Health News

Do you know how our body would get the much needed 3S that is structure, strength and support? It is by means of a protein called collagen. Sounds superb right!! What exactly is Collagen? It is worthy to mention here that the protein present in the extracellular matrices of the connective tissues of animals is collagen. The most abundant protein in mammal collagen forms about 25% of the protein content. There are numerous health benefits of collagen such as better skin health, relieves joint pain, boosts muscle mass, and prevents bone loss. Other benefits are collagen improves heart health, gut health and even brain health also. For increasing the collagen production naturally it is essential that we must drink certain juices. These are Intake of green leaf juice: The vitamin C and chlorophyll present in green leafy vegetables would help in collagen production. By drinking this juice, our skin would get rejuvenated and our body would get cleansed. Intake of pineapple juice: By drinking pineapple juice with bromelain, collagen production would be induced. Our body would be kept active by vitamin C antioxidants etc in it. Intake of mango juice: Our skin would get moisture and collagen production would be stimulated by drinking mango juice. This juice has vitamins like A, C and E etc. Our skin health would be good in the summers by drinking fresh mango juice. Intake of orange juice: It is necessary that for collagen production vitamin C is important. Orange juice has got this vitamin and by drinking orange juice collagen would be produced. Intake of aloe vera juice: Collagen production would be stimulated by drinking aloe vera juice having amino acids and vitamin C etc. Our hairs would get superb strength and joint pain would get reduced etc by drinking this juice. Intake of carrot-beetroot juice: The high vitamin A content of carrot and iron and antioxidants in beetroot would increase the skin elasticity. Intake of lemon-honey water: The vitamin C present in lemon would help in collagen production and the anti-bacterial properties of honey would help in boosting our skin health. Our body would get detoxified by combining lemon and honey in warm water and consuming the combo. Intake of papaya juice: It is worthy to note that drinking this juice containing papain, vitamin C and vitamin A etc would help in the collagen production.

We often consider vegetable skin or peels or the outer layers useless and remove them before cooking isn`t it!! Not many of us would be aware that there are vegetables whose peels have many nutrients in them and eating these vegetables with peels would be amazing for our health. We must eat these veggies with their peels for the sake of health benefits. Intake of Carrot peel: It is noteworthy that the peel of carrot is rich in antioxidants and fibres etc. hence, consuming carrot with peels would boost our vision (due to beta carotene) plus it would improve our digestion also (due to fibres. Intake of tomato peel: Lycopene is present in the tomato peel and it boosts heart health and skin health etc. Removing tomato skin or peel would decrease its benefits and therefore we must eat tomato with its skin. Intake of brinjal peel: It must be noted that anthocyanin is present in brinjal skin and it would lower inflammation in the body. Moreover, it would improve our heart health also. Iron and potassium present are very beneficial for us. Therefore, it is advised to wash brinjal lightly and cook rather than peeling it off. There are also other superb health benefits of eating brinjal peel and these are improved brain health, anticancer properties, blood sugar control etc. Intake of bottle gourd peel: It is true that bottle gourd peel is a superb source of vitamins, minerals, fibres etc and eating this vegetable with its skin would help in digestion, weight management etc. Intake of cucumber peel: Potassium, silica and fibre and vitamin A are present in the peel of cucumber. Intake of cucumber peel would improve our hair health and skin health etc.

