Tag: Health

Everyone wants a room of one’s own. No, not the kind that Virginia Woolf had referred to but a small, quiet room where you can spend some time with your favorite books away from the madness of the world outside. For many, reading is recreational.Given a choice, everyone would want to have that little space in the house to do what you like the most without any speck of distraction. Having a study at homes and apartments is a rare luxury, thanks to space constraints. However, it is not impossible. “A study or an office space in home should be a cosy corner that is relatively tucked away from the on-goings in the house especially away from the television,” says Shweta Kaushik, a multi-disciplinary design consultant based in Mumbai. There are umpteen things that go into planning and decorating a study room – from the colour and kind of furniture to the allotment of space and so on. Below are a few ideas that you may implement while doing up your own study at home:

Decor

Ambience is the foremost important thing to be taken care of while decorating your study. The comfort level of the room rests in your hands. Casual setting: Do up your reading corner with a laid-back and relaxed theme in mind.

Throw a few bean bags, cushions and sitting mats on the floor. Get a low, wooden coffee table where you can place your computer or laptop. A bright colored rug will help add more drama to the already informal setting. For newspapers and magazines, pick multi-colored book holders that will further take away the seriousness of a conventional study room. Not to mention, pick a contemporary design for the bookshelf and stack all your favorite books.

Formal setting: Serious work needs serious atmosphere. A large bookshelf is a must for such setting, especially the one that has glass doors. Place your books neatly on the shelf to give it an organized look. A smaller bookshelf can be placed beside it to store all your stationery. A dark wooden table and a chair to go along with it will complete the look. Ensure that the table has sufficient drawers where you can store important documents. Also, arrangement of equipments like printers and routers can be neatly done up using wire managers that help reduce clutter.

Lighting

The role of lights while you read or work is vital. You don’t want your study to be too bright or too dim therefore choosing the apt lighting can be tricky. If there are windows in the room, try using drapes or blinds to keep the glaring sunshine out.

Study rooms should have recessed lights as it helps in overall illumination spread evenly across the whole room. Pendant fixtures are a good option if you need light at only one particular spot.

Colors

Your study should be an extension of your personality, a place where you can be at ease. Choosing the colors, therefore, is a tricky task. Wall colors that best complement a study room are cheerful greens, sunny yellows and soothing creams. You may also go for soft, floral prints done up on neutral shades of ivory and beige. Add gravity to the decor by opting for blinds instead of curtains.

Furniture

There are a few must-have furnishings in a study room – a table, a bookshelf, and a chair.

And usually, a study room is devoid of clutter and no nonsense furniture. “One should keep the ergonomics in mind like proper seating, table heights and foot rests. The idea is to be as comfortable as possible to be able to create a productive work space,” adds Shweta.

You may include a few more things to add to the spirit of the room such as carpets, rugs, cushions, and a mini refrigerator for drinks and snacks.

Nail art gets a twist with some naughty stick-ons and designs. Neha Kaura explores. When you want to look and feel naughty, there’s lots that you can do. Pick a funky ensemble, go shop for all things naughty, indulge in fun conversations or more. What we really enjoyed were the new entrants in the realm of nail art. These stick-ons and designs spell ‘mischief’! Whether it’s a cartoon character, a bikini, net and lace bits, feathers, diamond, rings, or halloween themed designs – women in the city go all out to make their nails look like they’re having fun! Ludima Lamont flaunts her Betty Boop nail art and says, “It is super cool.

For me being naughty is cool. It was fun getting this done on my nails. Betty is my favourite cartoon character and it’s good to have her on my fingertips now.” This trend of funky nail art is getting more and more popular among women over 30. The partygoers in particular spend time getting their nails done to add that extra zing to their party look.

