Exam fever is on

Exam fever is on

Come March and the whole nation is gripped with exam fever. Children apart parents are more worried and tensed because our whole system is based on tests and their results.

Effort should be made in understanding the concept and not rote learning. Understanding goes a long way whereas rote learning only makes us clear the exams.

Make notes ahead of the exams and not during exams.

Time management is very important with regular breaks and walks in between.
Develop positive attitude towards your studies. Get rid of all excuses. Set a goal and work towards it.
Only revision work should be done during exams. Sleep at least 7 hours at night before exam. Then your brain gives you the maximum output.

Practice previous year question papers thoroughly. Check with your teachers beforehand only for all kinds of doubts.

During exams stay focused, read the question twice before attempting it.
Don't look here and there as to what others are doing.

Attempt those questions that you know well first before pondering over what you don't know.
If in doubt just close your eyes for 2mins and relax. You will get the answer.
Chocolates and sweets help in reducing stress to quiet an extent. These can be taken in the breaks  to help the brain remember thing better, and reproduce them when required.

Causes of Abdomen Bloating

What causes bloating of abdomen?
Abdominal bloating is a condition in which the abdomen feels uncomfortably full and gaseous and may also be swollen or distended.

Common causes are:

• Indigestion
• Gas and flatulence
• Lactose Intolerance
• Gall bladder Stones
• PMS- Pre menstrual syndrome

Some other  causes:
Other lesser known reasons can be intestinal infections, worms, Irritable bowl syndrome etc.

What can be done to reduce the bloating?

• Start the day with 2 glasses of water.
• Follow it with green tea, banana, flax seeds, almonds
• Eat a fruit every hour like melons, oranges,apples etc.
• Have carbohydrates in lunch with lot of greens-spinach, carrots etc.
• Reduce carbonated beverages from the diet.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Exercise/walk regularly
• Reduce dairy products in case of lactose intolerance
• Increase yogurts, lassi /chaas in the diet.

In case these don't help much then do visit the doctor to ascertain the main cause of bloating.

Homoeopathy has cure for IBS, Indigestion, Lactose intolerance, Food related allergies etc. 

Green Plant - Air Filters

Green plants are good for our health.

They clean, filter,and purify the air of various toxins and pollutants. In a recent research it was proved, Atmosphere of Shimla is as laced with pollution as is Delhi. All this is because of vehicular pollution, excessive construction and use of chemicals ( plastics, detergents, liquid soaps, synthetic fibres, furniture etc.) .

Formaldehyde is really bad for our health which is released by all the things around us.

Plants absorb formaldehyde and convert into good air around us .

• Plants that can be easily grown are herbs like- basil (tulsi),mint,coriander, spinach.
• Aloevera- the gel is good for skin application as well as internal consumption for constipation.
• Rubber Plant-good air cleaner.
• Palm Trees-decorative as well as absorbs the pollutants.
• Flowering plants can be used as good decoration pieces thereby improving the air that we breathe.

Presently there are many air purifiers available in the markets. But having plants around us is the best way to have clean air. Research shows that people suffering from respiratory tract infection like bronchitis, asthma are much better with plants around them.

Gratitude - Second Key

Gratitude is the second key to reaching your dream.

ADVANCE GRATITUDE : Gratitude for what one already has, and also for what will come- is called advance GRATITUDE.

All is well in our world feeling helps us to get positive vibes and blessings from the universe.

• The more grateful you are the more positive multiplication happens in your life. 
• This gratitude needs to be of all the small things that happens for us. 
• It needs to start with our birth on this planet, thanking for each and every body part, our sense organs, every system of our body etc.

By doing so we change the focus from 'me' to 'HIM' the Supreme force- the Giver-God. Our ego starts melting and our wish becomes his command. 

Positive Thinking - First Key

Positive thinking is the master key for all kinds of locks in life.

Very often we feel we are stuck in a situation. Simply focus on what you want and not on what you have.

Once you start feeling that desire e.g. you want to be happy, see yourself in an environment (with family, friends etc.) where everyone is talking to you, appreciating you or your efforts and as you start daydreaming you put yourself in that situation and be happy.

Make this activity as often as you can.

Within a few days you will realize that things have started changing around you.

How to develop Positive Thinking Skills?

