Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts

EAT Slowly !!!


Eating too fast might cause you to eat beyond the point of fullness without even realizing. Chew your food well it actually works to bring satiety.
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Don't skip your Breakfast anyday

Breakfast energizes you and resists your hunger pangs and Cravings. So remember to eat your breakfast everyday.

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Eat Small Frequent Meals


Small frequent MEALS help to maintain good blood sugar levels, keeps your appetite in check, while you still feel energetic all day long.

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BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS



1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level.
This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain.
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5 Steps to a flat tummy in 7 days



You've been missing your routine at the gym very often thanks to your busy schedule (or plain laziness) and suddenly you realize that in one week you have to attend a wedding.
You want to wear your favourite saree or figure-hugging dress but are worried about your flabby stomach bulging out. Well, you still have a last option. While you cannot reduce fat, you can lose belly fat by decreasing your total body fat percentage. And you don't have to completely alter your daily habits to get a flat stomach within 7 days!
Step one:
If you want to build muscle and burn fat at the same time, you have to perform circuit training, three days per week. How can you achieve this? Indulge in full body exercises like lunges, push-ups, and pull-ups, for one set of 15 repetitions. Don't forget to follow every exercise with one minute of jumping rope. You should be able to burn around 500 to 600 calories per workout.
Step two:
You have to work on your abdominal muscles three times in the week. Crunches and leg raises for three sets of 20 repetitions should be done. Also, do planks by holding your body in a push-up position on your elbows for 30 to 60 seconds for four sets.
Step three:
The kind of food you will eat in this period is vital in bringing about any change. Natural foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and pastas, chicken, beef, fish and low fat dairy should replace processed foods full of sugar.
Step four:
To minimize water retention, lower your sodium intake. This means you need to avoid salt. You can flavour your food with other herbs and spices instead.
Step five:
Stressing and anxiety can cause the over-production of a certain hormone called cortisol, which encourages weight gain about the belly area. So try to keep your cool!
Source: TimesofIndia

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10 Tips To Healthy Eating

Experts agree the key to healthy eating is the time-tested advice of balance, variety and moderation. In short, that means eating a wide variety of foods without getting too many calories or too much of any one nutrient. These 10 tips can help you follow that advice while still enjoying the foods you eat.

                                             

1. Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods : You need more than 40 different nutrients for good health, and no single food supplies them all. Your daily food selection should include bread and other whole-grain products; fruits; vegetables; dairy products; and meat, poultry, fish and other protein foods. How much you should eat depends on your calorie needs. Use the Food Guide Pyramid and the Nutrition Facts panel on food labels as handy references.
2. Enjoy plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables : Surveys show most Americans don't eat enough of these foods. Do you eat 6-11 servings from the bread, rice, cereal and pasta group, 3 of which should be whole grains? Do you eat 2-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of vegetables? If you don't enjoy some of these at first, give them another chance. Look through cookbooks for tasty ways to prepare unfamiliar foods.
3. Maintain a healthy weight : The weight that's right for you depends on many factors including your sex, height, age and heredity. Excess body fat increases your chances for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer and other illnesses. But being too thin can increase your risk for osteoporosis, menstrual irregularities and other health problems. If you're constantly losing and regaining weight, a registered dietitian can help you develop sensible eating habits for successful weight management. Regular exercise is also important to maintaining a healthy weight.
4. Eat moderate portions : If you keep portion sizes reasonable, it's easier to eat the foods you want and stay healthy. Did you know the recommended serving of cooked meat is 3 ounces, similar in size to a deck of playing cards? A medium piece of fruit is 1 serving and a cup of pasta equals 2 servings. A pint of ice cream contains 4 servings. Refer to the Food Guide Pyramid for information on recommended serving sizes.
5. Eat regular meals : Skipping meals can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in overeating. When you're very hungry, it's also tempting to forget about good nutrition. Snacking between meals can help curb hunger, but don't eat so much that your snack becomes an entire meal.
6. Reduce, don't eliminate certain foods : Most people eat for pleasure as well as nutrition. If your favorite foods are high in fat, salt or sugar, the key is moderating how much of these foods you eat and how often you eat them.
Identify major sources of these ingredients in your diet and make changes, if necessary. Adults who eat high-fat meats or whole-milk dairy products at every meal are probably eating too much fat. Use the Nutrition Facts panel on the food label to help balance your choices.
Choosing skim or low-fat dairy products and lean cuts of meat such as flank steak and beef round can reduce fat intake significantly.
If you love fried chicken, however, you don't have to give it up. Just eat it less often. When dining out, share it with a friend, ask for a take-home bag or a smaller portion.
7. Balance your food choices over time : Not every food has to be "perfect." When eating a food high in fat, salt or sugar, select other foods that are low in these ingredients. If you miss out on any food group one day, make up for it the next. Your food choices over several days should fit together into a healthy pattern.
8. Know your diet pitfalls : To improve your eating habits, you first have to know what's wrong with them. Write down everything you eat for three days. Then check your list according to the rest of these tips. Do you add a lot of butter, creamy sauces or salad dressings? Rather than eliminating these foods, just cut back your portions. Are you getting enough fruits and vegetables? If not, you may be missing out on vital nutrients.
9. Make changes gradually : Just as there are no "superfoods" or easy answers to a healthy diet, don't expect to totally revamp your eating habits overnight. Changing too much, too fast can get in the way of success. Begin to remedy excesses or deficiencies with modest changes that can add up to positive, lifelong eating habits. For instance, if you don't like the taste of skim milk, try low-fat. Eventually you may find you like skim, too.
10. Remember, foods are not good or bad : Select foods based on your total eating patterns, not whether any individual food is "good" or "bad." Don't feel guilty if you love foods such as apple pie, potato chips, candy bars or ice cream. Eat them in moderation, and choose other foods to provide the balance and variety that are vital to good health.
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How To Quit Smoking And Not Gain Weight

