Love chutneys? here are health benefits of chutney you should know

Chutneys not only transform the taste of what we eat but also have a variety of benefits ranging from soothing the tummy to being a detox agent.

Swami Padmaprakasha Jnana Thapaswi, In-Charge of Santhigiri Ashram lists the different kinds of chutneys and their health benefits.

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1. Pudina Chutney - Mint leaves play a vital role in promoting digestion, reducing inflammation and soothing the stomach. They can also enhance appetite and cure diseases like nausea.

2. Curry Leaves Chutney - Curry leaves are a rich source of iron and folic acid. Folic acid is mainly responsible for carrying and helping the body to absorb iron. It is your one-stop natural remedy to beat anemia.

3. Emblica Chutney - It is a rich source of vitamin C that helps in improving immunity and even lowers the level of sugar in blood to control diabetes. Amla stimulates the pancreas, which further regulate the suitable secretion of insulin hormone.

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4. Coriander Leaves Chutney - To promote digestion, coriander leaves are the perfect remedy. They are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K among others. These nutrients are beneficial for people with diabetes. It can stimulate the insulin secretion and lowers the blood sugar level.

5. Adamant Creeper Chutney - Adamant Creeper Chutney is useful for ulcer, constipation and piles. Since it is difficult to make young children eat pirandai thogayal, try to give them pirandai in the form of vathal. Including pirandai vathal in their diet on a regular basis will prevent children from getting stomach disorders.

6. Onion and Garlic (Allium cepa and sativum) Chutney - It is used for digestion and piles problems. Garlic has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that helps in lowering cholesterol.

7. Tomato Chutney - This chutney provides vitamins and glutathione. These glistening red bundles are storehouses of health. Tomato chutney offers great relief from life threatening diseases like cancer and enables a person to live a longer and healthier life.

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Drinking tea in office? Those teabags are more germ-infested than a toilet seat

 

Do you think the toilets at your workplace are dirty? Think again. 

 The teabags at your office are way dirtier and germ-infested.

 You heard that right! Scientists have discovered that office teabags can carry 

 as many as 17 times more germs than a toilet seat.

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 As per the researchers, the average bacterial reading of an office teabag was 

 3,785, in comparison to only 220 for a toilet seat.

 The study, conducted by Initial Washroom Hygiene, analysed the bacterial 

 readings of kitchen utensils and appliances.

 According to a report in the Independent, other pieces of kitchen equipment 

 also stacked up highly in their findings, with bacterial readings averaging at 

 2,483 on kettle handles, 1,746 on the rim of a used mug and 1,592 on a fridge 

 door handle.

 While we do ensure that our hands are washed after we use the washroom, 

 we need to perhaps start doing the same after going to the office kitchen as 

 well.

 A poll of 1,000 workers revealed that 80 percent of people working in an office 

 wouldn’t think to wash their hands before making drinks for colleagues.

 It's sort of terrifying to imagine the amount of germs that could be flying around

  the office when you're obliviously sipping your tea.

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 According to the report, Dr Peter Barratt of Initial Washroom Hygiene believes 

 that offices should be more aware of the levels of hygiene in their communal 

 kitchens.

 Barratt says, “If you stop to think about the number of different hands that 

 touch things such as the kettle handle, tea bag box lid, mugs, and so on, the 

 potential for cross contamination really adds up.”

 He further adds that using anti-bacterial wipes on kitchen surfaces and 

 regularly cleaning the mug can pay huge dividends in terms of maintaining a 

 healthy workforce.

 It’s especially important to be wary of germs during this time of year, since the 

 Norovirus, commonly referred to as the “winter vomiting bug”, has been known 

 to spread rapidly by touching contaminated surfaces or eating foods that are 

 rife with bacteria.

 Taking precautions such as washing your hands frequently, disinfecting 

 surfaces and washing clothing that could be at risk of contamination could 

 save you from falling ill this season.

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5 damaging effects of alcohol on your skin

Even if you are an occasional drinker, you still can t escape the damages that alcohol does to your skin. Alcohol is a toxic, period. We know that regular alcohol consumption can lead to a lot of health crisis liver damage, kidney failure, blockages in the heart, etc. Its ill-effects don t spare your skin as well. Too much of alcohol leads to toxin build-up in the body, oxidative stress and robs the skin of its essential nutrients. This makes the skin look dull, pale and wrinkly, says Dr Soma Sarkar, Medical Director & Dermatologist, Skin Inn Clinic, Mumbai. Talking more about the damages that alcohol can induce on skin she lists down a few of them:.

