GINGER FOR YOUR HEALTH

GINGER FOR HEALTH USE

The spicy, pungent underground rhizome of the ginger plant is firm with a striated texture. It may be yellow,  white or red, depending on the variety, and is covered with a thin or thick brownish skin, depending on whether the plant was harvested mature or young.If you're in the market for a healthy spice, pick up some ginger. Ginger's benefits are many and varied - it:

1. Alleviates nausea and motion sickness
2. Relieves congestion
3. Reduces inflammation
4. Reduces the risk of blood clots
5. Provides a pleasant "warming" sensation against winter chills.
6. Nausea and motion sickness: Ginger is well known for its ability to ease nausea, and it’s helpful for motion and sea sickness. Women suffering from morning sickness were given beverages with ginger during the first trimester of pregnancy, and when compared with women given a placebo, ginger alleviated the nausea in a large majority of the cases.
   
   
   7.      Diabetes complications: Studies show ginger may reduce urine protein levels, decrease water intake and urine output, and reverse proteinuria, which is kidney damage caused by too much protein in the urine. Ginger may also protect nerves in diabetics and lower blood fat levels. “Ginger can help increase circulation, thin blood, and lower both blood pressure and cholesterol,” says author Steelsmith. 
   
   
   8.      Arthritis: A placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study published in the journal Osteoarthritis Cartilage found patients with painful arthritis in the knee who were given ginger vs. a placebo experienced significantly less pain and loss of movement compared to those taking the placebo.
   
   
   9.      Cold and flu: Chinese medicine practitioners commonly prescribe ginger to treat symptoms of colds and flu. The root acts as an antihistamine and decongestant, two cold-easing effects that can help with symptoms. 

A simple way to incorporate ginger into your diet is to make fresh ginger tea: add about one half teaspoon of grated ginger root to eight ounces of boiling water. You can also eat candied or pickled ginger or honey-based ginger syrups - or try this recipe, which includes ginger.

TIPS FOR YOUR HEALTHY BRAIN 

Maintaining a healthy brain is an important part of overall health. If you feel like your memory is getting worse with every passing birthday, you aren’t alone: it happens to all of us as we age. The good news is there are ways to help prevent or lessen memory loss.

1. Challenge yourself. Medical evidence suggests that lifelong stimulation is the key to building and maintaining brain cells, staving off memory loss and maybe even preventing Alzheimer's disease . Try doing interesting work (paid or volunteer), pursuing hobbies, engaging in an active social life, taking music or language lessons, or learning a new computer program.
2. Take a daily low-dose aspirin. Some studies link the use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) with reduced risk of Alzheimer's.
3. Supplement with vitamins C and E. A study at Johns Hopkins University suggested that vitamins C and E taken together might slow the progression of Alzheimer's.
4. Use a daily multivitamin that provides adequate levels of folic acid and other B vitamins. They help the body reduce levels of homocysteine, an amino acid formed by the breakdown of animal protein that, at elevated levels in the bloodstream, has been linked with increased risks of Alzheimer's.
5. Use healing spices in your cooking: Turmeric, ginger and red pepper can add zing to meals and are all natural anti-inflammatories.
6. Eat a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, freshly ground flaxseed and walnuts.
7. Incorporate plenty of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables in your meals.
8. Reduce your intake of polyunsaturated vegetable oils (such as sunflower, corn and safflower oils), replacing them instead with a high quality extra-virgin olive oil. 

AVOID WEIGHT GAIN

1. Choose fiber-rich fruits and vegetables for appetizers, eat high-calorie foods sparingly, and avoid dishes high in saturated fat and sodium.
2. Be aware of what you eat. To help prevent overindulging - and the stomachache, bloating and other gastrointestinal discomfort that can come with it - be mindful when you are eating and stop when you are feeling full.
3. Don't starve yourself all day to justify eating more at dinner. Eating a satisfying breakfast can ward off the temptation to overindulge later in the day.
4. Concentrate on portion control and planning: choose foods that you really love to eat, chew each bite slowly, and savor all the flavors and smells. Eating slowly not only allows you to enjoy and be thankful for your food, but helps prevent overeating: it takes 20 minutes for the stomach to signal the brain that you're full.
5. Get up from the table when you're done, in order to avoid nibbling.
6. Once your meal is over, take a walk to help digest your food and think about what a wonderful meal you just had - and the company and conversations that contributed to making it memorable and enjoyable. 

YOGA FOR YOUR WEIGHT LOSS...

- Yoga is a great way to burn calories, increase muscle mass (which in turn burns more calories) and enhance stretching, which is important for keeping joints limber and preventing injury.

- While any form of physical exercise will help to burn calories and thus support weight-loss efforts, some forms of exercise are gentler on the body than others. 

- If yoga classes seem too intimidating, read up on the practice of yoga and begin doing poses on your own. You are sure to feel the benefits - both physical and mental - that yoga provides.

BENEFITS OF YOGA 

1. Better sleep 

2. Better Posture 

3. Stress Relief 

4. Weight loss 

5. Muscle tone

6. Mental Sharpness

7. Balance

8. Life long love

9. Whole family can do it

10. No back pain / Stiffness

 

 

 

PREGNENCY AND HEARTBURN

             
Acid reflux or heartburn or acid indigestion are the commonly known expressions of garstroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD), which is the flowing back of the acidic juices from the stomach up to esophagus. The lining of esophagus does not have adequate defense against the harmful effects of the acid contents of the stomach that causes injury to esophagus, and a burning pain known as heartburn. In most cases the flowing back stomach material remains in the lower part of the esophagus, resulting in heartburn or nausea.