Have you heard about a fruit that is yellowish in colour with a hard shell outside and with sweet musky tangy pulp inside? The fruit that is mentioned here is bael fruit or wood apple in English or vilampazham in Tamil. It is worthy to note that bael apple or wood apple is seen growing in countries such as India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka etc. There are many health benefits of eating this fruit. The benefits are this bael fruit improves digestion, prevents dehydration, boosts skin health, manages asthma etc. Bael juice is consumed by many is known fact. There are certain persons with health conditions who must avoid drinking bael juice Those with health conditions or health issues mentioned below must not drink bael juice. Persons with diabetes: Those with diabetes must not drink this juice as it would increase their sugar content. It must be noted that those taking insulin or diabetes medicines must not drink bael juice.  Persons with poor digestion: In some persons, intake of bael juice could lead to constipation, gas, acidity etc. Truth is that those with weak digestion must avoid this juice as it would worsen their issues. Persons with ulcer: When some persons drink this juice it would irritate their stomach linings and this can be due to some elements present in this juice. Those with gastric ulcers must avoid drinking bael juice as it could aggravate the ulcer. Pregnant mothers: It is noteworthy that pregnant mothers must not drink bael juice as it could lead to uterine contractions and miscarriage etc. There are also chances of hormonal imbalances in women if they drink bael juice. Persons with low BP: By drinking bael juice, blood pressure would get reduced. If the person already has low BP, then he or she must not drink bael juice as it could lead to dizziness, fainting etc. Persons with kidney issues: Those with kidney disorders must not drink bael juice. It must be noted that potassium rich bael juice would interfere with Kidney functions. This could worsen the kidney conditions of the person.

How many of us know the fact that our nervous system would set the tone for the entire day? Yes, it`s true!! Nervous system refers to the brain, spinal cord and complex network of nerves. Point is that the main roles of the nervous system are receiving sensory information, processing the information or integration and responding with motor output. By beginning the day in a wrong way, our nervous system would change for that particular day or it could make us feel rushed. It is necessary that there are certain daily rituals or habits that we must follow without fail for our nervous system to function well. Truth is that the first hour after we wake up is crucial. The reason is that this first hour is essential for our cortisol rhythm, circadian clock alignment and stress resilience building etc. The daily rituals are Exposure to sunlight: Our health is linked to the sunlight. The vitamin D from sunlight is very powerful as it would improve our mood and boost our physical as well as our mental state. It is highly necessary that we must get exposed to sunlight for atleast 15 to 20 minutes every day. By this, our circadian rhythm as well as sleep would get better. Body movements: Our nervous system would get boosted by daily stretching for atleast 5 minutes after waking up in the morning. The stretching would straighten out the spine plus set the organs in position. At Least 5 to 10minutes of yoga daily in the morning would have a huge impact on our nervous system. This would boost our memory and learning etc. Hydration: Nothing could boost our nervous system more than the water we drink after waking up in the morning. By drinking water, our morning fatigue would go away. Our system would be prepared for the day. Delaying caffeine intake: Our anxiety could become more and we could get afternoon crashes when we consume caffeine early. It is worthy to note that excess intake of caffeine after waking up in the morning can interfere with the body`s natural cortisol rhythm and affect our digestive system. Doing Humming or Bhramari pranayama: It is good to do humming after waking up in the morning. This would activate our vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system would get enhanced. The sympathetic activation would be slowed down.

In those days, when so many electronic gadgets etc were not available, the kids used to go out and play games with their friends. Kids also play some indoor games like ludo, carom, chess etc. Now, in this digital generation, kids don`t go outside to play but stay at home and play games on their electronic gadgets.  As a result of this, the kids get exposed to the blue light etc from the digital screen. Bitter fact is that screen time has become an integral part of the lives of the kids now. It is really shocking to note that by constantly watching the digital screens the kids would not only get eye issues but back issues and oral issues also. That leads to an important question: Is there any link between screen addiction and tooth decay etc? The answer is yes. It was explained by a famous doctor belonging to Avana Healthcare in Delhi that excess screen time would have a huge impact on dental health. The two important reasons for this are dietary habits and poor oral practices. It must be taken into account that the kids while being absorbed into the digital screen would eat more junk and sugary items etc. By this, the kids are prone to issues like plaque formation and tooth decay etc. More screen time also is associated with a more sedentary lifestyle where the kids do not drink enough water resulting in oral infections etc. It is known that dry mouth would provide an ideal environment for the bacteria to thrive. What is the impact of screen time on teeth health? It is worthy to note that while being busy on the smart phones etc many kids would not brush their teeth also. Moreover, there is huge stress now in this modern digital world. The kids try their best to keep up with the latest trends in the social media, increase the number of followers etc and these would lead to mental issues for the kids. Point is that it would lead to conditions like teeth grinding, gum disease, clenching etc in them. Continuous exposure to the screen time would lead to jaw pain, TMJ disorders also. The kids might keep their mouths open while watching the screen and this could result in mouth breathing etc. Prioritising oral hygiene: The kids and adults can enjoy the technology benefits while protecting their dental health by giving importance to their oral hygiene and by making mindful choices regarding their screen time. Balancing screen time with healthy eating habits, regular dental checkups etc must be guided by the parents to their kids.

