Health News

Sleeping in a room with an air-conditioner on can be both boon as well as bane for a person. On one hand, the soft hum of the air-conditioner plus the crisp air could give heaven kind of feeling especially on a hot and humid day. On the other hand, sleeping with the air-conditioner on can lead to several health issues in us.  Our body`s balance, immunity and mental wellbeing can get affected due to the air-conditioner. Various side effects we can get due to prolonged exposure to air-conditioners are Cause dryness in us: When we sleep in a room with the air-conditioner on for a long duration of time, we can get dry skin, lips and hairs etc. Point is that our eyes might feel itchy and dandruff might also increase. Truth is that in a low humidity environment our body would lose its hydration naturally. This can affect our comfort and skin health etc. Respiratory issues: If filters are not cleaned properly, then a/c air that re-circulates indoor air could trap dust, mould, bacteria etc. Bitter fact is that continuous use of a/c could irritate our respiratory tract leading to coughing, sneezing etc. Hidden immune fatigue: When we live constantly in a temperature controlled bubble then our body would find it difficult to get adjusted to the heat or cold. It is worthy to note that our immune system would thrive on small challenges like adjusting to seasonal changes. Our body would become less resilient if it gets insulated from natural temperature variations. By this, we could become more vulnerable to cold, cough, flu etc. Joint and muscle stiffness: At deep sleep, our muscles would be at rest and cool air would reduce the blood flow to the extremities. Truth is that those persons who sleep in a/c would feel stiffness in joints and muscles after waking up in the morning. Repeatedly sleeping with a/c on would lead to mild tension in the neck, shoulders etc. Disrupted sleep cycles: In the beginning, a/c might help us to fall asleep faster. Our natural sleep cycle would get disrupted by an overly cold environment. During deep sleep, our body`s internal temperature would drop naturally and extreme cooling could trick the system to wake up intermittently.  By this, our overall quality of sleep would get affected. We could get a slight decline in cognitive alertness the next morning. Imbalance in microbiome: Our skin and nasal microbiome would get affected when we spend more time in the artificially cooled environment. Microbial balance on the skin and respiratory tract could get affected due to dryness, filtered air and due to lack of natural humidity etc. So, please take care.

How many are aware of what berberine is? Also called as nature`s Ozempic, berberine is a compound belonging to the alkaloid group that is present naturally in plants like European barberry, phellodendron etc. Point to be noted is that it is bitter in taste and is yellowish in colour. It is true that its use can be traced to traditional Chinese medicine or TCM. Working mechanism of berberine in our body: Berberine would activate an enzyme present in the cells called AMPK or activated protein kinase. It must be taken into note that metabolism would be regulated and also the energy levels by this AMPK. Various health benefits of berberine are Lowers blood sugar in us: These days, many people have increased blood sugar levels or diabetes in them. It must be noted that berberine has the ability to lower blood sugar levels. Therefore, those with type 2 diabetes or those having risk of developing it would be benefited. Improves cholesterol: Bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides would get lowered and good cholesterol or HDL would get increased due to berberine. This would also support heart health in us. Helps in weight loss: It can be a superb weight loss supplement. This has been proved by research studies also. By improving metabolism and by reducing fat storage, berberine would help us in weight loss. Inflammation gets lowered: It has been brought out by the doctors that berberine has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in it. This would lower the inflammation in us and protect us against cell damage. Point is that berberine reduces oxidative stress, minimises the inflammatory protein production and promotes immune regulation. Reduces depression symptoms:  It has been revealed by some studies that berberine might also lower depression symptoms in us. Other benefits of berberine are Berberine might reduce the growth of various types of cancer plus reduce the growth of microorganisms like virus, bacteria and fungi etc. Those with heart failure coululd feel delighted because berberine has the ability to prevent death in these patients also.

