Life on this planet started with single cell. It took billions years in the process of evolution, which is still going on.
All living things – be it a plant, an animal or a human being, basic unit of the body is cell. In other words these cells constitute the whole body. Most of the cells are microscopic in size and cannot be seen with naked eyes. Healthy cells form healthy body, whereas unhealthy cells lead to disease in the body.
Now the question is – why do the cells get unhealthy?
Well, there are several reasons for the same. To name a few:
1. Pollution in the environment.
2. Exposure to various types of toxins
3. Increased use of drugs, antibiotics, medicines, steroids etc. All these have some side effect on the body.
4. Increased use of various types of harmful chemicals including pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers etc. in agriculture. These chemicals reach our body with cereals, fruits, vegetables and other food products and have harmful effect on body.
5. Because of excessive cultivation, the fertility of the Earth is continuously decreasing and mineral level is depleting. Thus the crops are affected and body does not get sufficient minerals from the food.
6. For irrigation purpose water from highly polluted water bodies is being used at several places in this world. Crops from such fields are unknowingly making people unhealthy.
7. At times, unknowingly and out of ignorance contaminated animal foods are being consumed, which are harmful for body.
8. Increased use of food colors, preservatives, flavoring chemicals etc. in food products. These chemicals have negative effect on the body.
9. Increased use of synthetic and artificial food products.
10. Adulteration in food products with harmful products.
11. Lack of physical exercise.
12. Bad and poor eating habits. In addition people are mixing foods which should not be taken together.
13. Irregular sleeping habits including lack of sleep or excessive sleep. Those working in night shifts are getting affected by various ailments.
14. Hereditary reasons.
15. Excessive use of TV, Computer, Mobile phones etc. Radiations from these gadgets lead to various ailments.
16. In addition, there are several other reasons of getting unhealthy, which are continuously increasing with the developments in this modern world.
There is one more question – Do we have to live with diseases in the body in this modern world, since we cannot change above prevailing conditions?
The simple an honest answer to this question is ‘NO’. We do not need to live with such diseases.
Why?
Because GOD is the Indwelling Healer and HE has given us numerous products for the well being of the body. Nature has given to human beings wonderful ability to heal itself and it has made our body to last more than 100 years with perfect health. But how many persons today are living 100 years that too in perfect health. I think you may count them on fingers.
In addition to the natural healing ability of the body, nature has also made available thousands of plants/herbs having various characteristics to heal the body with the help of different micro nutrients present in these plants. These wonderful herbs and plants are available in different parts of this world. Only important thing is to know and use them wisely to get perfect health.
But normally due to lack of knowledge, disbelief in nature’s abilities, total dependency on modern medicines and chemical drugs for quick results and at times also due to non availability of genuine and reliable products at reasonable price, one does not use this elixir of nature.
In fact, India and China are two great civilizations which have been using plants/ herbs for cure of diseases. In western medicine, treatment is targeted specifically at the disease and diseased organ. On the contrary, in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine the target is the whole system, as it is considered to be out of balance. There is complete food science and herbal remedies for maintaining proper balance in this whole system of body. Hippocrates (431 B.C.), father of the modern medicine said, “Food is your best medicine and the best foods are the best medicines.” Now the time has come to explore the possibilities of getting Best Food products and also for increasing knowledge for your own well being. It is very much possible and extremely easy in this era of Information Technology. With the help of internet you may gather exhaustive information on all those herbal food products.
In addition, there are various other ways to keep healthy. Yoga, Pranayam i.e. rhythmic breathing exercise, meditation and nature cure methods are extensively being employed to keep the body free from disease.
We shall cover some of the important techniques in this blog.
Keep reading and give your comments.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
HARMFUL EFFECTS OF TABLE SALT
Table salt or common salt is chemically known as Sodium Chloride. Its one molecule contains one atom of sodium and one atom of chlorine. Chemically sodium is caustic alkali whereas chlorine is a poisonous gas. But salt made from these two chemicals is widely used with food to enhance its taste.
Human body needs some sodium ions, which are obtained from salt, for following functions:
1. It helps balancing fluid volume in the body.
2. It helps contraction and relaxation of muscles and prevention of muscle cramps.
3. It balances sugar level in blood.
4. It regulates blood pressure in body.
5. It acts as a nature antihistamine.
6. It helps in functioning of adrenal gland.
7. It helps nerve stimulation.
8. It helps in production of hydrochloric acid in stomach, which is essential for digestion of food.
9. It helps carrying nutrients to blood.
10. It helps providing energy to the body.
How much salt must be taken?
Human blood stream contains three parts of sodium chloride to one thousand parts. Daily requirement of salt for human body is three gram a day but an average person takes 10 to 12 gram a day. Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for sodium is 1.6 gram per day, which is equivalent to 4 gram salt. Earlier it was considered 2.4 sodium per day, which is equivalent to 6 gram of salt. But now it is reduced considerably. Besides salt, sodium also comes in body from various food items like baking soda, mono sodium glutamate (used as a flavor enhancer), sodium saccharin (a sweetener), sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite (used as preservatives), sodium ascorbate (an antioxidant) etc.
Uncooked vegetables and fresh fruits contain sufficient of natural salts to meet the daily requirement of the body. Normally 70-80% of salt intake is from processed food and 10-20% comes from direct addition while cooking and also at the table and approx. 10-20% comes from fresh fruits and vegetables.
Why use of excessive salt is bad?