Priya Kripalani, nail professional and owner of a nail spa, says, “I have seen a change in the age-group of people who are getting feathers, or chains, rings, studded diamonds on their nails. I have been in this profession for years now and I see older women, who want to look young, getting these naughty nail designs.” For those who want to be naughty at a party, Priya recommends feathers, bikinis or a bling quotient. Riona Biyani, who owns another nail spa in the city, says that funky and naughty nail art catches on even more in summer. She says, “It is gaining popularity because it allows people to express themselves.We have customers who come to us for nail art for some theme party. There are a lot of variations and options.

There’s something that suits all personalities and moods of individuals. Naughty nail art is very popular among youngsters and teenagers who are going for theme parties.” And, for those who’re wondering about the nail art damaging the nails, worry not. Riona adds, “They are safe and anyone can get it done.” And, to add to it, the nail art lasts for days. So you can continue looking naughty for as long as you like!

with a little handy information you can enjoy a drink or two and still manage to keep diet your on track. Never thought it was possible to drink and watch your weight at the same time? It’s time to get smart about it. No one can really ignore the empty calories additional sugar alcohol and its mixers bring into your body, but there are a few tricks to enjoying an occasional drink and keeping the love handles at bay. Here are a few diet friendly drinking tips that can come in handy, especially as the festive and barbecue seasons comes calling.

Choose wisely

There are a few diet-friendly alcohols that pack in fewer empty calories and weight clinchers than others. If you are watching your weight and counting calories, you don’t have to sit sipping juices at parties. Don’t forget portion control in addition to selecting the right drink. A few good choices (less than 100 calories) are – a shot (25ml) of gin with diet tonic, a shot of white rum with a soda, a small glass of wine or champagne, or a single measure of whisky or brandy. Opt for light beer. Keep away from cream liqueurs or sangrias since they ride heavy on the calorie count.

Pace yourself

Alternate alcoholic drinks with mineral water or diet soft drinks. Make a glass of wine last longer by turning it into a spritzer – add sparkling water or lemonade. Not only does this reduce your chances of getting tipsy, it also hydrates the body and reigns in far fewer calories than the other heavy weights.

Be prepared

down on calorie intake overall by being prepared. Fortify yourself with a healthy breakfast and lunch based on starchy carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes or cereal) along with a little protein (lean meat, fish or soya bean). If you think you won’t be able to eat while you drink, have a pre-drink meal or light snack, ideally with some fat, to line the stomach and slow down the alcohol absorption into your system. A hearty sandwich or a bowl of porridge or yogurt is ideal.

Steer clear

A handful of peanuts have around 150 calories and a bag of chips has a deadly 183 calories. If it’s a pre-meal lunch or dinner drink you’re having, avoid these snacks altogether. Try waiting for your starters to arrive before you start drinking. If nibbles are necessary, breadsticks are a good option.

One at a time

Don’t let others top up your glass. Finish a whole glass of your drink before you get another. This will ensure you know exactly how much you are consuming during the course of your session.

Morning after

If the next morning, you feel like you grossly overshot your limit and are nursing a headache, there is a healthier option for a fry-up that doesn’t call for oodles of calories.

Try a lighter option of poached or scrambled eggs on a whole wheat bread. Eggs contain cysteine, which is siadi to break down the destructive chemicals that build up in the liver after a night of drinking. Milk, yogurt with fresh fruits, and poha are also simpler, healthier alternatives that will help ease your discomfort without much
drama.

Flu season usually begins in October, and flu activity is expected to increase in the coming weeks to months. How do you face the onslaught of Flu?

Here are some tips from Dr. Shallu Sharma.

• Make sure you get a flu vaccine Flu vaccine protects you from three most common flu viruses and an early vaccine may eliminate the chances of catching the infection. Anyone with age 6 months or older should get a flu vaccine. These vaccines are provided at your local pharmacies including Rite Aid, Walgreen’s, Duane Reade etc. For a complete list of pharmacies, please visit www.nyc.gov and enter flu vaccine in search option.
• Everyday precautionary measures Cover your nose and mouth while sneezing to prevent virus from spreading. Try not to touch open surfaces in bus or trains. Wash your hands frequently or carry a hand sanitizer with you at all times. Also, avoid close contact with sick people.
• Have a Healthy diet and Exercise Good health leads to a stronger immune system. So make sure you eat fresh fruits and green vegetables to remain in top health. Any exercise performed on a daily routine enhances the immunity levels in the body. Hence, stay healthy this season to fight the flu virus.

References:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/flu/html/home/home.shtml

Suryanamaskar can do to your body what months of dieting cannot. And it can do to your mind what no spiritual discourse can. Not surprising, the world is going crackers over this ancient yogic tradition of worshipping the rising sun. What with the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Victoria Beckham and Kareena Kapoor endorsing it over gym workouts and bizarre diets. From improving your posture, strengthening muscles to whittling extra inches around the waist, the benefits of Suryanamaskar are many, provided you adapt it the right way. A set of 12 fixed, cyclic postures define Suryanamaskar which when performed repeatedly at an easy pace can bring a sense of well being, almost immediately. However, those with a heart condition, arthritis or slip-disk, need their doctor’s consent before starting the routine. Suryanamaskar’s surging popularity notwithstanding, jumpstarting a schedule is most definitely not the best thing to do for a fitness novice

• Neck:

  Breathe in while you turn your neck to the right and breathe out as you come back to the starting position. Again, breathe in while turning your neck to the left and breathe out in the centre. Repeat this movement thrice. Rotate your neck first clockwise and then anti-clockwise.

• Arm and shoulder: Stretch your arms out in front of your chest and move your palms up and down, then sideways. Further on, rotate your fist clockwise and anti-clockwise. To relax your arms, place your palm on your shoulder and move your shoulders first clockwise then anti-clockwise.
• Knee:

  Bend forwards with your palms resting on your knees, join your knees and move forwards and backwards. End the routine by rotating your knees clockwise and anti-clockwise.

• Stomach and back:

  Interlock your fingers over your chest and slowly raise your hands upwards while you breathe in and stand on your toes. Return to Position 1 as you breathe out. Repeat this cycle three times.

• Legs and waist:

  Stretch your legs wide in standing position, touch you left toe with the right hand, then the right toe with the left. Keep your knees straight while you do so. Repeat a few times. By now your body is suitably warmed up to begin the Suryanamaskar routine. Here is a step-by-step account of the 12 postures. Don’t try this routine on a mat, you are better off on the bare floor or on the grass.

• Soak the area in lukewarm water, blot glycerin onto the stain, and add baking soda. Let it sit overnight, and then wash with detergent.
• Rub a piece of lemon on the stain and let it sit in the sun for a bit so the stain fades.Wash with detergent and repeat if the stain isn’t considerably lighter.
• Make a little mixture of three parts dishwashing liquid and one part rubbing alcohol. Put a rag beneath the cloth and dab a lot of this onto the stain. Let it soak the cloth instead of rubbing it, and after 10-15 minutes, rinse it with hot water.

Taking enough omega-3 fatty acid supplements to change the balance of oils in the diet could slow a key biological process linked to aging, researchers say. The study showed that most overweight but healthy middle-aged and older adults who took omega-3 supplements for four months altered a ratio of their fatty acid consumption in a way that helped preserve tiny segments of DNA in their white blood cells.

These segments, called telomeres, are known to shorten over time in many types of cells as a consequence of aging. In the study, lengthening of telomeres in immune system cells was more prevalent in people who substantially improved the ratio of omega-3s to other fatty acids in their diet. Omega-3 supplementation also reduced oxidative stress, caused by excessive free radicals in the blood, by about 15 percent compared to effects seen in the placebo group. “The telomere finding is provocative in that it suggests the possibility that a nutritional supplement might actually make a difference in aging,” Jan Kiecolt-Glaser, lead author of the study from Ohio State said. In another recent publication from this study, Kiecolt-Glaser and colleagues reported that omega-3 fatty acid supplements lowered inflammation in this same group of adults. “Inflammation in particular is at the heart of so many health problems. Anything that reduces inflammation has a lot of potentially good spinoffs among older adults,” she said. Study participants took either 2.5 grams or 1.25 grams of active omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are considered “good fats” that, when consumed in proper quantities, are associated with a variety of health benefits.

