Your immune system is the key to your sustained good health: if you have a well developed and strong immune system, you can be sure that you can keep many infections and issues at bay. Always remember that the stronger your immune system is, the healthier you remain. To keep your immunity in check and your immune system in top shape, some important dietary inclusions are in order.
– Green tea is a perfect immune booster food, that helps release antioxidants and free radicals that help keep your body in perfect shape.
– Include foods that are rich in nutrition and that contain essential minerals that are necessary for the body to stay healthy and strong.
– Avoid processed and refined foods, particularly sugars, refined flours and processed products as they can eat into your immunity levels.
– Include cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and arugula to include Sulforaphane in your body. Rich in vitamins such as A, C and E, these vitamins encourage disease-fighting capacities through phytochemicals.
– Fruits are a very rich source of minerals and vitamins, and also contain antioxidants that can help you enhance your immune system. Citrus works great for Vitamin C, which is the best supplement to have a strong immune system in place.
– Selenium is an important mineral for your immune system to function in order. Fish, particularly the fatty kind such as salmon, mackerel and trout are exceptionally rich in resources of selenium and Omega 3 fats.
– Vegetarians can opt for Omega 3 seed sources such as flax seeds, sesame, pumpkin and watermelon seeds, which help keep diseases like asthma and rheumatoid arthritis at bay.
– Red Meats are exceptionally useful resources for the body, especially since it provides proteins and amino acids that help maintain a healthy body, with reserves of iron and zinc.
– Make sure to incorporate nuts in your diet as well – especially because of the low saturated fat and high protein, fibre and phytochemical content in them. They help boost your immune system and strengthen your body’s defenses.

References:
http://www.thefitindian.com/foods-for-healthy-immune-system/
https://www.thehealthychef.com/2014/05/boost-your-immunity-the-healthy-chef-top-10-natural-immune-boosting-foods-recipes/
http://www.babble.com/mom/20-everyday-foods-to-boost-immunity/

Picture Courtesy : http://expat-parent.com/

Nothing looks better with a little black dress and a scintillating saree with as much aplomb as a pair of high heels. As delightful as the stiletto and a pair of high heels are, they are also a tiny bit of a red flag for your body’s health. Right from impacts on your lower back, knees and feet, high heels are pretty much a case of bad news.
Science and studies have revealed that high heels are the culprit underlying the rise in the number of women who now experience an agonising condition of the foot that causes one to feel the sensation of walking on razor blades. This is called Morton’s Neuroma, which is a condition where the nerves running between the toes are disturbed by the use of high heels. The number of women suffering from this has increased by double the numbers over the past 10 years.
Morton’s Neuroma develops when a particular nerve in the foot gets irritated and compressed, and to act as a buffer around it, some soft and fibrous tissue develops around the nerve. This is especially common with women who are aged between 40 and 69, who wear high heels often. After years of wearing high-heeled or ill-fitting shoes, the foot bone is pushed against the nerve, which gets irritated and develops a swelling tissue around it to cushion the pain.
Before you strap on a pair of high heels, think twice! This is not to mean that you should avoid it altogether – use it if you absolutely must, but make sure that you keep enough of a buffer between usage, and don’t get too addicted to it!

References:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/This-is-what-high-heels-do-to-your-feet/articleshow/47768857.cms

Picture Courtesy: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/

Chola MS cares deeply for its employees’ health and wellness. Given the onslaught of the monsoon, the chances of dengue are higher. In 2013 alone, there were as many as 55,000 reported cases of dengue. Fully preventable and avoidable, Dengue can be kept at bay with some simple measures. To help create awareness, Cholamandalam MS General Insurance has put up awareness posters around its office spaces for its employees’ benefit.

Dengue is caused by the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes, and tends to spread through water, garbage and sewage. Simple acts like covering all water containers, washing your hands and legs, wearing closed footwear while walking on the roads during the monsoon, using mosquito repellant creams and even avoiding storing water for too long can keep dengue at bay.The poster below will give you a better idea about Dengue and its prevention and symptoms.  