It has been less than 5000 years ago that salt began to be added to the food by human beings. Initially consumption of salt was very low but over the years it has increased almost 20 to 30 times, which is harmful for the body. When taken in required quantity, sodium plays important role in the body. Kidneys play important role by balancing quantity of sodium stored in body for optimal health. If level of sodium is low, they held it and when it is high, they excrete excess sodium in urine.
Excess intake of sodium, as common salt, affects the osmotic balance of the cells. Salt has tremendous attraction for water and other liquids. It has tendency to hold excessive water in body which is responsible for increasing blood pressure. Higher blood pressure results in more strain on the heart, arteries, kidneys and brain.
Excess salt in blood also disturbs filtration process of kidneys and results in damaging the kidneys. In high blood pressure diuretic medicines are recommended to patients who require more fluid removal from the body thru kidneys. When kidneys are unable to filter the blood, body does not get rid of toxins. In such condition medicines do not work on body and blood pressure gets aggravated. Excessive toxin in body results in various ailments.
When there is excessive fluid in the body, it puts strain on arteries which results in thickening of walls of arteries and this in turn raises blood pressure. Due to thickening of arteries, blood supply to heart is reduced and oxygen and nutrients availability to heart is also reduced. This leads to angina and consequently heart attack. Continuous high blood pressure sometimes bursts arteries or they get clogged. High blood pressure also damages arteries leading to brain. Blood supply to brain is reduced, thus leading to dementia. As in the case of heart, oxygen and nutrients supply to brain is also reduced. It results in stroke. Thus, higher the intake of salt, the greater is the incidence of stroke. It also induces platelet aggregation, which may also lead to heart attack.
Excessive use of salt also causes cancer, impaired vision, defective hearing, dizziness and insomnia, anemia, acidity, paralysis, obesity and many other dangerous and chronic ailments. As kidneys are unable to eliminate excessive salt, due to accumulation of salt in the tissue, dropsy is produced in some cases. Usually salt gets deposited in knees, elbows, ankles, wrists thus resulting in arthritis and rheumatism. Salt is the cause of vision problem including corneal edema, cataract and near sightedness i.e. myopia.
It also increases irritability of nervous system, melancholia and abnormalities. It increases excretion of calcium in urine leading to osteoporosis. Salts also attacks mucous lining of gastrointestinal tract. It has been reported to disturb normal digestion of food due to hindrance of secretion of pepsin. It is an important enzyme for digestion of protein in food, and its secretion is reduced to almost half. Excessive salt intake also leads to ulcer and carcinoma of stomach.
Salt intake is also associated with false hunger, excessive thirst, dehydration, dryness in body, constipation and accumulation of toxins in intestinal tract, skin diseases, nose bleeding, feeling of tension in head, loss of hair, dandruff, grey hair etc.
Salt is a natural antibiotic, which kills good bacteria in the body. It also stimulates adrenal gland and releases excess of adrenal hormone in the system. This hormone has property to resist inflammation and brings a sense of comfort and wellness in body. Excessive intake of salt has an adverse effect as adrenal gland fails to respond and does not secret sufficient hormone and thus body begins to suffer from lack of adrenal hormones. This causes severe irritation and body gets prone to allergy to pollen, dust and various food materials. This also leads to asthma, hay fever and sinusitis etc.
Intake of salt contracts muscles of uterus and destroys their flexibility and elasticity. That’s why caesarian operations are required in such cases.
Effect of salt on children
Children require very small quantity of salt intake. Eating too much salt is responsible for various ailments in children including high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack in later years of life, cramps, headache and nausea etc. It is also responsible for habit of early masturbation in children.
Now it is very much clear that excessive intake of salt is harmful for the body. It is also important to know that salt has no nutritional value. It is not a food nor does it contain any vitamins and minerals. Salt cannot even be digested, but is the cause of several chronic and dangerous diseases. It acts as a poison for heart and harmful for various body organs like kidneys, arteries, veins, blood vessels, bladder, brain, intestine and many more parts of body.
Eating less salt
In twenty first century it is almost impossible to suggest someone to altogether stop eating salt. But it is very much possible to reduce the intake of salt to recommended limit of approx. 4 gram per day. If you really want good health, omit all salted foods and change your salt habits. Salt eating is an acquired habit so one can learn to enjoy it less by gradually decreasing use of salt.
You are getting salt from various sources mostly from processed food. Thus you may avoid tomato ketchup, tinned soups, soy sauce, pickles, canned vegetables, curry powders, mustard, bread, biscuits, breakfast cereals, butter, margarine, spreads, cheese, dried fish, sausages, bacon, ham and other items that contain added salt. Avoid high salt processed food. Avoid salty snacks of all kind.
Cook with less or no salt. You may stop adding salt in cooking. For few days you may feel tastelessness but after few days your taste buds will adjust accordingly and you will start enjoying food with less or no salt.
Stop adding salt to your food at the table. Do not keep salt shaker on your dining table. Do not add salt to any food including salad, fruits, juices, yogurt, butter milk etc. Avoid all those types of salts like sea salt, rock salt or natural salt etc. All these contain sodium and are harmful for the body. If you cannot stop taking salt, either go for low sodium salt alternatives or use potassium salt instead of sodium. Potassium helps lowering blood pressure. Please check with your doctor before using sodium replacement salt.