Participants on the placebo took pills containing a mix of oils representing a typical American’s daily intake. According to the researchers, this combination of effects suggests that omega-3 supplements could represent a rare single SLOW EFFECT OF AGEING nutritional intervention that has potential to lower the risk for a host of diseases associated with aging, such as coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease.

Participants received either the placebo or one of the two different doses of omega-3 fatty acids. The supplements were calibrated to contain a ratio of the two cold-water fish oil fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), of seven to one. Previous research has suggested that EPA has more anti-inflammatory properties than DHA.

In the case of fatty acids, omega-3 supplementation alone doesn’t tell the whole story of how this dietary change can affect health, explained Martha Belury, professor of human nutrition at Ohio State and a coauthor of the study. Also important is the ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids that are present in a person’s blood. Omega-6 fatty acids come from vegetable oils, and since the 1960s, research has suggested that these oils, too, can help protect the cardiovascular system. However, the typical American diet tends to be heavy on omega-6 fatty acids and comparatively low in omega-3s that are naturally found in cold-water fish such as salmon and tuna. While the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids averages about 15- to-1, researchers tend to agree that for maximum benefit, this ratio should be lowered to 4-to-1, or even 2- to-1. Martha Belury said that the long chains – or bigger molecules – that make up EPA and DHA fatty acids are believed to be the secret to their effectiveness.

Depression is considered a medical illness of chronic duration that deals with altering all medical, physiological and psychological aspects of the personality of patient. Depression refers to a persistent feeling of low self esteem and unhappiness that may or may not be associated with any provoking event in the life of patient. However in some cases there may not be any trigger.

What increase your risk to develop depression?

Depression may occur at any age, from young to very old. Most cases of depression in people of old age. There are a few risk factors that can greatly increase the risk of depression in people.

These are

• A positive family history of depression or other psychiatric disorder in the family. The risk is significantly higher if the depression is seen in immediate relatives.
• Any sudden change in the environment or in people around. This may be as normal of an event as switching a job, change of home or neighborhood, change of school (especially in children as they are more sensitive to changes around them and takes longer to adapt). If stressful events are more extreme, the risk of depression increases significantly with the severity of stress. For example the risk of depression is fairly high with the loss of parents or death of close relatives/friends and with the divorce.
• Personality of the individuals also matter. Some people take more time to adapt to their surrounding then others. Sensitive people are more vulnerable to get the influence of things happening in their surroundings.
• People who are patients of a chronic illness that may be any surgery or medical issue that affects the day to day activities, limit mobility, affect dependency or make people dependent on other may also lead to depression.

How to deal with depression?

Depression is a more complicated subject than it appears. Our brain has a right blend and balance of some neurotransmitters and any alteration or imbalance in the production or release of some neurotransmitters may culminate in widespread psychological alterations, an example of which is Depression. It is very important to deal with depression at the right time as if left untreated; depression may lead to suicidal tendency and other psychological alterations.

• Although behavioral management can sort out a number of issues, but in most cases depressive patients may need pharmacotherapy to control the level of neurotransmitters. It is poorly understood how day to day events can affect the level of different neurotransmitters in the brain but in either case, it is mandatory to remove the stressful event too.
• It is advised to keep yourself busy in activities that are productive and entertaining. Avoid spending time alone even if you are living alone. Improvement is social dealings can improve the symptoms of illness greatly.
  It is also advised to go to counseling after any stressful event that has changed your life to give yourself time to adapt to the change and to deal with it in a better fashion.
• If you have constant low levels of activity, it is better to go see a doctor for medical prescription.

