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One of the World’s Healthiest Foods

If you speak to anyone trying to lose weight or looking to bulk up on essential vitamins and minerals, they’ll tell you that flaxseeds are the ultimate powerhouse of nutrition. They’re tiny nutty-flavoured seeds that not only taste good but have innumerable health benefits.

They’re extremely versatile and can be sneaked into almost everything you eat. Linseeds or flaxseeds usually come in two different colours, brown and yellow, but the nutritional profile of both is absolutely identical.

Nutrient Chart

Flaxseeds are a source of three key nutrients:

1. Omega 3 Fatty Acids – Omega-3 are polyunsaturated fatty acids, considered as essential nutrients that our body can’t produce but needs to maintain good brain health and cognitive function. (More: Omega 3 fatty acids are the key to super health)

2. Rich in Lignans – Lignans are naturally occurring forms of the female hormone estrogen and are found in certain foods.

3. Good source of Mucilage – Mucilage helps assures a healthy intestine and proper absorption of nutrients.

Benefits of Eating Flaxseeds:

1. Flaxseeds are good for the heart – Flaxseeds are rich in alpha linolenic acid which prevents inflammation and protects blood vessels from damage. Researchers showed that regular intake of these seeds lowers LDL (low density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol) and increase levels of HDL (high density lipoprotein or good cholesterol).

2. Flaxseeds are rich in antioxidants – Flaxseeds are significantly higher in antioxidants compared to fruits or vegetables. Adding flaxseeds to your diet boosts your overall and also helps in delaying ageing.

3. Flaxseeds prevent cancer – Studies show that eating flaxseeds reduces the risk of breast cancer, prostate and colon cancer.

4. Help with digestion and weight loss – Flaxseeds are high on fiber which is why they help in relieving constipation. They also leave you feeling full which stops you from overeating.

5. Flaxseeds are extremely good for glowing skin and healthy hair because of the high amount of omega 3 fatty acid present in them.

Flaxseeds and Women’s Health

Listen up ladies! Flaxseeds with their wonder properties are a brilliant solution for all kinds of hormonal problems. Due to their high content of lignans, flaxseeds help reduce high levels of estrogen and also boost low estrogen levels. They can help reduce menopausal symptoms, such as flushing and night sweats. Flaxseeds can also help women with irregular periods and those with extreme symptoms of PMS – for example, headache, anxiety, mood swings etc. They also help in controlling heavy bleeding during menstruation, reduce the risk of breast cancer and improve uterine function.

How to Use Flaxseeds

Grind the flaxseeds, store them in air tight container and use them in any of the following ways:
a.   Add grounded flaxseeds (1tsp) while kneading dough for chapattis, bread or biscuits.
b.   Add half a teaspoon of flaxseeds in porridge, oats or muesli.
c.   Sprinkle flaxseeds on salads, cooked vegetables or cooked dals.
d.   Mix flaxseed in smoothies or curd.

Top Recipes:

Flaxseed Smoothie
Ingredients
2 Tbsp flaxseeds
1 cup flavored soya milk
1 cup chilled and roughly chopped strawberries
1/2 cup chilled and roughly chopped bananas
2 tsp honey
Garnish: 2 strawberries and 2 bananas slices

Method
1. Add strawberries, bananas, flax seeds and honey in soya milk, blend in a juicer till the mixture is smooth and frothy.
2. Pour equal quantities of the smoothie into 2 individual glasses.
3. Serve and garnished with a strawberry and banana slice.

Flaxseed Raita
Ingredients
1 cup bottle gourd, thickly grated
1 cup low-fat curd, fresh beaten
1/2 cup mint leaves, finely chopped (pudina)
1/4 tsp roasted cumin seeds (jeera)
1/4 tsp black salt
1 1/2 tbsp roasted and coarsely ground flax seeds
Salt to taste

Source NDTV

Overcoming Ennui

“I am in a job I don’t like. I can’t afford to quit for it pays the mortgage on the house I am living in.This typical ennui, the feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from lack of interest is a problem of many. This could be because of a person you are living with, or with the travel full of traffic jams that you have to pass by to work, or with the tasteless food self cooked in a bachelor life or etc.

But the reason causing the mental weariness is because of lack of interest. So where is exactly the point that satiety popping in? The lack of basic desire is the root cause of all these boredom.