Cause:

Mainly there are two reasons of heartburn during pregnancy:

1)       Firstly during pregnancy the placenta produces the hormone progesterone – which has a relaxing effect on smooth muscles including the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Lower esophageal sphincter is a muscular valve separating the esophagus from the stomach. If the muscular valve is relaxed it becomes leak allowing gastric acid to back up in the esophagus causing heartburn and discomfort behind the sternum. 

 2)       The second reason is that, the uterus takes up more and more space of your abdominal cavity, leaving less space for stomach and therefore increasing abdominal pressure. The upward pressure from the growing womb can easily push gastric contents back up into esophagus.

Symptoms:

1)       Discomfort or Burning pain in the upper abdomen or in lower chest area, often behind the breastbone. It is caused by gastric acid reflux. Heartburn pain originates from the lower part of the esophagus. The pain might be so serious that severe heartburn can be mixed up with angina or even heart attack.

2)       Stomach contents back all the way into the throat and mouth – causing painful burning sensation in the throat, mouth and sour taste in the mouth. 

3)       Sometimes even small pieces of food are coming back into the mouth. These are the most direct and striking pregnancy heartburn.

Prevention:

1)       Avoid alcoholics because it gives heartburn.

2)       Avoid caffeinated drinks that also increase the gastric acid secretion and tend to relax the lower esophageal sphincter.

3)       Chocolate is loaded with two heartburn triggers that is fat & caffeine.
4)    Elevating  the head part of the bed and keeping position for minimum one hour after meals.
5)   Avoid tight clothing 
6)   Avoid Smoking

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a chronic condition marked by abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. People with the diabetes either do not produce enough insulin (insulin is hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food in to energy) or cannot use the insulin that their bodies produce. As a result, glucose builds up in the bloodstream. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney diseases, nerve diseases, heart diseases and stroke.

Types:

Diabetes mainly is of two types:

1)      TYPE 1: It is also called as Juvenile or insulin dependent diabetes, when the cells of pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin are destroyed by the immune system. As a result, the pancreas permanently loses its ability to produce enough. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood, and while it can be managed, it can’t be cured.

2)      TYPE 2: It is also called as non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or Adult onset diabetes mellitus. It occurs when the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal and is made worse by poor food choices, sedentary lifestyle, and being overweight. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to the increase in obesity and failure to exercise. It can be improved – and even in some cases reversed by life style changes, like adopting healthy diet, losing extra weight and becoming more active.

3)      Pre-diabetes: This is also called as Impaired fasting glucose (IFG), Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), or Insulin resistance.  In IFG, glucose levels are a little high several hours after a person eats. In IGT, glucose levels are a little higher than normal right after eating. It is occurs in those individuals with the blood glucose levels that are higher than the normal but not enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. This condition increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

4)      Gestational Diabetes: It is High blood glucose that develops at anytime during pregnancy in a woman who does not have diabetes. Although it usually disappears after delivery, the mother is at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

CAUSES: 

 Type 1 and Type 2 both are caused by the absence, insufficient production, or lack of response by beta cells in the body to the hormone insulin.

Type1: In this diabetes the beta cells of pancreas produce little or no insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to enter body cells. Once glucose enters a cell, then it is used as fuel. Without adequate insulin, glucose to enter body cells. Once glucose enters cells. The body is unable to use this glucose for energy despite high levels in the bloodstream, leading to increased hunger.

Tpye2: It usually develops in older, overweight individuals who become resistant to the effects of insulin over time. In type 2 diabetes the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin but for some unknown reasons, the body cannot use the insulin effectively this is called as insulin resistance.  Type 2 diabetes usually occurs gradually. Most people with the type 2 diabetes are overweight at the time of diagnosis.

Risk Factors:

Risk factors for Type 1:

       Family history of type 1diabetes

      Viral infections during infancy, including mumps, rubella.

       Mother who had pre- eclampsia

       Family history of autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’s disease, Myasthenia gravis,  Addison’s diseases and pernicious anemia.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes:

       Family history of type 2 diabetes

       Age older than 45 years

      Abnormal levels of Cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood

      Sedentary lifestyle and high – fat, high- calorie diet

      Excess of body fat esp. around the waist

      High blood pressure

       History of gestational diabetes or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Sign and Symptoms:

S. No.	TYPE 1 DIABETES	TYPE 2 DIABETES
1	Increased thirst	Numbness of feet’s,  soles
2	Increased Urination	Blurred vision
3	Weight loss despite of increased appetite	Poor wound healing
4	Nausea	Excessive urination & thirst
5	Vomiting	Yeast infections
6	Abdominal Pain	Whole body itching
7	Absence of Menstruation	Impotence
8	Fatigue	Fatigue

 

Complication:   

Type 1 diabetes generally has more complications than type 2 diabetes.

Main long term complications are:

1)      Heart diseases

2)      Kidney diseases

3)      Neuropathy

4)      Foot ulcer and infection

5)      Vision loss and blindness

6)      Skin problems

      7)      Hair loss etc.

 Prevention:

 1) Get more physical activity due to that you will (i) loose weight (ii) Lower your insulin (iii) Increase your sensitivity to insulin.

2) Get plenty of Fiber due to that (i) reduce weight (ii) decrease risk of heart diseases (iii) reduce risk of diabetes.

3) Loose your extra weight

4) Skip the fatty foods and diets.