UK’s hottest commercially grown chilli pepper – the Bedfordshire Super Naga, can now be found on supermarket shelves, complete with a warning not to handle with bare hands. Salvatore Genovese, a Bedfordshire farmer who produces an astonishing 500,000 mouth-scorching chilli peppers every week, has unleashed the hellraising Super Naga, his most powerful variety of chilli yet, and it will be sold exclusively by Tesco, the Daily Mail reported.

A chilli pepper’s heat is measured in Scoville Units, and last year the 40- year-old farmer produced his notorious Bhut Jolokia, a pepper of just over one million Scovilles that the Guinness Book of Records has described as 400 times hotter than Tabasco sauce. Genovese’s brand new wrinkly little red devil, the Super Naga, climbs the ladder of heat to an almighty 1.12 million Scovilles.

The Naga’s Tesco packaging is emblazoned with a six chilli icon warning and labels reading “Super Super Hot,” “The Hottest” and, in full block capital letters: “Warning! Do not touch without gloves. Skin irritant. Avoid contact with eyes. Wash hands thoroughly after preparation to avoid irritation.” The Bedfordshire Super Naga costs 90 pence for a 15-gram packet.

British and Italian researchers have found that eating three bananas cuts the risk of a stroke.

They said that having one banana for breakfast, one for lunch and one in the evening would provide enough potassium to reduce the chances of suffering a blood clot on the brain by around 21 per cent.

The findings suggest that thousands of strokes could be prevented by the consumption of other potassium-rich foods such as spinach, nuts, milk, fish and lentils, reports the Daily Mail.

Although some previous studies have suggested bananas could be important for controlling blood pressure and preventing strokes, results have not always been consistent.

In the latest research, scientists analyzed data from eleven different studies – dating back to the mid-Sixties – and pooled the results to get an overall outcome.

They found a daily potassium intake of around 1,600 mg, less than half the UK recommended daily amount for an adult of 3,500mg, were enough to lower stroke risk by more than a fifth.

The average banana contains around 500 milligrams of potassium, which helps to lower blood pressure and controls the balance of fluids in the body.

Too little potassium can lead to an irregular heartbeat, irritability, nausea and diarrhea.

Researchers from the University of Warwick and the University of Naples said, “Potassium intake in most countries is well below the recommended daily amount.”

But if consumers ate more potassium-rich foods and also reduced their salt intake, the annual global death toll from strokes could be cut by more than a million a year.

All of us wish for a washboard tummy but the very thought of all those sit-ups and stomach crunches put us off, right?

Well, there are other means of reducing your paunch, or rather, of stopping it from getting bigger, without even stepping into the gym. Check them out:

Improve your posture

If you spend long hours sitting at a desk, in front of a screen, chances are that you slouch, thus leaving the stomach loose and bulging. The first step towards a taut tummy is to never slouch, whether sitting, standing or walking. Says Merin, physiotherapist, Biorhythm fitness centre,”Weak back muscles affect the abs as well.

Something you can do while at your desk is to maintain a straight back, yet comfortable position. A chin up, shoulders back, stomach in posture while walking not only makes you look fitter but makes your tummy look flatter.”

Do stretch exercises at work

While at your workseat, stretch your back and pull in the stomach. Hold your breath and release. Sway from side to side a few times. Rest your arms on the armrest of the chair and lift your feet, one at a time. Hold for a few seconds and release. Repeat every half hour or as often as you can. There are also forced breathing techniques for the stomach which you can learn from a professional.

Walk to work

“A common misconception is that stomach crunches are the only way to a flat stomach. Stomach fat is just one part of general body fat; only it shows more,” points out Merin. She recommends walking or cycling instead of driving if your workplace is near, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator wherever possible.

A bulging tummy is the result of poor distribution of fat in the body, not necessarily a sign of obesity. Try out these tricks and see if you take off a few inches from your waist!

Suggesting that eating little and often is healthier for us, experts have said that we should eat as many as nine meals every day.

