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August 27, 2014 By Parwage Alam 16 Comments

Neem and its Health Benefits

Have you ever come across a lady or a man chewing a stick as a method of brushing his or her teeth. Well this is very common in the villages of India. They ain’t chewing any stick they are chewing Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) sticks.

Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) tree commonly seen and available in India everywhere yet, only a few are aware about neem and know that it is an integral part of Ayurveda for the benefits associated with it. The beneficial properties of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) have been recognized in the Indian tradition for thousands of years. Each part of the Neem tree has some medicinal property. It is an herb that is commonly available, throughout the year and has benefits that only a few natural products can provide.

Neem is known by many different names, Nimm, Arya Veppu, Azad Dirakht, DogonYaro, Neeb, Nimtree, Vepu, Vempu, Vepa, Bevu, Kohomba, Vembu, Tamar, Paraiso, Antelaea azadirachta, Arishta, Arishtha, Azadirachta indica, Bead Tree, Holy Tree, Huile de Neem, Indian Lilac, Indian Neem, Lilas des Indes, Lilas de Perse, Margosa, Margosa Tree, Margousier, Margousier à Feuilles de Frêne, Margousier d’Inde, Melia azadirachta, Neem Oil, Neem Tree, Melia azadirachta, Nim, Nimb, Nimba, Persian Lilac, Pride of China.

In East Africa it is also known as Muarubaini (in Swahili), which means the tree of the 40, as it is said to treat 40 different diseases.

Neem has anti- bacterial; anti- parasitic, anti- fungal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that not only benefits your health but can help you get rid of common beauty problems that you face in your daily life. All parts of neem are used for preparing many different medicines, especially for skin disease.

Neem leaf is used for leprosy, eye disorders, bloody nose, intestinal worms, stomach upset, loss of appetite, skin ulcers, diseases of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease), fever, diabetes, gum disease (gingivitis), and liver problems.

The leaf is also used for birth control and to cause abortions. Various parts of the Neem tree have been used as traditional Ayurvedic medicine in India. Neem oil and the bark and leaf extracts have been therapeutically used as folk medicine to control leprosy, intestinal helminthiasis, respiratory disorders, constipation and also as a general health promoter.

Neem which is rich in Vitamin C also helps in getting rid of skin problems like blackheads, pigmentation, dullness and ageing thus leaving the skin with a youthful glow.

Some Ayurvedic use of Neem:

Leaf: Leprosy, eye problem, epistaxis, intestinal worms, anorexia, biliousness, skin ulcers,

Bark: Analgesic, alternative and curative of fever.

Flower: Bile suppression, elimination of intestinal worms and phlegm.

Fruit: Piles, intestinal worms, urinary disorder, epistaxis, phlegm, eye problem, diabetes, wounds and leprosy.

Twig: Cough, asthma, piles, phantom tumour, intestinal worms, spematorrhoea, obstinate urinary disorder, diabetes.

Gum: Scabies, wounds, ulcers, skin diseases.

Seed: Leprosy and intestinal worms.

Oil: Leprosy and intestinal worms.

To throw more light on the importance of having Neem can be seen through this that on the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa which is mainly celebrated in Maharashtra as a new year, after the Gudi is worshipped the offering or prasad as they call it in local parlance is made of Neem leaf paste, tamarind, Ajwain, pulses and jaggery is distributed. The Neem leaf paste is said to purify the blood and build immunity against diseases.

A traditional Indian plant medicine has now led to several therapeutically useful preparations and compounds, due to which the scientists are exploring more information about this medicinal plant. After have read all the above information it’s now time to make good use of centuries-old knowledge on Neem through modern approaches of drug development.

August 6, 2014 By Aqsa Shaikh Leave a Comment

Red Wine is good for health

Red Wine is opened on occasions or even otherwise. Contrary to my previous blog on the harmful effects of Alcohol, in today’s blog I actually have chalked out the benefits of Red Wine. Red wine is the only one that has beneficial qualities.

Here are some of the benefits……

1) Red Wine is good for Your Heart

Red wine contains resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant compound. Resveratrol also protects your heart and arteries against the effects of saturated fat in your diet, so drinking one or two glasses of red wine a day can help protect your heart and prevent cardiovascular disease.

2) Red Wine contains Antioxidants

In addition to resveratrol, red wine contains a number of other antioxidants, which can slow the signs of aging and prevent a number of degenerative illnesses like type 2 diabetes. Drinking one or two glasses of red wine each day can help protect you from many of the diseases of the elderly, such as osteoporosis.

3) Red Wine Prevents Cancer

Mounting evidence suggests that drinking red wine in moderation can help prevent cancer. The many antioxidants in red wine can help prevent the oxidative damage responsible for the process of aging and for many degenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Gerstein, one of the many antioxidants in red wine, may help prevent lung cancer. Research has shown that resveratrol, the same red wine antioxidant that helps protect your heart, can also kill cancerous cells.

Scientists have found that resveratrol, when used in conjunction with radiation therapy, can penetrate cancerous cells and induce apoptosis. Apoptosis is a type of cell death that occurs when the cell dies, dissolves and is removed by the white cells of your immune system. Cancer researchers have been looking for a way to induce apoptosis in cancerous cells, because it’s the safest way to remove unwanted cells from the body.

Resveratrol also inhibits cancerous cells’ ability to remove irradiated particles, making radiation therapy more effective against cancer. Resveratrol also attacks cancerous cells and inhibits their ability to function.

Red wine has well known health benefits. However, drinking any alcoholic beverage in excess can lead to alcoholism and the serious health problems associated with it, so limit your red wine consumption to no more than 24 ounces per day and keep a track of calories it has. Although, red wine is beneficial and has calories, yes it is not empty nutrients and so you can enjoy the following benefits of an occasional glass of wine.

