Thursday, July 28, 2011

How Do You Recognize A Heart Attack?

Men are more prone to heart attacks. The frequency of heart attacks is more common among men between the ages 30 to 50. It is less known in women of the same age groups, though after the age of 40, women are also equally susceptible as men. 

WARNING SIGNALS

HEART ATTACK

  1. Sudden, severe, burning pain in the center of the chest which may subside after rest and is exaggerated by exertion.
  2. A feeling of strangulation or uncomfortable pressure, squeezing or pain lasting for two minutes or later.
  3. Unusual discomfort in the center of the chest radiating to the neck, back, left shoulder and down the left arm.
  4. Abnormal perspiration.
  5. Nausea, vomiting.
  6. Momentary loss of consciousness.
  7. Palpitations and irregularities in heart beat.
All these attacks are brief and may disappear on resting but they should not be ignored.


BLOOD PRESSURE
Blood pressure need not produce any symptoms but some may have.

  1. Persistent headache.
  2. Headache in the morning.
  3. Headache localized in the back of the head.
YOUR BODY MAY BE SENDING OUT WARNING SIGNALS CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.

Regular check ups even in the absence of the symptoms are essential for prevention particulary if you have a family history.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

HAIR LOSS TIPS



Some useful tips to prevent Hair loss are 

  1. Fenugreek Seeds: Soak some fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Next morning, use this liquid to gently massage your scalp. Leave this for 3 hours before washing hair with normal water.
  2. Egg Yolk and Honey: Massage scalp with raw egg yolk and honey. Leave this for about an hour before washing hair.
  3. Wheat Germ: Mix about 2.5 tablespoons of milk powder, 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of wheat germ oil .Massage it on the scalp and leave it for about half an hour. Wash hair with a mild shampoo.
  4. Aloe Vera: Massage scalp and hair with aloe Vera gel. Leave it for half an hour before washing hair and scalp. Repeat this treatment 3 times a week.
  5. Henna: Smear paste of henna on your scalp and leave the paste for an hour before washing your hair in luke-warm water. Continue the treatment once every week.
  6. Boil some methi powder in the oil, cool it and then apply it regularly on the scalp to prevent hair fall.
  7. Aloe Vera juice taken empty stomach early in the morning and sesame seeds (used as salad dressing) help in reducing hair loss.
  8. Juice made from lettuce and spinach leaves mixed with carrot juice is helpful in treating hair fall. 
  9. A diet rich in silica, vitamin E, protein, iron & vitamin C help to reduce hair loss.

  • Silica rich foods – Raw oats, green & red pepper, cucumber & sprouts.
  • Vitamin E rich foods - wheat germ, green leafy vegetables, almonds
  • Iron – Green leafy vegetables, dates.
  • Vitamin C – Amla , lemon, orange , kiwi , rasberry
 Conditioner for damaged hair :

              -- 2 tablespoon (30 ml) of honey
              -- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of olive oil
              -- 4 drops of essential oil of rosemary
              Mix ingredients in a small bowl and apply to dampened hair.
              Keep it for 10 mins and then wash hairs.
 



Thursday, May 19, 2011

TIPS TO FIGHT NAUSEA



  • Simply inhale the cinnamon oil to help with nausea.
  • Cinnamon powder can be sprinkled over the food to reduce nausea.
  • Take 1 Bran Biscuit / Marie Lite Biscuit / Multigrain Biscuit along with Tea / Green Tea / Jasmine Tea early morning.
  • Sip fluids slowly to calm your stomach without irritating it further. Drink clear liquids like water, weak tea, and ginger Squash. Sugary drinks may calm your stomach more, and avoid acidic drinks like orange juice, tomato juice, and coffee.
  • While you're nauseous, stay away from spicy and fatty foods, and avoid strong food odors from cooking or restaurants.
  • If you're vomiting, stay away from solid foods until at least six hours after last throwing up.
  • Laying down may soothe nausea more than sitting up; find the most comfortable (least nauseating) position for you and stay there as long as you can, or until your nausea goes away.
  • Ginger is a widely recognized natural remedy for nausea. Add a little ginger to your queasy stomach (up to three times a day) in the form of ginger ale, ginger root capsules, powdered ginger, ginger tea, or fresh minced ginger added to food or tea. 

