Tag: Health

If you have money to spare and want to invest in your kitchen, there are a number of ways you can upgrade your kitchen. Here’s how:

A modular kitchen cabinet
The kitchen space looks neater and cool with a modular kitchen cabinet. It not only makes the kitchen look clutter free, but also helps one organize things better with many compartments and shelves.

Convection microwave
This saves lot of time and removes the hassle of heating food. And whenever your mood permits, you can freak out with some baking sessions too. Lots of Indian recipes can be cooked in microwave nowadays. And there are a number of recipes for microwave cooking too. You can prepare food with minimum oil too.

Double door refrigerator
This is a must in every household. The more the storage space in a refrigerator, the more stuff can be put in it, thus saving your frequency to going to the market for shopping of essential perishable stuff.

The kitchen wok
This wonderful utensil is a good pick. It would be fun to cook stuff in a wok, plus you can flaunt it when there are guests around. It is definitely a pride possession for anyone who’s cooking and loves cooking.

A knife set
The better the knife set, the wonderful is the cutting experience. Taking from the paring knife to the boning knife, there is a right knife for every cutting need. Spending more on buying a very good quality chef’s knife is always a good idea because it will last longer too.

Cutting board
Avoid going for a plastic cutting board, if you want to enjoy the cooking process. Cutting veggies is always a pleasure when done on a wooden cutting/chopping board.

Wine glass set
Your candlelit dinners ought to be accompanied with a fine serve of wines. So, pick those fine wine glasses of your choice and keep them at a special place. Even if you don’t have a small bar at home, do keep the wine glasses. They add glam to your kitchen

Fine crockery (Bone china)
You have got all the things in the right place. Now, you need an apt crockery to set the mood of dining at your home.

Food processor
A food processor really gives a high to the cooking process. Bring it home once, and you are bound to unleash the master chef within. It also takes away the burden of chopping and cutting when you really don’t have the energy or much time.

Fine cutlery
This is an accessory that you don’t want to go wrong with. The market has a lot of high end cutlery available where you can pick your favourite shape and size. In the end, how you love to have your food matters a lot.

There clever pointers will help you keep your bathroom sparkling and fragrant:
-Avoid cluttering your bathroom, since it’s usually the smallest room in the house. If you have many sanitary and beauty products, try to store them inside cabinets below the sink or on the wall. Don’t leave them out.
-Scrubbing the counter of the sink and the toilet daily is a must, as these are used regularly and should be clean. If you do it every day, your weekly cleaning routine will be less tedious.
-If you have shower curtains, make sure you change them regularly. Plastic ones can we washed. Do the same with the hand towel above the sink. Put a clean one every morning.
-Never leave dirty laundry or wet towels inside the bathroom, especially on the floor. Once you’re done using them, take them straight to the laundry or put them in a bathroom hamper.

Citrus peels can be used in various ways at home. It not only saves you money, it also brings wonderful results.

– Use lemon peel to bathe. It leaves your body and hair smelling fresh and clean.
-Add any citrus peel to a pitcher of water and put in the refrigerator. It gives a soothing fragrance and mild flavour to water.
-Add a slice of citrus peel to brown sugar to prevent it from going hard.
-Use dried citrus peel to freshen up that smelly sock or underwear drawer. Place the peels inside a sachet first and it will create a beautiful scent. Place dried citron peel into closets and wardrobes to ward off the moths.
-You can use orange or lemon peels to make your breath smell great. Chew the peel and you’ll find it’s a good substitute for mints and gum.

You don’t need fancy exercise equipment or an expensive gym membership for losing weight. Walking, jogging, running, cycling and swimming are great for weight loss Regardless of whether one is just a little overweight, fat, or morbidly obese – losing weight is the one thing that really tops the list of priorities for most people.

Every second person you know is on some kind of a ‘losing weight’ programme – either with the help of a control diet or with a combination of diets and exercise. Though most do not need to obsess about their weight, it is the obese who really need to do something about it. Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, bariatric surgeon, recommends some practical tips on how to prevent obesity…

-Recognise that obesity is a disease. In fact, in the US obesity has reached epidemic proportions; while most epidemics can be defeated with a pill or vaccine, obesity requires people to change the way they eat and live, making it harder to defeat. Obesity is a major risk factor for serious chronic diseases and conditions including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, gallstones, infertility, varicose veins, gout, osteoarthritis and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

-If you are overweight, take action right now to prevent crossing over into obesity. The first step is to make healthier lifestyle choices in your diet and exercise.

