Log in
Headlines ~
CPIM protest against water problem in Jappinamogaru
Osama's son Hamza asks jihadists to attack US, allies
Same-sex marriage bill introduced to Australian Parliament
Intercaste couple goes missing: Hindu outfits demand investigation
Raveena alleges misbehaviour during I-Day celebrations in LA
Morgan Freeman's granddaughter stabbed to death in Manhattan
First batch of Hajj pigrims departs from Mangaluru International airport
Love failiar: Assistant officer of health centre commits suicide
Woman injured as Omni car hits police jeep
Conditional SR2,000 dole disbursement begins

Benefits of water workout

Have you done the aqua tango yet? It makes you happy and tones your muscles at the same time. A fitness dip is what you need to refresh the mind and soothe the body, say health experts...

Why do so many people dig water workouts these days? Well, to begin with, our bodies have almost 60 per cent water.Second, water is natural and organic.Working out under water makes us closer to ourselves, our origins. No wonder then, it's such a rage the world over. Armed with aqua dumbbells, webbed gloves and floating belts, fitness enthusiasts are moving their gyms under water. Be it cross trainers, exercise bikes, Pilate balls or treadmills, all fancy exercise gadgets are going diving... and for good!

AQUATIC HIGH
Taking the world of underwater fitness by rage are aqua boot camps that include core training, balance, flexibility and strength exercises through the use of webbed gloves and foam buoyancy balls. "Any workout that you do in a fitness centre can be done inside the pool as well - be it yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, Zumba, aerobics, cardio, sculpting or stretching," says Kiran Sawhney, Delhi based fitness expert. Plus it's less sweaty and tiring to work out in water. In fact, you come out of the water fresh and relaxed, despite burning a lot of calories.

After the success of aqua aerobics in Delhi, Sawhney has started aqua tango (see pic below), a first-of-its-kind water workout where you dance with your partner under water and get the same benefits as aqua aerobics. "Aqua aerobics is a complete health regime. It takes care of your cardiovascular fitness, strengthening and flexibility. To get more varied benefits, you could combine it with other forms of exercise like Pilates (Aqualates), taekwondo (Taekwonaqua) or yoga (Yoqua)," says Sawhney.

"There are many different underwater exercises like weight exercises, jogging, walking, squatting, running, high-knee sprints and spinning in the water. But the most popular nowadays is underwater treadmill training. It is revolutionising physical therapy, sports medicine and rehabilitation," says Gundeep Singh, a therapist. An underwater treadmill is a great option for those looking to add extra mileage without the extra wear and tear.

HOLISTIC FITNESS
Exercises in water have a bigger impact than the ones done out of it. Take your workout under water to pamper your heart, increase blood flow and build lung power. "The hydrostatic pressure, i.e., the force of the water against the body, acts like a massage, thereby pumping the blood to the heart more efficiently and running the respiratory system better," explains Sahwney. Water workouts can be performed more easily by people who find lifting weights, or even weight bearing exercise, difficult or painful on land.

Water also provides buoyancy and support for the body. "Unlike swimming, vertical exercise seeks to maximize resistance. But one should go deeper for that. As a result, it is easier to keep those nasty midlife inches from accumulating in all the wrong places. Water can even improve and maintain balance as it takes the pressure off the spine," says Sawhney.

BONE HEALTH
While water workouts are in tense, they do not feel so challenging. In fact, water cushions the impacts on the l joints, which is why hydrotherapy with warm water works really well for people with bone problems. It increases blood flow, delivering more oxygenated blood to areas of the body which help in recovering and healing the tissues and muscles."Warm water is soothing for muscles and can release tension associated with arthritic conditions, like decreasing pain and inflammation. Several studies have shown it is an effective treatment to ease symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis," says Singh.
  • Published in Health

Sugar the silent killer: sweet but too dangerous to health

Cutting down on the intake of sugar is ideally the best you can do if you want to live a healthier lifestyle. The intake of these sweet granules can make your life a living hell if not acted upon today.

There are a lot of people who consume tons of sugar items in a day which is not at all a good factor for the body. Apart from causing diabetes, this sweetness brings upon diabetes, cancer, heart problems and obesity.

Studies show that one glass of lemon juice is loaded with 1 - 2 teaspoons of sugar, one bowl of that delicious carrot halwa or rice kheer contains around 3 - 4 teaspoons of sugar and your favourite jamuns which come in pairs contain around 4 tablespoons of sugar.

