Health Bytes
Oil pulling is a traditional Indian remedy. It has been practiced since ages for maintaining wellness. In this process, oil is swished around the mouth which is believed to help eradicate toxins from the body. This makes you revitalized and healthier. The best time to do oil pulling is before breakfast. If you want to heal effectively, repeat three times a day.
It is always said that “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food”. It is true that if you eat the right food, it can help you lead a healthy life. Certain food items have powerful sickness-fighting properties. They help to relieve some symptoms and heal quickly. Best items to have when you’re sick include chicken soup, broths, garlic, coconut water, hot tea, honey, ginger, spicy foods, bananas, oatmeal, yogurt, avocados, leafy green veggies and certain fruits.
Detox water is prepared by infusion of vegetables, fruits and herbs in the water. It can be made at home in different flavors. Detox water does not help in flushing out toxins from your body nor to make it alkaline. There is no evidence that it helps to improve complexion. However, it does help in weight loss but so does regular water if you constantly stay hydrated. Detox water can boost your immune system and is tastier.
These everyday items are actually killing you slowly if eaten raw. A poison called glycoalkaloid is produced by the potatoes and is contained in the leaves of tomatoes. Uncooked eggs and raw meat contain bacteria which leads to gastroenteritis in humans. Traces of cyanide are found in the seeds of apple and in bitter almonds. Even cremini mushrooms are poisonous. Hence, it is suggested to properly cook these food items before consuming.
Here’s an easy trick to quickly ripen the bananas. First of all, without peeling, put the unripe banana in an oven and bake them for an hour at 360 degrees. The time taken to bake depends on the level of ripeness. Bake them till the peels of the banana turn shiny black. This indicates that they have ripened. Now place them in a refrigerator for up to 15 minutes and you will have fully ripened bananas all ready!
A False awakening is that phenomenon where a person dreams about waking and doing the chores or an activity while he is still in a deep sleep. The dream is so convincing that the person actually starts believing that those things have happened. After a false awakening, people usually dream about completing the daily chores. Sometimes the condition is so worse that people double dream which mean there occurs a dream within the dream.
Recently a study has claimed that exposure to blue light can significantly improve the functioning of your brain. They observed that by getting a short exposure to blue light, a person is able to make critical decisions faster. Results show that a short single exposure can improve reaction time and produce efficient responses during heavy brainwork activities even after the exposure has ended.
Your body has more calcium than any other mineral and is extremely important for health. It plays a major role in bones and teeth development. It helps to maintain cardiovascular health, nerve signaling, and muscle function. The common calcium providers are milk, yoghurt, and cheese but there exist several non-dairy sources too namely seeds, leafy greens, legumes, beans, lentils, seafood, dried fruits, tofu, whey protein, rhubarb, amaranth and several other fortified foods and drinks.
Seaweed is one of a major source of nutrition which is largely untapped while having a 1,076-km coastline with us. Most of the seaweeds found are edible and some of them contain proteins which are essential for human consumption. Besides, a 100gm of seaweed provides more vitamin C than an orange. It is also a rich source of iron, iodine, calcium and magnesium. It is not yet a popular food in India but has gained a lot of popularity abroad.
Pumpkin seeds are packed with powerful antioxidants and are rich sources of iron magnesium, zinc, and several other nutrients. They are known to reduce inflammation and also prevent certain types of cancers. They are good for heart, bones and maintain blood sugar levels. They promote good cholesterol. They are a rich source of fiber and hence can be easily inculcated your regular diet. They promote overall health and well-being.
If you are trying to get up early in the morning, whether you have to rush to work or plan for studies, hitting the snooze button is scientifically bad for your health. People set multiple alarms much in advance to the time they actually want to wake up and use the snooze button to finally get up at the desired time. It is advised that you must set an alarm for only when you need to wake up and set that habit of waking up. Hitting the snooze button cuts down on your sleep and even makes you tired and slow for the rest of the day.
Healthy Food just turned sexy. It is a fact that men who eat celery regularly stand a higher chance of attracting women. Celery contains the male hormone androsterone which causes the release of pheromones which attracts women effectively. Androsterone works effectively to lift up your mood and is an anti-depressant. Foods like almonds, avocado and garlic have similar properties.
Hummus is a dip made of olive oil, chickpeas. Sesame seeds, lemon juice and salt. It is highly popular in the Middle East. It is a rich source of protein, controls your hunger pangs and can help you in weight management. It is also known to help people with cholesterol levels. They contain folate and can help to reduce the risk of certain type of cancer. The healthiest way to consume hummus is to use it as a spread on the bread instead of cheese or mayonnaise.
The BMC has revealed that 92% of all the Ice samples across the city tested positive for a dreaded E.coli bacteria just prior to the monsoon. This indicates that an unhealthy quality of water was used to make this ice. If consumed, it can lead to several diseases such as diarrhea, food poisoning, gastroenteritis, vomiting etc. These included samples collected from hotels, bars, ice sellers, juice stalls, ice-gola vendors, fast food outlets etc. and several other places. Hence, it is strictly advised to avoid the consumption of Ice or Ice Golas outside.
There are many ways for honing your intuition. The very first step is to create a fresh state of awareness within and boosting the belief in yourself. A good level of self-confidence is required to follow your intuition. Socialize and connect with other similar spirits for good experiences. Step out of your comfort zone and try to get yourself indulged in different things which shake up your routine. This makes you explore your creativity. Last but not the least, allow yourself some relaxing time and savor some healthy food.
If you are constantly changing your work schedule or working or rotating shifts, the risk of getting severe ischemic strokes increases. This occurs when blood supply is cut off to certain parts of the brain. The irregular work schedules produce a ‘social jet lag’ which have the same health effects on the body as rotating work shifts that interfere with the regular schedule. Hence, it is important to maintain a healthy work schedule to maintain your productivity and secure a healthy future.
Copper is an essential mineral required for metabolic processes and proper functioning of the system. It is a good source of energy and prevents premature aging. Researchers have also revealed that it can play a significant role in fat metabolism and weight loss. Copper enables the body the system to break down fat cells and produce energy. Hence, the more copper you consume, the more fat is broken down. Copper rich foods include leafy greens, nuts, beans, seeds, mushrooms, oysters and other shellfish.
Alligator pear or avocado is a large berry containing a single seed. It contains folic acid and vitamin B6 which are associated with maintaining heart health. They are known to lower blood cholesterol levels. Avocado is extremely good for eyes as it protects from developing cataract and age-related macular degeneration. It helps to prevent stroke as it provides a high level of folate. The oil obtained from avocado is has been proved really good for skin nourishment.
Black Sesame Seeds a.k.a kala til, are one of the oldest condiments known which are highly valued for their oil. They are widely used across India. They are often blended with sugar, palm sugar or jaggery and made into delicious snack balls. These seeds have several health benefits to offer. They have anti-ageing properties. They are known to stabilize the blood pressure levels and reduce the risk of cancer. The snacks made from these seeds provide a relief to constipation and indigestion.