GOOD DAILY HABITS FOR ALL

GOOD DAILY HABITS FOR ALL

1. Maintain super-fresh breath

·         A minty fresh breath and a set of healthy pearly white teeth are a good health booster.

·         Chronic bad breath also makes you unpopular with friends and at work.

·         Chew cloves, fennel or anise seeds after odoriferous meals, and brush and floss.

·         Apply mashed strawberries to your teeth for whiter teeth.

·         Parsley contains chlorophyll, a well-known natural breath deodoriser.

·         Herbs and spices are natural breath enhancers.

·         Don't use lemon or baking soda to whiten your teeth as they will spoil them in the long run.

2. Avoid obsessive grooming

·         Think of grooming only to look as fresh and natural as possible.

·         If you have to shave your chest, use a non-bumpy, smoother medium.

·         For eyebrows, groom only the underside of your brows and leave the top arch.

·         Pedicures and manicures are hygienic, but don't get your nails buffed.

·         Use sunscreen, even when it's cloudy or cold outside, to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays.

3. Prevent body odour

·         Use some deodorant when there is excess sweating and unpleasant body odour.

·         Keep wet wipes handy, and when the need arises, clean your arm pits and neck with them.

·         After this, one can even dab some talcum powder in those areas.

·         Consuming about 4-5 bottles of water in a day can be helpful too.

·         Green tea, green vegetables and fruits eventually reduce body odour.

·         Jogging and basic cardio also reduce the toxins released with sweat.

4. Practice good oral hygiene

·         It means keeping the mouth, teeth and gums clean and healthy to prevent dental problems.

·         It also helps in healing tissues during gingivitis, periodontitis, oral cysts and tooth extraction.

·         Healthy teeth make it possible for you to enjoy your food, feel good, and laugh without inhibitions.

·         Use dental products that contain fluoride.

·         Don’t brush with salt, coal or brick powder as it doesn’t help your oral hygiene.

·         Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day for at least two minutes and floss regularly.

·         Make sure you brush properly with the correct technique.

·         Massage gums with toothbrush bristles and use a tongue cleaner daily.

·         Rinse your mouth with a fluoride mouth rinse, with your doctor’s advice, to prevent tooth decay.

·         Try inter-dental cleaning aids if you wear dental braces and visit your doctor every six months.

·         As a rule, never ignore a dental disorder.

·         Eat a balanced diet and limit snacks between meals.

·         Calcium and Vitamin D are essential for maintaining the health of the gums.

·         Copper, zinc, iodine, iron and potassium are also needed for good oral health.

·         Avoid junk food and never bite your nails if you feel nervous.

·         Stop smoking and tobacco chewing as they are harmful to teeth as well.

·         Ensure that children under 12 drink fluoridated water or take a fluoride supplement in some form.

·         Discourage children from sucking their thumb.

FRUIT ASTROLOGY

FRUIT ASTROLOGY

·         Are you curious to know which fruit will bring you good luck and fortune in your everyday life?

·         In Numerology, the sum of your date of birth is considered to be your ruling number.

·         If you were born on the 7th day of the month, your ruling number is 7, and if you were born on the 25th of the month, your ruling number again is 7 (2+5).

Ruling No 1

·         As a number 1 person, you should start your day with an apple.

·         As well as being charming, you make an excellent team leader and love to travel.

Ruling No 2

·         For all number 2 people, bananas are considered to be lucky.

·         You are gentle, warm and sympathetic by nature.

·         Beauty is very important to you.

Ruling No 3

·         As an optimistic number 3 person, your lucky fruit is the coconut.

·         Quick witted and alert, you like to stay on top of any situation.

Ruling No 4

·         As a traditional number 4 person, mangoes are the fruit for you.

·         You love challenges and have strong likes and dislikes which cannot be changed.

Ruling No 5

·         For a creative number 5 person, cherries are the fruit of choice.

·         You have a rich imagination and are extremely loyal in your personal as well as your love life.

Ruling No 6

·         Number 6 people are responsible, and your lucky fruit is the orange.

·         You will slowly but steadily reach your goals.

·         You try to stay away from conflict.

Ruling No 7

·         As a resourceful and imaginative number 7, your lucky fruit is the papaya.

·         You are cultured and have an elegant taste along with a wonderful sense of humour.

Ruling No 8

·         As well as being a leader, you believe in planning as a number 8 person, and your lucky fruit is the pineapple.

·         You believe in making friends for life.

Ruling No 9

·         As a compassionate and caring number 9 person, your lucky fruit is the peach.

·         You have excellent communication skills and make a perfect lover.

BEATING SKIN WRINKLES

 

1. Sun exposure

·         Most of the visible signs of premature ageing are caused by the sun, although they may show up after several years of exposure.

