Archives for July 2017

July 30, 2017 By Farida Gohil 1 Comment

Vegetables can boost enjoyment of meals!

Did you know vegetables can make you look like a hero and a better cook?

According to a new study published in the journal of Public Health Nutrition, smart preparation and presentation of a vegetable entree not only enhances the enjoyment of a meal but also boosts a diner’s perception of the person who prepared it.

Researchers at Cornell University explored the impact that adding a vegetable to the plate has on perceptions of both the meal and the person who prepared it. With the majority of vegetable consumption in the American diet taking place at dinner time but only 23% of those meals being served with a vegetable, the study explored what added psychological motivation to include vegetables in meals might exist.

The study consisted of two phases. Twenty -two laddering interviews were conducted, followed by a national survey of 500 American mothers with two or more children under age 18. The survey asked participants to evaluate meals served either with or without vegetables, as well as the cook who did or did not include a vegetable with the dinner time meal. Participants who were asked to choose from a list of 12 attributes, such as “selfish” or “loving” to describe the meal preparation. No respondent saw both versions of the meal or meal preparer. The survey also asked questions regarding children’s favourite vegetable.

Participants eating meals that included a vegetable gave significantly higher ratings to dishes such as chicken, steak and pasta on a variety of dimensions including “tasty” and “loving”.

Results showed that meals were favoured when a vegetable was included. For example, plain Steak versus Steak with broccoli (score of 7.00 as opposed to 8.08), but also received better descriptions such as “loving” for the same meal (7.00 vs. 7.92).

They also choose much more positive descriptors for the meal preparer that served a vegetable, including a much more frequent selection of “thoughtful”, “attentive” and “capable” accompanied by a decrease in the selections of “neglectful”, “selfish” and boring.

Overall, vegetables “made the meal” not only in terms of enhancing expectations of the main dish but in terms of creating a better perception of the cook as well.

The researchers also uncovered a number of interesting insights concerning children’s favourite vegetables.Most participants easily recalled their children’s favourite vegetable, with over a dozen different vegetables receiving multiple mentions.Vegetable preference also changed with age; broccoli was the overall favourite for older children, while the carrots and corn topping the list for the younger kids.

Go ahead and do not forget to include a variety of veggies in your meal!

July 28, 2017 By Trupti Hingad 4 Comments

CONSTIPATION – Digestive disorder! Do you care for your shit!!

After reading my blog on Poop…most of my blog reader’s reaction was Ewww!! Most of us feel the same way when we talk about shit or pee. But we forget that its part of our own body and we are only responsible for how it turns out. In my years of experience..I have noticed that many of them have issue related to clear bowel movement. –medically termed as CONSTIPATION and is one of the reason for not losing weight too.

In Bollywood.too….many films are made on this—like Toilet—Ekpremkatha, Piku, Delhi Belly. The over or underuse of toilet is always an issue!

Constipation is defined as lesser than three stools per week and Chronic constipation means once or less per week.

Most of us have gone through this phase sometime or other in our life. Have you ever wondered why? Well, I know this topic is not that which eases our mind but it’s important to know about it.

Constipation can results into symptoms like abdominal discomfort, feeling of incomplete evacuation, hard stools, rectal or anal bleeding.

Constipation occurs where the food in the stomach and intestine is taking an inconsistently long time to be digested. The contractions that push the food forward is called the peristalsis movement. When the chyme (semi-digested food) is not pushed forward but remains in the intestine it starts fermenting, causing gases and bloating to occur. The water content has all been absorbed so it becomes dry and peristalsis becomes even more difficult and even painful at times.

When we travel our eating, sleeping habits become irregular, bringing with it changes in our digestive system which can sometimes cause constipation. It can also happen due to some medications, low fibre diet, hormonal disorders, stress, pelvic disorder, less water intake. When that happens we must increase our water intake immediately so as to keep the colon well hydrated to make sure that the chyme doesn’t dry out.

Another reason could also be a sedentary lifestyle. It is important to keep up with moderate activity as we grow older our metabolism gradually slows down and with it the digestive process. Our body is like a machine that we need to keep well-oiled in all departments to keep working properly.

Here are Simple solutions that can help to prevent and cure it.

1. Good Fibre: Increase fiber intake so that there is sufficient fibre for bile to mix with and digest the food. Soluble fibre softens the stools and insoluble fibre adds bulk and roughage to the stools. Eg Legumes, Oats, rice bran, whole fruits, green vegetables ,figs , nuts and seeds.etc. Apple and guava works best as per my personal experience.

2. Adequate hydration is must: Increase your water intake makes possible for the insoluble fibre in the colon to move forward more effectively.. Water ensure a good production of digestive juices in the stomach and intestine and smooth passage of food thorough the intestine. It even makes stools softer to ensure they are passed out easily. Drink about 3-3.5ltrs per day to keep cells hydrated.

Use the bathroom as and when needed. Do not hold back.

3. Regularize lifestyle and eating and sleeping patterns. Have good sound sleep and avoid stress. Destress yourself with some meditation or deep breathing techniques

4. Avoid all the packaged foods, and foods loaded with refined flour. Trans fat, sodium and other preservatives are low in fibre or lack fibre completely.