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Salad for Summers


Creamy fruit summer salad

Ingredients
1 cup cubed ripe papaya
1 cup cubed red apple chilled

1 cup diced pears
2 tbsp diced celery
2 tbsp orange or apple juice 
½ cup vanilla yogurt

2 tsp low cal mayonnaise
1 tsp zero or brown sugar
¼ tsp cinnamon powder
1 tbsp chopped nuts
1 tbsp raisins


Method
In medium bowl, combine all salad fruits, raisins and celery with orange juice & toss gently. In small bowl blend vanilla yoghurt, mayonnaise, cinnamon powder & sugar. Mix the fruits with the dressing and garnished with chopped nuts. Refrigerate for half an hour and serve chilled.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Poppy Seeds

Botanical Name - Papaner somniferum
Hindi - Postdana
Bengali - Posto
Kannada - Afim
Marathi - Khaskhas


The milky ooze from poppy plant obtained by incision from the unripened capsules (doda) and thickened by spontaneous evaporation, is known as Opium. Opium is one of the most valuable medicines available in the sap of the plants and if properly administered, can serve as a very useful drug. 
Poppy seeds are found in poppy heads. They are recommended in many prescriptions for tonics. The sap of the plan contains oxalic acid and opium which has 25 alkolides, the chief being morphine, codeine, thelaine, narcotine, narceine and papaverine.


Poppy Seeds Head  (DODA)
Nutritional Value (Per 100gm) -
Moisture - 4.3 gm 
Calories - 408 KCal
Protein - 21.7 gm
Fat - 19.3 gm
Carbohydrates - 36.8 gm
Crude Fibre - 8.8
Phosphorus - 432 mg
Iron - 15.9 mg

Benefits of Poppy Seeds
  • Poppy Seeds are effective in thirst, fever, inflammation and irritation of the stomach.
  • A teaspoon of poppy seed oil taken every night is effective for the treatment of Insomnia.
  • For Dysentery - Home remedy - About quarter teaspoon of the poppy seeds powder are sauted to a golden brown color in honey. taken twice a day, it gives relief from the symptoms. As seeds has sedative effect so they should be not be taken more than three times a day.
  • In Pains and Aches - Poppy Seeds on the stalks, which have not been slit to produce opium have soporific properties and are used for relieving pain. They can be used beneficially in - gripping pains of colic, muscular pains, spasm of bowels, irritation of the bladder caused by stones.
Precautions -
Opium can cause great harm if used without proper precautions.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Mock tails




Summer is approaching and for this summer one need to cool body through good drinks. Here are some of the drinks recipe that you can prepare at home and enjoy it with delight.

  • Coffee Clouds
  • Virgin Mary
  • Mint Crush
  • Pink Lady

Coffee Clouds
(For 2 to 3 servings)


Ingredients -
200 ml - Milk
1TSP  - Coffee Powder
11/2 TBS - Sugar
2 Scoops - Vanilla Ice cream
2 TBS - Fresh Cream
2 TBS - Chocolate Syrup
2 -3 Drops - Vanilla Essence 
2 TSP - Chocolate Grated
2 - Wafer Biscuits


Directions -

  1. Mix Sugar, Coffee Powder, Cream, 1 scoop Vanilla Ice Cream and Essence in the Milk.
  2. Blend it together
  3. Take a glass. Pour chocolate syrup in it.
  4. Keep in the glass in Refrigerator for 5 min.
  5. Pour the coffee in it.
  6. Put the scoop of ice cream on it.
  7. Grate the chocolate and decorate it with grated chocolate and biscuit.
 Virgin Mary
(For 4-5 servings)
A Perfect Ladies Drink for a cocktail party


Ingredients -
3 tea cups - Tomato Juice
4 TSP - Lemon Juice
1 TSP - Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 TSP - Tabasco Sauce
1/4 TSP - Salt
1/4 TSP - Pepper
1 Bottle - Chilled Soda
Ice cubes and crushed Ice


Directions -

  1. Mix Tomato juice, Lemon Juice, Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco Sauce, salt, pepper and ice.
  2. Blend for 1 min in a blender
  3. Transfer to deep pan. Add soda and mix well
  4. Pour in tall stem glasses.
  5. Garnish it with celery stick or a lemon slice.
  6. Serve Immediately


Mint Crush

(For 4 Servings)
The cool minty flavor is made more refreshing with the addition of lemon juice and some aerated lemon drink. Perfect for Party.


Ingredients -
2 cups - Fresh Mint Leaves
4 TSP - Lemon Juice
2 Bottles - Lemonade
1/4 TSP of salt 
1/4 TSP of pepper 
Ice Cubes
Mint Sprigs and Lemon Slices


Directions -

  1. Blend mint leaves and 1 cup of water together.
  2. Strain to extract 1 cup of mint juice.
  3. Keep it in refrigerator.
  4. At the time of serving - Add lemon juice, salt and pepper in the mint juice.
  5. Put the ice cubes in each glass. Divide the mint juice in 4 glasses.
  6. Top with slightly less than 1/2 bottle of lemonade in each glass.
  7. Stir
  8. Garnish the glass with a mint sprig and a lemon slice.
  9. Serve Immediately


Pink Lady

(For 4-5 servings)
A little cream added to this drink gives it the special touch.


