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What we eat and when we eat is responsible for altering the chemicals in the brain that affects our body functions, our moods and behaviours. Good food paves the way for transforming us into vibrant and healthy individuals. We need food to live and to live longer we need to less in quantity but more in terms of quality. Regular exercises, stress management through yoga, meditation and breathing are crucial ingredients to live a long healthy life. It is important to
incorporate foods that nature has bestowed on us like millets, whole
grains, beans, sprouts, vegetables, fruits, nuts, low fat milk/soy
milk, olive oil, flax seeds, fish and eggs for non vegetarians and
green leafy vegetables as they are rich sources of nutrients,
antioxidants and fibre, necessary for health and immunity and to ward
of deficiencies.
These are a few revitalising and energy giving foods and drinks that can promote health through its cleansing, nourishing and regulating properties: Whole grains and millets: For many, carbohydrates from grains are taboo. But, contrary to popular beliefs of carbohydrates from grains being fattening, these are important ingredients for health Millets such as ragi, jowar or bajra are excellent sources of the B vitamins, Vitamin E, minerals and fibre and help reduce incidence of colon cancer, diabetes, obesity and heart ailments. Examples of other whole grains are brown rice, whole wheat, oats etc. It is suggested that one should replace white flour and other processed flours with these grains. Vegetables: These are alkaline in nature and are ideal foods to build immunity. The veggies are high in antioxidants, promote good digestive health and help to cleanse and restore the body's ph balance. One should Include three to four servings of vegetables and greens daily in the form of stir fries, soups, salads, vegetable juices etc. Fruits:
Fruits are alkalizing, energy boosters. The natural sugars in the
fruits help to balance the pitta element of the body. These are
natural cleansers and can act as an in-between snack for people who
crave desserts or fried snacks. Fruits and vegetables are also
excellent sources of fibre. These are free of added colours,
preservatives and additives when eaten raw and fresh. Include at least
three to four servings of veggies and fruits in your daily diet.
Beans: Beans are rich in nutrients and fibre and are rich in health promoting substances. Examples include whole moong, kidney beans or rajmah, chick peas or chana, soy beans etc. These are highly recommended for their benefits which include heart health, lowering of cholesterol and high fibre content. The beans are good sources of rich proteins, especially for vegetarians. Sprouted beans are extremely healthy and can be liberally used in salads. Soups and vegetable juices: These are great for weight watchers. Soups (those made without cream, cheese, butter etc) and vegetable juices are can be low in calories and are excellent sources of nutrients, antioxidants and minerals and can be had as in-between fillers. Freshly made vegetable juices contain natural plant pigments and enzymes that act as cancer-protection agents. These juices should be made fresh and consumed immediately, unstrained to retain the fibre. Green tea: Green
tea and herbal teas have tremendous health benefits. Two to three cups
of green tea a day helps prevent tooth decay, high-blood pressure,
heart diseases and some forms of cancer. They are also known to
eliminate the free radicals with its antioxidant activity, thus
arresting aging. Because of its diuretic function, it acts as a
detoxification agent as well.
Nuts: When eaten in moderation, nuts are not fattening. Besides antioxidants, nuts are rich sources of good fats which tend to lower the bad cholesterol, are good for the skin and hair and are highly beneficial for health. These can be sliced and sprinkled over salads, cereal/oatmeal porridge and can be roasted and had as snacks. These foods are called "happy foods" as they help alleviate stress. Enjoy foods that have medicinal, healing and restorative properties and not merely for its taste. The texture, colour and fragrance of food also have tremendous health giving properties. Opt for fresh, seasonal foods that have absorbed vital minerals and energies from sunshine and rainfall. Having a good, healthy diet can promote wellness at the physical, emotional and physiological levels and will keep you energised throughout the day. The author is holistic health guru, and has a portal www.mickeymehtahbf.com
Health
Capsules
Women carrying BRCA mutations tied to breast and ovarian cancer may hit menopause a few years earlier than other women, according to a new study. Doctors already discuss with those women whether they want immediate surgery to remove their ovaries and breasts, or if they want to start a family first and hold off on ovary removal. An early lunch may help weight loss Dieters who ate early lunches tended to lose more weight than those who had their midday meal on the later side, in a new Spanish study. The finding doesn't prove bumping up your lunch hour will help you shed those extra pounds. But it's possible eating times play a role in how the body regulates its weight, researchers said. Governments should keep up guard against bird flu The governments must not allow financial constraints caused by the current global economic crisis to stop them keeping their guard up against avian flu, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has advised. The agency, one of three international bodies that lead the global response to bird flu, warned of a repeat of the 2006 outbreaks, when the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus killed 79 people around the world and sparked fears of a pandemic. No higher risks after heavy postpartum bleeding Women who bleed heavily after giving birth aren't at any higher risk of most complications during their next pregnancy, according to a new UK study. Postpartum hemorrhage — when a woman loses at least half a quart of blood — typically occurs when the muscles in her uterine wall don't contract correctly after childbirth.