·         To help avoid premature ageing, use a sunscreen of at least SPF-15 factor every day, even on cloudy days, as UV rays can penetrate clouds.

·         Switch to a higher SPF when the sun is at its strongest.

 

2. Dehydration

·         Keep your skin hydrated both inside and outside by drinking plenty of water throughout the day , and by eating fruits and vegetables with high water content.

·         To moisturise the skin from the outside, use a moisturiser suitable for your skin type or hydrating oils such as vitamin E, avocado or almond oil.

·         Use a humidifier in your room to counteract the drying effects of central heating and air conditioning.

 

3. Poor diet

·         Poor diets, including sugar, are a leading cause of wrinkles and skin ageing.

·         High blood sugar levels cause glycation which hardens the collagen in your skin, leading to wrinkles and sagging.

·         To keep skin firm and smooth, check the sugar content of products to reduce sugary foods.

4. Lack of nutrition

·         To help ward off wrinkles, try to eat a diet full of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.

·         Omega-3 fatty acids prevent dehydration and dryness to keep skin supple and nourished.

·         Antioxidants help fight against free radicals that cause wrinkles.

·         Good anti-oxidant foods include oily fish, flax seeds and antioxidant-rich berries.

·         Spinach, a good source of lutein, prevents wrinkles by helping to retain the skin's moisture and elasticity, increasing lipid levels and preventing damage caused by free radicals.

5. Poor eyesight

·         The fine lines and crow's feet around your eyes can increase by unconscious frowning or squinting caused by poor eyesight.

·         If you are regularly squinting to see better, get your eyes checked, and wear glasses or contact lenses.

6. Smoking

·         Cigarette smoke can irritate the skin and deprive it of oxygen and nutrients.

·         The act of smoking can cause wrinkles around the mouth.

·         So, for your appearance and health, try to break the habit now.

 

7. Stress

·         Chronic stress can actually accelerate cellular ageing, leading to wrinkles.

·         For a wrinkle-free skin, stress-busting techniques like meditation, exercise or yoga can help.

HYPERTENSION AND THE HEART

HYPERTENSION AND THE HEART

1. Reducing blood pressure

·         High blood pressure can drastically increase risks of strokes, kidney failure and heart disease.

·         With increasing sugar, salt and saturated fats in our fast food culture, it gains prominence.

 

2. What is blood pressure?

·         The term simply refers to the pressure of blood as it flows through the body’s arteries.

·         It rises when blood has to force its way through these vessels with greater exertion.

·         Pressure is stated as two figures (in millimeters of mercury) – like 120/80.

·         The first number is ‘systolic’ pressure, i.e. how effective your heart is at pumping blood around the arteries, and is measured as our heart contracts and pushes blood through the arteries.

·         The second number is ‘diastolic’ pressure, i.e. how efficiently your heart relaxes between beats, and is measured when the heart relaxes between beats to refill the blood.

·         A blood pressure level of 140/90 or more can signal potential health problems, when blood struggles to get round the arteries fast enough.

 

3. Lowering the risks of high blood pressure

·         Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is called a ‘silent killer’ with no initial symptoms.

·         Its poor treatment can lead to heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, artery disease,  and hypertensive retinopathy.

·         While risk factors like age and family history are not controllable, other factors like smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol intake, lack of exercise, and certain medications are controllable.

·         Soaring blood pressure levels are often caused by fatty deposits in the arteries, and a change in lifestyle and diet is therefore essential in combating the risks of high blood pressure.

4. Cutting down on alcohol

·         Try and avoid binge drinking, especially on social gatherings, to control your blood pressure.

5. Reducing salt intake

·         Salty meals or snacks like chips and pop corn cause fatty deposits to form in the arteries.

·         Reduce the salt in your diet to avoid high blood pressure.

6. Get some quality exercise

·         The best way to burn off fatty flab is to get some regular exercise.

7. Increasing potassium intake

·         Potassium helps balance the water in your body, control acidity and muscular growth.

·         Potassium-rich foods help in regulating blood flow through the arteries more efficiently.

·         Potassium-rich foods include bananas, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumber, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, spinach, broccoli, and tuna.

8. Stop smoking

·         Tar and toxic fumes of smoking damage blood cells and vessels, increasing blood pressure.

9. Eating more fruit and vegetables

·         Increasing the volume of fruit and green vegetables in your diet could really cut your blood pressure, as well as boosting your general health with essential minerals and vitamins.

10. Finding out your blood pressure

·         The best way to measure your blood pressure is to make an appointment with your doctor.

·         The general guidelines of blood pressure measurements are:

o        Normal BP – less than 120 / 80

o        Pre-hypertension – 120-139 / 80-89

o        High BP (Stage 1) – 140-159 / 90-99

o        High BP (Stage 2) – 160 and higher / 100.