The key to the keys is a basic desire — an “I want to” — because without that base-line motivation, no further key in the room of choices will work.

Is there a step by step process that one can do to overcome this? Or is there a motivational pill that one can pop in to get out this boredom. One sure cannot expect a Yes to these questions. Overcoming boredom involves the very basic desire of “wanting to overcome it” in first place.

Thus, any suggestion of keys (in the room of choices) to overcoming boredom must not involve going out and meeting others, reading, going to church or to the library, or even breaking through the barriers that cause ennui. Any suggestion for overcoming boredom must first address the lack of desire. How does anyone light that spark or re-invigorate basic motivation?

There are many benefits to a personal change. Now is the time to combat boredom more directly.

Image Courtesy: http://www.webmd.com/

Content Courtesy: http://essaysandthensome.blogspot.in/2011/07/keys-to-overcoming-boredom-entering.html

World Diabetes day

The latest estimates from the International Diabetes Federation show that there are about 382 million people living with diabetes worldwide. In India, the situation is quite grim with a population of 67 million diabetics (which is about 8% of our total population). Why are so many Indian diabetic? Of course, genetic susceptibility is one reason. But our changing lifestyle is turning out to be an area of growing concern. A high-calorie diet coupled with a sedentary lifestyle with not much physical activity puts you at a greater risk of getting diabetes.

Diabetes refers to a group of metabolic diseases that cause high blood sugar levels. This may happen due to inadequate production of insulin by the pancreas or when the cells of the body do not respond to the insulin produced. Type-1 diabetes is where the body is unable to produce insulin, only about 10 percent of all diabetic cases are type 1. It usually develops in childhood or adolescence but it may occur at any age.

The other is a condition in which the cells in the body fail to respond to the insulin produced. This is called type-2 diabetes and about 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are of this type. There is also a third kind, gestational diabetes which affects females during pregnancy.

The campaign for World Diabetes Day 2014 stresses on healthy eating and making the right choices. Keeping that mind, our health expert, Dr. Shikha Sharma suggests six natural remedies for tackling high blood sugar levels.

How do you know if you are at risk? We asked Dr. Pramod Tripathi, Founder of Freedom from Diabetes, to share with us the most common symptoms that may indicate diabetes.

1. Frequent urination which is known as Polyuria. Your kidneys may not be able to absorb and filter the excess sugar in your blood. Therefore, it is excreted through your urine by absorbing fluids from your tissues. This is also the reason why your urine may emit a sweet odour.

2. Feeling excessively thirsty and this is known as Polydipsia. This may be coupled with having a dry mouth even after drinking water. Absorption of fluids from the tissues and frequent urination to excrete the excess sugar dehydrates your body and increases your thirst.

3. Increased hunger especially after eating. This is known as Polyphagia. Since sugar may not be transported from your food to your cells, you may remain unsatisfied and feel the urge to eat more.

4. Belly fat is one of the most important determinants of diabetes. If your waistline is more than 32 -34 inches then you must get your blood sugar levels checked frequently.

5. Black spots on the neck or darkening of the skin

6. A constant feeling of tiredness and fatigue

7. Blurred vision. Excretion of excess sugar may also require fluids to be pulled from tissues in the eye which can affect your vision.

8. Sudden and unexplained weight loss. Losing sugar through frequent urination may lead to loss of calories and weight loss.

These symptoms of diabetes may be subtle but if you spot them, you must consult a doctor as prevention is always better than cure.

Click here for Nutrition tips about what to eat And what not to.

Source NDTV

Change is constant in life, life goes on. Keep walking.

How do you deal with the death or departure of a loved one? That was today’s topic on Slice of Health on Chennai Live. The expert on the show was Dr.Mini Rao – an award winning Psychologist. Dr. Tauseef was also present.

Dr.Tauseef started saying that being in Emergency medicine he knows that death is real, and the main problem is that immediate family and friends have to accept it. Their first reaction is usually denial.

Mr.Rao said that there are 5 stages to dealing with death:

– Denial – which is essentially a defence mechanism

– Anger – Anger at the person for dying and at the doctor

– Bargaining – A feeling that this would not have happened if the person had got better medication or better doctors

– Depression – When the realisation begins to sink in

– Acceptance – When they can finally accept it and move on

Dr.Rao does grief counselling for people who are going through depression; usually mourning for more than 2 months leads to depression and the person will need counselling. In suicide cases, this happens more. There will be more guilt all round which is hard to get rid of.