Produces Cancer
Sugar produces the cancer cells in the body and on the other hand, it lessens the lifespan of cancer patients who are fighting the disease. Researchers have found that β-catenin can affect the cells susceptibility to cancer formation.

Obesity
The consumption of excess fructose can lead to obesity in children and adults. This sugar gets stored in the belly or otherwise generates visceral fat cells.

Diabetes
Did you know the urine of diabetics is so rich in sugar that it can be turned into whisky!!! One of the leading causes of diabetes is the sugar intake.

It Will Make One Addicted
Sugar consumption at some point of time in life becomes an addiction. In some cases, it is related to that of cocaine and marijuana.

Memory Loss
A 2012 study found that excess sugar consumption was linked to deficiencies in memory and overall cognitive health.

Hides HIV
Did you know sugar is so effective on our body that it has the ability to hide the HIV virus, therefore finding it difficult to detect the virus. Studies show that the virus gets covered by sugar molecules.

It Damages The Heart
The 2013 study shows that too much of sugar content in the body affects the pumping mechanism of one's heart and could increase the risk for heart failure.

Liver Gets In Trouble
When sugar and the consumption of alcohol is mixed together it has a lot of effects on the liver. It is a toxic for the organ, therefore causing it to fail.

Reduces Your Life Span
Since this sweetness causes a lot of health problems, it is only natural that it will decrease your life span. Over consumption of sugar leads to a lesser chance of living.
  • Published in Health

Health Risks Of Soy Sauce

Foods that we eat are either useful or harmful for our health and it could be challenging to choose right the food amidst all truths, myths and misperceptions. One such food product, Soy Sauce is perceived to be healthy but it is not in reality.

Soy sauce is by far one of the most popular ingredients used in the culinary world. Soy sauce is a fermented, aged product produced from mixture of soy legumes, salt, brine, roasted wheat grains and Aspergillus fungi.

Many other food products are manufactured from soya legumes because they are rich in protein. Some of the industrially processed soy products are soya milk, soya nuggets, tofu, soy oil, infant supplements and many more. Despite its diverse use in all International cuisines & Asian cuisines, there are many ways soy sauce effects the health apart from satisfying our taste buds.

Fermented soy sauce contains large amounts of chemical called Isoflavones. These are phytoestrogens and one of the main chemicals that interrupts estrogen secretion and other hormonal activity in human. Because of non-specific nature of estrogen receptor present in human, these phytoestrogens increases the estrogen level, causing health problems in both women & men.

Let's be cautious and find out what are the negative effect of soy sauce.

1. Breast cancer risks
Isoflavones present in fermented soy products are proved to act as catalyst for rapid proliferation of cancerous cells in breasts. Interference in normal menstrual cycle are also reported.

2. Effects Thyroid
Fermented soy sauce contains Goitrogens which are type of isoflavones. This chemical can cause hypothyroidism by interfering synthesis of thyroidal hormones. This is a very important note on how soy sauce effects health.

3. Sperm count may get effected
There are researches confirming decreased sperm count with soy product consumption. Excess soy sauce consumption increases level of sex hormone estrogen, creating abnormality in male reproductive health.

4. MSG present in Soy Sauce
While manfuacturing soy sauce, glutamic acid is formed which is highly toxic, effecting neurological function. Extra MSG is also added to enhance the flavor of soy sauce.

5. Obstruction of mineral absorption
Commercial soy sauce contains high amount of phytates which interferes in digestion process by blocking absorption of minerals in the human body.

6. Protein digestion inhibited
Less known fact about the side effects of soy sauce on health is action of trypsin inhibitors in digestive system, causing digestive, abdominal problems & may cause pancreatic problems in future.

7. GM Soy crops creating more health issues
More than ninety percent crops grown worldwide are genetically modified. Soy sauce produced from GM soy legumes costs less but causes health problems like allergies.

8. RBC clotting due to Soy. Don’t be surprised!
Soy products contain Hemagglutinin which makes RBCs clot, causing oxygen deficiency leading to heart attacks & other chronic ailments. This is a very important info while educating people on how soy sauce effects health.

9. High salt content in Soy sauce increases risks of cardiovascular diseases
Huge amount of salt is added at the onset of fermentation while manufacturing Soy sauce. High salt content invariably poses high risk for causing CVD, blood pressure etc. It is one of the health dangers of soya sauce.