-Eat healthy. Include fruits, green vegetables, cereals and whole grain foods in your daily diet. Avoid sweets, fried, junk, packaged and refined foods. Eat small meals and chew your food slowly.

-Set aside at least 30 minutes every day for cardiovascular exercise. You don’t need fancy exercise equipment or an expensive gym membership for this purpose. Walking, jogging, running, cycling and swimming are great for weight loss. It is essential to exercise at least thrice a week.

-Ignore popular quick-fix weight loss methods unless they are medically supervised. This category includes fad diets, weight loss pills and powders and fat burning machines. Not only do these techniques have serious side effects, some of them have a yo-yo cycle wherein you will regain excess weight just as quickly as you lost it.

-If you are overweight, don’t socially ostracise yourself even though it may appear that society is pushing you to it. Weight gain has a deep psychosocial impact in these condemnable “size zero figure” times. Depression and stress further aggravate the condition.

-Become a non-smoker. It’s a myth that smoking induces weight loss. Nicotine suppresses the appetite but its side effects are enormous.

-Avoid drinking. Most forms of alcohol contain a high percentage of fat. The fat content shoots up thanks to sweetened aerated drinks and greasy, fried foods that alcohol is usually paired with.

-If diet and exercise fail in obesity prevention, don’t shy away from bariatric surgery. It’s the only medically proven method for sustained weight loss. Unlike liposuction or the tummy tuck, it’s not a cosmetic option either.

-Reverse the clock. Discouraging as this state of health might be, please remember that you are not a lost cause. Give life a second chance. Depending on which spectrum of weight gain you belong to, there are effective solutions – from lifestyle modifications, diet and exercises to surgery.

Cutting down on calories alone may not help you trim your bulging waistline as researchers have found that lack of leisure-time physical activity is linked to increased obesity, particularly in young women. Researchers analysing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the US found that in the past 20 years there has been a sharp decrease in physical exercise and an increase in average body mass index (BMI), while caloric intake has remained steady.

“At the population level, we found a significant association between the level of leisure-time physical activity, but not daily caloric intake, and the increases in both BMI and waist circumference,” said Uri Ladabaum, associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine in the US. The number of US adult women who reported no physical activity jumped from 19.1 percent in 1994 to 51.7 percent in 2010.

For men, the number increased from 11.4 percent in 1994 to 43.5 percent in 2010. During the period, average BMI has increased across the board, with the most dramatic rise found among young women ages between 18 and 39 years. The study looked at the escalation of obesity in terms of both exercise and caloric intake.

Detoxing the right way can help optimise body’s functions. It not only boosts energy levels and stamina, but also improves your skin and hair… Though detox literally means getting rid of toxins from your body, it is equally important for your skin and hair. There are too many environmental pollutants and chemicals around and most of the time, your body cannot handle them. You begin feeling listless and restless – and that is the time you need to go on a detox for a day or two.

There are many ways to do it – fasting, being on a juice diet, or going off sweets/salt for a day are a few examples. If you stop overloading the body with food, the system gets some time to rejuvenate. Detoxing does lead to a little weight-loss, but a detox should never be done with that in mind. If one wants to lose weight, the best option is to exercise and follow a regular balanced diet. Detoxing once a week or month helps your system to flush out toxins and here are some simple tips to detox the healthy way…

Minimise all toxin load
Stay away from refined sugar, saturated fats, alcohol, coffee and smoking. Also, avoid using too many chemical products on your face and body for a day.

Have fruits and veggies
When on a detox, include many fruits and vegetables in your diet. Take ones that are different in colour, because each colour family usually has a particular vitamin in it. You could have fresh juices – the canned and packaged ones have too much sugar and preservatives that may be harmful. If you are only on fruits and vegetables, you should aim for at least five-six portions a day. They usually have a wide range of essential vitamins and minerals and are also rich in antioxidants and fibre.

Stay well hydrated
Water is definitely the best option and so are all kinds of fruits and vegetable juices. Have green tea, camomile or rose tea. Avoiding caffeine, alcoholic and nonalcoholic fizzy drinks and aerated beverages are ideal.