Rain Picture Courtesy : http://globe-views.com/

A full day at office can be tremendously tiring, needless to say, taxing on your health. Extensive use of the computer, sitting hunched at a desk, coming back home with lots of stress on your mind, and the burden of having to take work back home as well can make this harder. In the process, it is often a common occurrence for one’s health to take a beating. Here are some useful ways to stay healthy while holding down a demanding job!
– Keep some me time at the end of the day, before you wind down to sleep. This should be something you should look forward to, and ensuring that it remains a constant in your everyday schedule.
– Eat and snack healthy throughout the day. Remember, keeping your body well fed is important. Never skip a meal – and if you can help it, have smaller and a number of meals in a day.
– Hydrate yourself all the time – when you work in an air conditioned space, it is common for people to assume that they don’t get dehydrated, while the converse is true. It is important to ensure that you have enough water in your body, so drink up!
– Keep a stress ball in your desk draw, so that when it gets too stressful, you can release your stress by squeezing the ball in hand.
– Avoid eating out or snacking too much on unhealthy and fried food. It tends to benumb your senses and makes your sedentary daytime schedule even more taxing.
– Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Always remember that you are the only one in charge of your schedule and only you know how much you can take on. Never be ashamed of drawing boundaries.
– Relax every now and then, take breaks and get back to your work. Remember, you are more productive when your mind is refreshed.
– Workout while at work, doing desk exercises and structuring ways to walk about or move about every now and then while at your workplace, so that you don’t wind up with health disorders.
– Make sure that your sleep hours are not compromised. Sleeping every night for six to eight hours is important, and during your day, a ten minute power nap can work wonders.
– Avoid caffeine and substance abuse, and make sure that you indulge in healthy beverages to the best extent possible. Green tea and juices are any day better options than coffee!
References
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/weight-loss/Health-tips-for-corporate-employees/articleshow/47783179.cms

Photo Courtesy:abcnews.com

The rains are on us and it is but a given that everyone is vulnerable to infection in one way or the other. Staying healthy in the monsoon is absolutely important, especially since your immunity might be at a low, what with the heavy rains and exposure to too much wet weather. Here are a couple of ways to stay healthy and keep your immunity in order during the monsoon!
– Avoid eating street food, especially since they are exposed to contamination, and the use of water in cooking street food may not be clean. Hygienic food made of hygienic ingredients is but essential.
– Drink your own water. If you know you are going to be out on the road for a fair amount of time, make sure that you carry your own water rather than to rely on water bought from outside, since it may be spurious.
– Avoid raw food in the monsoons, especially since they have to be washed and served hygienically. There is a chance that they may not be clean, and this is the quickest way in which infection spreads.
– Wash your hands often to ensure that you stay away from germs. Use a hand sanitizer if it helps.
– Wear closed shoes, and if possible, water proof ones. Leptospirosis spreads through slushy water, and you’d do well to keep your toes and feet covered, lest there be an imbibition of the germs through the delicate skin between your toes.
References:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/diet/How-to-stay-healthy-this-monsoon/articleshow/47767794.cms

How often have you lain in bed, willing yourself to sleep, but have found yourself unable to? How often have you decided to just hit the sack, but find yourself looking up at the ceiling without any sleep whatsoever? With lives full of pressures, minds full of worries and tensions, and stress levels to the max, it is not an uncommon phenomenon to see more and more people being unable to sleep on time. Here are some ways to ensure that you sleep sooner, and comfortably at that.
– Switch off electronic gadgets around your bed, and if it is possible, avoid having them around your bed altogether because radiation from these gadgets hinders sleep.
– Avoid watching television or a computer screen for at least an hour before your sleep, so your mind is able to disconnect suitably.
– Bathe for a while in a hot water shower, and use scented soaps to help calm your mind enough to sleep
– Read before you sleep, so it helps you de-stress.
– If you know that you are stressed, spend some time unwinding and de-stressing before going to sleep.
– Drink warm milk or warm water before sleeping, and avoid caffeine and soda at any rate..
– Make sure that your vitamins and minerals are in order, for sleeplessness can ensue from deficiencies of nutrients in the body.
– Wear loose and comfortable clothing so that your body breathes easy and you are able to fall asleep better.
– Make it a point to use the bathroom before turning in for the night, so that you do not have to get up again and disrupt your sleep.
– Use aroma oils, particularly lavender, ylang ylang, patchouli and rosemary for a night of sound sleep.
– Sleep in a space that is clutter and junk free, and keep your spaces well ventilated. Switch off the lights at night, use a mild night lamp if you’re not able to sleep in the dark.
– Make sure to eat well before you go to sleep, so that your body can finish digesting the food rather than to do it while you attempt to sleep.

References:
http://fitnesskites.com/how-to-fall-asleep-fast/

Picture Courtesy:  topinspired.com

When one is diagnosed with diabetes or high blood sugar that is not yet diabetes, there is an imminent need to control the extent of blood sugar or glucose in the blood, to ensure that the body balance is maintained. Here are some important steps to follow so that your blood sugar remains in check.