10. Soy unsafe during pregnancy
Because of all harmful chemicals present in Soy products, its unsafe to consume soy products including soy sauce during pregnancy as it may hamper in the baby's development.
  • Published in Health

Side effects of stress

We always advice our near and dear ones to stop worrying and avoid taking stress. Well, it has a medical logic behind. We know that it is sometimes not easy to avoid stress as we live in many stressful conditions especially during our work. We are exposed to various stress triggers that compel us to suffer from stress and anxiety.

Stress can take a toll on your health both mentally and physically. If stress is not managed on time it can lead to a mental illness called depression. Depression is treatable only by medications and that too for life long. The chemicals in the brain such as serotonin are decreased during depression.

Heart Problems
Stress and worrying have a devastating effect on your heart. A study has shown that it increases the risk of heart attack by 30 percent. Stress also decreases the chances of survival after a heart attack.

Shrinks Your Brain
A study has shown that people who live under high stress have a smaller prefrontal cortex of the brain. This is the area of the brain which controls emotions. This long term stress causes gradual reduction in brain size. People with stress are therefore not able to control their emotions.

Forgetfulness
Worrying and long term stress can decrease the ability of brain to remember things and to retain information. Stress can affect both longterm and short term memory. This is one of the worst side effects of stress and tension.

Stress Decreases Immunity
It you are under stress then you will be targeted by many diseases because stress decreases your body's ability to fight with infectious diseases. This means stress weakens your immunity and you will frequently suffer from common cold or any other diseases.

You Will Put On Weight
Stress releases a hormone in your body called cortisol. It decreases the rate of metabolism and thus causes weight gain. Stress will also involve you in eating more food which is rich in calories to get comfort from stress. This will also contribute to weight gain.

Premature Ageing
You can see the unhealthy effects of stress on children too. Children can be under stress due to many reasons such as pressure of exams, violence at home and many other reasons. This causes their body cells to age quickly such as greying of hair, wrinkled skin, weak eyesight etc.

Stress Causes Hair Loss
You will start to lose hair after a stressful event. However, this hair loss is not permanent. Once you are back in your normal mental condition and are relaxed, your hair will grow back and hair loss will stop.

Stress Can Lead To Depression
Depression is a mental illness in which many chemicals that are produced in the brain to make a person happy are not secreted. Long term stress can lead to depression as stress destroys nerve cells in the brain.

Fatigue
Many people experience physical pain due to anxiety such as headache, chest pain and body ache. This is due to secretion of stress hormone cortisol which makes you feel tired and restless.

You can avoid getting depressed if you try to control your stress levels. Do some activities such as go for a walk with your friend, go for shopping, meditation or do any other activities that make you happy.

There are many negative effects of stress on your body. Have a look at some side effects of worrying and stress.



  • Published in Health

Side effects of stress

We always advice our near and dear ones to stop worrying and avoid taking stress. Well, it has a medical logic behind. We know that it is sometimes not easy to avoid stress as we live in many stressful conditions especially during our work. We are exposed to various stress triggers that compel us to suffer from stress and anxiety.

Stress can take a toll on your health both mentally and physically. If stress is not managed on time it can lead to a mental illness called depression. Depression is treatable only by medications and that too for life long. The chemicals in the brain such as serotonin are decreased during depression.

Heart Problems
Stress and worrying have a devastating effect on your heart. A study has shown that it increases the risk of heart attack by 30 percent. Stress also decreases the chances of survival after a heart attack.

Shrinks Your Brain
A study has shown that people who live under high stress have a smaller prefrontal cortex of the brain. This is the area of the brain which controls emotions. This long term stress causes gradual reduction in brain size. People with stress are therefore not able to control their emotions.

Forgetfulness
Worrying and long term stress can decrease the ability of brain to remember things and to retain information. Stress can affect both longterm and short term memory. This is one of the worst side effects of stress and tension.

Stress Decreases Immunity
It you are under stress then you will be targeted by many diseases because stress decreases your body's ability to fight with infectious diseases. This means stress weakens your immunity and you will frequently suffer from common cold or any other diseases.

You Will Put On Weight
Stress releases a hormone in your body called cortisol. It decreases the rate of metabolism and thus causes weight gain. Stress will also involve you in eating more food which is rich in calories to get comfort from stress. This will also contribute to weight gain.

Premature Ageing
You can see the unhealthy effects of stress on children too. Children can be under stress due to many reasons such as pressure of exams, violence at home and many other reasons. This causes their body cells to age quickly such as greying of hair, wrinkled skin, weak eyesight etc.

Stress Causes Hair Loss
You will start to lose hair after a stressful event. However, this hair loss is not permanent. Once you are back in your normal mental condition and are relaxed, your hair will grow back and hair loss will stop.