Eat less salt
Avoiding salt for a day is a great idea. In your general meals also, you should not have excess salt.

Have fibre-rich food
This is important because the fibre helps cleanse your system thoroughly. It will prevent constipation and also keep your digestive system healthy.

What does detoxing do for you…

-Your organs get a rest because you are not overloading it with all kinds of food.
-Stimulates your internal organs to remove toxins from the body and eliminate them.
-Toxins and free radicals affect mental functions also so, a detox programme can help you deal with fatigue, sleep problems, memory etc.
– Detoxing refuels the body.

New study shows that while regular use of aspirin reduces ageing of cancer genes, smoking can accelerate them. Scientists had discovered in the 1990s that regular use of aspirin over long periods of time decreases the risk of developing colorectal cancer by an average of 40 percent, but it is unknown how exactly the drug influences the cancer risk.

According to a research led by Prof. Primo Schar, from the University of Basel and PD Dr. Kaspar Truninger, aspirin decreased the risk of cancer by slowing down certain aging processes of the genome, namely modifications that also play an important role in the development of tumors. In order to analyze the relationships between lifestyle and genome aging, the researchers examined intestinal tissue samples of 546 healthy women over 50 years of age.

They compared agespecific changes of gene markers, so-called DNA methylations, with their lifestyle factors regarding aspirin use, smoking, body mass index and hormonal replacement therapy. The most significant effects were measured for aspirin use and smoking.

Schar said that each cell’s genome was like a library full of bookmarks, and the cells know which genes to read with help of these bookmarks, so that they can fulfill their specialized tasks as skin, muscle or intestinal cells. First author of the study Dr. Faiza Noreen, added

Next time you gulp down your favourite dietary supplement, or even take that concentrated green tea pill to burn fat, think twice. New data suggests that the unregulated dietary supplements industry accounts for nearly 20 per cent of drug-related liver injuries, up from 7 per cent a decade ago.

According to a new study, reported by New York Times, teenagers are not the only consumers at risk, many are middle-aged women who turn to dietary supplements that promise to burn fat or speed up weight loss. “When people buy these dietary supplements, it’s anybody’s guess as to what they’re getting,” Herbert L. Bonkovsky, director of the liver, digestive and metabolic disorders laboratory at Carolinas HealthCare System in Charlotte, NC, was quoted as saying. The supplement business is largely unregulated.

In recent years, said NYT, critics of the industry have called for measures that would force companies to prove that their products are safe and made in accordance with strict manufacturing standards before they reach the market.

The study found that many of the products implicated in liver injuries were bodybuilding supplements carrying unlisted steroids, and herbal pills and powders promising to increase energy and help consumers lose weight. The investigators looked at 845 patients with severe, drug-induced liver damage who were treated at hospitals from 2004 to 2012.

It focused only on cases where the investigators ruled out other causes and blamed a drug or a supplement with a high degree of certainty. One product that patients used frequently was green tea extract, which contains catechins, a group of potent antioxidants that reputedly increase metabolism. “Most green tea pills are highly concentrated, containing many times the amount of catechins found in a single cup of green tea, which can be toxic to the liver,” said Bonkovsky.

But liver injuries attributed to herbal supplements are more likely to be severe and result in liver transplants as these typically carry no information about side effects, said the report, quoting Victor Navarro, chairman of the Hepatology Division at Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia. However, supplements like vitamins, minerals, probiotics and fish oil had not been linked to any adverse effect, the report added.

Fitness enthusiasts are always on the lookout for innovative and simple workout techniques and are open to trying out new workouts. An underwater workout is one of the simplest and fastest ways to sculpt your body.

This emerging trend has let pools and gyms offer an increasing number of classes such as Water Boxing, Aqua Step, using specialised equipment to extend the normal range of exercises.

As a result, it has appealed to a wider range of people. It is a popular workout, because one can exercise underwater even while recovering from an injury or even if one suffers from health problems. It allows you to continue exercising without putting any stress on your injury, It’s the buoyancy of the water that reduces your weight, therefore putting significantly less stress on your joints, bones and muscles.