You may also take fresh fruits and vegetables which are good source of potassium like bananas, oranges, potato, sweet potato, yogurt and fat free milk etc. Increase use of herbs.
Young infants and people suffering from kidney disease cannot tolerate high sodium intake because their kidneys cannot excrete excess salt. Therefore salt should never be added to any food for young babies.
Once you cut back on salt, your body organs including heart, kidneys, brain, blood vessels, alimentary canal and various other vital organs will co-operate you.
Reducing salt intake could save millions of lives per year from this planet earth.
Human body needs some sodium ions, which are obtained from salt, for following functions:
1. It helps balancing fluid volume in the body.
2. It helps contraction and relaxation of muscles and prevention of muscle cramps.
3. It balances sugar level in blood.
4. It regulates blood pressure in body.
5. It acts as a nature antihistamine.
6. It helps in functioning of adrenal gland.
7. It helps nerve stimulation.
8. It helps in production of hydrochloric acid in stomach, which is essential for digestion of food.
9. It helps carrying nutrients to blood.
10. It helps providing energy to the body.
How much salt must be taken?
Human blood stream contains three parts of sodium chloride to one thousand parts. Daily requirement of salt for human body is three gram a day but an average person takes 10 to 12 gram a day. Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for sodium is 1.6 gram per day, which is equivalent to 4 gram salt. Earlier it was considered 2.4 sodium per day, which is equivalent to 6 gram of salt. But now it is reduced considerably. Besides salt, sodium also comes in body from various food items like baking soda, mono sodium glutamate (used as a flavor enhancer), sodium saccharin (a sweetener), sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite (used as preservatives), sodium ascorbate (an antioxidant) etc.
Uncooked vegetables and fresh fruits contain sufficient of natural salts to meet the daily requirement of the body. Normally 70-80% of salt intake is from processed food and 10-20% comes from direct addition while cooking and also at the table and approx. 10-20% comes from fresh fruits and vegetables.
Why use of excessive salt is bad?
It has been less than 5000 years ago that salt began to be added to the food by human beings. Initially consumption of salt was very low but over the years it has increased almost 20 to 30 times, which is harmful for the body. When taken in required quantity, sodium plays important role in the body. Kidneys play important role by balancing quantity of sodium stored in body for optimal health. If level of sodium is low, they held it and when it is high, they excrete excess sodium in urine.
Excess intake of sodium, as common salt, affects the osmotic balance of the cells. Salt has tremendous attraction for water and other liquids. It has tendency to hold excessive water in body which is responsible for increasing blood pressure. Higher blood pressure results in more strain on the heart, arteries, kidneys and brain.
Excess salt in blood also disturbs filtration process of kidneys and results in damaging the kidneys. In high blood pressure diuretic medicines are recommended to patients who require more fluid removal from the body thru kidneys. When kidneys are unable to filter the blood, body does not get rid of toxins. In such condition medicines do not work on body and blood pressure gets aggravated. Excessive toxin in body results in various ailments.
When there is excessive fluid in the body, it puts strain on arteries which results in thickening of walls of arteries and this in turn raises blood pressure. Due to thickening of arteries, blood supply to heart is reduced and oxygen and nutrients availability to heart is also reduced. This leads to angina and consequently heart attack. Continuous high blood pressure sometimes bursts arteries or they get clogged. High blood pressure also damages arteries leading to brain. Blood supply to brain is reduced, thus leading to dementia. As in the case of heart, oxygen and nutrients supply to brain is also reduced. It results in stroke. Thus, higher the intake of salt, the greater is the incidence of stroke. It also induces platelet aggregation, which may also lead to heart attack.
Excessive use of salt also causes cancer, impaired vision, defective hearing, dizziness and insomnia, anemia, acidity, paralysis, obesity and many other dangerous and chronic ailments. As kidneys are unable to eliminate excessive salt, due to accumulation of salt in the tissue, dropsy is produced in some cases. Usually salt gets deposited in knees, elbows, ankles, wrists thus resulting in arthritis and rheumatism. Salt is the cause of vision problem including corneal edema, cataract and near sightedness i.e. myopia.
It also increases irritability of nervous system, melancholia and abnormalities. It increases excretion of calcium in urine leading to osteoporosis. Salts also attacks mucous lining of gastrointestinal tract. It has been reported to disturb normal digestion of food due to hindrance of secretion of pepsin. It is an important enzyme for digestion of protein in food, and its secretion is reduced to almost half. Excessive salt intake also leads to ulcer and carcinoma of stomach.
Salt intake is also associated with false hunger, excessive thirst, dehydration, dryness in body, constipation and accumulation of toxins in intestinal tract, skin diseases, nose bleeding, feeling of tension in head, loss of hair, dandruff, grey hair etc.
Salt is a natural antibiotic, which kills good bacteria in the body. It also stimulates adrenal gland and releases excess of adrenal hormone in the system. This hormone has property to resist inflammation and brings a sense of comfort and wellness in body. Excessive intake of salt has an adverse effect as adrenal gland fails to respond and does not secret sufficient hormone and thus body begins to suffer from lack of adrenal hormones. This causes severe irritation and body gets prone to allergy to pollen, dust and various food materials. This also leads to asthma, hay fever and sinusitis etc.
Intake of salt contracts muscles of uterus and destroys their flexibility and elasticity. That’s why caesarian operations are required in such cases.
Effect of salt on children
Children require very small quantity of salt intake. Eating too much salt is responsible for various ailments in children including high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack in later years of life, cramps, headache and nausea etc. It is also responsible for habit of early masturbation in children.
