Doctor reveals risk of catching diseases from public toilets - and how to avoid it.

Everyone's been forced to use a public toilet which was an unofficial entrance into the seventh layer of hell.

Whether it was the unsavoury smells assaulting you, the dodgy spillages on the floor and toilet seat, the sandpaper-like loo roll - or a total absence of loo roll - relaxing oases of hygiene they are not.

Sometimes you even have to pay a premium to hover over a blocked toilet while holding your breath.

Given how grim these places are and the amount of footfall they get, it's easy to sometimes worry about the effect public toilets may have on our health.

Specifically, the potential of catching or picking up nasties.

What we should be asking, however, is how vulnerable are we to contracting diseases from public toilets? 

Yes, public toilets are used by countless strangers with differing attitudes towards hand-washing and general hygiene and NHS physician, Dr Preethi Daniel has both some good and bad news.

"To contract a disease such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis," she tells Healthista , "the germs would have to be directly transferred from the seat to your genital tract, or through an open wound or sore on your legs or buttocks." 

In fact, "You are more likely to be struck by lightning whilst riding a flying pig than catching a sexually transmitted disease from a public toilet seat, so please don't worry."

The bad news is there ARE things you can catch.

Bugs such as E-coli and Salmonella CAN be picked up from public toilets.

To help avoid these, Dr Daniel has given three sterling pieces of advice for avoiding infections from public bathrooms.

-Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet

-Carry a travel size antibacterial hand sanitiser for extra protection

-Cover the toilet seat with toilet paper or use antibacterial wipes before sitting

In addition to her hygiene tips, Dr Daniel is keen to stress that "there is no medical evidence to support the transmission of any diseases from a public toilet."

7 Benefits Of Oiling The Navel According To Ayurveda.

APPLYING COCONUT OIL TO YOUR BELLY BUTTON CAN MOISTURIZE YOUR BODY WHILE MUSTARD OIL CAN CURE INFECTIONS. 7 BENEFITS OF OILING THE NAVEL ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA.

Natural oils are a significant part of Ayurveda. Everything from essential oils to carrier oils, they have a great impact on your health, emotions and even spirituality. Coconut or avocado oil used in and around the belly button using a cotton swab helps remove the dirt and dead skin. Diluted tea tree oil is also an awesome remedy for infected belly buttons. Essential oils like ginger and peppermint can heal stomach aches and period pain. To improve fertility use ylang and sandalwood oil and to balance your navel chakra apply rapeseed oil on the navel. You might be surprised to know that the belly button is a great place to start oiling. This spot is given less attention but is a lot more important than you think. Here are the benefits of oiling your navel. 

SKIN OILS

Skin Oils can naturally moisturize your skin and work best in areas mostly forgotten. Especially in the winters. Coconut oil or olive oil is a good option as they have emollient effects due to their fatty content. After a shower put a few drops and rub on your belly, and your skin will feel amazing. 

TREATS STOMACH ACHE

Treats Stomach ache to alleviate tummy ache from conditions like diarrhea or food poisoning and even nausea or bloating. Use essential oils like peppermint or ginger and don't forget to dilute them in a carrier oil. 

DECREASES MENSTRUAL PAIN

Decreases Menstrual Pain: A painful period can be healed with the help of peppermint, cypress, clary sage and ginger. Rub the blend of these oils on your tummy to release those cramps. 

IMPROVES FERTILITY

Improves Fertility: It's not a surprise that the belly button is connected to fertility. Using a carrier oil with damiana, guava leaf, juniper or clary sage essential oils will help in relaxing menstrual problems and protecting the sperm. It also helps in keeping the hormones regulated and therefore increase your chances of conceiving.

BALANCES THE NAVEL CHAKRA

Balances the Navel Chakra: According to Ayurveda the navel 

chakra or swadhisthana is a major source of energy and 

imagination. It’s also the home of your dreams, goals, and 

fantasies. So it's important to balance this chakra to connect 

with your creativity. Use rapeseed oil to balance the naval 

chakra by placing a few drops on your belly button and 

massaging gently. Sandalwood or rosewood and ylang-ylang

oils can also be added for benefits.