– Always make it a point to monitor your blood sugar levels and blood glucose levels. This will help you keep an eye out for ways that you can stay in control, and not go overboard with your intake of sugar.

Identify the ideal sugar level and glucose goals for your body, and make sure that you remain within the established levels. This can be done through regular check-ups, or if you are willing, perhaps through a glucometer that you can invest in, on your own.

– Keep an eye on your carbohydrate intake. Make sure that you indulge in a balanced meal that helps your body retain its levels of blood sugar and blood glucose in check. Counting carbohydrates is important so that your blood glucose is not elevated.

– Exercise regularly, but be aware of how your exercise affects your blood glucose levels. It is important to keep a few strips, meters, glucose tablets and also an emergency phone on your person while exercising.

– When you are ill, your blood glucose levels are also affected. It is important to understand what your illness is like, and how your blood glucose can rise or fall accordingly. In such times, it is important to monitor your blood sugar levels and ensure that it doesn’t slip below the lower level.

– Make sure that your stress levels are low, and that you sleep well every day. The lack of sleep and the presence of high levels of stress can affect your blood sugar levels. When you know that you are in a space in life with a high sugar levels, make sure to invest in ways to de-stress regularly and to give your body the rest it needs.

– Hormones in the body can play a fairly significant role in affecting the extent of blood sugar and glucose levels. This is especially so in the case of women who are pregnant, and women at and around menopause. Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly, and visit your doctor if there are drastic changes.

– When you are on certain kinds of medication, or when your body is being administered new medication, it is important to understand the kind of impact that it can have on your sugar levels. Certain kinds of medication cannot be taken in when one has a sugar issue, so always be sure to tell your physicians when they prescribe medication that you are on blood sugar monitoring medications. Staying within your blood glucose ranges is exceptionally vital for your wellbeing. It is always advisable to be vigilant, and to follow instructions with astute care and importance for timeliness in medication and dietary needs.

References:

http://www.diabetescare.net/authors/clara-schneider/how-can-you-control-blood-sugar?utm_source=Outbrain

Photo Courtesy: www.medicaldaily.com

Do you know that the environment plays a major role in our health?  As humans, we leave the largest carbon footprint on the planet, and the more we keep harming the environment, the more it affects our health, as a species. Today being World Environment Day, Here is a list of 10 ways you can help protect the environment, and even help reverse some of the harmful effects of our lifestyle.

1. Walk More:  Walk or ride a bicycle when your destination is close to home. Short trips are generally the hardest on your car and on the environment, so swap out your car for your feet or bike. The less time you spend driving, the less Carbon Dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
2. Reduce the use of plastic bags:  When you go to grocery stores it is better to stop buying plastic bags, move to using reusable bags instead.
3. Learn to love leftovers: Plan your meals so that you don’t cook more than you will eat. Store your leftovers and use them up at your next meal. If you do have a lot of food, such as after a party, share it with friends. You can also freeze the leftovers.
4. Switch off electricity when it’s not used:  If you’re not using an electrical object, turn it off. This goes for lights, televisions, computers, printers. They consume a lot of power so it is always better to switch it off when it’s not used.
5. Recycle: . Be sure to separate your trash cans into glass, metal, paper, etc. the more we recycle the less we waste.  Try to recycle as much as possible.
6. Don’t waste Food: If possible, choose more local, organic and seasonal food. This will reduce unnecessary transportation ways, keep the environment cleaner and your body healthier.
7. Plant a tree: Trees clean our air and create oxygen. This is a great way to compensate for the pollution of our environment and a small way to start!
8.  Save Water: Don’t let water run when you don’t use it. For example while brushing your teeth, washing vessels or when you shampoo your hair make sure you don’t let it run when it’s not being used.  It will save a lot of water.
9. Say no to plastic bottles: Why buy plastic bottles when you can do so much better? Go for glass bottles and jars instead of throwing water bottles on the road.
10. Solar Panels: Solar electricity is a definite way to start! Install solar panels on your roof and it converts sunlight to electricity.

