HERBS FOR HYPOTHYROID

1.  Black Walnut

Black walnut is a good source of organic iodine which helps in strengthening and nourishing the thyroid gland. Black walnut which is also rich in magnesium help in improving the functionality of thyroid gland. Thus, black walnuts can also be used for the treatment of hypothyroidism.

2. Bladder Wrack

Bladder wrack is a kind of seaweed that must be consumed by those suffering from hypothyroidism in order to improve the functionality of their thyroid gland. Bladder wrack contains high amount of iodine and is very good for proper functioning of thyroid.

  The herb bladder wrack can also help in the treatment of arthritis pain, constipation, bronchitis, and anxiety.

3. Flax Seed

Flax seeds contain a good amount of omega 3 fatty acids which are essential for smooth functioning of the thyroid gland. This is why those suffering from hypothyroidism must consume both flax seeds as well as flax seed oil.

  It improves the functionality of the thyroid gland. Flax seed oil will also help in preventing constipation and reducing the cholesterol level.

4. Ginger

Ginger is a good source of zinc, magnesium and potassium and its powerful anti-inflammatory properties can help in improving the functionality of thyroid.

  Those suffering from hypothyroidism can use ginger in different ways. Fresh ginger root slices can be added to soups and other dishes. Another option is to drinking a lot of hot ginger tea.

5. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids which help in improving the functionality of thyroid. At the same time coconut oil helps in improving the body metabolism rate.

  Always use extra virgin organic coconut cooking oil to enjoy the health benefits of this cooking oil.

6. Sunrays

Early sunshine is good for the health. To allow your thyroid gland to function in a proper manner, it is important to expose your body for fifteen to twenty minutes daily to early morning sunrays.

  This will help to maintain the vitamin D level of your body which plays a key role in maintaining healthy immune function and calcium metabolism.

7. Evening Primrose Oil

Evening primrose oil is another essential ingredient that can help hypothyroid patients. Primrose oil is rich in amino acids, which nourish the thyroid gland. This oil can help in improving the functionalities of thyroid gland.

  At the same it can also remove the problems associated with hypothyroidism such as hair loss and heavy menstrual flow.

8. Nettle (tezpatta)

Herbs such as nettle can help combat hypothyroidism. In fact, nettle is good to balance the thyroid with both under and over activity. Nettle herb effectively treats hypothyroidism caused due to iodine deficiency as it is a rich source of iodine.

9. Siberian Ginseng

Siberian Ginseng is very useful for adrenal and thymus glands and therefore this herb can also be used to improve the health of inactive thyroid gland. Siberian ginseng regulates the hormone levels by assisting in functioning of the adrenal and the thymus glands which can be of great help when suffering from hypothyroidism.

  This herb will also help to alleviate one of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism, fatigue.

Swine Flu and Treatments

Swine Flu and Treatments:

Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by viruses (influenza viruses) that infect the respiratory tract, resulting in nasal secretions, a barking cough, decreased appetite, and listless behavior, body aches, high fever, headaches, chills and fatigue.

Prevention & Treatments:

• Keep your immunity strong.

• Do pranayaam daily as it flushes out the toxins.

• Use of Turmeric (in milk) can help fight infections.

• Tulsi leaves if taken daily with ginger (in tea) also helps in fighting any type of flu.

• Regular washing of hands with Sanitizers will help.

• Havan (Pooja) and use of Guggul, aggarbatis at home helps to keep environment germs and infection free.

• Avoid non vegetarian food and alcohol.

• Use of herbal medicines like Maha sudershan churan, Kalmegh, Giloy , Sitopladi (with honey) should be of great help.

URIC ACID DIET

Uric acid is a chemical produced when our body breaks down foods that contain organic compounds called purines. Under normal conditions, uric acid dissolves in the blood, passes through the kidneys and is eliminated with urine.