                             
                               
Many smokers avoid kicking the habit because they don't want to gain weight after they quit. Experts say that smoking can burn up to 200 calories per day and helps to boost the metabolism. The sad truth is most people do gain 5 to 10 pounds after quitting simply because nicotine can be a powerful appetite suppressant.

However, there are several ways you can step out of the addictive cycle and improve your health in the process. By adding more exercise to your daily routine, eating a well-balanced diet and avoiding alcohol, you can take control of your addiction-free lifestyle and avoid gaining weight.

Ways to Keep Off the Weight After You Quit Smoking

One of the biggest challenges for most former smokers involves overeating and food addiction. The "addict" mindset can be very difficult to overcome, and many smokers simply turn to another addiction when they can no longer get their "fix" from a cigarette.

Food addiction can lead to another unhealthy lifestyle that eventually leads to even more weight gain. However, former smokers who resolve to get healthy, stay in shape and make positive changes in their lives can keep the weight off and get in better shape for the long-term.

Some simple ways to keep the weight off after quitting smoking include:

Snacking on healthy foods – Stocking up on healthy snacks and food is a top priority, because smoking can make you hungry and predisposed to snacking. Stock up on foods such as frozen grapes, herbal tea, fat-free popcorn and hard candies so that you can replace the need to eat (or smoke a cigarette) with a healthier habit.

Just say "no" to alcohol – Alcohol can be a trigger for the quitting smoker and contains a significant number of calories per serving. When you're trying to lose weight and get healthy, alcohol should be far from reach; drinking can make you gain very quickly and makes it difficult to keep off the weight for the long-term.

Start a new workout plan Exercising regularly can help you boost your metabolism naturally and ward off those extra pounds. Working out at least four times per week can keep you in great shape and keep you motivated to stick with your healthier lifestyle. Do a combination of cardio exercises and weight training to make the most of your exercise sessions.

Start a new hobby Many former smokers realize that they have a lot of time on their hands when they stop their addiction. Starting a new hobby will keep your hands and mind occupied so you are less likely to fill up the time with food, food-related activities or falling back into your smoking habit. Join an art or crafts class, begin a new sport, or just get involved in the local community to stay busy.

Weight gain may seem inevitable when you decide to quit smoking, but there are several ways you can ward off the extra pounds and maintain a healthy lifestyle. A few modifications to your diet, keeping up with an exercise regimen and focusing on positive activities can help you overcome your addiction without gaining a single pound.
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Causes of Liver Damage

The main causes of liver damage are:






                                                       1. Sleeping too late

and waking up too late are main cause.


     2. Not urinating in the morning.


3. Too much eating.


4. Skipping breakfast.


5. Consuming too much medication.

6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring , and artificial sweetener.


7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible

reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking

oils like olive oil.

Do not consume fried foods when you are tired,

except if the body is very fit.


8. Consuming raw (overly done)


Foods also add to the burden of liver. 
Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished  in one sitting, do not store.


