Is your food combination right?

Though most of us today are extra careful about our eating habits, there are still times, when we suffer indigestion and belching problems.

And if you have ever wondered why, read on to know the answers...

According to naturopathy, wrong food combinations are majorly responsible for causing indigestion problems. The reason as the theory suggests are, that some foods are incompatible and if consumed together, cause stomach-related problems which further are the basic cause of many other diseases. The theory further explains that starches are digested in an alkaline medium and proteins are digested through acids. As a result, starches are forced to remain in the stomach until proteins are digested completely. So ideally they should be had separately.

Here we give you some insights on what are few foods to be consumed alone.

Milk: Known to be a complete health drink in itself, milk is best consumed alone. Due to the fat and protein content, milk turns into curd once it reaches the stomach which requires time for digestion. So it should not be had with foods containing salts like fruits, nuts, cereals or pulses.

Sugar: Sugar is digested in the intestines. If consumed with other foods like proteins and starches or fats, it accumulates in the stomach for a prolonged period awaiting digestion of other foods. So chances of fermentation increase. Sweet curd, lassi, ice-cream, kheer, sweet milk are wrong combinations.

Fat: It causes over-activity of the stomach. That explains the reason why dairy products

 do not get digested quickly. Having them alone is the solution.

Curd: Acidic in nature, taking it with dal etc, it should also be avoided. Best had alone.

According to this, roti with dal, rice with milk (kheer), egg with bread, roti with rice and meat etc, are not ideal combinations. However, carbohydrates and proteins can be eaten separately with vegetables. If at all you have to eat starch and proteins together then first eat proteins and half an hour later eat starchy food.

So, eat sensibly and stay happy.

How Chitrangada manages her curves

Chitrangada Singh, the limber and curvy actress, is not a size zero but still has one of the most desirable bodies around. She owes it all to doing things in equal measure

Of the many enviable beauties in Bollywood, very few match up to the sultry allure of Chitrangada Singh. This 35-year-old mother of one has a slender, well-toned frame. Her mantra for a fit mind and body isn't out of the ordinary. She sticks to a typical diet and exercise routine, and steers clear of the new age crash diets and oriental fusion exercises. The leggy Singh isn't a fitness junkie and won't be found sweating it out in a gym three hours a day.

She exercises four times a week, with gaps for weeks while she's travelling or shooting. Chitrangada explains, "I am not an exercise junkie but definitely an enthusiast. I like to try out different combinations of aerobics and cardio exercises for a well-rounded workout. Also, I'm not fanatic about a regimen or schedule. I try to be regular and dedicated and when I have a project, I like to get into shape for it, but it happens over a course of a few months, on and off."

Sporty kids
"Thanks to my Army background, my father made sure we were involved in some sort of sports throughout our childhood. He would wake us up in the wee hours and we'd head out for tennis or a jog, but my favourite was always swimming. In fact, my dream body is not a skeletal size zero but a beautifully toned swimmer's or diver's body." Always a bit of a plump child, Singh didn't really consider her weight an issue until modelling came her way.

"I wasn't fat but I was plump," she says. "Once I started working, it was required of me to maintain a fit body. When I started work on Hazaron Khwaishen..., I realised my body needed a slight do-over. It didn't bother me but I knew I had to get into shape." There hasn't been a very substantial difference in weight since then - she has come down to 55 kg from 57-58 kg. "The drop in dress sizes has been more drastic - I used to be a UK 8 or 10 and am now UK 6," she says. For Desi Boyz, Singh had to wear a lot of fitted dresses.

"This didn't require me to lose weight, but sculpting was important. Arms became a high priority," she says. Her stamina has also increased substantially. "Earlier, I used to take many breaks while on the treadmill, but now I can go on for 30 minutes continously," she says.

Getting started
After wrapping up work on Desi Boyz, Singh's trainer Promod Dadlani, designed a workout to target her problem areas. The regimen lasts an hour and fifteen minutes. Dadlani gives her cardio-based exercises that last up to 40 minutes and include running, cycling or working on the cross trainer. "She gets bored easily, so I have come up with a range of exercises," he explains. To avoid excessive muscle development, Singh trains with minimum weights but keeps a very high repetition cycle - about 30 to 40 reps per exercise.