It`s not only about eating less but also eating right!! This is regarding dieting many women follow these days. Truth is that cutting calories intake, skipping indulgences and trying to eat clean won`t be enough for those women who are dieting. The unknowingly made mistakes by many women these days regarding food intake would slow down metabolism, drain energy and might even result in unhealthy weight increase in them. So, please be careful and take care of your health. Some common mistakes women make regarding dieting are Relying on low calorie diet: Bitter truth is that packaged foods have sugars, sodium and refined carbohydrates and these would increase hunger. Though these foods might appear healthy but they would create issues in weight loss efforts taken by the women. It is superb to choose whole nutrient dense foods that would curb hunger and improve overall health. Vitamins, minerals etc would be provided in plenty by whole nutrient foods. Cutting out all carbohydrates: Energy in women would get drained, hormones would get disrupted and recovery would get affected when they consume an extremely low carbohydrate diet. Women must not completely cut off carbohydrates intake as it would lead to certain side effects in them. It is good to eat whole carbohydrate foods like millets, oats, fruits etc for sustained energy and overall health etc. Avoiding healthy fats: Women would not get the much needed fatty acids if they avoid healthy fats like oils, nuts and seeds etc. For the production of hormones and for good skin health, fatty acids in healthy fats are important. Intake of chia seeds, flaxseeds, almonds etc are very essential for women. The overall health of women would get better by the presence of omega 3 fatty acids present in these foods. Skipping meals or fasting long etc: Women could overeat and they could have stress hormones increase and poor metabolism etc if they skip meals without proper planning. For sustaining energy levels and for metabolism, it is necessary to eat balanced meals at regular intervals. Stress would be reduced and overall well being would be there by eating regular meals. Ignoring micronutrients: For optimal body functions, micronutrients are very much needed. Therefore, women mustn`t igngnore micronutrients at any cost. Bitter fact is that eating just calories and macronutrients would lead to gaps in minerals and vitamins. Women must consume greens, seeds for the sake of micronutrients. 

Have you eaten potatoes with dairy products and felt heavy? Being versatile, affordable and able to compliment a variety of dishes, potatoes are one of the most consumed vegetables across the globe. It is worthy to note that potatoes can be mashed or boiled, baked or roasted and they are used in combination with many cuisines. It is known that potatoes are a good source of carbohydrates, fibres, minerals and vitamins etc and eating potatoes would provide us with many health benefits. The health benefits of eating potatoes are improved heart health, improved digestive health, provides sustained energy, helps to weight management etc. Avoid these foods with potatoes Avoid potatoes with non-veg foods: For optimal digestion, foods like meat, eggs and fish require an acidic environment. Potatoes would require an alkaline environment as they are starchy foods. When we consume NV foods with potatoes, our digestive system would be made to work harder and this can lead to issues like bloating, indigestion and sluggishness etc. Avoid potatoes with dairy products: It must be noted that dairy products are a superb combination with potatoes. By consuming potatoes with dairy products like paneer, milk, curd etc we might get issues like acidity and gas etc especially in those with sensitive stomachs. Avoid potatoes with baked vegetables: Combining baked vegetables with potatoes is not advisable. This can lead to overloading of the digestive system. Truth is that both potatoes and baked vegetables are rich in starch and fibres and intake of the combo would lead to bloating etc in us. Avoid potatoes with lentils and pulses etc: We could feel heavy by eating potatoes with lentils. Point is that lentils are high in proteins and fibres and combining with potatoes could slow down digestion in us plus fermentation in the gut and formation of gas etc. Avoid potatoes with bananas: Our digestive system would find it difficult to handle when we eat potatoes and bananas together. We could feel bloated and heavy. Avoid potatoes with acidic vegetables: It is important to note that we must not eat acidic vegetables like tomatoes etc along with potatoeses. This can lead to bloating, gas etc in us. Avoid potatoes with sugary foods: There could be rapid spikes in the blood sugar levels in us followed by sudden crashes if we eat potatoes with sugary foods like desserts and sweet beverages etc. There are chances of weight gain, metabolic issues etc. It would be good to consume potatoes with foods with fibres, healthy fats etc.