When the uric acid levels in blood get elevated, the condition is called Hyperuricemia. This build up of excess uric acid leads to Gout. Gout is a painful form of arthritis & its symptoms frequently include acute pain, swelling, intense tenderness and inflammation in the joints. In gout, high uric acid levels form crystals in your joints. This leads to inflammation and pain.

High levels of uric acid in blood can be caused due to two reasons: when the body either produces too much uric acid or the kidneys don’t eliminate uric acid rapidly enough.

How to Reduce Uric Acid Levels?

Diet Recommendations to Reduce Uric Acid in Blood

High uric acid level can be reduced with a change in diet. To prevent gout, it is essential to maintain good eating habits and have proper medication.

·         Baking Soda – Baking soda mixed in water can relieve gout joint pain quickly by helping reduce the amount of uric acid. Mix 1/2 teaspoon baking soda in a glass of water and drink. Have this mix at least 4 times a day till pain subsides.

If you are hypertensive, be sure you check with the doctor before taking this remedy.

·         Cherries – Make sure to add cherries to your daily diet if you are suffering from gout attacks. They help by lowering the levels of uric acid and breaking up the crystals that are responsible for the joint pain. They also contain anthocyanins, which can decrease inflammation as well as minimize gout flare-ups. Eat 15 to 20 cherries a day or have a glass of cherry juice every morning.

·         Bananas - Bananas assist in converting uric acid into liquid form which can then be filtered by the kidneys and excreted through your urine avoiding the crystallization in your joints causing gout symptoms.

·         Increased Water Intake – Drink a minimum of 10 to 12  glasses of water daily to lessen your uric acid levels. Drinking more fluid helps your body get rid of excess uric acid.

 Foods to Avoid

If you’re looking to reduce your production of uric acid, you’ll want to specifically limit foods that are high in purines.

Limit meat, poultry and fish – Animal proteins are high in purine. Avoid or severely limit high-purine foods, such as chicken, ham, red meat (beef, pork and lamb), fatty fish and seafood (tuna, shrimp, and lobster). Limit the intake to a bare minimum of 110-170 gms daily in case you need to eat it.

Sugar - Fructose is the only carbohydrate known to increase uric acid. It is best to avoid beverages sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, such as soft drinks or packed juices.

Home Remedies for Bleeding Gums

Citrus Fruits: One of the major reasons for bleeding gums is a deficiency of Vitamin C. Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, as well as vegetables, especially broccoli and cabbage, can prevent you from bleeding gums by providing adequate amounts of vitamin C.

Milk: Milk is also a rich source of calcium, which constantly needs to be replenished to strengthen your gums. Therefore, milk should be drunk on a regular basis for preventing bleeding gums.

Avoid Smoking: Smoking makes the mouth conditions anaerobic, which favor the growth of certain bacteria. Therefore, you should avoid smoking in order to keep your mouth free of bacteria.

Raw Vegetables: Chewing raw vegetables cleans the teeth and induces blood circulation in gums. Therefore, you should add some raw vegetables to your diet every day.

Cranberry and Wheatgrass Juice: Cranberry juice or wheatgrass juice can give relief to those who have bleeding gums. Cranberry juice can do the same by exerting its antibacterial properties to clean the gums of excess bacteria.

Baking Soda: Baking soda kills bacteria by making the microenvironment of the mouth acidic, and can be applied on the gums with your fingers.

Saline: You can gargle after brushing your teeth with lukewarm water with a pinch of salt added to it. This is a good home remedy to treat bleeding gums.

Massage: Gently massaging the gums with your fingers after brushing your teeth results in good blood circulation. This strengthens the gums and prevents them from bleeding.

Sage and Peppermint Oil:  Brushing your teeth with both peppermint and sage oil can be used, since these keep your mouth refreshing and clean.

Calendula Leaf and Chamomile Tea: Tea prepared from leaves of calendula and chamomile can give relief from bleeding of gums.

6 WAYS TO IMPROVE IMMUNITY THROUGH DIET

As there is increasing infection in the air, there is general fear of catching them. But an ideal diet for immunity can help you strengthen your guards & save you from communicable diseases.

