Health Bytes
Nowadays, chronic inflammation is very common thanks to increasing levels of stress and adoption of processed food which increases the risk of acne and allergies, neurological disorders, joint pain etc. disrupting the body’s natural balance. Consuming nourishing whole foods that trigger free radicals,toxins and counter inflammation. The best food items to fight inflammation are Garlic, onions, herbs & spices and Olive oil. These items contain properties which fight or prevent inflammation.
Fruits help significantly in maintaining weight because of their rich fibre content which helps in regulating bowel movements, aids in digestion and improves metabolism. This keeps you full for a long time and helps you maintain your weight. This is due to the presence of high level of flavonoids in these fruits which are a natural compound and adds a vibrant color to the food we eat. It is extremely popular for its antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory health benefits. The risk of cancer, diabetes, hypertension and several cardiovascular diseases can be reduced by maintaining weight.
A new study has found out that addiction to phone or gadgets is directly linked to depression and anxiety in college age. The study was conducted on 300 students at a university where they were asked questions regarding the mobile and internet usage and what are the reasons that encourage them to turn on their electronic gadgets, all of this to test whether it was related to their mental health. They found that students who admitted to being addicted to these gadgets scored much higher on scales of anxiety and depression. They concluded that breaking these habits strengthened the mental habit of these students.
Caffeine leads to bad health if consumed in excess quantity. The average consumption of caffeine should be 70-100 mg depending on the age, which is one mug of coffee. Apparently, the students have ceased to care even if there are enough studies to prove that it has bad effects in terms of sleep, growth and development. Until now, coffee and tea were the most common source of caffeine but now, energy drinks are also a popular source. A survey says students consumed these products to stay alert and combat drowsiness.
According to a new study, lack of sleep may lead to overeating and improper food choices. In this study, participants who were deprived of sleep could not resist highly palatable and rewarding snacks like candies, cookies, chips and other crunchy snacks even after consuming a meal only 2hrs ago which consisted of 90% of their daily caloric needs. Restriction of sleep increases the hedonic aspect of food intake, according to the researchers, which is the pleasure and satisfaction gained from eating. The participants, when in the phase of completing their sleep, chose food items providing 50% additional calories and fats.
Many parents today are unaware of the risks associated with snoring in children. Researchers found out that poor concentration level poor learning abilities are the ill-effects of frequent snoring and breathing problems in children. Persistent snoring ruins the quality of sleep and leads to daytime tiredness, difficulties in learning and concentration, wetting of bed and delay in growth. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids are the most common reason for snoring which can be cured or reduced with surgery. However, the researchers added that periodic snoring in children is not that harmful.
Older activities can improve their sleep by engaging more in social activities and attending more religious events, found a study. Social Connectedness can be beneficial to their health and add to their well-being. Being a part of social groups, participating in activities, connecting with people gives them a feeling of belongingness which is required for healthy aging. However, the activeness and participation of some older adults could also be due to proper sleeping and be feeling good enough to attend. But researchers found that socially active and proper sleep are linked to each other in various ways.
When bananas are ripe, an enzyme known as tyrosinase causes small and round black dots on their skin which may help to unlock an easier and faster way of diagnosing human skin cancer because the same enzyme is present in human skin as well. It is found in large quantity in the skin of people affected from Melanoma, which is a deadly form of skin cancer. A team of scientists observed this similarity which helped them build a cancer scanner which was proved effective when first tested on banana peels and then on human tissue.
Every mother wants her baby to be in good health and according to a new study, Vitamin D could just be the right supplement. It is during the last stages of pregnancy when the bones of the baby strengthen. Studies found that babies born during winter had greater bone mass than those in summer because women tend to receive Vitamin D from sunlight in the summer which gradually drops in winter. Hence, it was effectively proved that consuming Vitamin D during pregnancy can help strengthen the bones of babies born in winter.
One must be able to maintain a complementary balance between personal and professional life. The first tip would be, instead of having a meal at your desk, eat a healthy meal with your co-worker which benefits your professional life and your sense of being a part of the community simultaneously. The second tip is to put an equal amount of focus into a task that matches its requirement and accomplish it when you check your to-do list. The third step is to identify the gaps in your schedule and fill them with productive micro-goals. Take regular short breaks to maintain your mental energy.