What makes eucalyptus very different from others is its superb aroma!! For its medicinal properties, eucalyptus has been sensational and has been appreciated across the world is known.  Eucalyptus contains bioactive compounds and antioxidants etc in it. In the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, a research study has been published regarding antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus leaf extract. From teas to inhalations to topical applications to over the counter products such as ointments, mouth washes and vapour rubs etc, eucalyptus leaves are used. Various benefits of eucalyptus leaves are High in antioxidants: Not many of us know that eucalyptus leaves have quercetin, catechin,gallic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, rutin, apigenin etc. Our body would get protection against oxidative stress and free radical damage etc through these compounds. It is noteworthy that a diet rich in antioxidants would reduce certain cancers, heart disease, neurodegenerative conditions etc. Provide relief from cold symptoms etc: It is really superb to mention here that eucalyptus can help us to reduce symptoms of cold, nasal congestion, bronchitis, sinusitis etc. Truth is that eucalyptol present in eucalyptus has got anti-inflammatory and mucus relieving properties. Tropical oils like eucalyptus oils are present in ointments like vicks vaporub etc and this can reduce coughs and congestion due to the presence of camphor and menthol combination. Good for treating dry skin: Skin ceramide content would get enhanced by eucalyptus leaves extracts and this would improve moisture retention and skin barrier function etc. Those persons with dermatitis, dry skin, psoriasis etc would benefit. There are many hair care and skin care products that have eucalyptus in them. Pain reducing effect: The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus oil would help in reducing the pain in us. It has been brought out by research study that persons with rheumatoid arthritis would get benefitted by inhaling eucalyptus oil. Promotes good relaxation: It must be noted that eucalyptus inhalation has calming and soothing effects on our nervousus system. Parasympathetic responses would be stimulated and sympathetic nervous activity would be reduced by inhalation of eucalyptus. By this, issues like stress and anxiety would get lowered and we would feel very relaxed. For this reason only, aromatherapy using eucalyptus oil has become very popular these days. Good for dental health: Our oral hygiene would be good if we use eucalyptus having antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in it. Gum bleeding and plaque would get reduced. It is true that lemon eucalyptus oil would function as insect repellent also. 

Does your soles, ankles, feet etc feel hot, tingling and painful especially in the nights, then it might be due to burning feet syndrome!! It is worthy to note that the burning feet syndrome can make lives very difficult, could create sleep disturbances and we might feel the need for immediate relief. This syndrome can be due to nerve damage caused by diabetes or due to overuse of feet, or due to PAD or peripheral artery disease or due to hypothyroidism, nutritional deficiencies etc. There are few medicines that can also cause burning feet syndrome in us such as statins, amiodarone, and chemotherapy drugs etc. Various effective remedies or ways to get relief from burning feet issue at home are Soaking in Epsom salt: Those persons with burning feet syndrome must soak their feet in water containing Epsom salt. This would help them to get relief from the pain. The presence of magnesium in the Epsom salt would relax the muscles and would relieve tension in the tissues etc. Those with diabetic peripheral neuropathy could get some relief from foot pain from warm saltwater baths. This has been published in the National Institute for Health. To a tub of warm water half a cup of Epsom salt is added and he feet must be kept soaked in this for 15 minutes. By this, soreness would be eased.  Soaking in cold water: Nerve endings would get numbed and the temperature of the feet would get cooled down. Into the tub containing cold water, feet are immersed and kept for 15 minutes. This would calm down irritation, reduce heat and ease the discomfort. By adding some essential oils like peppermint oil or lavender oil etc would enhance the soothing effect. This method would not be suitable for those with blood circulation issues etc. Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation or RICE method: If the burning sensation in the feet is due to nerve compression or injuries etc, the RICE method would be useful to reduce pain in the feet. In the RICE method, resting would allow the person to recover from the strain, applying ice packs wrapped in a cloth would reduce inflammation and heat. Swelling of the feet could be controlled by compression through snug bandage. It is worthy to note that elevating feet above heart level would help in blood circulation and avoid build up of fluids etc. Soaking in Apple cider vinegar: Burning feet syndrome can alsoso be treated at home with the help of ACV or apple cider vinegar. To the tub containing water ACV is added and the feet are soaked for about 15 minutes.  This would provide relief from the burning sensation in the feet. There are chances that vinegar might strip moisture from the skin. Therefore after soaking the feet in ACV it is necessary to moisturise the feet to prevent dryness. Intake of supplements etc: Deficiencies in vitamin B and omega 3 fatty acids could also cause burning feet syndrome in us. Hence, intake of turmeric, ginger and fish oil could ease the symptoms of burning feet syndrome. The anti-inflammatory property of turmeric plays a role here and omega 3 fatty acids rich fish oil would help in blood circulation and protect nerves etc. Intake of ginger would lower inflammation. Doing foot massage: Those with burning feet syndrome can get relief from the burning sensation by foot massage. By massaging, blood flow would be stimulated and tension in the tissues would get reduced. For calming or soothing effect, it is superb to use coconut oil or olive oil for foot massage. Truth is that regular foot massage would provide relaxation, improve sleep etc.