So this is the very rare knowledge about wine and alcohol although wine is good for health but then too its consumption should be in controlled as mention above how much you can and you should consume in a single day as it has some good and bad side-effects both…..

August 4, 2014 By Mitali Ambekar 17 Comments

BANANA-The Misunderstood Fruit

It was a normal day for me. As usual I was sitting in my cabin wrapping up my pending work for the day, and suddenly I find a teenage youth barging into my cabin. His first question was how could his friend who was following a diet prescribed by me, lose so much of weight in spite of having banana’s daily twice a day. I looked at him and replied Why not? And to that he again replied back how you could lose weight with a fattening fruit like banana?.

Majority of my clients, keep banana at bay, in spite of loving the fruit just because they think that it is fattening.

Well! I would like to take this opportunity to inform each one of you out there that other the Avocado, none of the fruits have FATS in them. More often than not fruits are cut off from the diet list of an individual without proper reasoning given and individuals assume that fruits are fattening and therefore avoid it out of fear

Banana, also known as a prepackaged fruit, that comes in a yellow jacket, is an all seasons fruit and widely available across the world. The fruit is high on simple carbohydrates, but if taken in right quantity and at the right time, it will never make you put on fat in your body.

Oops, did I say fat …… Well the explanation for this is that any natural food which contains simple carbohydrates or is high on calories, if eaten at wrong time or in wrong quantities then your body counts that as excess and stores it. The stored form is ‘Fat’.

Bananas are super food. It can combat depression, cure hangover, relieve morning sickness, protect against kidney cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and blindness, mosquito itch, helps cure acidity, bloating, cramping…and the list can go on. I have chalked out few benefits of Banana

BENEFITS OF BANANA

It helps overcome depression due to high levels of tryptophan which is converted to Serotonin-the feel good factor.
Protect against all types of Cramping: muscle cramp, stomach cramp, night time leg cramp because of the Potassium content of Banana
Bananas reduce swelling, protect against type 2 diabetes, aid weight loss, strengthen the nervous system, and help with production of white blood cell, all due to high levels of Vitamin B6
It is high on potassium and low in salt, which helps lower blood pressure and protect against heart attack and stroke.
High on fiber, it helps mobilize bowel movement, thus relieving constipation.
Bananas are natural antacid and helps relieve acidity and heartburn.
Want to Quit Smoking? Have a Banana as they have high levels of B-vitamins, phosphorus & magnesium to speed recovery from effects of withdrawal.
Rub the inside of the banana peel to help relieve the itching of an insect bite.

One more question often asked is what is the best time to have them?

First thing in the morning before starting an activity, post an exercise, trek, dance, as a meal. Have them without fear.

July 16, 2014 By Mitali Ambekar 2 Comments

Obesity in Teens

I consider myself lucky to have been born in a generation which has a practical approach towards everything in life. This is a kind of change that is helping them grow with the growing country.

I also feel lucky about one thing and that is, in my generation the influence of western foods has been very less, it was there but not as much as the current generation has. The current generation almost feels starved without the junk food.

Lot of thought went in before we indulged in junk food. I would seldom go out for a meal. Most often it would be home cooked meal for me. And, am I glad to say that these habits have kept me on the healthier side. Junk food in moderation during occasions and fresh home-made food always helps one maintain a healthier lifestyle.

But, for today’s kids it’s more of eating out –junk food than it is about eating fresh home cooked food. In my career as a nutritionist I have encountered several cases of childhood obesity and teenage obesity, juvenile diabetes and blood pressure among kids. It is a very unpleasant feeling when you come across children with these ailments. Today, it seems to be a normal thing with every other teenager having some or the other health issues such as bad eyesight, dental problems, hormonal imbalance, etc etc.

One of the main reasons for this unhealthy condition among the current generation is easy availability of unhealthy processed foods for kids now, than it was several years ago. One of the faults is also that parents do not keep a check on what the kids are eating. Most parents allow their child to indulge in any kind of junk food available in the market. The other aspect that leads to health issues among children today is that most are couch potatoes –they are glued to the TV, Video games, Tabs, Mobiles, and seldom go out and indulge in physical activities. This certainly was not a situation a decade back.

It’s these indulgences that lead a child to be obese and parents need to focus more on making their child healthy. Start with first giving your kids processed and junk food only on occasions and not as a reward for every other thing they do. Certain limitation needs to be adhered to. You need to explain to the kids why these foods are unhealthy.

Next important thing be, is exercise. As parents make sure that your kid is indulging himself at least for an hour in physical activities, exactly the way you did when you were a kid. I remember playing out, the moment I reached home from school and during holidays and vacations. It used to become difficult for our parents to actually keep us at home.

Thirdly, keep their indulgence in gadgets minimal. They would be better off playing a sport. Remember the kids who are into sports, dance or any kind of physical activity hardly gain weight when they grow up, even if they do gain weight, getting back in shape is very easy for them as their body is used to physical activities.

Today’s kids are smart and once you tell them what is right and what is not they understand. In fact, most ape one another and do what the other is doing. If parents do teach their kid good eating habits in all probability they might as well try and teach their friends too. Finally, it’s a trend that they all follow.

To avoid teenage or childhood obesity and help your child take to a healthy food habit follow the above mentioned three steps and believe me your child will be in good shape and health.

Neem and its Health Benefits

Red Wine is good for health

BANANA-The Misunderstood Fruit

Obesity in Teens

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

Mayur Sutar’s Journey to a Healthier Life

Transforming Health and Life: Dhiren Matani’s Inspirational Journey to Wellness

What’s Your Excuse?