complications in check. Hypertension is distinguished by a marked rise in blood pressure, consistently over a long period of time. Hypertension can be differentiated into primary and secondary types, on the basis of duration and cause of the condition.

Primary hypertension persists over a longer period; it has no specific cause, but is a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Secondary hypertension is caused by mental stress and depression. In secondary hypertension, the blood pressure returns to normal as soon as the stress and depression are alleviated.

Hypertension is only detected after the associated symptoms appear, usually after extensive damage has been done to the body. So, effectively stopping the appearance of symptoms is akin to controlling hypertension, which needs to be the primary goal.

The symptoms of hypertension are extensive, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, convulsions, confusion, breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat. Monitoring blood pressure is the most effective way of stopping the symptoms from appearing and controlling these conditions.

For controlling hypertension, your diet needs to undergo certain necessary changes. Foods having excess fat and cholesterol can cause a lot of health complications, and their consumption needs to be minimized. Healthy foods, including fresh fruits, should be consumed instead, in the form of juices and servings. Seven to nine servings of fruits should be eaten every day. Not more than 6 ounces of protein is recommended for daily consumption. Potassium containing foods should be substituted for sodium containing foods, as sodium is a known hypertensive agent. Caffeinated drinks, cigarettes, and alcohol should be abstained from, as they not only contribute to hypertension, but are harmful to vital organs. Over the counter drugs, which can add to hypertension, should be taken only on the recommendation of a physician. Use of prostaglandins and other NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), which increase the blood pressure, should be minimized as much as possible.

Overweight and obese people are more prone to hypertension. Reducing body weight is, therefore, an effective way of keeping blood pressure under control. Thirty minutes of vigorous exercise at least three times a week not only helps in losing weight, but also improves blood circulation, thus helping reducing hypertension.

To avoid the side-effects of anti-hypertensive drugs, home remedies can be used for keeping blood pressure under control. The use of garlic, green tea, oatmeal, dry beans and other herbs can help in controlling blood pressure, to a large extent. These suggestions are easy to follow, and come with a number of health benefits.

The application of blood pressure guidelines will make a difference between a person being comatose in a hospital bed, or being out in the wilderness, exploring new terrains and territories.

By Betty D Dawson

Also read  Can High Blood Pressure Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

The Benefits of Anti-Aging Moringa Oil on the Skin

Moringa Oil is greatly valued for the unique properties it contains. It is one of the most valued ingredients in the cosmetic industry, especially because of the anti-aging properties. The oil is not only light, but it can spread easily onto the skin without making it sticky. It is also very popular as aromatherapy oil which makes it a popular choice for massage therapy.

Moringa oil is used in a variety of products including anti-aging creams, massage oils, hair care products, face creams, bath soaps and gels, perfumes and deodorants. But it is really the anti-aging properties of the oil that makes this sought out by many.

Moringa oil for the skin works much the same way as it does for the hair and scalp. Its cleansing and nourishing properties help improve the softness and elasticity of the skin. It prevents over drying of the skin which is common among ordinary soaps and cleansers. The properties in the oil include anti-oxidants and nutrients which can the free radicals on the skin to wreck havoc on the surface. These are the same free radicals which could cause the skin tissues to harden and loose elasticity giving way to wrinkles, flaky skin and dry skin.

Moringa oil for the hair is also very popular. Its nutrients and emollients are beneficial for the hair and scalp. It can help lift out the dirt from the hair which makes it a natural cleanser. It is very stable because of its antioxidants so all it takes is to wet the hair, massage the oil into the scalp and then rinse. This can effectively clean and moisturize the scalp and also help curb the development of dandruff, which are generally dry skin cells which flake off.

The perfumeries around the world greatly value the moringa oil for another reason. This oil can absorb and retain the most fugitive of odours. This makes it easier for them to maintain the stability of the perfumes they create. Because of the stability of the oil, the perfume does not go rancid as is common in the more commercial and cheap perfumes. Because of the ability to keep the multitude of scents within its properties, the oil is in much demand to help stabilise scents.

