Jeera Water - 8 Reasons Why You Must Drink It!
Jeera or cumin can do more than add flavour
to your food. For your health to benefit from jeera, boil a spoon of raw jeera
with a cup of water and strain it. This tea can help resolve a number of health
issues, skin and hair problems. This should ideally be taken on an empty
stomach in the morning. Some of the health benefits of jeera water are:
1.
It
aids digestion: A glass of jeera water in the morning can stimulate the
production of enzymes that help break down carbohydrates, glucose and fats. It
also enhances your metabolism and prevents diarrhoea, nausea and gaseousness
among other indigestion problems.
2.
It
helps remove toxins: Jeera water is rich in antioxidants that can help
flush toxins from the body and promote the healthy functioning of internal
organs. This is especially beneficial for the liver.
3.
It
boosts immunity: Jeera is rich in iron, which helps the immune system
function optimally. A glass of jeera water can account for up to 7% of the
recommended daily iron intake. Vitamins A and C, which help protect the body
against infections, are also found in jeera water.
4.
It
helps treat anaemia: The high levels of iron in jeera make it ideal for
treating anaemic patients. Without adequate iron, the body will not be able to
produce enough red blood cells and hence hamper circulation of oxygen-rich
blood.
5.
It
improves the respiratory system: Jeera has anti-congestive properties.
Hence, drinking a glass of jeera water can help dilute and discharge mucus in
the chest. Its antiseptic properties also help kill microbes that cause colds
and coughs.
6.
It
improves the quality of your sleep: Jeera water can help cure insomnia to
a large degree. Not only does it help you fall asleep faster, it can also
ensure you have a better quality of sleep.
7.
It
improves memory: Jeera can help enhance ones brainpower. This helps
sharpen your memory and increases your attention span.
8.
It
helps achieve clear skin: Jeera is full of fibre and free radical
scavengers. This helps detoxify the body and helps make their elimination
smoother. By fighting free radicals, jeera water helps keep the skin clear and
adds a natural glow. This also makes jeera an effective way of treating acne.
Jeera also has antioxidant properties that help prevent premature aging.
Additionally, jeera water can soothe the skin and increase the skin’s ability
to absorb nutrients from food.
10
Superfoods you must have
Most
people crave to improve their bone health, maintain proper eyesight, keep the
mind sharp and prevent chronic diseases. Have these top 10 power foods and you
will be able to stay healthy and feel good about yourself:
1. Berries: A great
source of fibre, berries help in keeping your digestive system healthy, which
in turn helps in shedding off the extra pounds easily.
2. Eggs: A recent study
has found that people who eat scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast feel more
contented and eat less during lunch. In addition, egg yolks are rich in lutein
and zeaxanthin, which strengthens your eyesight.
3. Beans: This is a
great source of iron which helps in transporting oxygen to the lungs from where
it is transported to other parts of the body. It also contains soluble fibre
which helps in lowering the cholesterol levels of the blood.
4. Nuts: Walnuts or
almonds or hazelnuts are a rich source of unsaturated fats that are healthy for
your heart and overall health, owing to their high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and linolenic acids.
5. Oranges: A rich
source of vitamin C, a large-sized orange is adequate for your body’s
requirement for fighting off infections and providing skin firming collagens.
These fruits are also rich in folate as well as fibre.
6. Sweet potatoes: Owing
to the high contents of the alpha and beta carotene, which give the sweet
potato its colour, you should have one medium-sized sweet potato regularly for
keeping your bones, eyes and immune system healthy.
7. Broccoli: This can be
called a green powerhouse as it is packed with vitamins A, C and K as well as
folate. It offers a rich source of sulforaphane and isothiocynate, which is
believed to help in alleviating throat cancer.
8. Tea: Tea is high in
flavonoid content which is an antioxidant, and offers a wide range of health
benefits. A cupful of freshly brewed tea helps in fighting diabetes,
Alzheimer’s and certain cancers.
9. Spinach: This plant has
the important vitamins along with potassium, magnesium, calcium, fibre and
iron. Spinach is healthy and is recommended for all to-be mothers.
1 Yogurt: A rich source
of calcium, yogurt is known for staving off osteoporosis. It contains helpful
bacteria which helps in the maintenance of gut health and reduces the chances
of age-related intestinal ailments.
Glaucoma - 7 Signs You Are Suffering From It!
Glaucoma is
a group of diseases that causes damage to your eye's optic nerve and gets worse
over time. The optic nerve is a bundle of millions of nerve fibres which carry
visual impulse from the retina at the back of eye to the brain. The increased
Eye pressure, called intraocular pressure, can damage the optic nerve and
fasten the natural nerve fibre loss. Since nerve cells can't regenerate this
damage is permanent and irreversible.