Is there any simple soothing way to wrap up the food that not only refreshes our taste buds but also helps the body to digest the food better? No more bloated feeling after eating meals!! Yes, there is indeed a simple way in the form of a superb drink that can be highly effective post meal as it would create a calming or soothing effect plus would help us to digest the food well. It is none other than the ginger lemon tea. Reasons why we must drink this ginger lemon tea post meals are Improves digestion and lowers acidity: It is worthy to note that ginger would stimulate digestive enzymes and this would lower issues like gas, bloating etc. Lemon would help in liver detoxification plus enhancing bile production. By this, fats would be broken down well. Post meal sluggishness would be avoided. Helps in weight management: It is true that drinking ginger lemon tea could help in weight loss. Point is that ginger would boost metabolism and would help the body to burn more fat. On the other side, lemon would help in detoxification and would curb the food cravings. This would finally help us shed a few kilos. Flushes out toxins: Toxins would build up post meals. Intake of ginger would help in circulation and lemon would act as diuretic. The combo of ginger and lemon would help in flushing out of toxins and this would make us feel energised etc. Keep us hydrated: There are times when we forget to consume water and by drinking this tea we could feel more hydrated. Especially in the winter season, drinking this tea combination would be superb. Boosts immunity in us: When we drink ginger lemon tea then we would be able to fight against many infections like cold, cough etc. The reason is that ginger has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and lemon is full of vitamin C. Hence, this drink would improve our immunity Better skin health: Inflammation would get reduced well by ginger and collagen production would be boosted by lemon. By drinking this superb combo, our skin health would get better. Mood booster and stress reducerer: The mood lifting properties of ginger lemon tea combination would help in the reduction of mental fatigue and it would boost our concentration. We would feel calm after drinking this tea.

If you are of the view that coconut water would be suitable for all, then this article might shock you!! We all love to drink coconut water as it is very tasty.  The coconut water has got calories, electrolytes etc and it is a superb drink post workouts etc. In some persons with underlying health conditions drinking coconut water could trigger health complications and that is due to its sugary content, electrolytic profile and cooling nature etc. Drinking coconut water might not be good for these people. Not suitable for those with diabetes or high blood sugar levels It must be noted that coconut water has natural sugars around 6gms to 7gms per 200ml of serving. Though this is less than that present in soft drinks etc but still it could affect our blood sugar levels. Point is that those with diabetes or insulin resistance natural sugars could lead to increase in the blood sugar levels.  Not suitable for those who are prone to allergies etc: In some sensitive persons, drinking coconut water could cause allergies etc.  Various common allergy based symptoms are hives, swelling, redness, itching etc. In some persons, drinking coconut water can lead to respiratory issues plus digestive discomfort and even anaphylaxis. It was published in the Asia Pacific Allergy that 90% of children with coconut allergy had skin related issues. Ten percent developed anaphylaxis also. So, please be careful. Not suitable for those who have kidney issues: Potassium is an important mineral that plays a huge role in maintaining fluid balance and heart function. Those with chronic kidney disease or CKD must not drink coconut water as it can be dangerous. It must be noted that when the kidneys are unable to filter the potassium efficiently then potassium would build up in the blood. This can result in hyperkalemia conditions. This can cause muscle weakness, nausea plus irregular heartbeats etc. Not suitable for those with flu or cold etc: It must be taken into note that by drinking coconut water during cold or flu etc issues like nasal congestion and throat irritation etc could get worse. This would lead to delayed recovery. Those with weak immune systems or prone to frequent cold must not drink coconut water during illness or in the winters. Not suitable for those with high BP: It is true that coconut water with potassium can be a heart healthy drink. By counteracting with sodium, potassium would help to reduce the blood pressure in us. Pont is that those persons who are taking medicines (ACE inhibitors etc) for high BP must not drink coconut water as it can be risky. Potassium levels would increase in those who take these medications as their bodies would retain potassium. This can lead to hyperkalemia conditions. Those persons who are taking medicines for high BP must consult their doctor before drinking coconut water. Fact is that unsupervised use could lead to health complications also. Please take care.