• Make a daily gratitude list:  Think of five large or small things for which you feel grateful,[21] from the roof over your head, to the smile from the stranger on the bus, to the incredible sunset you saw last night. Expressing gratitude can lead to positive feelings, optimism, and connectedness.
• Make a list of your positive attributes: You may struggle at first, but once you get going, you might surprise yourself with how long your list becomes. Include physical attributes ("My strong runner's legs"), aspects of your personality ("I'm compassionate and kind"), things you're good at ("I'm really good at painting"), and so on.

• Re-frame your negative thoughts: When negative thoughts pop up, don't automatically believe this pessimistic, critical, and unhelpful self-talk. Isolate the negative thought (such as "I bombed that test") and re-frame it so that it is positive, supportive and encouraging ("It's too early to tell. I probably did better than I think.")
• Surround yourself with positive people: Studies show that humans take on some of the characteristics of those around them. While you will not always be able to avoid negative people, take what steps you can to minimize their presence in your life.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Have you ever wondered why certain things grow better in one part of the world better than the other?

Well all will tell about different types of climate, soil, rainfall, weather etc. on which growth of that particular plant depends.

Most of the food channels that we see show that olive oil is the most preferred oil to be used in cooking and is the best oil for our body. These channels talk about super foods that grow in the Mediterranean region and the Mediterranean diet to be the best and healthy diet.

In India people are shifting to olive oil/ virgin olive oil/ brocoli, zucchini, variety of breads ,blue berries etc.

My question is- Is all this required by our body?

Nature knows best what is required by our bodies.What ever grows in a particular area is what is required by the people of that area. Eg. In North India we get red carrots in the winters and we make gajar ka halwa to be add in the winter season. If we were to freeze it and have it in summer season we will not enjoy having it.

 It is so cold in the winters that our bodies need dry fruits, desi ghee etc.

Mustard(sarson) is grown in abundance and burnt mustard oil is the best medium to cook in this part. It is better than all refined oils. Lot of chemicals go in refining of oils which negate the benefit of oils.

In the same way in south India coconut is used in mostly all the dishes as it has a cooling effect. Coconut oil is the preferred oil used there. People eat lot of rice based dishes because they can digest these better and keeps the body cool.

 In Rajasthan millets, jowar, bajra is grown and that is what is required by the people along with ghee. 

Don't remove ghee from your diet as it is the good fat required by our brain( brain is made up of fat cells), heart and all our joints. Joints need lubrication and home made ghee is the best fat that one can consume. 5gm of ghee should one had every day for proper functioning of our body parts.

Avoid yellow butter, processed cheese and ready to eat meals. These are loaded with fats to preserve the food.

Where ever a person stays he should eat what is locally produced in that area because that is what our bodies need. Karnataka grows watermelon, mangoes etc in the months of Jan ,feb ,march and it is fine to eat these fruits in south India. Having watermelon for breakfast in these months in north India is not a great idea.

So let's not mimic the west and enjoy what nature has given to us.

Feeling Stressed with Age - Here's the solution

First of all a very happy new year to all. New year brings in lots of positive vibes,thoughts and a desire to bring a change in our lives. Every new year also adds another year to our body and we realize that the jobs that we used to enjoy doing 4-5 years back feel a little cumbersome some - jogging, playing with our children, cooking a favourite meal etc. 

Some might experience chronic fatigue, legs feel like lead or for some concentrating on certain issues becomes difficult. All these things start making people irritable with themselves and also with people around them. 

 The question is why does this happen? 

 As we cross 40 (usually ) there is a decline in our hormone levels which causes forgetfulness, mental fatigue, loss of vigour, muscle weakness and decrease in muscle mass etc. We need to have a solution to tackle this problem.

Eat high fibre diet -wholegrain like bran chapattis, bajra/jowar porridge etc. 

Have lots of fresh fruits and vegetables especially in raw form like carrots,tomatoes, radishes,cucumbers, apples,strawberries, oranges etc. 

Reduce salt in your diet -pickles,papads, chips etc before the menstrual cycle

Exercise halfnhour 5 times a week. If you cannot take time out to exercise then make sure that you take stairs to office and keep getting up from your seat every half n hour probably to go and sit somewhere else.

Finally if symptoms keep getting worse contact homoeopathic doctors. You will find good relief from homoeopathic remedies 

Arthritic joints.