Without treatment, glaucoma can cause total
permanent blindness within a few years. Because most people with glaucoma have
no early symptoms or pain from this increased pressure, it is important to see
your eye doctor regularly so that glaucoma can be diagnosed early and treated
before significant functional visual loss occurs.
If you are over age 40 and have a family
history of glaucoma, you should have a complete eye exam with an eye doctor
every one to two years. If you have any risk factors, you may need to visit
your eye doctor more frequently.
What Are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?
For most people, there are usually few or no
symptoms of glaucoma. The first sign of glaucoma is often the loss of
peripheral or side vision, which can go unnoticed until late in the disease.
This is why glaucoma is often called the "Sneak Thief of Vision" or
"Silent Thief of Eye Sight".
If you have any of the following symptoms,
seek immediate medical care:
1.
Seeing
halos around lights
2.
Vision
loss
3.
Redness
in the eye
4.
Eye
that looks hazy (particularly in infants)
5.
Nausea
or vomiting
6.
Pain
in the eye
7.
Narrowing
of vision (tunnel vision)
Risk Factors
There are several risk factors, which may
lead to glaucoma, such as
1.
Age
of the individual
2.
Ethnicity-
African, Caribbean, Hispanics and Asians are at higher risk
3.
Increased
eye pressure or IOP History of glaucoma in family or relatives
4.
Presence
of Myopia or Hyperopia
5.
Previous
eye injuries
6.
Use
of steroids- as injections, tablets, eye or ear drops or ointments or protein
supplements for muscle building in gyms or inhalers
7.
Previous
history of anemia
8.
Individuals
conditions affecting blood flow
like hypertension, diabetes or high blood sugar,
migraine etc are also at risk.
Treatment-
The treatment for glaucoma relies on the
nature and seriousness of every case. Generally, glaucoma cannot be totally
cured, but it can be controlled. Eye drops, pills, laser strategies, and means
of surgery are utilized to maintain and prevent further harm from happening.
Talk to your eye doctor to find out if you are at risk of developing glaucoma.
All fruits and food increase metabolism Cinnamon Without
going into the whole scientific explanation of why it works, adding 1/4 to 1
teaspoon of this spice to something you eat every day — hot cereal, marinades,
yogurt — helps blood sugar get into cells to be used for energy, so less is
stored as fat. Green Tea One ingredient, caffeine, is a stimulant that raises
your heart rate and compels your system to burn calories faster. Plus, green
tea has catechins, substances that some experts believe help burn belly fat.
Aim for three 8-ounce cups a day. Yogurt Yeah, dairy has a bad rep for high
calories, but yogurt, both the low-fat and regular kinds, contains probiotics:
"friendly" bacteria that preliminary research suggests may actually
help reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs. Coffee Again, the caffeine
kicks your metabolism into high gear. Caffeine also jump-starts lipolysis, the
breakdown of fat. One to two cups a day is ideal. Chili Peppers Often found in
high quantities in hot salsa as well as in many Thai, Indian, and Chinese curry
dishes, these wonder foods are packed with a metabolism-boosting compound
called capsaicin, which provides chili peppers' fiery flavor. In addition,
capsaicin increases your body temperature somewhat, giving your metabolism an
extra calorie-burning push. Chicken and Fish It actually takes energy to digest
food, and your body burns more calories digesting and metabolizing protein than
it does while breaking down carbs and fats. Translation: Consuming a few
servings of lean protein, such as chicken, fish, and tofu, each day may help
keep your metabolism revving away long after you finish eating your meal.
The
Pyramid Diet Plan
The pyramid diet was conceptualised in 1992
and it emphasises the best amount of servings to be consumed daily from the
basic food groups (dairy, fruits and vegetables, grains, beans and legumes,
meat, oils and fats).
The pyramid is divided into four levels. The
very first level is comprised of grains, beans and legumes; the level above it
is made up of fruits and vegetable; the third level from the top is composed of
meat and dairy products and the very last one on top contains fats, sugars and
oils.
The diet aims to divide the food groups in
the above mentioned fashion to make you understand just how much to consume
from each food group. Here is a breakdown of servings from each food group:
1.
Grains-
5 to 7 servings
2.
Fruits
and vegetables- 2 servings of each
3.
Milk
and dairy- 3 servings of which 1/2 serving should be dairy products
4.
Oils,
sugar and fats- 6 teaspoons for oils and minimal servings for fats and sugars
This seems relatively easy to follow, but
most people do not understand portion control. The amount or serving of food is
called portion control and it is important if you want your diet to work. Here
is a guideline that you can follow:
1.
When
you are consuming one serving of grains in one sitting, you can choose to eat
one cup of cereals or one slice of whole-wheat bread.