Ingredients -
4 Cups - Fresh Watermelon Juice
8 TBS - Strawberry crush
4 TSP - Cream
4 -5 Fresh Strawberries (Chopped)
Strawberries and mint sprigs


Directions -

  1. Blend Watermelon Juice, Strawberry Crush, Chopped Strawberries and Cream.
  2. Fill 1/3 of the glass with crushed ice.
  3. Pour the prepared Drink and Garnish with a slit strawberry and mint sprig.
  4. Serve Immediately. 








Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Lemon

Botanical Name - Citrus Limon
Indian Name - Bara Nimbu / Pahari Nimbu

The lemon is an important fruit of citrus group. The lemon is rich in many food ingredients, particularly citric acid. Different Varieties contain this acid in different proportions ranging from 3.71 to 8.40 %. It is mainly due to its citric acid and Vitamin C contents that the lemon is widely used in medicine. 

Food Value - (in 100 gm)
Moisture - 85.0 gm
Protein - 1.0 gm
Fat - 0.9 gm
Fibre - 1.7 gm
Carbohydrates - 11.1 gm
Energy - 57 Kcal
Calcium - 70 mg
Phosphorus - 10 mg
Iron 0.26 mg
Vitamin C - 39 mg
Thiamine - 0.02 mg
Riboflavin - 0.01 mg
Niacin - 0.1 mg

Natural Benefits and Curative Properties 
The various parts of the lemon used for medicinal purposes -
  • rind of the ripe fruit
  • essential oil of the rind
  • expressed juice of the ripe fruit
The pale yellow oil is bitter yet it is highly valued in medicine as a flavoring agent, carminative that relives flatulence for treating gastric discomfort and that improves appetite. It destroys the toxins in the body. This detoxifying property arises from its high potassium content. The juice also encourages bile secretion and is valuable in jaundice and gravels - a condition of small stone in urinary tract. The bark of the lemon tree is used as febrifuge which prevents fever and seeds as a vermifuge which expels worms from intestine.

Some of the benefits and curative properties in - 
  • Scurvy
  • Oral Diseases
  • Throat Disorders
  • Digestive Problems
  • Fever
  • Obesity
  • Cold
  • Detoxification
Scurvy - The lemon is chiefly valued for its Vitamin C content. Daily intake of lemon juice can help in prevent scurvy.

Oral Diseases - Lemon strengthens the gums and teeth. It is very effective for preventing and curing acute inflammation of the gum margins, pyorrhoea, dental caries and other oral diseases.

Throat Disorders - Lemon is highly beneficial in the treatment of throat disorders such as catarrh, chocking sensation and itching sensitivities. A ripe un-peeled lemon should be roasted slowly until it begins to crack open. Then one teaspoon of the juice with a little honey should be taken once every hour or the same juice of the roasted lemon in a glass of boiled water should be taken flavored with honey. It should be sipped slowly. 

Digestive Problems - A ripe lemon is a good appetizer. The lemon juice stimulates the flow of saliva and gastric juice and is regarded as an excellent digestive agent. It destroy intestinal worms and eliminates the gases formed in the digestive tract. It is highly beneficial in the treatment of several digestive problems like dyspepsia, constipation and biliousness. Heart burn is easily relieved by taking the juice of half a lemon in a little water.  

Fever - Lemon Juice makes an effective thirst quenching drink in pox, measles, scarlet and other fevers which are attendant with extreme thirst and a very hot and dry skin. 


Obesity - Soak a little cumin in boiling water with slices of lemon and leave the mixture throughout the night and then drink it in the morning on an empty stomach. Lemon juice mixed with honey in warm water first thing in the morning is known to aid weight loss. Lemon juice is known to have pectin fiber. Pectin fiber assimilates sugar quickly into the bloodstream, thereby reducing hunger pangs or cravings. This indirectly aids weight loss. Decreased intake of food coupled with adequate exercise can result in weight loss.


Cold - The anti-viral properties in lime/lemon fight infections and halt the progress of a cold.  Take the juice of two lemons in half a liter of hot water and add raw honey to taste.  Sip it slowly before bedtime.


Diuretic - Lemon has diuretic properties, which means that it is good for people who suffer from urinary tract infections.


Detoxification - Lemon juice is an effective remedy for the detoxifying the body. On the first day one should not take anything but plenty of water. On the second day juice of three lemon mixed with equal lukewarm water should be taken. One lemon should be subsequently added each day until it reaches 12 lemons a day. Then the number of lemon to deduct in same order until it reaches 3 lemon per day. One may feel weak, hungry on first two days, but afterwards the condition will stabilize by itself.
    Refreshing - Lemon juice in hot water is known to reduce the sour flavor and reduce its acidic qualities. Lemon juice in warm water is ideal as compared to hot water. Lemon juice in warm water is a great refresher that boosts the immune system and helps various health and skin problems.