Here are a few tips as to help you revive your immunity through diet:

• Include Citrus fruits: Citrus fruits should ideally be included in your fruit intakes. Indian gooseberry, oranges, lime, etc should be included in your fruit intake.

• Include some immunity boosting spices: Turmeric, fenugreek, ginger, garlic, asphoetida, ajwain, etc. should be included in your daily food.

• Include various green leafy vegetables in your diet to improve vitamin intake.

• Include Honey in your diet as it has innumerable immunity boosting properties.

• Avoid eating out and prefer home cooked food prepared with utmost hygiene.

• Include milk / milk products in your diet as milk is a complete food and will help you cope up with any deficiency due to incomplete diet.

Health Benefits of Olive Oil

Lowers Cholesterol Levels

Extra-virgin olive oil can help lower your LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, which can cause narrowing of the arteries.

The oil contains oleocanthal as well as oleuropein that protect LDL molecules from oxidative damage which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

At the same time, olive oil increases HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol in the body, which plays a protective role and helps prevent unwanted blood clotting, a key reason behind heart attacks and strokes.

To enjoy the cholesterol-lowering effects of olive oil, use this oil for cooking instead of saturated fat.

Fights Diabetes

Extra-virgin olive oil is beneficial in the treatment of diabetes and can even help prevent or delay the onset of the disease.

It improves blood sugar control and enhances insulin sensitivity. Plus, the monounsaturated fats in olive oil help keep triglyceride levels in check.

A 2011 study published in the scientific journal Diabetes Care demonstrated that the Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil can reduce one’s risk of Type 2 diabetes by almost 50 percent as compared to a diet low in fats.

To manage your blood sugar level and reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes, include about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in your daily diet.

DIET FOR GAS

The friendly bacteria in our guts help digest foods that our bodies have trouble breaking down. These bacteria also produce gas, usually as they digest food in the large intestines. Foods most often linked to intestinal gas include:

• Beans and lentils
• Asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and other vegetables
• Fructose, a natural sugar found in artichokes, onions, pears, wheat, and some soft drinks
• Lactose, the natural sugar found in milk
• Fruits, oat bran, peas, and other foods high in soluble fiber, which gets digested in your large intestine
• Corn, pasta, potatoes, and other foods rich in starch
• Sorbitol, the artificial sweetener
• Whole grains, such as brown rice, oatmeal, and whole wheat

That list covers a whole lot of healthy food, but you don’t have to severely restrict your diet. Most likely just a few give you gas. Some people have problems digesting milk. Others don’t. And food sensitivities may change with age. Many people develop problems digesting milk products as they get older, for instance."

Two simple steps can help you discover your problem foods.

• Keep a food diary. When you have bloating or gas, look back over the foods you’ve eaten within the last few hours – that’s typically when gas occurs.

• Experiment, one by one, with the foods you suspect. Eat one of the foods by itself. Does it give you gas? If not, wait a day, then experiment with another of your suspect foods. Keep going through the list on different days until you find the food that gives you gas.

Adjust Your Diet

The best way to reduce gassiness is to avoid foods that cause problems. If a healthy food gives you gas – such as whole grains and vegetables -- reduce the amount you eat. Then, gradually start eating more of the food – increasing the amount bit by bit over weeks – to give your digestive system time to adjust. 

BEAT EXAM STRESS WITH HEALTHY NUTRITION

1. Start with a heavy and healthy breakfast:

Oats, Muesli, Upma, Khichdi, Idlis etc are great options with a low glycemic index which provide a constant and steady supply of glucose.

2. Stick to frequent, small meals:

Loading them with three to four large meals in the day could make them sleepy and lethargic as blood is redirected to the stomach instead of the brain. Small, frequent, nutritious meals make sure that they have a constant flow of steady nourishment keeping them alert and awake. Fresh fruits/fruit smoothies/dry fruits/honey-coated nuts/ soups/ interesting salads etc are good options.