5. One of the best home remedy is to soak 2 figs or 4-5raisins overnight and then have it in the morning with a glass of luke warm water. Prunes also acts as a great laxative.

6. One tbsp of castor oil or cold pressed virgin coconut oil works best if had before going to bed . It helps in smooth passage of stools next morning.

7. Our ancient study says—Triphala powder—one tbsp in glass of luke warm water helps in detoxifying and cleansing the colon and rectum.

8. Exercise about 30-45min daily. This improves blood circulation which promotes better digestion and hence clear bowel movement. Avoid exercise immediately after meals.

Let me share some basic yoga asanas which can be done daily to regularize your bowel movement. Yoga helps revitalise your body and also increases the flow of blood and oxygen in the system, thereby, improving your digestive system.

Ardha-Matsyendrasana (Sitting Half Spinal Twist Pose)

How to do it:
* Sit down on the ground with your legs extended in front of you; toes pointed toward the ceiling.
* Bend your left leg, under your right one, placing your foot next to your right buttock.
* Place the right foot firm on the ground, near the left knee.
* Extend both your arms, and twist your upper body to the right. Place the right arm on the ground behind the back, and your lefthand on the right ankle in front of your body.
* Sustain the pose for at least 30 seconds. Gradually, increase the time to 1 minute.
* Release and repeat on the other side.

Benefits: This pose stimulates the pancreas, liver, spleen, kidneys, stomach, and ascending and descending colons, hence, improving bowel movements and providing relief from constipation.

Pavanmuktasana (Wind-Relieving Pose)

This is one of the easiest and most effect Yoga pose if you are felly gassy.
How to do it:
* Recline on your back and hug your legs into your chest.
* Pull the head up and try to put your nose in between the knees.
* You may rock genty if you wish too. Release after 10 to 15 seconds.
* Alternatively, you can extend one leg out.

Benefits: As the name suggests, this posture helps release gas from the body, a common trouble of constipation. The posture can help cure several digestive disorders, including dyspepsia. It also helps in relieving acid reflux which is caused by indigestion.

Shishuasana/Balasana (Child Pose)

This position means that you crouch down over your knees on the floor, pushing onto your lower abdomen.

How to do it:
* Start by kneeling on your knees, with your knees touching.
* Sit down so your bottom is touching your feet and your hands are on your knees.
* Place your hands on the floor in front of you and slowly start to move them forward, lowering your body down until your stomach is on your knees and your arms are stretched out in front of you. Your hands stay touching the floor or you can take them back to hold your feet.
* Now relax, taking slow deep breaths in and out of your nose.
* Hold for about 30 seconds and let the weight of your body go so that you are relaxed in this pose, and your knees push into the abdomen to provide relief.
* Then slowly work your way back up.

Benefits: Relieve any pain that you may get when constipated.

Malasana (Garland Pose)

How to do it:

* Squat down with your feet as close together as possible, and slightly pigeon-toed or pointing outwards.
* Your heels should be on the floor – you can always place a folded towel underneath them if this isn’t possible at first.
* Separate your thighs so that they are slightly wider than your body, and then lean forward between your thighs.
* As you do so, place your elbows on the inside of your knees with your palms together in a prayer position and gently push against your knees, which helps to lengthen the abdomen.
* Hold for 30 seconds, breathing gently through the nose before releasing.

Benefits: This pose will help you to relax and stretch the intestines.

So, in case your bowel movements are irregular stop worrying and start practising! Just give few minutes of your daily time, along with healthy diet and good sleep…and you can actually look forward to a healthy digestive system and a happier you!!

July 27, 2017 By Saaimah Parkar 1 Comment

ALL ABOUT VERTIGO!

It came across strange initially when I said that the world around was spinning and that my entire room seems to be in constant motion. Basically I used to find the floor of my bedroom, the bed and the room itself was in constant motion (not literally spinning or in constant motion, but I felt that way). I had to walk around supporting myself using the wall, furniture, in fact anything that was close by, and if nothing was available literally crawl. Finally, I was diagnosed with something called Vertigo.

Vertigo is the feeling that you or your environment is moving or spinning. It differs from dizziness in that vertigo describes an illusion of movement. When you feel as if you yourself are moving, it’s called subjective vertigo, and the perception that your surroundings are moving is called objective vertigo.

A few causes and types of Vertigo are:

Benign Paroxysmal Postional vertigo: Tiny calcium particles called canaliths clamp up in the canals of the inner ear. This could also be caused due to sudden movement of the head resulting in dislodgement of the crystalline structures in the ear’s balance detectors.

Meniere’s Disease-This is an inner ear disorder caused by changing pressure of the ear and built up of fluid in the ear.

Labrynthitis-Inner ear viral/bacterial infection

Bleeding in the brain:

Vertigo can be caused by decreased blood flow to the base of the brain. Bleeding into the back of the brain (cerebellar hemorrhage) is characterized by vertigo, headache, difficulty walking, and inability to look toward the side of the bleed. The result is that the person’s eyes gaze away from the side with the problem. Walking is also extremely impaired.