Also, because your body is supported by water your heart rate is slightly lower, meaning aquatic therapy is relatively safe for obese individuals, pregnant women and those suffering from hypertension and heart disease.

When under water, you can perform basically any type of exercises that you normally perform outside the water. Listed below are some easy underwater exercises that can be performed at the pool’s shallow end:

Tread water

Start your workout with treading water. This may seem like a simple workout, but it will actually involve all your muscle groups, as you try to float. Try floating for at least 3 minutes, if you are a beginner and move your way up to 5 or 10 minutes as you get more advanced. While performing this exercise, try to keep your back straight, as this will make sure that you work your abs as well.

Knee-to-chest exercise

This movement is performed while standing on one leg, which is slightly bent, and one leg outstretched in front while one hand holds onto the side of the pool. It strengthens and stretches the muscles in the leg, hip and lower back.

Arm exercises

Start with simple arm lifts (with or without weights). Being under water, your arms may feel lighter, but you will still work on your muscles. After lifting, you can rotate them clockwise and then in an anticlockwise direction.

Lower body exercises

This movement is performed with one leg outstretched and the supporting leg slightly bent while one hand holds onto the side of the pool. It strengthens and stretches the muscles in the leg, hip and lower back.

Abs exercises

The abdominal muscles can be included in the water workout. Walking under water, maintaining your abs tight can be a starting point to work on your abs. Then lift one of your legs as high as you can. Find a wall grip and with your back to the wall, grab on to it, keeping your arms straight. Tighten your abs and try to lift both your legs as high as you can. Lift the legs to one side to work on your oblique muscles as well.You can even perform crunches in the water, but you can perform these only if you feel comfortable with floating on the water while you do these exercises.

Stretching exercises

After a session of aqua aerobics or water workouts, you will have to stretch. Position yourself in front of one side of the pool, facing the wall. Hold on to the edge of the pool (or a wall grip if there is one). Try to place your feet on the side of the pool while grabbing on to the wall grip as well. Inhale and exhale, trying to move your hips back. You can perform the stretches even before you start the workout, so that you won’t get any injuries. Exercising in water is much safer than working out at the gym and there are lower chances of strains or pulled muscles.

Organise your refrigerator to ensure that you know what’s in your fridge, what’s in date and what you need to get rid of.

Keep the items you use most at the front of the fridge

Having a streamlined fridge can make a positive difference to someone on a busy day, given the number of times we go in there – for that morning cup of tea, when making breakfast, lunch and dinner and everything in between. Having the items you use most to hand as soon as you open the fridge door can make a lot of difference.

Make the food items more visible

With such busy lives how could we be expected to remember every single item we own or have bought. The easier the contents of your fridge are to see, the less likely you are to be saddled with out-of-date products.

Keep what you want to eat most in front

If you’re trying to eat more healthily, then make sure your fresh fruit and vegetables are the first thing you see when you open the fridge and hide the chocolate as much as possible.

Store childrens’ items at the lowest possible height

It might involve creating their own area so that items they are allowed to help themselves to are within easy reach and then placing the ‘treats’ higher up or hidden away so they can’t just help themselves.

Make the most of flexible storage

You can often move your refrigerator shelves up and down. So, adjust to suit what you are storing to ensure you don’t have any dead space

A diffuser is great, but there are other ways in which you can use your essential oils at home

For linens

Add a few drops of eucalyptus or lavender oil to your laundry detergent for a fresh fragrance. You can also use an aromatherapy fragrance spray for a lingering scent on your clean linens or even while ironing clothes. Essential oils also assist in killing bacteria, so if you have a pet at home it is the best way to rid the linen of bacteria.

While cleaning

Using harsh chemicals to clean the refrigerator or tables can have it’s drawbacks. Instead put a few drops of orange essential oil on your cleaning cloth to wipe surfaces. You can also mix essential oil with water in a spray bottle and use it as a cleanser. Just spray it on the table and wipe off with a cloth, you will have a scent of orange left behind. Essential oils also retain the cleansing properties of their botanical origin.

For relaxation

For those who have trouble sleeping at night, essential oils can do wonders. A few drops of lavender oil or sandalwood oil on your pillow or your bedsheet will relax you. You can also add the oil to your bath or rub a few drops on to your temples. It helps in relaxation and gives an instant relief.