3. Include proteins in their diet:

Carbs are digested quickly whereas proteins provide the much-needed slow burn giving a constant source of energy. A breakfast rich in protein (eggs, poha, idlis, dosa, dhokla etc) increases tyrosine (an amino acid) levels in the blood and brain which help nerve cells manufacture chemicals which keep your kids alert and active.

4. Keep them hydrated:

When kids sit in the comfort of their room and probably with their AC on, they do not feel thirsty and hence end up drinking very less fluids. When dehydrated, the body and mind are dazed, restless. It is hard concentrating on studies. If they do not like drinking water that much, give them fresh fruit juices/ chaach or buttermilk/ nimbu pani or lime juice/green tea to keep them going.

5. Avoid too much caffeine:

Drinking too much coffee/energy drinks/tea/colas during exams can send your kids’ circadian rhythm in a tizzy not letting them sleep properly when they want to.

6.  Avoid too much sugar and processed foods:

Foods like chocolate, cookies etc can cause a sudden spike in sugar levels in the blood. After a while, when the stomach feels empty it could lead to craving for more such junk food.

7. Make sure they get their stress-buster foods:

During stressful times like the exams, the body’s requirement for certain water-soluble vitamins likes Vitamin B complex and C, minerals like zinc goes up. These help in the synthesis and functioning of adrenal hormones that basically are our stress-fighting hormones. Brown rice, nuts, eggs, fresh veggies and fruits can help.

8. Give them foods to increase efficiency of the brain:

Anti-oxidants like Vitamins A, C and E reduce damage to brain cells due to increased stress by fighting the free radicals. Eggs, fish, carrots, pumpkins, green leafy veggies, fresh fruits can help meet this requirement. They also help increase the body’s immunity and help reduce chances of the child falling sick during exams.

9. Don’t miss out on memory enhancer foods:

Omega 3 fatty acids found mainly in fish are required to enhance brain function and memory. It is recommended that you have atleast two servings of Salmon (rawas fish), herring (bhing) or mackerel (bangda) per week. For restricting calories, they are best eaten grilled, shallow fried with very little oil or baked. If you do not eat fish or do not have access to good fish, add ground flax seeds (alsi), pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds (til), soyabean oil, canola oil to your diet. Omega 3 fatty acid supplements are also available.

10. Avoid eating outside food during exams:

Exams being times for high-stress and low-immunity, children are highly prone for infections. So, avoid eating outside food as much as possible. If your kid really craves for it, just order stuff you have tried before from trusted restaurants you’ve tried before.

IS GHEE REALLY HARMFUL FOR HEALTH?

IS GHEE REALLY HARMFUL FOR HEALTH?

Things we don't know or don't bother to know about Ghee	Most common myths about Ghee and where you should banish them
Ghee has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Other than helping you recover from sickness, it ensures that you don't fall sick.	Ghee is fattening - Ghee by nature is lipolytic, that which breaks down fat. And this is due to its unique short chain fatty acid structure.
The anti-oxidants in Ghee make it the miraculous anti-wrinkling and anti-ageing therapy you were searching for.	Ghee is a saturated fat - It's a saturated fat, yes, but with such a unique structure that it actually helps mobilize fats from stubborn fat areas of the body. Not a saturated fat like trans-fats in your biscuits, cakes, pizza, etc.
Ghee is excellent for joint health as it lubricates and oxygenates them.	Ghee will increase cholesterol - Ghee reduces cholesterol by increasing contribution of lipids towards metabolism. Liver produces excess cholesterol under stress. Ghee helps you de-stress, sleep better and wake up fresher.
Ghee takes nutrients from your food and delivers them through fat permeable membranes like in the brain.	Ghee is harmful for heart - Rich in antioxidants, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and fat soluble vitamins like A, E, D, Ghee has just what you need for a healthy heart.
Ghee improves your satiety signal and ensures you eat the right amount of food.	Ghee is good, but must not eat it too much – Traditionally we add Ghee in each meal. The quantity at which the taste of food is best is the right quantity.