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1. It leads to premature ageing: Probably when you are sipping your drink or cocktails you don t think of it too much. But your drink, even if it is quenching your thirst is making you dehydrated at the same time. The excess toxic that build-up in your system, thanks to that glass in your hand, robs your skin of its natural moisture and makes it dehydrated. This dehydration is further responsible for those fine lines and wrinkles that habitual and social drinkers end up having. If you don t control your drinking then premature ageing is inevitable. Here are foods that can prevent premature ageing. .

2. It worsens pre-existing conditions: For people who suffer from skin conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, etc, alcohol consumption flares up of the symptoms. At times, it gets so worse that even with help of dermatologists getting the symptoms in control becomes a challenge.

3. It leads to breakouts: We are not just talking about acne over here. Of course, those who suffer from chronic acne, alcohol is not going to help them in any way. But even otherwise, alcohol increases blood flow in the facial area and dilates the blood vessels. For chronic drinkers, this could mean danger as the pressure in the veins on the face can increase and lead to a capillary to break or burst. When this happens it leaves behind red spots on the face making it difficult to treat.

4. It makes face look pale: Of all the blunders that alcohol does to your skin this is the greater evil it robs your face of vitamin A which is essential for skin renewal. This particular vitamin helps in making new cells and getting rid of dead cells from the face. The absence of vitamin A means no skin renewal, no glow on your face. This makes your skin look dull, pale and greyish too.

5. It makes the face look bloated: One mistake that most chronic drinkers do is that they don t drink enough water to get rid of the toxins in the body or replete the lost moisture. Drinking adequate amount of water is a natural way of keeping your skin glowing and healthy. But excess alcohol intake robs the skin of vital nutrients, electrolytes and fluids but it fills up with the toxins instead, which makes the face look bloated. Add to it the excess blood circulation that is influenced due to alcohol your face looks puffy.

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4 amazing health benefits of bearberry

Bearberry is an edible fruit that has been used in traditional healing methods since ancient times. Easily available in various health food stores this fruit has a gamut of health benefits due to its amazing chemical makeup that includes, ursolic, gallic acid, tannic and various flavonoids. It can be used in various forms such as tea, ground powder, decoction or topical ointment. Here are a few health benefits it is very well known for:

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Immunity: Hydroquinones present in bearberries are powerful antibacterial chemical compounds that help in keeping the various systems in your body intact. It also helps eliminate harmful agents from your body. It can help protect your gut, digestive system, skin and many other parts and systems of your body and acts as a great defense against bacteria.

Detoxification: It is a natural diuretic and helps release toxins from your body. It helps to cleanse the bladder and kidneys by eliminating excessive body salts, water, fats and toxic materials from your body.

Pregnancy: According to studies some active components of bearberries have been claimed to prevent miscarriages, and ensures a better overall health of both mother and child during pregnancy. Even post pregnancy bearberries have been known to help the mother recover quickly.

Pain relief: Ointment and salve made using bearberries have been used to relieve pain and inflammation effectively. Topical application of salve made by bearberries are can be applied to burns, bruises, wounds, etc. The natural ingredient present in bearberries help speed the healing process under the skin, reduces pain and soothes inflammation.

This fruit is immensely rich in antioxidants. However, one must always consult a doctor before making it a vital part of the diet especially during pregnancy.

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Golden ways to get bigger breasts naturally

They say you inherit your breast size from someone in your family. So in reality there is little you can do to correct their size, unless you plan to get them surgically enhanced (which again comes with its own set of challenges). Various surveys have proved that women with the ideal breast (or boobs) size have higher self esteem. So what options are women left with if they don't want to get implants done?

There are many ways a woman can naturally enhance her breast size. Exercising, eating the right food and a few changes in your lifestyle may get you the desired results.