The flu isn't the only illness adults should be immunised against, US health officials have said. A new study has found current adult vaccination rates in the country "unacceptably low." The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that a "substantial increase" in adult vaccinations is needed to prevent diseases, including pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis, shingles and whooping cough. Placebo as good as pills for kids' migraines A drug-free placebo pill prevents migraines in kids and teens just as well as most headache medicines, according to a new review of past evidence. Researchers found only two drugs known to help migraine-plagued adults reduced the frequency of kids' headaches better than a placebo. And even in those cases, the effect was small — a difference of less than one headache per month compared to the dummy pills. Pregnant moms should get whooping cough shot Moms-to-be should get a booster tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine during each pregnancy to help protect their infants from whooping cough, according to a new vaccine schedule released by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Babies don't get their first pertussis vaccine until two months of age — and even then, they aren't fully protected until after their third shot, at six months. In the interim, they are at especially high risk of getting very sick from the bacterial disease. Ads influencing kids on alcohol, fast food? Children may be absorbing multi-million dollar messages propagated in sports-related advertisements, promoting alcohol and fast-foods, shows a study. Australian researchers investigated the effects of these substantial subconscious effects on the manufacturers' part to tie their products with healthy sport via sponsorship. More than 160 children (five to 12) took part in an activity that assessed their conscious and subconscious links between sporting teams and sponsors, the journal Public Health Nutrition reports. The researchers found that more than three-quarters of the children aligned at least one correct sponsor with the relevant sport. More than half correctly matched an Australian Football League team with its relevant sponsor, a fast-food chain. "The results provide support for the argument that sports sponsorship effectively reaches child audiences. While sponsors may argue that they are not intentionally targeting children, it is clear that their efforts are producing this 'unintended' consequence and that as a result they should come under closer scrutiny, concluded researchers. Regular aspirin use tied to age-related vision loss Taking at least one aspirin every week is linked to the development of age-related vision loss, according to a new Australian study. The researchers, however, caution that there's still not enough evidence to say taking this pill leads to age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in older people. Currently, over 100 billion aspirin tablets are consumed every year, commonly used in the prevention of heart attacks or strokes. In 2011, a European study found that seniors who took a daily aspirin were twice as likely to develop vision loss such as macular degeneration, compared to those who did not. The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Tough times prompt people to seek rich foods Tough times prompt people to seek solace in high-calorie foods that will keep them satisfied longer, says a new research.A 'live for today' impulse triggers people into consuming nearly 40 per cent more food than when compared to a control group which does not turn to rich foods, say researchers.When a group of people was primed with "tough times" messages and then told the food they were sampling was of low calorific value, they consumed roughly 25 per cent less of the food, the journal Psychological Science reports. The researchers said this is because if people perceive that food resources are scarce, they place a higher value on food with more calories, according to a Miami statement. Parkinson's linked to pesticide use Researchers have discovered a link between Parkinson's and another pesticide, benomyl, whose toxicological effects still linger even after 10 years the chemical was banned by the U S Environmental Protection Agency. According to Jeff Bronstein, senior author of the study, and his colleagues, benomyl exposure starts a cascade of cellular events that may lead to Parkinson's. The investigators believe their findings concerning benomyl may be generalised to all Parkinson's patients. Parkinson's disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions worldwide. Its symptoms include tremor, rigidity, and slowed movements and speech. Benomyl was widely used in the US for three decades, until toxicological evidence revealed it could potentially lead to liver tumours, brain malformations, reproductive effects and carcinogenesis and was banned in 2001. The study has been published in current proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. — Agencies
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More adults need
vaccines, and not just for flu