They focus on upper thighs and calf muscles. "These are my problem areas. I like to have shapely legs," she says. "The impact of low weight-high repetition is higher for my body type and it's got the result I was expecting. Women don't have a high musculature so to maintain a toned physique, cardio-based exercises work really well."

Warm up
Chitrangada chalks in a workout first thing in the morning, so it's essential to get her pressure up and running before strenuous exercises. A jog for 10-15 minutes or cycling, or substituting either for a cross trainer does the job. She also does some basic stretching exercises with one or two sets of light weights on her legs to warm up her muscles.

Problem areas
The average duration of cardio is 40 to 50 minutes. "We also work on individual areas such as the upper body, triceps, biceps, back, hips and legs. Squats, lunges, step-ups, leg-press, leg-extensions, and leg-curls are great for the lower body. She does these with weights and 30 to 40 repetitions," says Dadlani.

- Squats and lunges with 30 kg.

- Step-ups with 10 kg.

- Leg press, extensions and curls for toning hamstrings with about 75 kg.

- For the upper body and arms, 3 kg dumbbells suffice.

- Cool down is a few stretches to make sure the body isn't sore later.

- Dadlani insists on correct posture while performing squats. Do not bend your back forward as you squat.

- Also, hip and leg should be at a 90 degree angle from each other at all times.

Eating right
Never a foodie, now more than ever, Singh keeps a tab on what she eats. High on protein and low on fat, her diet consists of fish, lean meat, fruits and nuts. "For breakfast," she says. "I usually have an egg white sandwich, oats or nuts. I love fish so I have it grilled with vegetables and with bajra roti, brown rice or bread for lunch and dinner. After workouts, I snack on fruits, Oreo shakes or Twix bars. I indulge in my favourite fried eggs and bacon once a week."

Omega 3 fatty acids oils are healthy, so she has a steady consumption of nuts and olive oil. Singh has five meals a day - three big meals and two snacks - at three-hour intervals.

5 must-keep snacks at your office desk

A good work snack can make the difference between providing energy and making you lethargic. Here's how to battle the junk food temptation with these smart choices

Almost everyone has had the mid-day snack attack! But the next time you're tempted to just reach into a colleague's bag of chips or then stop at the vending machine and grab a fizzy drink, stop yourself. There are waistline-friendly options that will cut the calories; it's just a question of getting to know them. Here are the smarter choices...

1. Mixed dryfruit:
Having dried fruits such as almonds, raisins, dates and prunes are a good idea as they make for easy-to-carry, healthy bites. Of course, don't go overboard too, as nuts are not really the lowest calorie option, but they have heart-friendly fats. Dried fruit are high in iron content and have other essential nutrients necessary for energy and a healthy metabolism.
Tip: Try this mix - 5 almonds, a tablespoon of raisins and cranberries or dried apricots.

2. Fruit
Cut up an apple or peel and have a banana at any time during your work day; it's an apt anytime snack. Oranges and red grapes are also good options. Most fruits have an 80 percent content of water that will keep you hydrated. It is also a free of bad cholesterol. Strawberries and cherries also have a high anti-oxidant value.
Tip: Sprinkle some rock salt on your fruit for taste.

3. Oatmeal
Unlike common perception, oatmeal is not just a breakfast food. As a great source of fiber, oatmeal can leave you feeling satiated for long. It can also reduce cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. It contains a high content of vitamins and minerals. As oatmeal is bland, you can add some honey or raisins to it.
Tip: Add chopped walnuts to your bowl.

4. Crackers, granola bars
Whole wheat crackers make for a good cubicle snack. Top it with olives or light mayo. You can also have granola bars made of a mix of nuts, oats and honey. These are high in fiber, low in sugar and offer valuable protein.
Tip: Can spoon some home made salsa onto the crackers.

5. Hummus and veggies
This is a quick and delicious idea. All you need is some hummus and a cup of cut vegetables to dip into it. Try carrots, broccoli florets cucumber, celery and tomatoes. For the hummus all you will need is chickpeas and a dash of lemon juice. If you have to use an oil, try olive oil as it's healthier.
Tip: If you need a dip instead, opt for a low-fat sour cream base.