There is a mineral that would help in muscle functioning, nerve signalling, maintaining heart health and for overall well being of an individual. We are now talking about the mineral magnesium that plays a huge role in the above said activities. Not many of us would know that certain compounds present in common foods would lower the absorption of magnesium or increase magnesium loss in our body.  For maximising benefits, it is necessary that we must understand which foods to eat and which foods to avoid. It was revealed by a research study published in the National Institute of Health that magnesium absorption was lower when the meal was served with spinach. It is known that spinach is an oxalate rich vegetable. The magnesium absorption was high when the meal was served with kale that is poor in oxalate. By this study it was clear that the presence of oxalates in the vegetable could reduce the magnesium absorption. There are some other foods also that must be avoided as these foods would block or lower magnesium absorption in us. Avoid beans intake: Nutrient rich food that would block the absorption of magnesium in us is beans.  It must be noted that the presence of phytic acid and fibres in beans are responsible for this. Point is that phytates can affect minerals like iron, zinc etc but magnesium absorption can also be affected. It is believed that pairing beans with Vitamin C would enhance magnesium absorption. It is necessary that we must consume magnesium supplements a few hours after intake of meals. Avoid tofu intake: It is worthy to note that tofu also has phtates and consuming tofu would lower or block the magnesium absorption in us. It is believed that separating magnesium supplements from tofu would help in magnesium absorption. Point is that this consideration is especially important for those with poor magnesium levels in them. Avoid colas intake: When we drink colas containing phosphoric acid, then magnesium would get excreted through the kidneys. By this, the magnesium levels would get lowered. High sodium content in the colas might lead to this effect. It is not advisable to drink colas simultaneously with magnesium supplements. For the sake of better absorption of magnesium, it is good to pair it with water or light meals. Avoid caffeine intake: Bitter truth is that consuming caffeine in the form of tea or coffee would lead to magnesium loss through urine. The reason is caffeine is diuretic. The effectiveness of the magnesium supplements would get reducuced when we drink caffeine containing beverages along with magnesium supplements. It is recommended that a person must wait for 1 to 2hours after drinking caffeine before consuming magnesium supplements. Avoid alcohol intake: Intake of alcohol would lead to urinary magnesium loss plus low absorption in the gut and impairment in kidney functioning also. It is essential that a person must not drink and consume magnesium supplements at the same time. Truth is that quitting or limiting alcohol intake would not only improve magnesium absorption but also overall health. Avoid dairy or calcium rich foods intake: For absorption in the digestive tract, calcium would compete with magnesium. It must be noted that consuming large amounts of calcium with magnesium through milk, cheese, yoghurt etc would lower magnesium uptake. It is essential to separate calcium intake and magnesium intake by atleast few hours

For the positive atmosphere it creates, many of us love the monsoon season, don`t we?! It is true that we don`t like excessive heat, sweating, bad odour etc that are common in the summer season as they would create a lot of discomfort for us. Not many of us would know that the monsoon season would also bring us infections and diseases etc in us. The presence of humidity and moisture would help the viruses, fungus and bacteria to breed. Mostly elders or senior persons are at high risk of getting infections etc especially in the monsoon season. There are certain tips that would help the elders to avoid infections in the monsoons season.  The tips By eating fresh and light meals: Meals that are easy to digest and that would boost the immunity levels must be eaten by the elderly persons during the monsoon season. The elderly persons must avoid eating street foods, cut fruits and raw salads etc as these foods could cause contamination. By drinking safe water: It was brought out by a doctor that hydration is importantand the seniors must drink boiled filtered water only. It must be noted that in the monsoon season water borne infections are very common and these infections might attack the elders. It is necessary to store the water in clean closed container. By making hygiene a priority: It is highly essential to have a good hygiene for the sake f the health to be good. In this regard, the elders must wash their hands regularly, cut their nails and must avoid contact with dirty water. This would help them to have protection against fungal and bacterial infections. By staying safe from mosquitoes: Especially in the monsoon season, diseases like dengue, chikungunya and malaria etc spread rapidly. In this scenario, the senior persons must use mosquito net or mosquito repellents and wear full sleeved clothes. More than these, it is highly important to make sure that the stagnant water during the rainy season gets cleared near the houses. By identifying the symptoms early: It is necessary that fever must be given importance in the elders and must not be taken casually. It must be note d that senioror persons who are affected by mosquito based diseases or viral diseases would show several symptoms like fever, body aches, chills, sore e throat etc. It is true that timely medical consultation is a must to avoid make treatment more effective and to avoid certain complications etc.