Now it is very much clear that excessive intake of salt is harmful for the body. It is also important to know that salt has no nutritional value. It is not a food nor does it contain any vitamins and minerals. Salt cannot even be digested, but is the cause of several chronic and dangerous diseases. It acts as a poison for heart and harmful for various body organs like kidneys, arteries, veins, blood vessels, bladder, brain, intestine and many more parts of body.
Eating less salt
In twenty first century it is almost impossible to suggest someone to altogether stop eating salt. But it is very much possible to reduce the intake of salt to recommended limit of approx. 4 gram per day. If you really want good health, omit all salted foods and change your salt habits. Salt eating is an acquired habit so one can learn to enjoy it less by gradually decreasing use of salt.
You are getting salt from various sources mostly from processed food. Thus you may avoid tomato ketchup, tinned soups, soy sauce, pickles, canned vegetables, curry powders, mustard, bread, biscuits, breakfast cereals, butter, margarine, spreads, cheese, dried fish, sausages, bacon, ham and other items that contain added salt. Avoid high salt processed food. Avoid salty snacks of all kind.
Cook with less or no salt. You may stop adding salt in cooking. For few days you may feel tastelessness but after few days your taste buds will adjust accordingly and you will start enjoying food with less or no salt.
Stop adding salt to your food at the table. Do not keep salt shaker on your dining table. Do not add salt to any food including salad, fruits, juices, yogurt, butter milk etc. Avoid all those types of salts like sea salt, rock salt or natural salt etc. All these contain sodium and are harmful for the body. If you cannot stop taking salt, either go for low sodium salt alternatives or use potassium salt instead of sodium. Potassium helps lowering blood pressure. Please check with your doctor before using sodium replacement salt.
You may also take fresh fruits and vegetables which are good source of potassium like bananas, oranges, potato, sweet potato, yogurt and fat free milk etc. Increase use of herbs.
Young infants and people suffering from kidney disease cannot tolerate high sodium intake because their kidneys cannot excrete excess salt. Therefore salt should never be added to any food for young babies.
Once you cut back on salt, your body organs including heart, kidneys, brain, blood vessels, alimentary canal and various other vital organs will co-operate you.
Reducing salt intake could save millions of lives per year from this planet earth.
Friday, November 5, 2010
SPROUTS
Sprouts are edible seeds that have just germinated. Sprouts are called as Super foods or Power foods due to their high nutrient contents of all raw foods. Basic regular foods have vitamins and minerals in small quantities, whereas power foods have vitamins and minerals several times over the normal food. Basic foods lack important enzymes whereas power foods store sufficient enzymes. While sprouting, the enzymes present in the seeds get activated and they convert starches into simple sugars, which make sprouts easy to digest. Sprouts are immunity boosting foods, which are vital for good health. Eating sprouts is a good way to supplement the diet with food enzymes that are critical for every biochemical reaction that takes place in body. The vitamin contents multiply as much as 500 times during sprouting phase.
Sprouts are excellent source of Antioxidants, Vitamins A, B, C and E in addition to Minerals such as Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Selenium, Zinc etc. Enzymes and Fiber are also found in abundance in sprouts. Antioxidants protect from radiation and toxic chemicals. They help the body to cleanse, detoxify and rebuild and heal itself.
Enzymes aid in the digestion and assimilation of nutrients and contribute to body’s life force. Fiber aids elimination and their lecithin helps the body get rid of cholesterol. Sprouts are low in calories and easy to digest, as mentioned above. Sprouts are perfect weight loss and body purification foods. In fact, sprouts may be considered as Spark Plugs of life. They also contain essential amino acids required for growth and repairs of the body. They store sufficient quantities of phytohormones, phytochemicals and Neutraceuticals. Sprouts contain no Cholesterol and provide several essential fatty acids. A raw food diet full of sprouts is one of the best ways to detoxify your body.
It has been proved beyond doubt that the Sprouts are real health food. They are full of life and vital energy required for body. The right combination of sprouts contains everything needed for life and perfect health. All their nutritional elements are easily assimilated and readily available to the body.
Sprouts can be taken as such in raw form. These could be steamed, boiled or baked. They can be mixed with fruits or raw vegetables or can be added to salads, sandwiches, soups, dhal, vegetables or any other dishes. These are excellent for all age groups, from children to elderly persons, from healthy to not so healthy persons. Make it a regular habit of taking sprouts for the entire family and enjoy perfect health.
Sprouts are excellent source of Antioxidants, Vitamins A, B, C and E in addition to Minerals such as Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Selenium, Zinc etc. Enzymes and Fiber are also found in abundance in sprouts. Antioxidants protect from radiation and toxic chemicals. They help the body to cleanse, detoxify and rebuild and heal itself.
Enzymes aid in the digestion and assimilation of nutrients and contribute to body’s life force. Fiber aids elimination and their lecithin helps the body get rid of cholesterol. Sprouts are low in calories and easy to digest, as mentioned above. Sprouts are perfect weight loss and body purification foods. In fact, sprouts may be considered as Spark Plugs of life. They also contain essential amino acids required for growth and repairs of the body. They store sufficient quantities of phytohormones, phytochemicals and Neutraceuticals. Sprouts contain no Cholesterol and provide several essential fatty acids. A raw food diet full of sprouts is one of the best ways to detoxify your body.