We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary 
chemicals according to 'schedule.'


Because :

 Evening at 9 - 11

PM : is the time for eliminating unnecessary/toxic chemicals 
(detoxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes).

This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music. If during this time a housewife is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their 
homework, this will have a negative impact on health. 

Evening at 11pm - 1 am :

is the detoxification process in the liver, and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state.


Early morning 1 - 3 am :

detoxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state.


Early morning 3 - 5 am :

detoxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be 
a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the detoxification process 
had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.

Morning 5 - 7am :

detoxification in the colon,

you should empty your bowel.

Morning 7 - 9 am :

absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you

should be having breakfast at this time.

Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30 am , for those who are 
sick. Breakfast before 7:30 am is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits,

and it is still better to 
eat breakfast late until 9 - 10 am rather than no meal at all..


Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to

4:00 am is the time when the bone marrow 
produces blood. Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.



DO TAKE CARE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.................
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The top five cancer-causing foods

The top five cancer-causing foods :

1Hot Dogs :           

Because they are high in nitrates, the CancePreventionCoalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy   those made withoutsodium nitrate.

                                     
2. Processed meats and Bacon  :        

Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.


3Doughnuts :    

Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then   fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4. French fries :         

Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oilsand then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries.


5. Chips, crackers, and cookies :    

All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of  trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.


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Organ Timings - Useful to know about your body Organs


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BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS

1. No Breakfast

People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. 
This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating

It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking

It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption

Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing 
malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution

The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air 
decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain 
efficiency.

6. Sleep Deprivation

Sleep allows our brain to rest.. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the 
death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping

Sleeping with the head covered, increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and 
decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness

Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of 
the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts

Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may 
cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely

Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain.


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Article about Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water

Heart  Attacks And Drinking Warm Water    

This  is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after  your meal, but about Heart  Attacks . The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not  cold water, maybe it is time we adopt  their   drinking  habit   while  eating.

                                                     
                                         
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is very Harmful to have Cold Drink/Water during a meal.because , the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the  digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will  break down and be absorbed by  the intestine   faster  than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon,  this will turn into fats and lead  to  cancer.It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a  meal. 
        French fries and Burgers are the biggest enemy of heart health. 
A coke after that gives more power to this demon. Avoid them for your Heart's Health 
   
 Common  Symptoms Of Heart Attack... 
-------------------------------------------    
. A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not  every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.Be aware of intense  pain in the jaw line.     

. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.  Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware.The more we know, the better chance we could survive.     
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Laptop Users - Beware !!!



A couple lost their 25 year old son in a fire at home on June 4th. The son who had graduated with MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison two weeks earlier had come home for a while. He had lunch with his dad at home and decided to go back to clean up his hostel room. His father told him to wait, to meet his mother, before he went back for a few days. He decided to take a nap while waiting for his mom to come back home from work. Some time later their neighbors called 911 when they saw black smoke coming out of the house.

Unfortunately, the 25 years old died in the three year old house. It took several days of investigation to find out the cause of the fire. It was determined that the fire was caused by the laptop resting on the bed. When the laptop was on the bed cooling fan did not get the air to cool the computer and that is what caused the fire. He did not even wake up to get out of the bed because he died of breathing in carbon monoxide.

The reason I am writing this to all of you is that I have seen many of us using the laptop while in bed. Let us all decide and make it a practice not to do that. The risk is real. Let us make it a rule not to use the laptop on bed with blankets and pillows around. Please educate as many people as you can.

"Please pass to everyone you know, you might save one's life"
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10 Reasons to Lose 10% of Your Body Weight


Whether you need to lose 20 pounds or 100, hopping on that scale and discovering that you've lost 10 percent of your total goal can have powerful benefits, both mentally and physically.

 Here are 10 reasons why:

1. Ten percent is an achievable first goal. Instead of fretting about all the weight you want to lose, which can make your task seem insurmountable, try focusing on a small chunk at first. According to many life coaches, setting short-term goals can keep you more engaged in the process and more likely to continue the journey. When you reach that first 10 percent, aim for the next 10.

2. Knocking off that first 10 percent can lower your risk for developing diabetes. If you already have type 2 diabetes, then losing weight can help reduce your symptoms and possibly your daily blood-sugar numbers. And eating a diet rich in whole grains and legumes like lentils can help steady blood sugar levels. Even if you don't have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar on a more even keel can help prevent cravings.