For shedding some pounds, it does not matter whether what kind of diet you follow, but if you want to improve your cholesterol levels, you must follow a high fat and walnut-rich diet. The data conducted from six-month study effectively proves that a diet which is high in fats, low in carbohydrates, rich in walnuts and the polyunsaturated fatty acids had a good impact on body’s lipid levels. It lowered the levels of low-density lipoproteins which are bad cholesterols and increased the levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), good cholesterols. Hence, it will only be healthier to add Walnuts in your regular diet.
A new study has found that Allium cepa, which is extracted from onion helps to reduce the blood sugar and cholesterol. In the research conducted on rats,this onion extract was found to cause an increase in weight among nondiabetic ones but not diabetic ones. Though it is said that onion is not high in calories, it greatly stimulates the metabolism and appetite which ultimately increases feeding. Allium cepa is prepared from onion bulb which we get in local markets. It would be purified for quantifying only the active ingredients for adequate dosing to humans.
Breakfast should be so nutritional that it keeps you active throughout the day. Some food items of our routine are not up to the mark like Jam bread is not healthy for a morning meal. Similarly, Processed Meat - because it contains nitrates which are said to cause certain types of cancers. Same goes to burgers and sugary juices, desserts or anything made of refined flour and sugar. As healthier alternatives, try vegetable juices as you need energy and nutrients in the morning and not sugar spike and crash. Grains which contain gluten should be avoided according to experts.
Until now, there was no such superfood which helps in preventing breast cancer risk. A new study found out that regular consumption of carrots helps to maintain a healthy weight which lowers the risk of breast cancer. In this research, women were found with great levels of carotenes in their blood. Carotenes are vitamins which are found usually in vegetables like red peppers and spinach. They help in preventing the development of certain types of breast cancer. Thus, based on this study, regular consumption of carrots is recommended to women.
A Study says that people with regular digital work are more affected by eye problems. While using a computer, taking regular breaks and blinking your eyes is necessary to cause less strain on eyes. Hence, it is recommended to use computer eyeglasses or eye-lenses while having too much exposure to the screen. Blurred vision, Straining of eyes, headaches etc are some of the effects. On top of that, some people try to lean forward to the screen against their blurred vision or look through the bottom of their glasses which often results in a sore neck, sore shoulders and sore back.
Since Feb-March is exam time, parents are replacing the regular meals with healthy and nutritional meal for better performance of students. However, exam nutrition is not only about counting calories. Poor nutrition can lead to lack of concentration and one's ability to perform well under pressure. To ensure that the body functions at its optimum level, avoid providing them with junk food, push for more proteins and less caffeine, and most importantly giving freshly cooked food. Also, make sure they consume adequate water and get proper sleep.
White tea leaves, if consumed in chewable form has found to be lessening the effects of nicotine among smokers. In India, it is similar to people chewing 'paan masala' for refreshment. These leaves are plucked by hand and dried in the sun before exporting for consumption. They are rich in antioxidants and offer greater health benefits than green tea. These leaves are not made from leaves but from the buds of tea. They are also comparatively expensive in the tea industry.
Are you looking for alternatives to hide your baldness? What if there was a healthier way to achieve it rather than resorting to wigs and surgery? All you have to do the charged fibres over thin hair area and gently shake it. Doing this, the fibres in hair get charged with static electricity and they bond strongly interlinking with the natural hair. Hair fibres are an apt solution for people suffering from thinning and loss of hair. They are made of the same organic keratin protein of which the hair is made of.
According to a new study, walking around or doing dishes, or doing any sort of movement and coming out of your sedentary routine reduces mortality risk. For studying this, ultra-sensitive activity trackers called accelerometers were worn by subjects, for seven days. It was found that the least active people of all had 5 times greater chances of dying than people who were most active. Adding even 10 minutes a day of small physical activity can make a difference.Regular exercise of 30 minutes a day produced better results.
A recent study showed that surrounding tissue does not show as much sugar consumption as malignant tumors. Hence, ordinary sugar might be helpful in imaging techniques to detect cancer. This new technique will be aligned with testing of natural sugar replacing metal in contrast agents. This replacement will also make the medical care economical. However, obviously, this technique based on sugar-based contrast agents shall not be used in case of diabetic affected cancer patients.