11 reasons to control your TV watching habit

What can be your favorite pastime when you think of unwinding? What do you do when you are alone at home? You spend hours in front of your television set. Right? And you think that the TV shows are giving you quality time and a healthy company!
In reality, television viewing is always considered to be bad for your health. You cannot accept this fact readily, but watching TV for a long time can put your health at risk. It is accepted that you can gain a lot of knowledge from a few television shows, but still the disadvantages outweigh these benefits with a big margin! TV serves as a medium of entertainment and education for all, but it is associated with a number of physical and mental health problems such as:

1.             Increase in the Risk of Heart Diseases: Based on the analysis of the data collected over a period of six years from 8,800 Australian men and women (over age 25 with no history of heart disease), researchers found that every hour of TV watching increased a person's risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 18%, and increased the risk of death from cancer by 9%. This means that people who watched more than four hours of TV had an 80% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease over the 6-year time period as compared to people who watched 2 hours or less each day. The problem normally crops up from a sedentary lifestyle which television offers to you. According to researchers, the human body evolved to move, not sit still for extended periods of time. So sitting in front of a TV or a computer screen for too long poses serious risks to health, and to life.

2.     Disruption of Sleep: The light emitted from the television can prove to be too stimulating to our systems. This can reduce the levels of the brain hormone melatonin, which usually increase in the evening as light levels fall. This may effect the body's natural rhythm, keeping you awake longer and results in irregular sleep and extreme fatigue. Reduced levels of melatonin have also been linked to early puberty in girls.

3.     Increase in the Risk of Diabetes: When it comes to controlling diabetes, TV watching habit can be included as the risk factor. A 2003 study of women published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that the risk of diabetes increases by 14% for every 2 hours of television viewing in a day. Another study conducted in the same year and published in the journal Lipids found that men who watched more than 40 hours of TV per week were 3 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than men who watched TV less than 1 hour weekly. According to researchers, all this increased risk cannot be explained by the increased snacking and reduced activity linked with sitting in front of the television.

4.     Increase in the Risk of Obesity: Prolonged watching of television relates to an absence of muscle movement. If your muscles stay inactive for too long, it can disrupt your metabolism leading to weight gain. Additionally, when you are watching TV, you tend to eat more and eat unhealthy foods due to advertising and other food cues on TV. A study compared the television viewing habits of more than 50,000 women who participated in the Nurses' Health Study from 1992 to 1998, and found that weight gain increased as TV watching increased. For each two-hour increase in television watching per day, there was a 23% rise in obesity.

5.     Development of Attention Deficit Disorder: In the 1970s, a Professor named Werner Halperin suggested that the rapid changes of sounds and images on TV may affect the neurological system of a young child and can cause attention problems. Also, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington Child Health Institute found that 3-year-old child who watches two hours of TV per day is 20% more likely to have attention problems at age 7 than a child who watches no television.

6.     Increase in the Risk of Asthma: In the UK, a research studied the TV viewing habits of more than 3,000 children ranging in age from infants to 11 years. The results of the study established that children who spent 2 hours or more watching television per day had twice the risk of suffering from asthma.

7.     Greater Chances of Mindless Eating: Studies conducted by the Stanford University of Medicine prove that TV viewing is directly linked with mindless eating. You have more chances of eating junk foods while watching TV than in any other activity! It really feels very nice to enjoy burgers, pizzas and French Fries while watching your favorite shows.

8.     Negative Effect on the Mental Development: Watching TV for a prolonged period of time has a negative effect on the intellectual development of children. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages TV viewing for kids under 2 and recommends no more than two hours a day for older kids. Prolonged watching of TV can also lead to a deterioration of the mental processing power in case of older people.

9.     Increase in the Eye Strain: Watching too much television is bad for your eyes, especially when watching television in a dark room. Focusing your eyes too long on any one object can strain your eyes.

10.  Portrayal of Aggressive Behavior: Young children are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior after viewing violent TV shows or movies. As part of a study, researchers examined the data on more than 3,000 3-year-olds and found that children exposed to more television, directly and indirectly (exposed to the television while other people in the home are watching), are at increased risk for exhibiting aggressive behavior.

11.  Reduction of Social Interaction: Watching television may replace social interaction with friends and family, depriving children of sharing ideas and feelings with others. This may result various social phobias.