3. You'll feel more empowered. Noting that first 10 percent in your weight-loss journal (along with what you eat each day) could give you the confidence that you need lose weight and make your final goal.

4. Losing weight can lower your chances of developing heart disease. Being overweight can increase the amount of inflammation in your body, and studies show that this can upset the balance of your immune system. Compromised immunity can lead to illness and disease. Just losing 10 percent of your final goal can help reduce this inflammation, which can, in turn, lower your cholesterol and blood pressure. Both of these important numbers can predict your likelihood of developing heart disease.
5. With 10 percent less weight to haul around, you'll have more energy -- not just to keep up with your exercise program (and maybe take a few more laps around the park), but to enjoy your life.

6. With less weight on your frame, you'll put less pressure on your joints. You might find those nagging aches and pains disappearing on their own. Also, the same studies about systemic inflammation show that many people with osteoarthritis report less pain when they can bring more balance to their immune systems -- which you will be doing by losing weight and eating a healthier diet.

7. Sleep apnea is a distressing and potentially deadly sleep disorder that is sometimes caused by being overweight. If you have a lot to lose, giving that 10 percent the boot could help you sleep better at night, stop annoying your partner and possibly, prevent hypertension, erectile dysfunction in men and even heart attacks.

8. An immune system out of whack because of excess inflammation can increase your odds of developing colon and breast cancer. Ten percent off can make you feel good about improving your health and possibly lengthening your lifespan.
9. Feeling pretty good about yourself because you kicked that first 10 percent? Imagine how much better you'll feel about yourself in the bedroom.

10. Excess weight -- especially around the abdomen -- can cause greater stress on your internal organs. Ten percent off can improve digestion and help nutrients from the healthy diet you're eating circulate to all the cells that need them. And can help metabolize fat from your body.
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Soil bacteria helps kill Cancers



A bacterium found in soil is a showing promise as a way of delivering cancer drugs into tumours.

Spores of the Clostridium sporogenes bacterium can grow within tumours because there is no oxygen.

UK and Dutch scientists have been able to genetically engineer an enzyme into the bacteria to activate a cancer drug.

Experts said it would be some time before the potential benefits of the work - presented to the Society of Microbiology - were known.

The work is being presented to the society's autumn conference at the University of York.

The spores grow only within soild tumours, such as breast, brain and prostate tumours and not in other tissue in the body, where oxygen is present.

Healthy tissue 'unscathed'
Researchers have been investigating the possibilities of clostridium "vectors" to deliver cancer drugs for decades.

The scientists from the University of Nottingham and Maastricht University were able to genetically engineer an improved version of an enzyme into C.sporogenes.

In animal tests, a drug was also injected into the bloodstream which becomes active only when it is triggered by this enzyme.

It then destroys only the cells in its vicinity - the tumour cells.

Professor Nigel Minton, who led the research, said: "Clostridia are an ancient group of bacteria that evolved on the planet before it had an oxygen-rich atmosphere and so they thrive in low oxygen conditions.

"When Clostridia spores are injected into a cancer patient, they will only grow in oxygen-depleted environments, ie the centre of solid tumours.

"This is a totally natural phenomenon, which requires no fundamental alterations and is exquisitely specific.

"We can exploit this specificity to kill tumour cells but leave healthy tissue unscathed."

The team are now planning to work with other researchers on patient trials, due to start in 2013.

Nell Barrie, senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "Finding ways to target treatments to cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed is a key aim of researchers around the world.

"But it's a difficult problem to solve, especially because every cancer is different. This particular approach hasn't yet been tested in patients so it will be some time before researchers know whether it will offer real benefits."


Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14761417
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One mosquito coil equals 100 cigarettes





Smoke emitted from one mosquito repellant coil is equivalent to those of 100 cigarettes, thus causing harm to a large number of people in India, an expert said Wednesday. 

"Not many people know about it, but the damage done to your lungs by one mosquito coil is equivalent to the damage done by 100 cigarettes. This was according to a recent study conducted in Malyasia," said Chest Research Foundation director Sandeep Salvi. 

He was speaking at the conference 'Air Pollution and Our Health', organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) along with the Indian Council for Medical Research and the Indian Medical Association. 

Salvi said there is a lack of awareness about the impact of air pollution on human health. 

Pointing out the "lack of research culture" among Indian doctors, Salvi said that indoor air pollution too is a health risk factor. 

Participants at the event, which included doctors and health researchers, also spoke about vehicular air pollution in the capital. 