It has been proved beyond doubt that the Sprouts are real health food. They are full of life and vital energy required for body. The right combination of sprouts contains everything needed for life and perfect health. All their nutritional elements are easily assimilated and readily available to the body.
Sprouts can be taken as such in raw form. These could be steamed, boiled or baked. They can be mixed with fruits or raw vegetables or can be added to salads, sandwiches, soups, dhal, vegetables or any other dishes. These are excellent for all age groups, from children to elderly persons, from healthy to not so healthy persons. Make it a regular habit of taking sprouts for the entire family and enjoy perfect health.
Monday, November 1, 2010
NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT BREAKFAST
Your brain needs a constant supply of glucose, which comes from food. Since the last meal before breakfast is dinner, you have already given the glucose intake a long break. If you avoid your breakfast you don’t supply enough glucose to the mind. Hence it is not a good idea to skip breakfast. Eating a good breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day. If you skip breakfast, you don’t supply required glucose to the mind and your system is bound to be slow, you are likely to become tired as your brain and body run low on fuel.
Another important aspect, breakfast can prevent strokes, heart attack and sudden death. In fact, it is the most important meal of the day. Frequency of the heart attack, stroke and sudden death is at peak between 6:00 am and noon and it is highest between 8:00 to 10:00 am. Reason for this is platelets in the blood clump together inside your arteries due to cholesterol and laque build up in the artery lining. It is in the morning those platelets becomes more activated and tend to form internal blood clots at the greatest frequency. Breakfast prevents morning platelet activation. That is associated with heart attack and stroke.
In addition, eating breakfast is good for weight loss. Weight gain comes from the fact that having starved your body for so long, you are bound to eat more than you should at lunch, which may harm your body. Hence people who eat breakfast are more likely to maintain a healthy weight. Children who eat breakfast do better in school. It is recommended to eat good breakfast within 3 hours of getting up. A cup of coffee, tea, cold drink etc might work for a few minutes, but by lunch time you are hungry and crabby. Healthy breakfast should contain some protein and some fiber. Protein can be from low fat meats, eggs, beans or dairy products. Fiber can be found in whole grain, vegetables and fruits. A good example of healthy breakfast might be something like a hard boiled egg, a bowl of whole grain cereals with low fat milk, sprouts, fruit juices or fruits as a whole, yogurt or butter milk etc.
You should stay away from sugary cereals, syrups, pastries, sweets, white bread etc. because they are digested quickly and leave you hungry and tired in a couple of hours. Protein and fibers satisfy your hunger and keep you feeling full until lunch time.
Remember that eating a healthy breakfast is the best way to start off your day and be good to yourself by eating a healthy breakfast. Notice how much better you feel through the morning and the rest of the day when you don’t skip breakfast.
Another important aspect, breakfast can prevent strokes, heart attack and sudden death. In fact, it is the most important meal of the day. Frequency of the heart attack, stroke and sudden death is at peak between 6:00 am and noon and it is highest between 8:00 to 10:00 am. Reason for this is platelets in the blood clump together inside your arteries due to cholesterol and laque build up in the artery lining. It is in the morning those platelets becomes more activated and tend to form internal blood clots at the greatest frequency. Breakfast prevents morning platelet activation. That is associated with heart attack and stroke.
In addition, eating breakfast is good for weight loss. Weight gain comes from the fact that having starved your body for so long, you are bound to eat more than you should at lunch, which may harm your body. Hence people who eat breakfast are more likely to maintain a healthy weight. Children who eat breakfast do better in school. It is recommended to eat good breakfast within 3 hours of getting up. A cup of coffee, tea, cold drink etc might work for a few minutes, but by lunch time you are hungry and crabby. Healthy breakfast should contain some protein and some fiber. Protein can be from low fat meats, eggs, beans or dairy products. Fiber can be found in whole grain, vegetables and fruits. A good example of healthy breakfast might be something like a hard boiled egg, a bowl of whole grain cereals with low fat milk, sprouts, fruit juices or fruits as a whole, yogurt or butter milk etc.
You should stay away from sugary cereals, syrups, pastries, sweets, white bread etc. because they are digested quickly and leave you hungry and tired in a couple of hours. Protein and fibers satisfy your hunger and keep you feeling full until lunch time.
Remember that eating a healthy breakfast is the best way to start off your day and be good to yourself by eating a healthy breakfast. Notice how much better you feel through the morning and the rest of the day when you don’t skip breakfast.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
DRINK MORE WATER
Life cannot exist without water. Next to air, water is the most essential for all organisms. Without food, a human can live for more than a month, but without water, it cannot live more than few days.
Water constitutes approx. 70% of the body weight in adults, whereas in a child it is approx. 90%.
Water does not contain carbohydrates, fat or protein and has no calories. It may contain some minerals.
Main functions of water in human body are as follows:
1. It helps regulate body temperature thru perspiration.
2. It helps transportation of nutrients, hormones, drugs and oxygen etc. to various organs of the body as per requirement.
3. It carries waste material from the body including carbon dioxide, uric acid etc.
4. Water helps lubricating joints of the body.
5. It helps as cushion to the body organs. During pregnancy, much of water is used as amniotic fluid in amniotic sack to ensure that fetus is protected in the womb.