REMOVES DIRT

Removes Dirt: We don’t clean our belly button often and 

mostly forget about it. Use a cottonn swab and light oils like 

jojoba, safflower or grapeseed. And don't forget to be gentle. 

CURES INFECTION

Cures Infection: Sometimes bacteria and fungi might infect 

the belly button if it is moist for too long. This might even 

happen from an injury or cut that doesn't heal properly. Using 

tea tree oil which is a powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties. Another option if you don't have any of the above 

is mustard oil which also has bacteria fighting abilities. To use, 

add 3 drops to 1 teaspoon coconut oil, another anti-bacterial 

oil. 4 Apply it to your belly button once or twice a day until the infection heals. 

 

Everything You Need To Know About Ayurveda

Everything You Need To Know About Ay

If you've spent any time among the internet's very active wellness community over the past few years, you'll more than likely have come across the concept of "ayurveda".

From products touting "ayurvedic healing properties" and diets which adhere to ayurvedic principles, to ayurvedic treatments, spas and retreats, it's everywhere at the moment.

But what if you've got this far and haven't actually figured out what "ayurveda" means yet? Is it something you should be paying attention to? Here, we try to break down what you need to know and figure out whether you too need to jump on (yet another) wellness bandwagon.

What is ayurveda?

It began to develop thousands of years ago in India and comes from the Sanskrit words for "life knowledge". Today, it is considered a "complementary medicine" which means that, in the UK at least, it should be used alongside (not in place of) conventional and mainstream medicines.

What is my ayurvedic body type?

There are three different body types – or "doshas" – in ayurveda. "Vata" is represented by water and air, and "pitta" by fire and water, while "kapha" is represented by earth and water. In most bodies, one or two doshas dominate, although it is possible to be tri-doshic and have a balance across all three.

In ayurveda, it is believed that if the doshas become imbalanced, symptoms can occur. For instance, according to Life Spa, if the vata is out of whack, you could get dry or rough skin, anxiety, insomnia and more. When it comes to the kapha being imbalanced, though, that can encourage oily skin, slow digestion and nasal allergies (among others). For an imbalance in pitta, you could expect rashes, stomach aches and diarrhoea.

People with one dosha more prominent than the others tend to share a certain set of traits. According to MindBodyGreen, vata-dominant people are physically tall and slender, have dry hair and skin and, personality-wise, are creative, emotional and excitable. Pitta-dominant people are fair, strong and sturdy. They are assertive, confident and dominant. Kapha-dominant people are soft – with soft skin, hair and eyes. They are easy-going and non-judgemental.

Head to Holistic Online to take the test and find your unique blend of doshas.

What are ayurvedic treatments?

Treatments in this area are not just fancy massages with the word "ayurvedic" slapped on top. No, they involve working with an ayurvedic practitioner on a "panchakarma" or, as the Ayurvedic Clinic in London calls it, the “Science of Rejuvenation”.

"In this process the body is purified of the degenerating influence of these foreign substances [toxic impurities] thus freeing it to naturally exercise its inherent rejuvenating abilities," they say. Your panchakarma might include a special diet and massages with personally curated oils and herbs. You may undergo a "Dhara Sweda" – a special steam bed – which will help the herbs and oils be absorbed by the skin more effectively.

The aim of panchakarma is to rid the body of toxins so the end result is, well, expelling those toxins. This might be through colonic irrigation, imbibing a natural concoction with laxative effects, or one that works upwardly – causing you to expel toxins through phlegm and coughing.

Does ayurvedic medicine work?

Well, as mentioned above, in the UK at least, it's considered a complementary therapy. That is, it comes with no official medical recommendations but, for some people, it may have holistic benefits. A 2006 study from York University about the effect of ayurvedic treatments on rheumatoid arthritis found "no clear evidence" that it was beneficial. A 2007 study from the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group, which analysed the use of ayurvedic medicine in treating the symptoms of schizophrenia found that it "may" be helpful to sufferers. A 2016 study of the effects of ayurvedic oil-dripping found it "may" help to improve sleep.