They say this may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and even encourage weight loss, the Daily Mail reported.
“Splitting food intake so we eat many times a day will have metabolic benefits over and above the same food consumed in a small number of meals,” the paper quoted Dr Susan Jebb, head of the Medical Research Council’s Human Nutrition Research Unit, as saying.

In one of the latest studies, scientists from Imperial College, London, compared the diets of more than 2,000 people from the UK, Japan, China and the U.S.

While they all had the same calorie intake and food, half the participants ate fewer than six times a day, while the remainder ate more than six times.

Results show the first group had a significantly higher systolic blood pressure – the pressure that blood exerts on vessels while the heart is beating – compared with the more frequent eaters. They were also significantly heavier.
Another research from the University of Athens, based on more than 2,000 children aged nine to 13, found those who ate five times a day were 32.6 per cent less likely to have high levels of bad cholesterol than those who ate fewer meals.

Meanwhile, eating at least four small meals a day – a ‘nibbling’ diet, as researchers called it – sped up metabolism and lowered the risk of obesity, according to a Maastricht University study.

It’s not clear why eating more often has these benefits, but one theory is that frequent meals prevent a high influx of fatty acids – compounds that are released from foods and can lead to a build-up of fats in the arteries, and also contribute to high cholesterol levels.

The build-up can also narrow the blood vessels, leading to high blood pressure.

Eating more frequently during the day means there are no sudden spikes of fatty acids, enabling the body to deal with the intake more effectively.

Eating more frequently may boost energy levels, suggests a study from the University Of Montana. When forest firefighters were given standard lunches or ration ‘grazing’ packs designed to be eaten over a long period of time, those who had grazing packs did 25 per cent more work than the lunchbox workers.

Experts suggest smoothening over straightening to re-texture your unruly locks. Find out why.

Straightening hair is often our last resort or probably the first remedy to rectify frizzy and fuzzy hair. While a few do this to tame their hair, a majority get their hair straightened to sport a trendy look. But does straightening give your hair a fake texture? Is smoothening hair a better option than straightening?

“Smoothening is always a better option than straightening. Smoothening makes hair look natural soft, unlike the results from straightening that can give the hair pin-straight tips, which contributes a fake look,” says Theertha Sasidharan, a beauty expert.

Hair stylists can sweep your wavy or curly hair into straight, soft and shiny strands, all with the iron rod and chemicals. “Most of my customers prefer to have a naturally straight hair, which is why we advise smoothening, though the process and duration of the result are the same,” says beauty expert Beena.

However, Beena warns that the effects of smoothening are better when it is done on thin hair, than thick locks. Though most of them walk in to get their hair straightened, when informed about the end-results of smoothening, they would not hesitate to experiment and invest in smoothening.

For extremely curly hair, she suggests straightening therapy. “This of course is similar to straightening, but the product used is different,” she adds.

There’s a scientific explanation for the alleged ‘headache’ women use with their ‘honey’. Female Sexual Arousal Disorder commonly plagues sex lives and is just as easily resolved. Here’s how It could be a scene from Sex and the City.

Five friends, 30- somethings, decide to have an overnight picnic to reconnect and relive their pre-marriage days. After dinner and enough alcohol, they chat about their sex lives. Three of them gloat over how much they enjoy love-making sessions while two figure something is amiss. Their sex lives are not as exciting as the others’. They confide in their friends, “There are no fireworks. It’s over within minutes.

” Sex seems like a chore. Are they frigid? The word is used, often pejoratively, for cold, sexually unresponsive women and feared by many. But Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD) is a real problem among many Indian women, but not without a solution. According to Dr Rajan Bhonsle, MD Hon Professor and HOD, Department of Sexual Medicine, KEM Hospital and G S Medical College, “FSAD can be applied at three levels. First, at a mental level – it involves wrong information about sex. The second is usually the phobia of penetration.

Women hear about pain and bleeding during sex, which makes them nervous and anxious. The third is vaginismus – where there is optimum desire and arousal but just as penetration is about to happen, there is an involuntary spasm which interferes with intercourse.” Most problems stem from wrong information and bad experiences with an impatient partner. When a woman cannot respond to a particular man, it could be because of a past traumatic sexual encounter, watching a father abuse the mother, or hormonal imbalance.