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Let's find out what you can do to get bigger breasts

1) EXERCISING

Exercising regularly and in the right way may help you in getting bigger breasts.

a) Push-ups: Not only good for triceps, push-ups also help in strengthening the pectoral muscles that are located below the breasts. Initially, you may find this exercise a bit tiring, so start with 2 to 3 sets of ten push-ups in a day and increase the number as your body gets used to the exercise.

This is how you should do push-ups:

Get into the high plank position and firmly place your hands on the ground, directly under the shoulders. Keeping your back straight, bring your body towards the ground. Make sure your stomach should not touch the floor. Push back up. If you find this exercise too challenging, then you may keep your knees on the floor.

b) Crunches: Crunches trim the belly fat and strengthen ab muscles. Once the abs get in shape and toned, it strengthens breast muscles and you get fuller breasts.

How to do crunches:

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place your hands under your head. Lift your shoulders and upper back up away from the floor. You eyes should be focused towards the ceiling. Exhale as you come up, hold for a second and inhale when you return to the original position.

c) Wall ups: Walls ups are especially for women who find push-ups hard and tiring. Just like push-ups, you have to push yourself against a wall. Wall ups too strengthen pectoral muscles, tone breast shape and increase size.

d) Right way to do wall-ups:

Stand in front of a wall and lift your arms to the shoulder level. Firmly place your palms on the wall and push off the wall until your arms are in an outstretched position with elbows bent. Come back to the original positions. Initially, try four sets ten times each.

e) Chest press with dumbbells: This exercise firms up breast tissues and strengthens pectoral muscles. It is important to note that you should do this exercise with easy-to-lift dumbbells.

How to do chest press with dumbbells:

Lie on a bench with dumbbell in each hand. Your feet should be firmly placed on the floor. Push the dumbbells up in a way that your arms are directly over the shoulders and palms up. Bring the dumbbells back to the shoulder level and repeat.

f) Chest contractions: Focusing the isometric contractions of the chest, this exercise is one of the best types of breast-building workouts.

The right way to do chest contractions:
Hold a towel in front of you. Your arms should be stretched up in front of your chest. Each hand should clutch one end of the towel. Now pull both ends of the towel simultaneously, away from each other. While doing the exercise, contract your chest muscles.

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2) Diet for bigger breasts

Diet plays a significant role in shaping up the body. Where breast size is concerned, it requires proper nutrition.

a) Milk: Intake of milk contributes to the growth of breast tissues. Cow's milk is enriched with estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, which are required to produce milk in women, thus enhancing breast size.

b) Green leafy vegetables: For bigger boobs, include green leafy vegetables in your daily diet. These vegetables are also a good source of iron and calcium.

Mostly, green leafy vegetables do not contain phytoestrogens that help in increasing breast tissues, but they tone developed breasts. Another reason to eat green leafy vegetables is they prevent the male testosterone production in women. This balances the hormones in a woman's body and allows natural estrogen level to control the body functioning.

c) Nuts: High in monosaturated fats, nuts are essential for building breast tissues and enhancing breast growth.

d) Soy: Soy contains phytoestrogens, the hormone responsible for breast growth. Soy also contains isoflavones, which fights against free radicals and cancer cells that might grow in breast tissues.

Include foods like flax seeds, fenugreek and fennel seeds in your diet. Some other types of foods that help in toning and increasing breast tissues are legumes and soya bean.

3) Some other ways

For proper growth of your boobs, it is essential to choose the right bra. Bra size plays an important role in controlling sagging and making your breast firm and toned. Another way to get bigger breasts is massaging. Massage your breasts at least once a day. This increases blood circulation, which leads to a smooth flow of hormones and increases breast size.

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5 best ways to lose weight

Behind every intention to lose weight or eat right, there is always a hurdle to cross. In order to resist cracking at the first temptation, find a balance in which habits work for you and determine what changes you need to make. 

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Eat smart

Low-fat cooking can be enjoyable if you apply your mind and make the food taste and look good. For instance, bake, steam, grill or stir-fry foods instead of deep-frying them. Trim off the skin and fat from the meats, so that they are more nutritious and heart-healthy. Enjoy experimenting with different flavours, vegetables, spices, herbs, fruits, seeds and nuts.

Tip: When you eat out, make special requests to get what you want. For example, you can request for baked potatoes instead of French fries, honey and lemon dressing instead of mayonnaise, roti instead of buttery naan.