What is an ayurvedic diet?

We would only ever encourage you to eat a balanced diet of whole foods. Don't cut out anything you love for the sake of an inconclusive diet concept you read about on the internet. Listen to your body and feed it well, with the foods it needs.

If you are interested in learning what people are on about when they talk about the ayurvedic diet, though, let's take a little look.

An ayurvedic diet is tailored to your specific breakdown of doshas. To be clear, it is not for losing weight. Rather it is said to be used to help maintain the balance of energy in your body. According to ayurvedic principles, keeping this balance can maintain a healthy body and, some say, prevent illnesses*.

Essentially, an ayurvedic diet is about eating foods that oppose your dominant dosha. There's a really nice explanation of it on Ayurveda College but, in brief: to balance your vata, you are encouraged to eat warm, oily foods – cooked rice and vegetables, warm milk, and rich and warm spices; to bring balance to the pitta (remember this is fire and water, all about being warm and moist), you are told to eat dry and cold foods – raw veg, wheat, beans and bitter herbs; for kapha balance, it is recommended you eat "light and dry" foods like vegetables and steer clear of heavy things like nuts and dairy.

*We say, be very careful about anything that claims to prevent illnesses. Sure, healthy eating goes a long way to keeping your body ticking over but always rely on doctors' advice and scientifically proven medicine when it comes to specifically 

Too Much Exercise is Bad For Your Heart

Here’s something that will make you feel better about skipping the gym (again): too much exercise is worse for your heart than not being active enough.

There’s no denying that fitness is beneficial, but it’s still unclear when that time on the treadmill becomes too much of a good thing. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago delved into the link between physical activity and artery health, particularly fat build up. Medically known as atherosclerosis, the condition is a precursor to more serious problems including heart attacks. And as the authors note, few long-term studies have looked at activity levels throughout our lifetimes, and the subsequent effects.

The team studied 3,175 men and women over the course of 25 years. Participants were divided into three groups: those who exercised less; those who met the U.S. Department of Health’s recommended guidelines for physical activity; and those who exceeded those guidelines. The current advised standard is at least 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate exercise or 1 hour and 15 minutes of strenuous aerobic workouts for adults. 

All the participants were from the larger Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. They reported exercise levels using questionnaires and participated in eight exams throughout the study. At the end of the investigation, researchers used heart scans to determine artery health.

After 25 years, the data revealed that white men who exceeded three times the recommended guidelines were at an increased risk of accumulating fat on their arteries by the time middle age set in. The same did not seem to be true for black adults participating in the survey, causing the researchers to note the importance of further studies examining how physical activity impacts heart health by race.

But it’s not time to store those gym shoes just yet. The data also found that people who didn’t exercise enough were more likely to have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. So although they may have had less fat on their arteries, they did suffer from two conditions that are bad for your heart.

It seems that with almost everything in life, the key is in balance. Cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn told CBS News that mixing up your workout routine can help avoid some of the pressure that exercise puts on your body. “There is a stress reaction to long distance and long duration exercise—your cortisol is up for a long time,” says Khan. “It may be wise to build in daily stress reduction techniques, such as meditation, yoga—seven, eight hours of sleep.”

Foods that supercharge your memory

BRAINY FOOD

Does your memory need a boost? While there are lots of ways to train your brain to better remember things, there’s a whole bunch of simple remedies that can be found on your plate. We reveal which foods you should be stocking up on at the supermarket.

BLACKCURRANTS

They might be small but blackcurrants are packed full of Vitamin C, which is thought to have the power to increase mental agility and protect against age-related brain degeneration including dementia and Alzheimer’s.

COFFEE

Caffeine lovers rejoice! There’s now a good reason for your morning cuppa. Researchers from the University of Innsbruck in Austria found that giving people the caffeine equivalent of two cups of coffee improved memory skills and neuron signalling to the brain compared to those who didn’t consume caffeine. If that wasn’t enough good news a French study found women over 65 who drank three or more cups of coffee a day were better able to recall words than women who consumed little or none.