References:

http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Save-the-Environment

http://greatist.com/happiness/ways-help-environment

http://www.ebay.com/gds/10-Great-Ways-to-Help-The-Environment-/10000000002574285/g.html

It’s no news, nor rocket science, that smoking is injurious to health, and that tobacco cravings can be a huge pile of baggage that can wear you down when you try quitting smoking. The point you should keep in mind when you quit is that you made the decision to turn your life around, and that deserves to be kept afloat. Here are a couple of ways you can use to ensure that your status as a non-smoker remains thus.
– Nicotine replacement therapy is a useful means to deal with cravings. Whether through nicotine nasal sprays or inhalers, patches, gums or lozenges, nicotine replacement is the first step to quitting. Addiction allows your body to remain in need, and when smoking is taken away, there should be something for it to latch onto.
– Stay away from triggers. Tobacco urges can lead you to give into temptation when you are around triggers such as smoke odours, watching people smoke and even being around other smokers in general. Keep yourself distracted when you are in such situations so as not to smoke again.
– Delay your response to your cravings, and spend a few minutes to do something that distracts you tremendously, enough for you to forget about smoking.
– Keep your mouth busy when you feel a tobacco craving. A useful tip would be to chew on something – snack on raw carrots or nuts, or gum. Just keep your mouth occupied and avoid smoking.
– Don’t give in to your craving to have just one – because it never stops. You might think you can stop with one, but the fact is, you cannot. Don’t give in to the craving unless you want to get stuck in a mess.
– Keep your body healthy through exercise. A healthy body that has enough exercise will not want to crave for tobacco on any account. Walk, jog, do aerobic activity and swim, even, and you’ll find yourself moving away from tobacco.
– Relax your mind and body. Don’t work yourself up into a state of agitation on any account. Life has its challenges, and you have your strategies. Nothing you smoke is going to make a difference to the way things work out – because your full involvement and energy is necessary to help address life’s challenges.
– Indulge in aromatherapy. Smoking cues are heavily centred around odour and triggers relating to odour. By and large, avoiding the odour and anything that can remind one of the odour is a useful way to avoid smoking. Aromatherapy can help you in this regard, while also calming your mind and taking it away from addiction.

References:
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/tips-to-help-you-stop-smoking
http://www.wikihow.com/Quit-Smoking
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/in-depth/nicotine-craving/art-20045454
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/in-depth/nicotine-craving/art-20045454?pg=2

Photo Courtesy: www.blogigo.com

The world has seen the worst of the obesity epidemic that has taken over many people across ages, cultures and classes. The reasons that lead to obesity largely centre around lifestyle choices that involve high calorie eating and low movement or sedentary existences, along with a range of other addictions such as fast food, alcohol and substance abuse. Keeping Obesity at bay is doing yourself a huge service, and it is one of the greatest investments you can make in yourself. Here’s a look at a few things you can incorporate in your everyday living to make sure that you stay away from obesity.
– Follow a good exercise regimen and stick to it regularly. It is no use if you exercise on the odd occasion and then lead a sedentary lifestyle. Find an exercise routine that both interests you and is affordable and accessible, and stick to it.
– Eat all that you want but make sure that you have a strong sense of portion control. However, go easy on the carbohydrates and fats, and make sure that you get enough vitamins and minerals by increasing your greens, vegetables and fruits.
– Avoid everything white. Whether sugar and refined flour, or white bread and rice, anything that is white has been scientifically proven to have an adverse impact on your physical health. Refined flours are complex carbohydrates that add calories.
– Avoid empty calories and choose healthy options instead. Thirsty? Ditch the soda and opt for a fresh fruit juice or some green tea. Hungry? Forget snacking on fried food and pick up salad sticks or oatmeal cookies instead!
– Do not remain sedentary. One of the biggest contributors to obesity is that people tend to follow a sedentary lifestyle and do not move about! Walk up and down your house every now and then, get up to answer the door and climb up and down the stairs instead of using the elevator. If you can help it, make sure that you take regular breaks from work and walk instead of sitting put in one space. Include all the basic movements in your everyday living – stretch, squat, bend and lift.
– Drink green tea. Instead of caffeine, add green tea to your dietary regimen. The antioxidant properties in green tea can help release free radicals that increment your metabolism enough to keep your weight in check.
– Do not eat in between meals. Eating between meals can be one of the major things in your lifestyle to drive you towards obesity. Either have three square meals and avoid eating in between, or divide up your meal structure into smaller meals throughout the day, and stay full.

References:
http://healthmeup.com/photogallery-weight-loss/6-fat-burning-drinks-that-will-shrink-your-waist/15051248/6
http://healthmeup.com/news-weight-loss/abdominal-obesity-how-to-prevent-abdominal-obesity/18792
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/weight-loss/Brilliant-ways-to-prevent-obesity/articleshow/21487595.cms
http://www.indiaparenting.com/health/324_2174/genetic-obesity-and-how-to-deal-with-it.html

Picture Courtesy : ayamalta.com