According to estimates, about 55 per cent of Delhi's population lives within 500 metres from main roads - and is, therefore, prone to a variety of physical disorders. 

"The vehicular pollution is a major concern for the environment. The rising incidents of genetic disorder has a lot to do with air pollution. India loses one million children under five because of respiratory problems every year," said Sanjeev Bagai, the chief executive officer of Batra Hospitals. 

He said industries also contribute to the air pollution and these need to be shifted out of the capital.


Source: Times of India
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How do we inhale and exhale ! Interesting to know !!!

We all know the nose has left and right side n we use both to inhale and exhale.

Actually they are different!

You would be able to feel the difference.

During a headache, try to close your right nostril and use your left nostril to breath. In about 5 mins, you ll start feeling better.

If you feel tired,  just reverse the process, close your left  and breath through your right . After a while, you will feel refreshed.

Right side attribute’s  'heat'  and  the left side  'cold'.

Most female breathe with their left noses, that’s one of the reason they get "cooled off" faster than Men.  Most of the guys breathe with their right noses, they get worked up!

Have you ever noticed………!  the moment we wake up, which side the breathing is faster? Left or right??

If left is faster, you will feel tired.  Close your left nose and use your right nose for breathing, you will get refreshed quickly.

This can be taught to kids also. Of course helpful for adults.

Very simple exercise! why not give it a try…

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TRUTH about Cotton Buds selling on Road side



Cotton Ear Buds... Please do not show sympathy to people selling buds on roadside or at Signals...... Just wanted to warn you people not to buy those packs of ear buds you get at the roadside. It's made from cotton that has already been used in hospitals. They take all the dirty, blood and pus filled cotton, wash it, bleach it and use it to make ear buds. So, unless you want to become the first person in the world to get Herpes Zoster Oticus (a viral infection of the inner, middle, and external ear) of the ear and that too from a cotton bud, DON'T BUY THEM! Please forward to all this may be helpful for someone...... .......... Please share to all your near and dear ones....!

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Don't SIT on Your WALLET



Your wallet can be real pain for your back and the buttocks, and it can even lead to shooting pains down the legs. Sitting on a wallet for prolonged hours every day can compress sciatic nerve which passes beneath piriformis muscle and leads to piriformis syndrome, low back pain & self-inflicted sciatica. 

The wallet acts as a wedge that forces the pelvis, spine and body out of alignment. Just as you would not sit on a brief case or a rock for an extended period of time, you should not sit on your wallet. Anyone who drives more than a half hour sitting on a wallet, is a candidate for sciatica or back pain. 

The healthiest option is to move the wallet to your front pocket. If it’s must to keep your wallet in your back pocket, you should remove it before you sit down
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Purple Super Tomato Invented to fight against Cancer




It looks like a cross between an orange and a black pudding, but this genetically modified purple 'super tomato' could be the latest weapon in the fight against cancer.

The fruit, which tastes and smells like a normal red tomato, has been given two genes from a snapdragon flower that produce the dark colour. 

The distinctive hue is created by antioxidant pigments that protect against diseases including cancer, heart problems and diabetes.



British scientists behind the crop believe their purple tomato is the respectable face of genetic modification and could help convince the public of the benefits of GM food.

But critics say the potential health benefits are a distraction from the harmful environmental side effects of GM farming. 





The tomato  -  developed by the John Innes Centre in Norwich  -  contains high concentrations of anthocyanins, pigments found in blackberries and cranberries.
Anthocyanins are chemicals called flavonoids which mop up potentially harmful oxygen molecules in the body. Although they are produced naturally by tomato plants, they are normally found only in the leaves.

The scientists transferred the genes from the snapdragons using specially adapted bacteria.

Professor Cathie Martin, who led the John Innes research  -  the results of which are published today in the journal Nature Biotechnology  -  said one tomato contained the same anthocyanins as a spoonful of cranberries.

'Most people do not eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day,' she said.  'But they can get more benefit from those they do eat if common fruit and vegetables can be developed that are higher in nutrients.'

The scientists found that mice bred to be vulnerable to cancer lived longer when fed the GM tomatoes. They now hope to test the effects on men at risk of prostate cancer.

Dr Lara Bennett, of Cancer Research UK, said: 'It's exciting to see new techniques that could make healthy foods even better for us.'
But critics warn that genetic modification is tied in with factory farming methods that harm communities  -  and that any seeds from a GM tomato could produce unexpected effects on the environment.

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