Many women in arranged marriages face FSAD. Dr Sanjoy Mukerji, psychologist and marriage counselor, says many woman lament the lack of experience in their husbands. “They wish husbands would learn how to treat a woman instead of just jumping into bed,” he says. Mind over pleasure FSAD is often the result of inadequate foreplay. Dr Mukerji talks about a case where a couple had not consummated their marriage even after two years. The wife enjoyed foreplay but held back at penetration. She had been sexually abused as a child and this led to panic before intercourse.

“Her psychotherapy involved releasing the painful past slowly with the help of hypnotherapy.” Dr Mukerji emphasises on the importance of being a cooperative and understanding husband. Unfortunately, not all husbands are. A 30-year-old Mumbaikar wants to improve her sex life but her husband will not accept that there is a problem. “He comes into bed and wants to have sex without any foreplay. I just cannot respond,” she said. The counselor assured her she wasn’t to blame, but when her husband was called in for a session, he refused to talk.

This left her disappointed. “Lack of foreplay is a common problem. Men need to be counseled about a woman’s needs. Women are scared of addressing the issue as they don’t want to hurt their husbands but men must realize that they may not know everything,” adds Dr Mukerji. Even with a wealth of information available online, sex counselors and sex query columns, some couples are still groping in the dark. To enjoy sex, one needs to be comfortable with one’s own body and sexuality. It involves understanding and talking to one’s partner and communicating without inhibitions.

Diabetes is a very serious ailment and it can cause numerous health complications. When people have diabetes, their bodies fail to produce insulin or produce very little insulin.

It is also related to issues like vision problems, high blood pressure, heart ailments and strokes. Therefore it is important to know how you can prevent diabetes.

Being overweight or being older may predispose you to diabetes. The common reasons for Diabetes to occur are age, family history, ethnicity weight, activity level, smoking, high blood pressure and weight loss.

“While Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease where the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all people . It’s also known as late-onset diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency”, informs Dr. Shreepad Khedekar, Specialist in Genetic Chronic Diseases, Imperial Clinics.

While Type 1 diabetes can be treated with insulin and control through the use of glucose meters. Type 2 diabetes may be treated by dietary changes, exercise and/or tablets. Insulin injections may later be required.

There is no cure for diabetes. Treatment involves medicines, diet, and exercise to control blood sugar and prevent symptoms and problems

Dr. Shreepad Khedekar, Specialist in Genetic Chronic Diseases, Imperial Clinics gives quick tips to control diabetes:

Get physical

Exercise can help you:
Lose weight
Lower your blood sugar
Boosts your sensitivity to insulin – which helps keep your blood sugar within a normal range
Research shows that both aerobic exercise and resistance training can help control diabetes, but the greatest benefit comes from a fitness program that includes both.

Get plenty of fiber
It’s rough, it’s tough – and it may help you:
Reduce your risk of diabetes by improving your blood sugar control
Lower your risk of heart disease
Promote weight loss by helping you feel full
Foods high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

Go for whole grains

Although it’s not clear why, whole grains may reduce your risk of diabetes and help maintain blood sugar levels. Try to make at least half your grains whole grains. Many foods made from whole grains come ready to eat, including various breads, pasta products and many cereals. Look for the word “whole” on the package and among the first few items in the ingredient list.

Lose extra weight

If you’re overweight, diabetes prevention may hinge on weight loss. Every pound you lose can improve your health. And you may be surprised by how much.

Skip fad diets and make healthier choices

Low-carb diets, the glycemic index diet or other fad diets may help you lose weight at first, but their effectiveness at preventing diabetes isn’t known nor is their long-term effects. And by excluding or strictly limiting a particular food group, you may be giving up essential nutrients. Instead, think variety and portion control as part of an overall healthy-eating plan.