6. Water helps controlling blood pressure by balancing body’s electrolytes.
7. Water keeps body organs including mouth, eyes and skin moist.
8. Water helps to alleviate constipation by moving food thru intestinal tract.
Proper hydration of body is required to ensure good health. Dehydration leads to various chronic illnesses and many more diseases. It also increases risk of abnormal heart rhythm. One should drink at least nine to twelve glasses of water a day in normal conditions. Drinking two to three glasses of water in the morning increases metabolic rate and thus promotes weight loss. Water requirement of the body varies on different situations.
Who needs to drink more water?
1. Those people who are on high protein diet require more water to flush out extra uric acid produced by digestion of the protein. Low consumption of carbohydrates during high protein diet regime helps breaking fat cells in the body and thus producing toxins in the form of ketones. One needs more water to eliminate these toxins from the body.
2. People on high fiber diet also require excessive intake of water as fibers absorb more fluid.
3. Some diseases like vomit and diarrhea lead to severe dehydration of body. Drinking excessive water is required in such circumstances to keep the body hydrated.
4. If you are living in hot conditions or warm atmosphere. There will be more perspiration to keep the body cool. You need to increase the intake of water in such situation.
5. Similarly if you are doing exercise or other type of physical activity including walking, running, cycling or any such exercise, there will be more sweating from body leading to loss of water. One must replenish by drinking more water.
6. During pregnancy body requires more water for various functions of the body. a) Firstly to carry nutrients to the baby water requirement is increased. b) Secondly there are more chances of mother acquiring urinary tract infection (UTI) and to prevent from infection, frequent flushing the system is required. This requires more water. c) For the protection of the fetus in uterus, amniotic sack contains amniotic fluid, which, in turn, regularly needs more water. d) Excessive intake of water also protects mother from hypertension during pregnancy. e) In case there is dehydration due to loss of water during 8th and 9th month of pregnancy, it may lead to premature labor thus causing harm to the baby. Hence adequate intake of water is required for the whole period of pregnancy.
Drinking water should always be cleaned and made free of contaminants. For purification of water, reverse osmosis systems are considered effective which can remove as much as 99% of all contaminants from the water supplied at the homes.
Water constitutes approx. 70% of the body weight in adults, whereas in a child it is approx. 90%.
Water does not contain carbohydrates, fat or protein and has no calories. It may contain some minerals.
Main functions of water in human body are as follows:
1. It helps regulate body temperature thru perspiration.
2. It helps transportation of nutrients, hormones, drugs and oxygen etc. to various organs of the body as per requirement.
3. It carries waste material from the body including carbon dioxide, uric acid etc.
4. Water helps lubricating joints of the body.
5. It helps as cushion to the body organs. During pregnancy, much of water is used as amniotic fluid in amniotic sack to ensure that fetus is protected in the womb.
6. Water helps controlling blood pressure by balancing body’s electrolytes.
7. Water keeps body organs including mouth, eyes and skin moist.
8. Water helps to alleviate constipation by moving food thru intestinal tract.
Proper hydration of body is required to ensure good health. Dehydration leads to various chronic illnesses and many more diseases. It also increases risk of abnormal heart rhythm. One should drink at least nine to twelve glasses of water a day in normal conditions. Drinking two to three glasses of water in the morning increases metabolic rate and thus promotes weight loss. Water requirement of the body varies on different situations.
Who needs to drink more water?
1. Those people who are on high protein diet require more water to flush out extra uric acid produced by digestion of the protein. Low consumption of carbohydrates during high protein diet regime helps breaking fat cells in the body and thus producing toxins in the form of ketones. One needs more water to eliminate these toxins from the body.
2. People on high fiber diet also require excessive intake of water as fibers absorb more fluid.
3. Some diseases like vomit and diarrhea lead to severe dehydration of body. Drinking excessive water is required in such circumstances to keep the body hydrated.
4. If you are living in hot conditions or warm atmosphere. There will be more perspiration to keep the body cool. You need to increase the intake of water in such situation.
5. Similarly if you are doing exercise or other type of physical activity including walking, running, cycling or any such exercise, there will be more sweating from body leading to loss of water. One must replenish by drinking more water.
6. During pregnancy body requires more water for various functions of the body. a) Firstly to carry nutrients to the baby water requirement is increased. b) Secondly there are more chances of mother acquiring urinary tract infection (UTI) and to prevent from infection, frequent flushing the system is required. This requires more water. c) For the protection of the fetus in uterus, amniotic sack contains amniotic fluid, which, in turn, regularly needs more water. d) Excessive intake of water also protects mother from hypertension during pregnancy. e) In case there is dehydration due to loss of water during 8th and 9th month of pregnancy, it may lead to premature labor thus causing harm to the baby. Hence adequate intake of water is required for the whole period of pregnancy.
Drinking water should always be cleaned and made free of contaminants. For purification of water, reverse osmosis systems are considered effective which can remove as much as 99% of all contaminants from the water supplied at the homes.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
HUMAN BODY – A MARVEL OF NATURE
Human body is the best creation of the nature. It is considered to be perfect manifestation of Gods’ creativity and innovation. Here are some facts about the human body.
It consists of tiny units called Cells. Body contains approx. 50 to 100 trillion cells.
The largest cell is a female ovum (egg cell), which has 1/180 inch diameter and the smallest cell is a sperm, found in male semen. Weight of one egg cell is equivalent to the weight of 175,000 sperm cells.
Each human organism begins life with a single cell. A fertilized egg is very small in size, not even visible thru naked eyes. It remains as a single cell for approx. 30 minutes. It then starts multiplying from one to two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty two, sixty four and so on.