Some other less evident causes: Head or neck injury.

Stroke/tumor/diabetes mellitis/Atherosclerosis

Migraine

Certain medications

Hormonal fluctuations in menopausal women.

Most common symptoms are: Spinning, loss of balance, headache, sweating, nausea, and yes I have experienced all of this at one go.

Treatment for Vertigo : Treatment depends mainly on what’s causing it. There are a variety of treatments for vertigo including self-care remedies, medications, and physical therapy maneuvers.

Let us look at some of the treatments

Benign Paroxysmal Postional Vertigo- Posture correction exercises, head and neck strengthening exercises help this type of vertigo. It has helped me too. Apart from this Vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial for patients diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. But, before that you need to check if you have a Vitamin D deficiency.

Meniere’s disease and Labrynthitis- These two are usually treated with anti-inflammatory and diuretic medicines. However, natural foods like ginger root and Curcumin aid speeding up the recovery process.

Stroke/Atherosclerosis/Diabetes/hypertension- Dietary modifications like avoiding junk, simple sugars, refined flours, and incorporating complex carbohydrates, more fruits and vegetables and whole grains can help improve symptoms of vertigo.

Avoiding red meats, packaged and preserved foods like frozen meats like salamis and sausages, various sauces, chips and wafers (foods high on sodium) and replacing them with fatty fish and lean meats can improve both vertigo or any of the cardiovascular and lifestyle diseases mentioned above.

July 25, 2017 By Komilla Pareek Leave a Comment

Is Apple Cider Vinegar Panacea for All Diseases?

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is gaining popularity these days as a wonder cure for diabetes, weight loss, heart disease and much more. The question however is – Is there science behind these claims or is it a classic case of excellent marketing?

Vinegar has been used as a medical therapy for thousands of years. Recorded vinegar history starts around 5000 BC when the Babylonians were using the fruit of the date palm to make wine and vinegar. Vinegar residues have been found in ancient Egyptian urns traced to 3000 BC. As well, recorded vinegar history in China starts from texts that date back to 1200 BC.

During biblical times, vinegar was used to flavour foods, as an energising drink, and as a medicine, and it is mentioned in both the old and new testaments.

In ancient Greece, around 400 BC, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, prescribed apple cider vinegar mixed with honey for a variety of ills, including coughs and colds.

Scientific evidence adds to age old wisdom by inferring vinegar’s significant role in key biochemical metabolic pathways –

Reduction in Postprandial Blood Sugar and Insulin Levels – When taken with or just before meals, ACV inhibits enzymes necessary for the digestion of starches and other complex carbohydrates, thus preventing them from being broken down into glucose and absorbed into the bloodstream. Vinegar also slows gastric emptying, so it delays the uptake of glucose and other nutrients. (Yusoff et al, Nutrients 2015, 7(8), 7012-7026 )
Like Metformin, Stimulates AMPK – Vinegar stimulates an enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) that is a key player in glucose and fat metabolism, insulin signalling, and energy balance. AMPK increases fat oxidation, improves glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity, and lowers gluconeogenesis, or glucose production in the liver. This is similar to how common diabetic drug Metformin works (Zhou et al, Role of AMP-activated protein kinase in mechanism of metformin action. J Clin Invest. 2001 Oct 15; 108(8): 1167–1174).
Nitric Oxide Mediated Protection Against Heart Diseases – Vinegar-induced AMPK activation boosts nitric oxide (NO) release in the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels.NO relaxes the arteries, protects against an atherosclerosis-the usual cause of heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral vascular disease. (Sakakibara et al, BiosciBiotechnolBiochem. 2010;74(5):1055-61).
Blood Pressure Regulation – Animal studies demonstrated vinegar decreases blood pressure by down‑regulating AT1R expression via the AMPK/PGC‑1α/PPARγ pathway (Na Lixin et al, Eur j Nutr, April 2016, Volume 55, Issue 3, pp 1245–1253).
Protection Against Cancer – Vinegar is also a dietary source of polyphenols, compounds synthesised by plants to defend against oxidative stress. Ingestion of polyphenols in humans enhances in vivo antioxidant protection and reduces cancer risk.
Reduces Belly Fat – Researches demonstrated vinegar (pomegranate) consumption resulted in marked reduction in visceral fat as confirmed by CT scan(Park et al, Journal of functional foods, Volume 8, May 2014, 274-281).

While the evidence behind apple cider vinegar and other vinegar seem promising, there are a few things to keep in mind. Always take your vinegar diluted (1 tablespoon in 180 ml water). Undiluted shots have been known to wear away tooth enamel and damage the oesophagus. Also, too much apple cider vinegar may lower potassium levels in the body. If you are on medications, discuss with your doctor before starting vinegar supplementation.

Lastly, and most importantly – Making vinegar a daily habit won’t cancel out the effects of unhealthy eating. Think of it as one piece of your wellness puzzle, and not a panacea.