It would be quite difficult for you to control your TV viewing habit. But once you are able to do it, you won't have any repentance. You would want to spend the weekend by relaxing and this might mean sitting on a sofa and watching TV for long hours. Instead, you can go out and spend quality time with your family - a long drive and a family picnic are great options!

Effective Living Clinic

B-3/19, 0:1, Sector 3, Vashi

Navi Mumbai 400703

Tel: 9987223811 / 9969105310

www.effectivelivingclinic.com

Fibromyalgia: What You Need to Know

Jackie Yencha hit the wall at age 22. "I couldn't handle the pain any more," she says. "I was terribly fatigued, not feeling well, not sleeping well." But it took Yencha seven years to get an accurate diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

Her first diagnosis -- reflex sympathetic dystrophy -- resulted in experimental surgery that did nothing to relieve her pain. In fact, numerous surgeries followed to correct the problems from that procedure. Years went by. Yencha was still in pain, still getting little sleep.

"I became desperate ... the pain never got better," Yencha tells WebMD. That's when she headed to the Cleveland Clinic, where comprehensive testing showed she had fibromyalgia.

"You need to find a doctor who will listen and who really knows fibromyalgia," says Yencha.

"A lot of doctors out there don't know much about it," she explains. "We hear from people all the time ... people in small towns who say no one here has ever heard of this."

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes disabling pain all over the body -- as well as stiffness and tenderness in muscles, tendons, and joints, experts say. It is most common among women ages 35 to 55.

Although it's one of the most common muscle problems, the cause is a mystery, fibromyalgia researchers say. There is no inflammation or joint damage, as occurs with arthritis. There is no damage to internal body organs, as with rheumatoid conditions like lupus. It is called fibromyalgia syndrome because it is identified by a collection of symptoms.

Indeed, the list of possible fibromyalgia symptoms is a long one:

·         Chronic muscle pain

·         Muscle spasms or leg cramps

·         Sleep problems

·         Severe fatigue

·         Anxiety

·         Depression

·         Morning stiffness

·         Headaches

·         Difficulty concentrating

·         Skin sensitivities

·         Irritability

·         Intestinal problems

But these are also common to liver disease, lupus, Lyme disease, thyroid dysfunction, heart disease, arthritis, degenerative joint disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and other disorders -- and therein lies the difficulty in diagnosing fibromyalgia.

How fibromyalgia develops is also a mystery. "The onset can be fairly abrupt, triggered by a motor vehicle accident or a mishap at work," says Steven Berney, MD, chief of rheumatology at Temple University Health System in Philadelphia. "Very quickly the condition sets in. You feel bruised for the next couple of days, but there's the expectation that whatever is disrupted will heal. When the pain doesn't wear off, it becomes clear something else is going on."

More typically, there is a gradual onset, Berney tells WebMD. "The pain becomes more severe over time. That's more difficult to diagnose. You're looking for something that set this off, and you can't find it."

Fibromyalgia research shows that the disorder seems to run in families. Recent studies show that genetic factors may predispose some people to fibromyalgia. An illness or injury that causes trauma to the body can make subtle fibromyalgia symptoms more apparent -- and more troublesome, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association.

"The pain is very real and markedly impedes their lives," Berney says. "People who were very active become disabled by pain and fatigue. 'I want my life back' becomes the charge."

The Tender Points of Pain With Fibromyalgia

While it's not clear what exactly triggers fibromyalgia, researchers are homing in on the basic mechanisms. Fibromyalgia  is considered a disorder of pain regulation. Patients have higher levels of two substances -- a nerve chemical called substance P, and nerve growth factor in the spinal fluid. They also have lower than normal levels of the brain chemical serotonin, as is also true with people suffering from depression and anxiety.

All this produces a dysfunction in the body's ability to process pain -- and creates supersensitive nerves throughout the body, explains Andrew J. Holman, MD, a rheumatology specialist at the University of Washington in Seattle. To make things worse, people with fibromyalgia have difficulty getting a good night's sleep -- so they constantly wake up feeling fatigued.

The result: Everyday sensations of discomfort and pain are amplified beyond the norm. Slight bumps and touches can cause disabling pain if you have fibromyalgia. This pain can be aggravated by outside factors -- noise, weather changes, and stress.

