Sunday, November 19, 2006

Pomegranate- Medicinal Benefits

Pomegranate is a very popular fruit and is grown in many parts of the world. It is a six sided fruit of fairly large size. The skin is tough. The fruit has numerous seeds. These seeds are surrounded by a succulent coating of pink or crimson color juice.

It has many medicinal properties. This fruit is a cure for many a illness. All the parts of the plant like the roots, leaves, flowers etc are used for various medicinal purposes. It is a good tonic for the heart. This fruit is a very good remedy for stomach related problems. The fruit is also an effective laxative.

Pomegranate enhances the semen formation, activates memory, acts as a blood purifier and improves the formation of hemoglobin. Consumption pomegranate aids is good blood circulation and promotes mental energy too. It is good against indigestion and dysentery.

They are a good cure for sore throat and chest troubles. The rind of the fruit is given for diarrhea and dysentery. The juice of the fruit added to a few strands of saffron quenches the thristy feeling during fever. The juice helps in toning up the functions of the kidney , heart and liver. The gum inflammations are trated using the bark of the tree.

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Saturday, November 18, 2006

What is Pre-Diabetes?

Diabetes is the most common metabolic disorder in the world. It is caused by absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. The total deficiency causes the Type 1 diabetes and the relative deficiency causes the Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. Diabetes is most prevalent in south east Asian countries.

There are several risk factors associated with diabetes like acquired, environmental, genetic etc., Acquired factors are like age, family history. Environmental factors are like Obesity, physical inactivity, stress, BMI. The prevalence of diabetes increases with the increasing family history of diabetes. The modern living has changed the life style pattern in such a way that the insulin sensitivity is adversely affected.

The prevalence of diabetes also increases with the age factor. Indians develop diabetes at a very young age. ‘Pre-diabetes’ is the term that denotes a stage prior to the onset of diabetes. This is a stage when an individual’s blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be termed as diabetes. This stage of pre-diabetes is also of two types: impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance. The fasting plasma glucose test or the glucose tolerance test could be used to detect pre-diabetes. This requires fasting overnight.

Individuals with pre-diabetes are not only at the risk of developing diabetes but also considered to be are increased risk of coronary heart disease. The pre-diabetes is not accompanied by any symptoms and can be detected only by sugar tests. The pre-diabetes is an opportunity for preventing diabetes. The treatment consists of weight loss through exercise, Eating vegetable and fruit diet.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Make your food Colourful and Stay Healthy

Not many of us can claim of being color conscious as far as our food is concerned. However, it is vital that we achieve a proper balance of color in the food. It is said that proper balance of color is proper balance of diet. Popularly known as ‘GYRO’ green/yellow/red/orange colored vegetables and fruit are vital for a complete proper diet. These vegetables are fruits are said to be high in fiber content and low in fat. These contain natural chemicals that help protect our body against all diseases.


Each color group of fruits and vegetables contains set of beneficial phyto-nutrients, it is said that more intense the food pigment the more greater is its disease- fighting capacity. Leaving alone the color factor, its well known that consuming fruits and vegetables helps build immunity in the system and protect against many ailments like stroke, heart disease, asthma etc., Consumption of one fruit or vegetable a day keep heart diseases at by 4 percent. Eating fruits and vegetables also helps one manage the weight factor.

The risk of diabetes is reduced by 40 percent in women who consume at least 4-5 servings of vegetables on a daily basis. Fruits are also rich in antioxidants. The antioxidants are mostly found in the skin of fruits. Ripe fruits contain antioxidants.

Greens like spinach, broccoli coriander, methi, lettuce, okra parsley, asparagus celery and vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, avocado, green peas, cucumber contain liver enzymes that help to fight cancer and reduce the risk of cataract. Fruits like jamun, grapes,berries, figs, prunes pomegranates should be eaten raw. The fruits and vegetables that fall under the red-purple family are considered true fighters. They contain carotenoid lycopene that cuts the risks of heart disease. The red capsicum, red grapes, beetroot, apples and strawberries come under this category. The yellow colored foods are very vital. The dhal family, pumpkins, mangoes, pineapples, papaya fall under this group. These foods are rich in alpha carotenes that help fight cancer.

Make your food colorful everyday and have a healthy and colorful life!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, November 06, 2006

Benefits of Meditation and Relaxation

The origin of meditation is traced back to the Vedic times. Its is basically the withdrawal of attention from external, physical and all mental processes. The basic benefits of meditation are stress reduction, improving concentration, improving on inner peace and harmony. Meditation is usually learnt in groups or individually from a trained instructor.

Meditation is usually done in a very calm and comfortable atmosphere. If one is spiritually inclined switch on to some Vedic mantra chants. One has to sit in a comfortable position with the head upright , eyes closed. Breath deeply until you settle down. Start reciting the mantras mentally and start feeling each word of the mantra in your mind. At one point of time you will start achieving more and more calmness and the mantra starts fading away and complete rest prevails. While meditation thoughts might wander. Do not force to concentrate let your thoughts wander at one point of time it will settle down and calmness would overtake. Practice for 25-30 minutes initially. The time can be increased gradually depending on the time one can spend regularly.

There are many relaxation techniques too. In this fast paced world everyone needs to relax to rejuvenate. Sleep is the most effective relaxation technique. Every individual requires a minimum of 6-8 hours of sleep. Sleep is very essential as it conserves and stores energy. Go to sleep at regular hours. Avoid any kind of stressful mental activates before sleep. As a practice one can have a cup warm milk before going to sleep. Definitely avoid coffee or tea before sleep. Avoid over sleeping as this my result in insomnia. A walk after dinner also promotes good sleep.

Listening to good music is also a best way to relax. Listen to your favorite music for sometime everyday. This practice helps to relax mentally. Attending to religious discourses, bhajans etc also promotes at most peace to the mind.

Have it a practice to break off from daily routine activities for a quite peaceful vacation. This totally relaxes the mind and body. Especially in today’s fast moving world to cope up with the pace one needs to have a clear thought process. The meditation and relaxation techniques should be practiced to achieve success in life.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

What are Cellulite Deposits?

Every Young women aspires to have glowing and marvelous skin. Unfortunately the cellulite deposits appear giving them a nightmare. Fat, fluids and toxins get trapped under the skin thus giving it a rippled appearance, like orange peel.

Certain factors like genes, pregnancy, diet, lifestyle etc., are responsible for cellulite formation. Any medication that does not allow the body to function normally also builds up toxins resulting in cellulite formation.

Tensions cause the tissues to block and thus not allowing the toxins to leave the body. This also results in cellulite formation.

A sedentary lifestyle, which almost the entire population goes through is also a reason for the cellulite formation.

Water intake should be adequate to get rid of toxins in the body. If the water intake is less then the toxins remain in the body. Excessive intake of alcohol, nicotine etc., traps the toxins under the skin not allowing them to leave.

Predominantly in women the cellulite formation occurs in the post-natal pregnancy period.

However, the treatments available for getting rid of the cellulite are all temporary like

Surgery: Where in Liposuction is involved. This technique removes a few inches from the body.
Creams, scrubs: These work on the skin and takes enormous time and has to be done continuously.
Endermologie: It’s a kind of massage therapy, where in the machine would work on the areas of abundant cellulite deposit and breaks its down and lets the body drain it.

However, the most effective remedy and cure is having good exercise routine and balanced diet.