People deal with death in different ways. Dr. Rao herself tried using an Ouija board to get answers to deal with her mother’s death.

A caller, also a doctor, spoke about how difficult it is to treat close friends and family especially when there is a terminal disease in question. Dr. Rao agreed and said that one needs to make sure that they don’t let their emotions get in the way of the treatment and decisions.

Things to do to make it easier:

– Be aware that the above 5 stages will happen.

– Think of all the positive and good times together.

– Accept that time will be a healer.

– Listen to music. Do what makes you happy.

– Have to seek professional help if you feel you are not able to snap out of it

A caller said a middle aged relative died after coming to know about the death of another relative. Which stage of the 5 was she in? Dr.Tauseef said she was probably in shock. Emotional shock can lead to physical shock which can be heart attack or stroke and in some cases coma and death. If a person is known to be sensitive, keep their contact with the situation minimal and prepare them in advance.

Change is constant in life, life goes on. Keep walking.

Egg-Cellent Nutrition

What would we do without the egg? It’s a dietary mainstay, not only for breakfastbut to feed finicky kids, stand in for a quick lunch or supper, blend raw into holiday nogs, and as an ingredient in all kinds of sweet and savory dishes.

But for a few decades there, eggs had a rather unwholesome reputation. Thanks to its high cholesterol content, the egg was deemed villainous. Years went by while many of us shunned eggs, ate only the whites, or ventured into the world of egg substitutes.
Another good reason to eat eggs is that they help keep you feeling full. An egg, a few slices of whole-grain toast, and half a grapefruit is a low-calorie breakfast that will keep you satisfied until lunch. As you face the challenge of losing weight, it’s important to eat foods that are naturally nutrient-rich and stave off hunger between meals. The egg is an “eggcellent” example.

Eggs are easy to eat, well-tolerated by young and old, adaptable to any meal, and inexpensive. Whether you prefer designer or generic eggs, manage your egg intake over the course of a week. On days when you enjoy eggs for breakfast, it’s wise to limit foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat for the rest of the day.

Fix Your Workout Mistakes

The first step in breaking a bad habit — or not developing one in the first place — is to identify the problem. Here are seven common workout mistakes that happens all the time and suggestions on how to fix them.

• Stretching before your workout.
• Doing the same workout every day.
• Focusing on quantity rather than quality.
• Sloppy form.
• Taking on too much too soon.
• Not being properly hydrated.
• Not allowing for muscle recovery/overtraining.
If you have made any of these mistakes, here are seven ways to fix them.

Read More…
Content Courtesy: http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Image Courtesy: http://fitness-showcase.blogspot.in/

Pink Eye – Few Simple Precautions

“Pink eye” — it’s a term that may sound scary, but this common eye problem typically is easily treated and, with a few simple precautions, can often be avoided.

Anyone can get pink eye, but preschoolers, schoolchildren, college students, teachers and daycare workers are particularly at risk for the contagious types of pink eye due to their close proximity with others in the classroom. Pink eye — also called conjunctivitis — is inflammation of the thin, clear covering of the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids (conjunctiva).

Anything that triggers inflammation will cause these conjunctival blood vessels to dilate. This is what causes red, bloodshot eyes. Many eye doctors use the term “pink eye” to refer only to viral conjunctivitis, a highly contagious infection caused by a variety of viruses. Despite precautions, you or your child still may develop pink eye. If the problem is contagious pink eye, be considerate of others and do your part to keep the infection from spreading.

Click Here to know more about the causes of conjunctivitis…
Content Courtesy: http://www.allaboutvision.com/
Image Courtesy: http://greatist.com/

Organic vs. Non-Organic: What’s the Difference?

When purchasing organic produce, the physical differences between organic and non-organic versions are almost instantaneously noticeable. Organic produce frequently comes in variable sizes and shapes that often look physically “imperfect,” whereas non-organic produce all seems to look relatively the same (within type, of course). But why? The short version is that much non-organic, unprocessed or minimally processed produce is treated with a variety of growth-enhancing substances and is also commonly subjected to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grading and quality standards (voluntarily), while organic produce is not. This may be changing, however, as USDA is currently working to implement similar types of physical standards under the NOP.