10 Foods That Burn Fat

1. Oats:

It’s not only tastes great but also reduces your hunger.

Oats contains fiber which helps and stabilizes the levels of cholesterol.

2. Eggs:

Eggs are the rich sources of proteins and low in calories.

Eggs help us to build the muscles and develop the good cholesterol.

3. Apples:

Apples are enriched with powerful antioxidants and other supplements.

Most importantly it contains Pectin which helps to reduce the fat cells in the body.

4. Green Chilies:

Green chillies contain Capsaicin which helps to develop the body growth cells and burns the calories in quick time.

5. Garlic:

Garlic contains Allicin which has anti-bacterial properties helps us to reduce the fat and removes the bad cholesterol.

6. Honey:

Honey is the best one to burn fat.

Add honey in warm water and take it daily in the early morning.

7. Green Tea:

Green Tea is the most effective one which helps you to lose weight.

It contains Antioxidants which helps and stabilizes our body weight.

Take daily 2 cups of tea for better results.

8. Wheat Grass:

It boosts our metabolism and helps to reduce the fat.

9. Tomatoes:

Tomatoes helps us to burn the fat in quick time.

It also helps us to stay away from cancer. So take tomatoes in your diet regularly.

But don’t consume tomatoes in night, may cause water retention

10. Dark Chocolate:

Dark chocolate contains Flavonoids, anti-inflammatory properties which help to reduce the cholesterol levels in the blood.

It boosts the growth of serotonin in the blood and also burns the fat.

Benefits of Turmeric Milk

1. Respiratory illness:

Turmeric milk is an anti-microbial which attacks bacterial infections and viral infections. It is useful to treat illnesses related to respiratory system, since the spice heats up your body and provides quick relief from lung congestion and sinuses. This is also an effective remedy to cure asthma and bronchitis.

2. Cancer:

This milk prevents and stops the growth of breast, skin, lung, prostate, and colon cancers, since it has anti-inflammatory properties. This prevents cancer cells from damaging DNA and reduces the side effects of chemotherapy.

3. Cold and Cough:

Turmeric Milk is considered as a best remedy for cold and cough due to its antiviral and antibacterial properties. It gives instant relief to sore throat, cough and cold.

4. Arthritis:

Turmeric Milk is used to cure arthritis and treat swelling due to rheumatoid arthritis. It also helps to make the joints and muscles flexible by reducing the pain.

5. Aches and Pains:

Turmeric golden milk gives best relief from aches and pains. This can also strengthen the spine and joints in the body.

6. Antioxidant:

Turmeric milk is excellent source of antioxidants, which fights free radicals. This can cure many ailments.

7. Blood Purifier:

Turmeric Milk is considered as an excellent blood purifier and cleanser in Ayurvedic tradition. It can revitalize and boost blood circulation in the body.  It is also a blood thinner that cleanses the lymphatic system and blood vessels from all impurities.

8. Liver Detox:

Turmeric milk is a natural liver detoxifier and blood purifier that boosts liver function. It supports the liver and cleanses the lymphatic system.

9. Bone Health:

Turmeric milk is a good source of calcium which is a must to keep the bones healthy and strong. Turmeric milk lowers bone loss and osteoporosis.

10. Digestive Health:

It is a powerful antiseptic that promotes intestinal health and treats stomach ulcers and colitis. This helps in better digestive health and prevents ulcers, diarrhea and indigestion.

11. Menstrual Cramps:

Turmeric milk works wonder as it is antispasmodic that eases menstrual cramps and pain. Pregnant women should take golden turmeric milk for easy delivery, post partum recovery, improved lactation and faster contraction of ovaries.

12. Rash and Skin Redness:

Cleopatra took turmeric milk baths for soft, supple and glowing skin. Similarly, drink turmeric milk for glowing skin. Soak turmeric milk in a cotton ball; apply on the affected area for 15 minutes to reduce skin redness and blotchy patches. This will make the skin more radiant and glowing than before.