Cells further grow and form together different types of tissues like muscles, nerves, bones, cartilage, arteries and veins. These tissues together form organs like lungs, liver, heart, brain, kidneys, etc. Organs working together for specific purpose are called systems. Systems working together form whole body.
Genes inherited from parents are made of DNA. There are 46 chromosomes in each cell.
Babies are born with 300 bones, but in adults some are joined together to make it to 206 bones. In all there are 100 joints, 600 muscles, 22 internal organs and 12 systems in body. These systems are circulatory system, digestive system, endocrine system, excretory system, immune system, lymphatic system, muscular system, nervous system, reproductive system, respiratory system, skeletal system and urinary system. Reproductive and urinary systems in male and female are of different types.
Every moment new cells are being formed. Body replaces approx. 1 billion cells every hour.
Human blood has approx. 20 -25 trillion RBC, which is 25% of total body cells. In one micro liter of blood there are 4 to 6 million RBC, 4000 to 11000 WBC and 150,000 to 400,000 platelets. Each red blood corpuscles (RBC) contains 270 million hemoglobin biomolecules. Body produces 2.4 million RBC every second.
Heart weighs approx. 250 – 300 gm. It begins to beat about four weeks after conception. It is fully developed by eight weeks. Heart beats approx. 103680 times a day. It beats almost 2.6 billion times till seventy years of age and pumps 120 million liter of blood. Blood travels 168 million miles (270 million Km/day).
Brain is the most complicated organ of the body and its weight is approx. 1.35 kg. It contains 85% water.
Skin is the largest organ of the body, approx. 25 sq. ft. in area. Body produces new layer of skin every 30 minutes.
Small intestine is the longest part of the body, approx. 23 ft. in length. Digestive system processes 7.8 lb. (3.5 kg.) waste per day.
Lungs take 438 cu. Ft. air per day. Everyday breathing is approx. 22000 times.
There are 9000 taste buds mostly on the surface of the tongue.
Eyes blink approx. 10 million times a year.
Water content of human body is 90% at birth, while it reduces to approx. 70% in adults and drops further to 50% in old age. Water keeps a person alive.
Healthy person consumes approx. 2.3 liter water per day and the same is to be replenished for the normal functioning of digestive system and blood formation. Intake of water increases during summer and also during sporting activities. A person drinks approx. 16000 gallons water in life time.
Element wise in body oxygen content is 65% of body mass while carbon and hydrogen are 18% and 10% respectively. There are 3 more major elements of body, namely nitrogen – 3%, calcium – 1.5% and phosphorus – 1%. These six elements constitute almost 98.5% of body mass.
There are various minor elements like potassium – 0.35%, sulfur – 0.25%, sodium – 0.15%, magnesium – 0.05% and also copper, zinc, selenium, molybdenum, fluorine, chlorine, iodine, manganese, cobalt, iron, with a total of approx. 0.7%.
Some elements are in traces like, lithium, strontium, aluminum, silicon, lead, vanadium, arsenic, and bromine.
Body has enough iron to make a 3 inch nail, sulfur to kill all the fleas of an average dog, carbon to make 900 pencils, fat to make 7 bars of soap, phosphorus to make 2200 match heads and water to fill a 10 gallon tank.
Most of the time this body operates flawlessly. The human machinery is so perfect; its immune system is the most powerful protector. Body is continuously repairing and defending itself. But sometimes the magnitude of injury or strength of microbial invader is greater than the defending system and gets ill.
Laughter reduces stress level and strengthens immune system.
Each sq. inch of human body has approx. 32 million bacteria on it.
It consists of tiny units called Cells. Body contains approx. 50 to 100 trillion cells.
The largest cell is a female ovum (egg cell), which has 1/180 inch diameter and the smallest cell is a sperm, found in male semen. Weight of one egg cell is equivalent to the weight of 175,000 sperm cells.
Each human organism begins life with a single cell. A fertilized egg is very small in size, not even visible thru naked eyes. It remains as a single cell for approx. 30 minutes. It then starts multiplying from one to two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty two, sixty four and so on.
Cells further grow and form together different types of tissues like muscles, nerves, bones, cartilage, arteries and veins. These tissues together form organs like lungs, liver, heart, brain, kidneys, etc. Organs working together for specific purpose are called systems. Systems working together form whole body.
Genes inherited from parents are made of DNA. There are 46 chromosomes in each cell.
Babies are born with 300 bones, but in adults some are joined together to make it to 206 bones. In all there are 100 joints, 600 muscles, 22 internal organs and 12 systems in body. These systems are circulatory system, digestive system, endocrine system, excretory system, immune system, lymphatic system, muscular system, nervous system, reproductive system, respiratory system, skeletal system and urinary system. Reproductive and urinary systems in male and female are of different types.
Every moment new cells are being formed. Body replaces approx. 1 billion cells every hour.
Human blood has approx. 20 -25 trillion RBC, which is 25% of total body cells. In one micro liter of blood there are 4 to 6 million RBC, 4000 to 11000 WBC and 150,000 to 400,000 platelets. Each red blood corpuscles (RBC) contains 270 million hemoglobin biomolecules. Body produces 2.4 million RBC every second.
Heart weighs approx. 250 – 300 gm. It begins to beat about four weeks after conception. It is fully developed by eight weeks. Heart beats approx. 103680 times a day. It beats almost 2.6 billion times till seventy years of age and pumps 120 million liter of blood. Blood travels 168 million miles (270 million Km/day).