Stress Can Lead To Depression
Depression is a mental illness in which many chemicals that are produced in the brain to make a person happy are not secreted. Long term stress can lead to depression as stress destroys nerve cells in the brain.

Fatigue
Many people experience physical pain due to anxiety such as headache, chest pain and body ache. This is due to secretion of stress hormone cortisol which makes you feel tired and restless.

You can avoid getting depressed if you try to control your stress levels. Do some activities such as go for a walk with your friend, go for shopping, meditation or do any other activities that make you happy.

There are many negative effects of stress on your body. Have a look at some side effects of worrying and stress.



  • Published in Health

Health Dangers Of Hair Dye

Most of us use hair colours for two reasons: to colour the gray hairs to cover the age or to try a new look. Well, if you are one of them then you must know about the health dangers of hair dye.

Though hair colours are far safer than the regular hair dyes, it is not advisable to use them excessively. They may cause certain types of skin reactions.

Chemicals
Let us accept the fact that hair dye is nothing but a mixture of several chemicals. When you apply it on your hair or scalp realise that your skin is gradually absorbing it. And your nose simply breathes in the fumes. Not a healthy thing, right?

Skin Discolouration
A particular chemical that is used in hair colours is said to cause skin dicolouration.

Pregnant Women
It is better if pregnant women stay away from the usage of hair dyes. A recent study claims that some women who used hair dyes during pregnancy observed certain side effects. The risk of the baby suffering from leukemia might increase if a pregnant woman uses harmful dyes.

Cancer
It goes without saying that cancer can be caused due to chemical exposure. The chemicals in hair dyes are carcinogens and hence they are dangerous.

Inflammation
If your skin gets irritated, due to the dyes, it may cause irritation and redness. This is one of the dangers of hair dye on skin.

Skin Cancer
Over exposure to certain chemicals that are present in the hair dyes may also cause skin cancer. This is one of the risks of hair dye.

Though there is no need to totally be scared of hair colours, it is important to realise the potential dangers of hair dye. At the end of the day, it is not wise to expose your skin to harmful chemicals that cause certain types of reactions.

Firstly, it is better to reduce the frequency of usage if you can't completely stay away form them. Choose a good brand and stick to it for some time. Also, find a brand that doesn't contain ammonia as an ingredient.

  • Published in Health

Stay healthy this monsoon

Diet and Nutritional Tips to Stay Healthy in Monsoon Season
Never eat if you are not feeling hungry, this is a solid cardinal mantra in monsoons. Doing so results in indigestion problems and illness. So, here are some specific guidelines regarding what to eat and what not to eat during rains.

Nutritional Tips in Monsoon:
The damp and filthy conditions in monsoon plays a host for many disease causing germs, which cause some serious health attacks like dengue, malaria, conjunctivitis, typhoid, viral fever, pneumonia, gastro intestinal disturbances, diarrhea and dysentery. If your immune system is weak you are supposed to catch these diseases instantly. To maintain healthy dietand protect you from such ill causes during the rainy season these countermeasures have to be taken.

Eat fruits as they help you restore energy. Apples, mangoes, pomegranates, and pears are best suggestible. Avoid watermelon and muskmelons and also goosing on too many mangoes may cause pimples.
Have medium to low salt food and avoid heavy salty food as they are responsible for high blood pressure and water retention.
Eating watery foods like lassi, watermelon, rice, muskmelon creates swelling in the body. So, better opt for foods which are drying in nature like corn, gram flour, chick pea etc.
Foods such as brown rice, oats, and barley are the best foods one could have in this monsoon.
Body’s immunity can be increased by adding a dash of garlic to the soups, sir fries and curries you intake.
Opt for yogurt, curd and almonds in your diet instead of milk. Drink only boiled and purified water to protect yourself from harmful germs and drinking plenty of water keeps your body hydrated.

Consuming bitter vegetables like bitter gourd, and bitter herbs like neem, turmeric powder and methi seeds help in preventing infections.
Consume drying oils like corn oil or light oil and avoid heavy oils like sesame oil, peanut oil and mustard oil as they fall in first place to invite infections.
People who face skin allergies during rainy seasons must avoid spicy foods. Spicy foods raise body temperature and stimulate blood circulation and it leads to allergies and skin irritation. Other problems such as boils, change in skin color dullness, rashes, pyodera are also some skin damaging effects which arise in this season.