NUTS

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that consuming vitamin E can help prevent cognitive decline, particularly in the elderly. Nuts, like almonds and walnuts, are an excellent source of vitamin E so why not make them part of your afternoon snack?

OILY FISH

Essential fatty acids (EFA) can’t be produced by the body, so we need to include EFA foods in our diet to get our hit, and a great source comes from oily fish like salmon, trout, mackerel and sardines. In fact, studies confirm that frequent fish eaters experience slower rates of cognitive decline as they age. These guys are also packed with EPA and DHA. Low DHA levels have been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss, so pop some oily fish in your shopping basket.

WHOLE GRAINS

Like most parts of your body, the brain can’t function properly without energy. A steady supply of energy is best derived from glucose. To give your brain a boost opt for whole grains like “brown” cereals, breads, rice and pasta, with a low-GI which release glucose slowly into the bloodstream, keeping you mentally sharp throughout the day.

BEETS

Researchers at the Translational Science Center found that giving older adults a daily dose of beet juice helped to increase blood flow to the area of the brain associated with dementia. If that drink doesn’t tickle your fancy, try adding roasted beets to a salad or sandwich.

BROCCOLI

A 2015 US study found that vitamin K, can enhance cognitive function and improve brainpower and broccoli is full of it! Researchers found that broccoli is also high in glucosinolates, which can slow the breakdown of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, which we need for the central nervous system to perform properly and keep our memories sharp.

BLUEBERRIES

A study from Tufts University in the US found that the consumption of blueberries can be effective in improving or delaying short term memory loss.

STRAWBERRIES

Not to be outdone in the berry department, strawberries are also excellent for the brain. A 2012 Harvard study found that women who ate at least one cup of strawberries and blueberries per week experienced a two and half year delay in mental decline compared to women who rarely consumed them.

CAPERS

These salty little gems not only give your meal a tasty kick, they also boost your brain power. Capers are said to contain high levels of quercetin, a chemical which stimulates memory by improving blood flow to the brain.

CURRY

Who would have thought a Friday night takeaway favorite is actually good for your memory. Animal studies have shown that curry’s active ingredient, curcumin, actually clears away Alzheimer’s-causing proteins in the brain called amyloid plaques. Sadly naan bread didn't register the same memory-boosting properties.

SAGE

Way back in the 16th century, this herb was prescribed as a way to boost memory and cognitive function. While it helps to add the herb to your roasts, it’s more beneficial to take sage oil, which contains an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase that sparks neurotransmitters in the brain.

TOMATOES

Several studies have found evidence that lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes, could help protect against the kind of free radical damage to cells that occurs in the development of dementia. Add them to your salads today.

WINE

While chronic, heavy drinking can cause serious dementia, research shows that indulging lightly may actually protect the brain. In a JAMA study, people who had one to six drinks a week were 54% less likely to develop dementia than teetotalers. If that’s not a good enough excuse to pour yourself a glass of red at dinner, we don’t know what is.

PUMPKIN SEEDS

Just a handful of these little guys can significantly boost your memory skills. According to various studies zinc – of which pumpkin seeds are full of – is vital for enhancing memory and thinking skills. And as an added bonus pumpkin seeds also contain B vitamins and tryptophan.

BONE BROTH

Favored by those into the paleo-lifestyle, bone broth has proven to help benefit the brain. The broth, which is essentially a stock made from animal bones, contains glycine which has been shown to help improve both sleep and memory through various studies.

GUM

It’s not your typical healthy ingredient or superfood but a 2013 study published in the British Journal of Psychology found that participant’s short-term memory was sharpened while chewing gum. The reason? Chewing gum increased oxygen flow to the parts of the brain that make us pay attention.

CELERY

The perfect snack or accompaniment to a salad or stir-fry, celery is one of the richest sources of luteolin, a plant compound that is said to lower the rates of age-related memory loss. Luteolin calms inflammation in the brain, which doctors now believe to be the primary cause of neuro-degeneration.