Brain is the most complicated organ of the body and its weight is approx. 1.35 kg. It contains 85% water.
Skin is the largest organ of the body, approx. 25 sq. ft. in area. Body produces new layer of skin every 30 minutes.
Small intestine is the longest part of the body, approx. 23 ft. in length. Digestive system processes 7.8 lb. (3.5 kg.) waste per day.
Lungs take 438 cu. Ft. air per day. Everyday breathing is approx. 22000 times.
There are 9000 taste buds mostly on the surface of the tongue.
Eyes blink approx. 10 million times a year.
Water content of human body is 90% at birth, while it reduces to approx. 70% in adults and drops further to 50% in old age. Water keeps a person alive.
Healthy person consumes approx. 2.3 liter water per day and the same is to be replenished for the normal functioning of digestive system and blood formation. Intake of water increases during summer and also during sporting activities. A person drinks approx. 16000 gallons water in life time.
Element wise in body oxygen content is 65% of body mass while carbon and hydrogen are 18% and 10% respectively. There are 3 more major elements of body, namely nitrogen – 3%, calcium – 1.5% and phosphorus – 1%. These six elements constitute almost 98.5% of body mass.
There are various minor elements like potassium – 0.35%, sulfur – 0.25%, sodium – 0.15%, magnesium – 0.05% and also copper, zinc, selenium, molybdenum, fluorine, chlorine, iodine, manganese, cobalt, iron, with a total of approx. 0.7%.
Some elements are in traces like, lithium, strontium, aluminum, silicon, lead, vanadium, arsenic, and bromine.
Body has enough iron to make a 3 inch nail, sulfur to kill all the fleas of an average dog, carbon to make 900 pencils, fat to make 7 bars of soap, phosphorus to make 2200 match heads and water to fill a 10 gallon tank.
Most of the time this body operates flawlessly. The human machinery is so perfect; its immune system is the most powerful protector. Body is continuously repairing and defending itself. But sometimes the magnitude of injury or strength of microbial invader is greater than the defending system and gets ill.
Laughter reduces stress level and strengthens immune system.
Each sq. inch of human body has approx. 32 million bacteria on it.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
FORGIVENESS
Today people from India’s ‘Jain’ community are celebrating ‘Forgiveness Day’ at the end of 10 days long celebrations of most auspicious days of Paryushan festival. This day everyone from the community seeks Forgiveness from others for the past mistakes. And in the process he also forgives all others for their mistakes, sins and other similar negativities. To err is human and to forgive is divine. The word forgiveness i.e. ‘Kshama’ means patience, forbearance and pardon. To pardon an enemy or a friend, both is the jewel of noble persons. Forbearance is the ornament of the brave.
Forgiveness has been regarded as the most courageous act of human nature in almost all religions of the world. Forgiveness is the tool which was practiced by all including Lord Rama, Krishna, Mahavira Swami, Buddha, Christ, Prophet Mohammed and Guru Nanak dev. None could do without it. Forgiveness is at the core of Christianity. In Hinduism and Jainism it is considered as an act of strength and courage of Kings and Emperors. Islam says, ‘If any show patience and forgive, that truly would be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs’. Sikhism says, ‘Forgiveness plays an essential part in human relations and magnanimity is most certainly a sign of strength.
Every religion on this earth has accorded Forgiveness as an act of courage and the one who asks for forgiveness is a courageous person as he has accepted his past mistakes and wish for atonement. On the other hand, the one who forgives is equally courageous and strong as he has accepted to forget and forgive misdeeds of others.
Mahatma Gandhi has said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
Not a single person on this earth can claim to be perfect. Everyone commits several mistakes in his life and hurts or harms others, either knowingly or unknowingly. It means everyone has something or someone to forgive. Acceptance of one’s faults and forgiving for the others faults helps one to get rid of his guilt. His conscience will be clear and he will be able to free the self from worries. Forgiveness is a unique gift which you are giving it to yourself. It helps you heal within and bring you peace of mind. The experience of ecstasy felt after forgiving cannot be described in words.
An English poet has written about forgiveness in following manner,
O Man! Forgive thy mortal foe,
Do not give him blow for blow
Forgive him seventy times and seven
For all the blessed souls in Heaven
Were both forgivers and forgiven.
Some people keep on cursing the self for various reasons but they never think of forgiving the self and carry the burden of guilt. First you must learn to forgive the self and then the whole world. We believe that God forgives our sins but also that He will not do so unless we forgive others for their sins against us. Let us learn to forgive everyone and also ask for forgiveness of our mistakes. You can go on repeating following affirmation for developing the habit of forgiveness.
“I lovingly forgive and forget everyone whosoever has ever offended or hurt me.”
This day reminds for forgiveness and people have made it a ritual to request for the same by saying ‘Micchā me dukkadam’ or Uttam kşamā, i.e. “We ask forgiveness for any harm we may have caused you, by thoughts, words or actions, knowingly or unknowingly”. It is my opinion, in addition to this ritual, we must ensure that forgiveness has permanent abode within every one of us and is continuously flowing through us and it is a part of our basic nature and we must continuously and consistently forgive others. I am also of the opinion; forgiveness if practiced sincerely will solve all those problems of crime, war, terrorism and various other negativities hovering over this world and bring peace and harmony in the whole world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)