Eat at regular intervals

You must eat regularly. Skipping meals just simply doesn't work. When the body is deprived of regular nourishment, it gets into the habit of functioning to a minimum - slowing down its metabolism.

Tip: Avoid eating when you are emotionally worked-up. You may tend to reach out to food as a comforter.

Plan your meals

When food craving grips, you tend to make a dash for the fridge or eat whatever you find accessible. Avoid giving into temptation by planning ahead. Keep some ready-to-eat foods such as fruits, cut vegetables, sprouts, a sandwich or roasted savouries, handy. Just make sure they are accessible when you need them.

Tip: Make a list of your requirements, so that you are better organised when you shop for food.

Avoid distractions
If you eat while watching television or while working on the computer, chances are that you won't be disciplined about the foods you consume; the mind is not focused on eating right.

Tip: It is best to eat on the dining table or at the kitchen table where you are mindful of what you eat.

Discipline your mind

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Exercise daily. Control cravings and portions when you eat.

Tip: The easiest way to distinguish between craving and appetite is to wait a while before you eat. Give it 20 minutes, if you are still hungry, your body needs the food.

- Namita Jain is a wellness specialist who has recently authored the book Low Fat Low Guilt
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High salt intake might double risk of heart failure

Doctors say that table salt or sodium chloride is one of the biggest sources of sodium in our diets. It is made up of 40 per cent sodium and 60 per cent chloride. Dr Tilak Suvarna, senior interventional cardiologist says, "Sodium is a mineral that is essential for life. It helps to control our body's fluid balance, assists in sending nerve impulses and affects muscle function."

Cardiologists say that while we do need sodium in our diet to help regulate fluids in the body, the amount of salt we actually eat in a day is far more than we require.

"It's the excess of sodium that's the problem in relation to blood pressure. When there's extra sodium in our bloodstream, it attracts water into our blood vessels, increasing the total amount of blood flowing inside, leading to a hike in blood pressure," says Dr Suvarna.

There is very convincing evidence in the form of studies and research done in our country and abroad, which has shown that regularly eating too much salt puts us at increased risk of developing high blood pressure. It is the main cause of strokes and also a major cause of heart attacks and heart failures — the most common causes of death and illness in the world.

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Why you need to stop having excess salt


"Even if one does not have high blood pressure, eating less sodium can help blunt the rise in blood pressure that occurs with age, and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke," says Dr Santosh Kumar Dora, senior cardiologist.

Eating less salt has also been shown to reduce the risk of kidney disease, osteoporosis, stomach cancer and even headaches. The extra water in our body can also lead to bloating and weight gain.



High salt intake can be very harmful


"So far, high salt intake has been associated with increased risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease and stroke. No such association has been seen for heart failure. In fact, there have been conflicting reports with some studies suggesting an association between dietary sodium intake with fluid retention and risk for hospitalisation, whereas other studies, however, have signalled a worsening of heart failure with sodium restriction," says Dr Suvarna.

There is now enough evidence to start taking action to reduce salt intake globally, which could include legislation and education, alongside collaboration with the food industry, say cardiologists in the city.

Beware! Salt ups the risk of heart ailments

"A recent study has found that those who consumed more than 14 grams of salt per day had two times higher risk of heart failure compared to those consuming less than seven grams per day, independent of other risk factors," says Dr Dora.

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Keep in mind...

• About 77 per cent of the sodium we consume comes from packaged or prepared foods. The rest of the sodium in our diet occurs naturally in food (about 12 per cent) or is added by us during cooking or while eating our meals (about 11 per cent). So, even if you are not using a salt shaker, you're probably getting too much sodium.
• Most of the sodium that we eat is in our food before we buy it, so, many people unfortunately don't realise that they are eating too much salt. Thus, it makes it hard for people to limit how much sodium they are eating.
• Dr Suvarna says, "It is recommended that we should eat no more than six gm of salt a day, which is about a teaspoon. For people with high blood pressure, the recommendation is less four gm of salt which is about 2/3rd of a teaspoon."

DID YOU KNOW?

The World Health Organization recommends salt intake to be a maximum of five gms/ day for a normal person. The daily physiological need is around two to three gms/day.

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