Similar to produce, organic meats (beef, pork, poultry, etc.), specifically cuts of meat, are often physically different from their non-organic counterparts. While cuts of organic meat have similar coloration to non-organic cuts, organic cuts are usually a bit smaller. The main reasoning for this size difference is simple: animals used for the production of organic meat products are not treated with any growth-enhancing substances commonly used in non-organic meat production, often resulting in smaller cuts.

Quality differences

Defining the “quality” differences between organic and non-organic produce and meats is difficult because of the differing values people assign to quality when it comes to food. In a nutshell, organic food products must meet the same standards that apply to non-organic foods, but the organic food products must meet an additional set of standards (the NOP) that do not apply to non-organic products. Additionally, organic products are required to be certified as meeting these extra standards, while participation by non-organic product producers in many of the basic USDA-established standards and certifications is not required (though many do participate).

Back to our original question: is there a quality difference between organic and non-organic products? Well, if you as an individual attribute low environmental impact, minimal additive and synthetic-substance use, as well as stricter regulation of farming practices with greater “quality” in the food you eat, then organic products would probably generally register as such. On the other hand, if you as an individual associate attributes such as higher product consistency, greater size and more “perfect” physical characteristics with greater “quality” in the food you eat, then organic products probably would not represent a higher-quality product to you.

Also, although a lot of people believe that organic products are nutritionally superior to non-organic products, some very recent studies have shown that the nutritional differences between organic products and non-organic products are generally minuscule, although research on the topic is ongoing.

Image Credit: http://www.spyghana.com/

Too many ups and downs in life? What should you do?

All of us go thru’ ups and downs in life. What should one do when you are in the depths of despair about life?

The guest on today’s show was Avis Vishwanathan . He is a motivational speaker who himself went through a tough phase in his life including bankruptcy but still managed to come out of it. He is also known as the ‘Happiness Curator’. He feels that happiness is who we are if we learn to accept who we are in life.

Avis asks who decides what is the end of the road? He said – It should be you and no one else! Life is like a game of cricket- It’s never over until the last ball of your life is bowled.

He feels we should not be retrospective about life. If you think about the good things of the past you might let it get to your head and similarly if you think about the bad things, you might get rooted and not be able to move on.

When any of us hit rock bottom, fear is the first feeling. But this fear will hold you back. Learn to take one day at a time and move forward with hope. Have faith in yourself and beat the fear.

A caller said he is an impulsive person, is that a reason for problems to happen? Avis said he was too, but he started doing a ‘mouna vritham’ time everyday to try and reign in his impulsiveness and stop himself shooting off his mouth and it helped him a lot.

Another caller said she took a sabbatical from work and has now decided to get back to work. But she is finding the process of looking for a job, attending interviews giving her a feeling of insecurity. She finds people judging her and that makes her feel low and unhappy about herself. Avis said – You are not what other people think you are. Stare them down, let them know they can’t bother you and move on with your life.

Avis feels people worry too much nowadays about Money. He said – We need to look at life from the perspective that we should enjoy what we are doing and not that everything we do must be to earn more money.

Avis’s last words – Love Life and Live it Big!

Image Credits: http://pschua.me/

Fruit: When To Eat It & When To Avoid It

I love fruit and eat it everyday but am now learning there are specific times we should eat in relation to how we digest it. When you eat fruit, it enters the stomach and digestive juices as alkaline and the food begins to spoil and does not digest properly. This is why it’s important to eat fruit in an order that supports digestion.

Here are some simple tips on how to eat fruit and digest food efficiently.

SAY YES TO FRUIT

Eat fruit on an EMPTY stomach. First thing in the morning is best as you absorb all the vitamins. This way, you will avoid digestive problems.

Give yourself at least 30 minutes after eating fruit before you eat something else.

Eat fruit 3 times a day. In-between meals is best, so I recommend eating fruit 30 minutes before you eat breakfast, lunch or dinner.

SAY NO TO FRUIT

DO NOT eat fruit with other foods. Our body uses different enzymes to digest fruit and it needs to process the nutrients and the fiber separately.

Article Credits: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/

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