·         Blood pressure normally varies throughout the day.

·         To confirm hypertension, 24-hour BP monitoring and 2D echocardiography are very critical.

·         2D echocardiography is done to evaluate heart muscle condition and the efficiency of pumping.

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY HEART

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY HEART

·         Do regular aerobic exercises, like brisk walking, cycling and swimming.

·         Include more grains, veggies, beans, fruits, fish, seeds, and yoghurt in your diet.

·         Cut down on milk, ghee, butter, cheese, coconut oil, nuts, root vegetables, potato, yam, ice cream, chocolates, pickles, yellow of eggs, red meat, liver, brain, kidney, coffee and tea.

·         Add garlic, onion, tomato, cucumber, tender beans, brinjal, ladies finger, cauliflower, drumstick, carrots, radish, cabbage, and dark leafy vegetables in your food recipes.

·         All fruits can be taken, but diabetic persons should avoid mangoes and jack fruit.

·         Cut down on sodium (salt) with not more than 1 tsp per day in any form.

·         Have a regular diet and adequate water.

·         Prefer green tea over any other drink.

·         Take rest for 45 minutes to one hour after each meal.

·         Before getting up from lying position, sit up for one minute with legs down.

·         Avoid climbing stairs or do it very slowly.

·         Never carry any heavy weight.

·         Never bend to take things from the ground - sit down and take them.

·         Maintain a healthy weight.

·         Keep alcohol levels down.

·         Abrupt, permanent and total cessation of smoking in any form is of prime importance.

·         Get adequate sleep in the night.

·         Monitor your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol level.

·         Avoid stress by organizing your work schedule.

·         Practice yoga and meditation to reduce stress.

·         Always keep laughter and happiness in your life and heart.

·         Live a life at peace with self and surroundings.

·         Remember that coronary by-pass surgery, angioplasty and stenting are all only temporary relief and not a cure.

FASHION HEALTH HAZARDS

FASHION HEALTH HAZARDS

1: Skinny jeans

·         For men, wearing tight trousers can cause overheating of the testes, lowering sperm count and fertility problems.

·         For women, wearing skinny jeans can increase chances of developing thrush.

·         Skin-tight trousers can also cause nerve compression, leading to tingling or numb thighs.

2: High heels

·         Wearing heels daily can cause poor posture, put pressure on your joints, and may lead to arthritis, hammer toes, back pain, tendon injuries and accidents.

·         Limit your heels to 1.5 inches for daily wear and wear insoles to reduce the pressure on joints.

·         Swapping to wedges will also give you more support.

3: Flip-flops

·         Wearing flip-flops offers no arch support or heel cushioning, and can lead to joint pain, shin splints and orthopaedic problems.

·         They are better reserved for the beach, with more supportive shoes for everyday wear.

4: Sexy underwear

·         Donning synthetic fabrics and thongs can cause chafing and infections to delicate skin, and can encourage yeast organisms to multiply, increasing risk of thrush.

·         Wearing thongs can also contribute to the spread of bacteria, leading to urinary tract infections.

·         Swap skimpy, synthetic underwear for pretty cotton briefs for daily wear.

5: Y-fronts

·         Wearing of tight-fitting Y-fronts by men can cause overheating and lead to reduced sperm production and fertility.

·         It is important to keep things cool by swapping tight briefs for boxer shorts at all times.

6: Piercings

·         Body piercings can lead to complications including swelling, bleeding and infection.

·         Jewellery can lead to rashes and itching for those with nickel allergies, while dangly earrings can damage the ear tissue as it is stretched and pulled down by their weight.

·         Always go to a reputable piercer for new piercings, opt for hypoallergenic jewellery where possible, and reserve heavy earrings for special occasions.

7: Slimming underwear

·         Tummy-control slimming underwear (or control pants) puts increased pressure on the stomach, often leading to heartburn, breathing and digestive problems, and irritable bowel syndrome.

8: Handbags

·         Lugging around a heavy handbag can eventually lead to serious back problems and neck pain as well as poor posture.

·         Try clearing out all non-essential items and switching to a smaller bag.

9: Tight shirt collars and ties

·         Wearing tight shirt collars and ties can reduce blood flow to the brain and increase intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye), causing headaches, tingly ears or blurred vision at work.

·         Make sure you buy shirts with the correct collar size and loosen your tie.

·         Also, wash your ties regularly to avoid bacterial infection.

10: Bras

·         While wearing a bra, it’s important to make sure that you are wearing one that fits.

·         Wearing a wrong bra size can lead to back, neck and breast pain, breathing difficulties, poor posture, skin irritation, circulation problems and even irritable bowel syndrome.

·         Breast size can change over time so, rather than guessing your size, make sure you get measured to ensure you are getting the support you need.