As the winter season sets in people suffering from arthritis dread every cold wave. The joints become more painful,  inflexible and creaky. Movement becomes troublesome and overall uneasiness increases.

Tips To Ease Out The Pain

Exercise is a Must: Exercising helps increase blood circulation and enables warm blood reach all peripheral areas of the body including the joints. Regular exercise also helps keep the muscles strong and healthy which help in supporting the joint.

Eat a well balanced diet: Eat a well balanced diet with sufficient vitamin C,D, K to keep the bones and cartilage well nourished. For this oranges, cabbage, carrots,spinach  and tomatoes are a must.

*Also spend half n hour under the sun to allow production of vitamin D.

Water Intake: Keep on drinking sufficient water through out the  day. At least 2-3 litres should be had during the day and minimal at night to keep the joints hydrated.

Knee Support: Wear knee supports while walking long distances.


Homoeopathic Remedies
Homoeopathic remedies like Lycopodium,  Rhus tox,  Bryonia,  calcarea Phos , Phosphorus help when the symptoms match. These should be taken only under the guidance of a good Homoeopathic physician.

Frozen Shoulder

What is frozen shoulder?

It is a disorder in which the shoulder and the connective tissues surrounding the shoulder joint become inflamed and stiff thus limiting the shoulder movement in all directions and causing pain. The pain usually increases at night and in cold weather.

How to  tackle the pain?

• Avoid  drinks containing caffeine as it increases the stiffness. e.g. cold drinks and coffee.
• Avoid milk products as they increase inflammation.
• Increase intake of raw fruits like Cherries, Berries, Papaya and Pineapple.These reduce inflammation.

Tips

2 tablespoons of flax seeds every day will help in improving stiffness and inflammation.

Use turmeric and ginger extensively in your diet as they have anti inflammatory properties.  They stimulate circulation and relieve pain.

Advise

All types of stress further aggravate the pain. So daily relaxation exercises are essential. Visit a good Homoeopathic doctor for relief in pain.

Start with deep breathing exercises -Pranayam and then do 10-20 minutes of meditation. It relaxes the muscles and releases all tension from the  area.

Medicines

Plumbum metallicum, Arsenic album, Veratrum album are some of the medicines that help alleviate the pain but should be used only after consulting a doctor.

Importance of Fats in food

Fats are equally required by our body as other nutrients. Our body needs a healthy combination of protein, cards, vitamins,minerals and fats to function properly. We need to be  choosy  as to what  kinds of fat we are eating. 

Nuts- Like almonds (soaked 4-5) , walnuts (soaked 1-2) , are nutritional boon. They are good for the heart, bone health,immunity building  and also help in reducing cholesterol.

Flax seeds- These are power packed fat packages. Toasted flax seeds fight against diabetes and act as natural laxatives. (1 spoon a day)

Eggs- Excellent source of protein and energy for the  day.

Olives- Have antioxidant, anti - inflammatory and anti cancer properties.  Use in salads, pastas or sandwiches.

Sesame seeds- are loaded with good fats along with calcium. 

Use groundnut oil, ricebran oil , olive oil or even burnt  mustard oil for cooking purposes so as to  get a great balance of MUFA (monosaturated fatty acids) and PUFA ( poly saturated fatty acids ) which help in overall weight management.

FOOD FOR GOOD HEALTH

We all know how important food is for  our body but  we need to understand what is right to eat.

These days there are lot of advertisements, food channels that show new recipes from across the world and watching these anyone would want to try something new.

Follow few rules before you run for the  kitchen.

• Raw fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins,  minerals and antioxidants which reduce to quite an extent while cooking. It means that if we can eat apples raw it is more nutritious than eating them as tinned or as Apple pie etc.
• Cucumbers, zerkin, carrots, tomatoes are definitely better as raw form rather than having them pickled.
• Processed food should be  avoided as much as possible.  These foods are high in sugar, salt , fat and artificial  agents which are used to enhance the taste. 
• Anything packaged on the shelves of a supermarket which can last more than 10 days is processed. Even dals,  cereals are also processed but these are  less processed.
• If anyone has to eat processed food like baked beans, tuna fish  or any other thing then add lots of raw vegetables to it and roll it in a chapatti and have it 

These foods are definitely hassle free but not nutritious. 

HEALTH IS WEALTH  SO DON'T COMPROMISE IT WITH TASTE