Avoid naturally sour foods like tamarind, tomatoes and lime in your diet as it promotes water retention.
Avoid too much of fish and meat this season and heavy curries and non- vegetarians should go for light meat preparations like stew and soups.
Astringent, mildly bitter and pungent foods must be best served this season.
Drink lots of herbal teas, especially those with antibacterial properties. These include ginger, pepper, honey, mint and basil leaves. Excessive intake of coffee and teadehydrates body fluids so they must be better avoided.

Vegetables like cauliflower, potatoes, cluster beans, ladies finger, kidney beans, pigeon pea, and sprouted grains must be avoided.
Eat steamed salads instead of raw vegetables as they contain active bacteria and virus that cause bacterial and viral infections.
Have fresh radish juice to fight cold and cough. To reduce mucous formations add pipli and rock salt to warm water. This reduces the natural monsoon ailments.
Better eat seasonal fruits as non- seasonal fruits get infested with worms during the monsoons. Pomegranates, lychees, apples, bananas are among the recommended.
Avoid eating fried items, pre- cut fruits and juices from road side vendors and stick to high quality and hygiene.
People who suffer with arthritis should drink warm water with tulsi and dalchini (cardamom) on an empty stomach in the morning. Doing this improves bowel syndromes and also decreases pains in joints.
Always wash vegetables well and keep them clean especially if they are taken raw.


Following these guidelines helps you to stay safe and healthy during monsoons. Always binge on nutritional food and be hygienic by taking necessary precautionary measures like cleaning your house, washing hands before and after having a meal, etc. Have a safe and healthy monsoon.
  • Published in Health

Tasty&Healthy Summer Drinks To Prevent Dehydration

Summer is a time when your body gets exhausted and dehydrated due to loss of body fluids in the form of sweat. There is excessive perspiration when you do outdoor activities.

Summer is also a time when you enjoy swimming and trekking. But you must maintain the reserves of water and electrolytes in your body in a healthy way.

Tangy Water
Put some cucumber slices, mint leaves and orange slices in water. The water gets a tangy flavour and it is rich in vitamin C. This healthy drink will protect you from heat rashes and due to it's antioxidant properties.

Lemon And Mint Drink
Put some mint leaves and lemon slices in water and boil it for sometime. After cooling put some honey in it. This is a best drink to protect you from summer heat and dehydration.

Orange Juice
Squeeze an orange & in the juice add a pinch of salt. This drink is rich in vitamin C and electrolytes and will prevents you from getting exhausted and dehydrated. This is one of the best healthy summer drinks.

Skimmed Milk
This drink is rich in proteins and low in calories. It will satisfy your hunger as well as it quenches your thirst during summer. Have some cold skimmed milk during summers to beat the heat. This is an effective summer drink for dehydration.

Yoghurt Drink
Put some water, cumin seeds, ginger slices and a pinch of salt in yoghurt. Shake and mix it well to make a drink. It is rich in good bacteria (probiotics), antioxidants and electrolytes. It protects your body from various summer infections and also protects you from dehydration.

Water Melon Drink
Make a water melon juice & add two teaspoon of lemon juice and a pinch of salt in it. This will be a perfect summer drink for you as it will supply your body with all the essential minerals needed in summer. This works very well as a best energy drink for dehydration.

Rose Drink
Add some saffron and fresh rose petals in water. Boil it for some time and keep it overnight. In morning mix some honey in it and drink. This is among the best summer drink recipes to have.

Green Tea
Having tea in summer dehydrates your body more as it contains caffeine. But green tea is an exception. You can enjoy green tea in summer with some lemon juice in it. You can also put some ice cubes in it to make it a cold tea.

Butter Milk With Ice
This is one of the best summer drinks that will not only quench your thirst but will also benefit your body in many ways during summer. Mix some curd in some, put some dries mint leaves, pinch of salt, little honey and mashed strawberries in it. Mix some ice cubes and drink it.

Cucumber And Musk Melon Drink
Make a juice of cucumber and musk melon in a juicer. Put a little honey and salt in it. You can also add some cumin (zeera) and fresh mint leaves in it. This drink will sooth your body and prevent excessive sweating.

You feel more thirsty during summer season and always resort to unhealthy drinks such as soft drinks or carbonated drinks. These drinks just add up to your calories and are very unhealthy.

You must know the various healthy summer drinks to quench you thirst in summer. These drinks not only fill your body with fluids but also supply it with various electrolytes that are lost in sweat.
  • Published in Health
Subscribe to this RSS feed

Mangalore