If you ask pre-menopausal women regarding the endocrine based disease they have, then the majority would reply as PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome!! Yes, PCOS is a very common endocrine disease that occurs in teenage girls and in other pre-menopausal women. It has been revealed that PCOS in women could cause issues like irregular periods, hirsutism or excess facial hair growth, acne, infertility and type2 diabetes etc. It was later explained by a famous gynaecologist that PCOS in young girls could occur due to fast food culture. Girls and other pre-menopausal women could get hormonal imbalance and menstrual disturbances by eating junk foods and due to unhealthy eating habits etc. Bigger impact of intake of junk foods: Bitter fact is that across the globe obesity in women has gone up to 26percent and up to 18percent in adolescent girls. Those with higher BMI or body mass index would have metabolic issues and gynaecological problems etc.  Point is that consuming junk foods would slow down metabolism, increase unhealthy weight gain, and cause hormonal imbalances. All these would lead to perfect conditions for PCOS to develop in the girls and pre=menopausal women. There is a strong link between intake of junk foods and menstrual issues especially in the pre-teen girls. The body`s calorie burning capacity would get lowered by frequent intake of fried foods and processed foods etc and insulin sensitivity would be disrupted resulting in obesity. As a result, hormonal imbalance would be created and this would affect menstrual health and reproductive health. Early habits and long term consequences: It is worthy to note that inappropriate food behaviours formed in the adolescence stage would persist in the adulthood stage too. It is true that women with issues like obesity, endometrial defects, hormonal imbalances etc would find it harder to conceive. Moreover, these women would also have higher risks of early miscarriage. Poor diet choices in the teenage years are responsible for these complications later on. It must be noted that harmless snacking in the teenage years can result in serious health issues later on in their lives. In such a scenario, it is good to eat home cooked nutritious foods, and staying active and these could protect the health of a woman. Treatments for PCOS: Lifestyle changes like diet modifications and regular exercises, intake of medicines prescribed for lowering cholesterol, regulating periods etc and finally regular medical checkups to monitor BP, blood sugar levels etc could help a woman to manage her PCOS well.

Intermittent fasting can be a double edged sword!! On one hand, it could help us to lose our excess body weight but on another hand it can also result in heart diseases in us. Shocking? The intermittent fasting has gained huge popularity in recent times. Here, persons eat their meals in a restricted time span of a few hours  (8 hours per day)and not eat any food for the remaining time of the day. Recently, research study has brought out that intermittent fasting could be dangerous as it can lead to heart diseases etc in us. The research has been published in Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome. In the research study, as many as 19000 individuals were taken into consideration. Point is that the research was based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey or NHANES. It was revealed by the research study that participants who restricted eating to an 8 hour time frame every day had 135% more chances of getting affected by heart related illness like heart attacks, strokes etc when compared to participants who eat food in the 12 hours to 14 hours range time.. Various reasons why intermittent fasting can result in above mentioned heart issues are Loss of lean muscle mass: By extreme fasting, loss of lean muscle mass would be there and this would not be good for the heart. Circadian rhythms: It must be noted that a diet that has too little time in the day might mislead the body clock and affect heart functions. Low quality of foods: Truth is that a person might over eat on energy dense and low nutrient foods during the period of consuming such meals. This could lead to risk to the heart. Body strain: It is learnt that prolonged fasting over a period of time would lead to strain on the body`s stress levels leading to adverse effects on the heart. Things to keep in mind during intermittent fasting: Please keep away from very short eating windows of less than 8 hours. It is necessary to eat heart healthy and weight healthy foods while eating in the windows. Watching out for symptoms like dizziness, palpitations, tiredness etc. Consulting a medical expert is very important t before beginning fasting routines. For heart health to be good, gradual calorie cutting plus good nutrition is important. Please take care it`s your health.