How many are aware of the fact that every year 27th of July is celebrated as the World Head and Neck Cancer Day? One of the most common types of cancer is Head & Neck cancer. The main objective behind the above said date is to create awareness regarding head and neck cancers.  What is head and neck cancer? It must be noted that head and neck cancer is a group of cancer that would develop in the head and neck region. This includes mouth, throat, voice box, nose, salivary glands and sinuses etc. It is noteworthy that head and neck cancer would be classified as squamous cell carcinomas arising from thin flat cells present in the linings of head and neck. Symptoms: Those with head & neck cancer would show several symptoms like persistent sores, lump, swelling difficulty in swallowing, pain etc. The shocking piece of information is that head and neck cancer would not only occur in smokers but also in the non-smokers and youngsters etc. Various causes for head and neck cancers are HPV infections: Oropharyngeal cancer could be due to HPV or HPV-16 and it would also include cancers in the tonsils and at the base of the tongue etc. It is learnt that more youngsters (who have no history of smoking or drinking etc) are getting affected with this cancer. Exposure to environment and occupation etc: Point is that prolonged or continuous exposure to industrial pollution, traffic, exhaust etc could result in head and neck cancers in us. For a long time, these reasons were overlooked but in recent times these have been regarded as major carcinogenic or cancer causing agents especially in the urban industrial places. Nutrition and oral hygiene: Inflammatory conditions would be formed in the mouth if we eat food that has inadequate nutrients and lacks antioxidants etc. This inflammatory condition would suggest a pre-cancerous tendency in the mouth cavity. Alcohol and genetic predisposition: Even when we do not smoke but consume alcohol moderately etc, the enhanced probability of this cancer would be advanced. Truth is that genetic mutatations could be passed on from parents to their children. That is even if the child maintains a healthy lifestyle he or she could get head and neck cancer. Awareness and early action needed; It is worthy to note that delayed diagnosis in non-smokers is an important issue. Those who have never drunk or smoked would not even think about cancer in them. This could lead to delay in the detection of cancer and further treatment etc. Note: It is possible to cure head and neck cancer if it is detected in the early stage itself. The patient would be subjected to several treatment options like surgery, radiation therapy chemotherapy etc. Primary treatment for early stage cancer is surgery. Often used alone or in combination with surgery is the usage of high energy rays used to kill cancer cells. In chemotherapy, drugs are used to kill cancer cells. By targeted therapy, more accurate treatment could be achieved.

Our memory, thinking and everyday life are affected by one important condition named dementia. Many elderly persons these days have Alzheimer`s disease or AD, which is a leading form of dementia and they find it very difficult. We could lower the chances of dementia in us by means of physical activity, especially cycling. It is noteworthy that cycling is a low impact physical activity that would improve our heart as well as brain health. It was brought out by a research study that those who do cycling in their middle age have low chances of developing dementia in their later stage. Point to be noted is that cycling daily would reduce dementia risk by 19 percent and the risk of AD would be reduced by 22 percent. How can cycling lower dementia risk in us? It has been revealed by research that regular cycling could Improve cognitive ability: By cycling, cognitive function in elderly persons would get improved and this includes memory attention and processing speed etc. Lowers inflammation in us: One important risk factor for dementia is inflammation. It must be noted that by cycling we would be able to lower inflammation in us. Promote blood flow to brain: By cycling, blood flow to the brain would get better. This would help us to have healthy brain function. Boost mood and lower stress etc: By cycling, endorphins would get released and cortisol levels would get reduced. By this, issues like stress, anxiety and depression would get alleviated. Conclusion: Cycling would improve our brain health by boosting our cognitive function, by reducing the risk of dementia in us plus by boosting our mood and by increasing BDNF or brain derived neurotrophic factor