2.
When
you are eating vegetable or fruits with your breakfast or lunch, choose one and
a half cup of chopped vegetables, or one piece of orange, banana or apple.
3.
If
you are drinking milk, then one cup of milk in one serving. And, if you are
eating meat, choose one ounce of cooked fish or chicken.
4.
Lastly,
do not go beyond one teaspoon of vegetable oil and try to keep your sugar
intake to the minimum throughout the day.
The pyramid is an excellent guide to lose
some weight. You just need some concentration and a ton of commitment to stick
to the guide. Along with the diet, don't forget to get some exercise.
Following a healthy lifestyle that is armed
with a well-regulated diet is the most important aspect of combating your
cardio-vascular disease. If you think that it is going to be very difficult to
achieve, then you will be happy to know that the reality is quite the opposite.
You can achieve your goals by following short and simple steps that would help
you to reap long-term benefits for protecting your cardio-vascular health.
Try to use the calories
consumed: It is very important to know how many
calories you are consuming in a span of 24 hours.The calorie and nutritional
informationgiven given on the food levels are normally based on the 2000
calorie diet. But it is crucial to know that your individual calorie
requirement is dependent on numerous factors, including your age, gender as
well as level of physical activities. When you are aiming to restrict your
weight gain, it is recommended not to eat more than you can use up in a day
along with increasing the intensity and amount of physical activity so that it
matches the amount of physical activity. You must try to incorporate either 75
minutes of hard training or 150 minutes of moderate exercise in a span of seven
days in order to boost healthy weight loss.
Consume a wide array of
nutritious items from all food groups: Though
you may believe that you are eating a sufficient amount of foods, your body may
not be receiving an optimum amount of nutrients it needs for proper
functioning. Foods that are considered rich in nutrients must contain
sufficient amounts of protein, minerals, whole grains and other variants of
nutrients with low calorie content. These foods not only aid in reduction of
weight but also trigger lowering of blood pressure and and cholesterol levels.
Eat right: You must aim to incorporate fresh fruits and
vegetables in your diet besides whole grains, dairy products with low fat
contents, legumes and nuts. It is important to stay away from red meat, trans
fat, artificially sweetened beverages and sodium. Experts also suggest
consuming less of food that has poor nutrient content in order to protect your
heart.
Avoid smoking and
alcohol: Simply exercising and eating a healthy
diet is important, but you should not eliminate the adverse effects of smoking
and alcohol consumption, which not only cast an impact on the health of your
heart but also cause a variety of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases..
Chronic
Pain - Is it Linked to Our Emotions?
If you suffer from chronic pain of any kind,
it is important for you to know that it is associated and linked with your
emotions. Other than your physical activities and personal relationships
getting hampered, unwanted feelings like resentment, stress and frustration are
also common. These emotions and feelings are capable of making your chronic
pain condition more worse.
The Relationship between your mind and
body: Your mind and body work together and cannot be separated. Your mind
controls all your thoughts and also affects the way in which pain is controlled
or perceived by the body. Pain and the fear of pain may lead you to avoid
activities. This may reduce your physical strength and cause disruption in the
functioning of your body.
Stress: Stress affects your body both
physically and emotionally. It may lead to an increase in your blood pressure,
breathing rate, heart rate and muscle tension may also occur. These may lead to
fatigue, appetite changes and sleep disruption. Stress also causes depression,
anxiety, make you dependent on drugs and make you dependent on other people.
Depression: Depression is common among
chronic pain patients. Chronic pain can make cases of existing depression much
more worse and the existing pain is also worsened. There are chances of
developing depression from chronic pain if depression runs in your family or
genes.
Symptoms of Depression are as follows:
1.
Feeling
sad, angry, worthless and hopeless frequently
2.
Lack
of energy
3.
Lack
of interest in regular activities
4.
Difficulty
in sleeping
5.
An
increase or decrease in appetite, which may lead to major weight gain or weight
loss
6.
Difficulty
with concentration
7.
Having
suicidal thoughts and thoughts about dying or harming oneself
How to Handle your Emotions during Chronic
Pain: A common therapy, which people with chronic pain undertake is called
Cognitive Behavioural therapy. You should seek the help of a therapist. In this
therapy, you will learn about thinking in a positive way instead of drowning in
negative thoughts. Your fear of pain will be reduced and you will learn how to
strengthen important relationships. You will be able to develop a sense of
freedom from chronic pain.
If your chronic pain occurs due to an
accident or emotional trauma, you may be assessed for post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) by your healthcare provider. Many patients suffering from PTSD
cannot deal with their pain until the emotional stress is dealt with. If you
feel depressed and cannot control your emotions, you need to consult a doctor.