DARK CHOCOLATE

It turns out our favorite treat is actually good for us. The flavonoids in chocolate – namely the dark variety that are 70% cocoa - improve blood vessel function, which in turn improves cognitive function and memory. Chocolate also improves mood, can ease pain, and is full of antioxidants - like we needed another excuse to indulge.

EGGS

The breakfast staple just got a whole lot more exciting. It turns out egg yolks are jam-packed full of choline - an essential nutrient that helps with cell signalling - and phosphatidylserine, which has been found to boost short-term memory.

COCONUT OIL

Despite what you’ve heard, not all fats are bad for you, in fact some are essential for a healthy brain. Low levels of fats in food can contribute to Alzheimer’s and dementia so incorporating good healthy fats into the diet, such as coconut oil, is key. Coconut oil has been suggested by studies as an anti-inflammatory and has been linked in helping prevent the onset of these brain disorders.

AVOCADO

Excellent in salads or on toast, avocados are also a great source of monounsaturated fats, omega 3, and omega 6 fatty acids which increase blood flow to the brain and aid in the absorption of antioxidants. They’re also full of vitamin E, which protects the brain from free radical damage and vitamin K, which protects the brain from the risk of stroke.

SPINACH

This leafy green is good for you in more ways than one, studies have shown it can prevent or delay dementia by slowing the effects of aging on the brain thanks to its high level of vitamin E. For example, one cup of raw spinach has 15% of your daily intake of vitamin E, and 1/2 a cup of cooked spinach has 25% of your daily intake.

This is What Built Chris Hemsworth The Thor: Here's His Workout Regimen

Building muscles can be tough and excruciating, and it requires a sense of commitment, dedication, hard work and constant motivation to stick to that grueling plan. The workout that has been planned for the God of Thunder, Thor, Chris Hemsworth had to follow not only loads of grueling pain but also immense self-motivation to perform them, and that's what made him reach the level of a beast who is worth the craze!

If you're wondering what took this skinny athletic body to completely reverse his lifestyle and perform the role of Thor Ragnarok, you should be reading this.

Well, as much you are thrilled to book the tickets for the movie, you must know what mere mortals can do to take up the role of a mythical superhero and nail it in the skin of a human body.

Here's Chris Hemsworth's workout regimen that made him look like the hero who appeared from the pages of mythology.

Chris Hemsworth's workout regimen:

The one thing we have been saying is, fitness is not only a journey, it's a lifestyle! And the perfect recipe to reach the goal has three main ingredients, i.e. hard work, dedication and commitment. Period!

Whether you are a newbie or a pro in fitness, we have tried to compile everything related to Chris's workout that can take you where you meet your fitness goals.

You may also like: Virat Kohli's Fitness Regime for IPL 2017

Chris's workout includes 5-6 days a week with rigorous training session for a couple of hours under his personal trainers, Duffy Gaver and Luke Zocchi. Apart from this, his intense cardio and weight training was designed by Michael Knight, Michigan's Art of Strength director.

The Thor Ragnarok Inspired Workout Program

Chris's workout plan is woven by his extremely talented personal trainers who know what it takes to give him the ripped body to look like the mythology God! Of course, rest day is a must in between to make the muscles relax and fire up the workout station the next day.

So, here it is, the workout regimen to get a body like Great Thor a.k.a Chris Hemsworth:

Chest

Back

Abs

Legs

Arms

Shoulder

Chris Hemsworth's Cardio Routine: 
Apart from doing weight training, Chris's workout routine includes rounds of cardio boxing on bag, jump rope, boxing on pads, perform HIIT circuits on the stationary bike for 45 minutes. He also is fond of kettle bell routine that consists of three circuits of Kettle bell swings and Kettle bell Cleans.

You may also like: What Does It Takes To Be A Champion: Chelsea FC

Have you stopped gasping, yet? Well we are yet to come out of the shock for the amount of sweat and suppressed pain go in to perform these exhausting workout sessions. Now that you have the God of Thunder, Thor's workout regimen handy, what's your excuse to skip the gym today, obviously that also depends on how you want to jazz up fitness level and take your fitness to the next level.