As mentioned before, the moringa oil is also a cleanser. This means that it has in its properties antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties which can help the skin heal faster from minor cuts, bruises, insect bites, scrapes, burns or rashes. When placed on the skin, and rubbed in, a little bit of water would naturally because it to lather up which only increases the cleansing.


Author :By Joe Jery Smith

5 Tips For Exercise After C-Section

The main thing about exercise after c-section is to wait until your incisions (i.e., stitches) have healed.

Before you try to exercise after c-section get the go ahead from your doctor to start an exercise program.

Once you have the go ahead from your doctor to exercise after c-section, try these exercises.

1. Walking. Walking is the best exercise after c-section for getting your body used to the idea of exercising again. Start with short strolls around the block with our baby in a stroller. Then lengthen your walks and maybe start to jog or run a little.

2. Kegel exercises. While the main point of kegel exercises is to strengthen the muscles of the vaginal wall, they can also help to strength pelvic muscles. So you can continue to do these exercises after birth.

3. Yoga. Be careful of anything that will stretch your abdominal muscles excessively. Otherwise, you should be able to perform basic moves like warrior I, pelvic tilts and supported bridge. You may be able to find postpartum yoga classes at your local gym or YMCA.

4. Pilates. Pilates is excellent for rebuilding your core. Listen to your body and make any modifications that will make the exercises easier and comfortable.

5. About your abs...start slow. Don't over do it or you run the risk of permanently damaging your ab muscles. These will probably be tender for awhile.

Use these tips to exercise after c-section and you'll lose weight reasonably and you get your body into proper shape without hurting your body more..

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Tips-For-Exercise-After-C-Section&id=1506414]

5 Skincare Tips To Prevent Dark Circles Under Eyes

When you have to deal with the possibility of dark circles under eyes, you may want to do something to prolong the inevitable.

Here are a few tips to help you prevent those dreaded eye dark circles.

1. Rubbing your skin, especially around your eyes, has a similar effect as the warm water. Sure, it is not a lot of damage, but it will accumulate over time. You will eventually lose the elasticity in your skin if you are rubbing on it. You should pat dry with a very soft towel to avoid doing any damage at all to your skin.

2. Everyone needs 8 hours of sleep every night to rejuvenate their skin. This will help your skin look its best. Not only does the sleep help your body recharge and help your skin to stay healthy, in fact having your eyes closed is a great way to prevent dark circles. Do not become Rip Van Winkle here; just get enough sleep every night.

3. Using chemicals on your face is always a bad idea. If you must wear any makeup at all, you need to make sure that it is natural. Organic products might cost a little bit more due to the organics boom thing happening now, but your face will thank you for it in another ten years. While other people your age has dark circles, you will still look like you are in your 20s.

4. Eye creams should follow along the same lines as the makeup you are using. If you are using an eye cream at night to fight back against the dark circles, make sure that you are using an all-natural product. Some eye creams work well for a few months, but then the effects start to show after prolonged usage. You can avoid this by going with a natural product.

5. When you want to remove your makeup, a gentle soap product and some lukewarm water will do the trick. Do not rub, scrub, and scrape it off either. Be very gentle with the makeup on your face and never use any alcohol or oil-based products to help in the removal. If that takes that much to get it off, it is not worth putting on.

Your eyes are usually the first thing people notice about your face, so make sure that you follow the tips laid out above if you want to avoid having premature eye dark circles. They are going to show up eventually, but you can put it off for a while.

A Look At Home Treatment Of Kidney Stone

If you are getting afraid of kidney stone problems, do not worry. You can prevent the formation of kidney stone. You just want a self-care treatment at home. However, do not forget to consult the recognized physician. This self-care treatment a part of home treatments for kidney stones. Before going to any physician, home prevention is better than cure. A person firstly gives importance to prevent kidney stones, which is the relevant way to free from kidney stones. There are some precautionary measures, which you can use as a home treatment of kidney stones.

If you are get rid of problem like dehydration and if there is the regular dilution of urine in your body, then this safety measures really keeps you safe from kidney stone formation.

 For preventing the kidney stone from formations, the first home treatment of kidney stone is to develop a habit of taking lots and lots of fluid in the form of water and fruit juices. It is one of the effective home treatments for kidney stones. This type of consumption of water in extreme level assists to crack the stones and make them ready to melt gradually with urine. The regular habit of drinking water makes these kidney stones absolutely eliminated.

Avoidance of the calcium supplements is also a part of the home treatment of kidney stones. It is seen that kidney stone formation is due to intake of calcium and calcium products. Instead of calcium, there should be use of magnesium supplement. If you are suffering from the calcium stones, then the first thing you have to do is to cut down as much as salt. It is beneficial for you to prevent intake of salt or else you have to take 2 to 3 grams of salt every day.

Another preferred option at home is eating of watermelon, which is an effective fruit for people who are suffering from kidney stones. The main advantage of this fruit is that it consists of plenty of water and so it assists to dissolve the kidney stones very speedily. Tomato juice is also an effective supplement for the kidney stones. So drinking of one glass fresh tomato juice at morning is one of the effective home treatments of kidney stones.

Likewise, tomato juice, fruit like grapes have an outstanding diuretic worth only because of high consumption of water and potassium salt in it. The low albumin and sodium chloride in this fruit lessen the pain of kidney stones. Therefore, the main objective of this home treatment of kidney stones is to make aware sufferers to eat grapes as much as possible.

The home treatment of kidney stone also includes some effective herbs. These herbs are used for kidney infection treatment. The first content of these herbs is Couch grass, which is diuretic, demulcent, and it is used as a purified tonic for kidney stone. The next herb that is used in home treatment of kidney stone is Cleavers. It has a property of diuretic which assists to wash out poisons and vex. It also provides assistance for lymph and resistant system of the body.

Author:PETER GITUNDU

A visit to Mavinakere Ranganatha temple

After a hectic work spread throughout week, we planned a long drive in week end. After a quick search on internet we decided to visit the village Mavinakere which is near Holenarasipur. Mavinakere is famous for its temples. It is popular among people living around Hassan as they worship the deities of these temples. This village is well connected by road.

We started at 6.30 am from Mysore and drove through Mysore Hassan high way .The road is simply fantastic.  The picturesque view of lush green fields, bullock carts, ladies carrying water pots and lovely birds will take anybody to a magical world.

We were in Mavinakere at 8.30 am. Here is a small introduction about this place. Mavinakere has two beautiful temples. Lakshmi venakataramana temple is in village and has a small approach road. Bettada Ranganatha temple is situated on a hill in the same village. Mavinkere was ruled by Palegara Laxmana Nayaka . He noticed the deity Ranganatha on hill and started worshiping it. 

It was not difficult for us to travel uphill through well constructed road. Cool breeze, awesome scenery from the hilltop refreshes mind.  We visited the temple and kneeled down before supreme lord. The temple is quite big and has huge open corridors where visitors can sit and view the bounty of nature. 

The hill has around 675 steps. Many devotees use steps to reach the top. We climbed the hill once again through these steps. It was a marvelous experience. People who are health savvy can add this hill to their picnic list. Climbing hill has its own health benefits.

After climbing down, we visited lakshmi venakataramanaswamy temple which is just few kilometers away from hill. The divine atmosphere of the temple makes devotees to forget the outside world. Idols of Lord venkateshvara and Lakshmidevi are very beautiful. Since this temple is on banks of river Hemavathi, Lord venkataramana is praised here as “Hemavathi thatavasa”. The calm and spiritual environment of temple prompts everybody to meditate. The sumptuous tasty prasadam tingled our taste buds and satiated hunger. The temple has a very old tree with a flat trunk.

Thus visit to Mavinakere was beneficial in many aspects. It rejuvenated both body and mind. We drove back to Mysore with sweet memories of this visit.

Place:  Mavinakere, Holenarasipura taluk, Hassan District, Karnataka state, India

Distance: 10 km from holenarsaipur, 20 km from Hassan , 95 km from Mysore,  180 kms from Bangalore

Driving directions:

From Mysore: Yelwala- Bilikere- Krishnarajanagar –  Gandhanahalli-  Holenarasipura- Mavinakere

From Bangalore: Nelamangala- kunigal- bellur-Chennarayapatna- Mavinakere