To figure out what's going on, doctors diagnose fibromyalgia by examining specific "tender points" on the body. "There are 18 specific tender points -- specific locations that are tender for everyone," says Holman. "But for people with fibromyalgia, these points are significantly more tender. People are more sensitive at those points. A dysfunction in the central pain processing amplifies their sensations."

Tenderness or pain in at least 11 of these 18 points is the hallmark of fibromyalgia, says Holman. Also, the pain is widespread on both sides of the body -- neck, buttocks, shoulders, arms, upper back, and chest. Tender points are around the elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, back of the head, and the breast bone.

Doctors test these tender points to make the fibromyalgia diagnosis. Yet it's not always so clear-cut what the widespread pain indicates. It takes a careful ear to discern what's really going on, explains Martin Grabois, MD, chairman of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

"Physicians are used to diagnoses like a herniated disc, where there's pain in a specific location," Grabois tells WebMD. "That's not so with fibromyalgia. Some pain is above the waist, some below the waist, at the shoulders, etc., and there are sleep disturbances, fatigue. These are symptoms of a number of diseases. They are not isolated to fibromyalgia."

The muscle pain can range from mild discomfort to severe enough that it limits a person's everyday life -- including work and social activities. The pain is often described as burning, gnawing, throbbing, stabbing, or aching. When the person relaxes, the pain may be more noticeable -- and less so when they're active.

Sleep Dysfunction Affects Pain Sensitivity

The sleep problems associated with fibromyalgia -- insomnia and fragmented sleep -- may be the root of the pain, says Holman. It deprives people of stage IV deep sleep, the non-rapid-eye-movement sleep that helps us feel refreshed in the morning.

Sleep Dysfunction Affects Pain Sensitivity continued...

Fibromyalgia research is showing that an automatic arousal is triggered in the brain during sleep, Holman tells WebMD. "The basic fight or flight response is activated at night while you're sleeping. The hormones epinephrine and adrenaline are released as the body becomes vigilant, aware. That causes the transition from deep restorative sleep into light sleep."

These disruptions rob the person of restorative processes that occur during deep sleep, he explains. "It's during deep sleep that most growth hormone is produced. Muscles regenerate and heal, and neurotransmitters are replenished in the brain. The body's ability to recuperate from the day's stresses -- including small pain sensations -- is believed to occur during deep sleep."

The brain has a "pain threshold," Holman adds. "During the day, low signals in the brain can be ignored and you continue doing what you're doing. But if the system is overwhelmed, at night the normally nonpainful stimuli become painful. Lack of deep sleep amplifies all sensations -- what we call central pain amplification."

"When people finally get deep restorative sleep, fibromyalgia improves substantially," Holman says. "But the best strategy to treat the sleep is not a sleeping pill. The strategy is to turn off the arousal in the brain stem that's interrupting the sleep. We want to allow people to sleep."

Difficulty Diagnosing Fibromyalgia

As with chronic pain, sleep problems are common -- and it's not always easy diagnosing fibromyalgia syndrome as the problem.

"The primary care doctor is at somewhat a disadvantage," Berney tells WebMD. "There are no specific tests for fibromyalgia diagnosis. To make a diagnosis, one has to make sure it's not something else -- lupus, thyroid dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis. The list of possible diseases associated with these symptoms is fairly extensive. It's the vagueness of the symptoms that delays the diagnosis."

"You won't necessarily have all of the symptoms of these disorders, but you can have a component of each," says Grabois. "Patients often go to a lot of doctors trying to figure out what's wrong. The doctors are not familiar with fibromyalgia syndrome so they don't necessarily know the diagnostic criteria for it -- and they don't necessarily check for it."

Also, the level of misery is different for each patient, he points out. "Some have pain worse than others." For some, the pain is continuous. For others, it comes and goes. Some people wake up feeling like they have been exercising all night.

Getting a Correct Diagnosis

If you have seen several doctors -- yet still don't have relief -- see a specialist, Grabois advises. The National Fibromyalgia Association provides a list of specialists who understand the disease -- experts in pain management, rheumatology, and neurology.

For first time parents

The first year of your baby's life can be an overwhelming and exciting one. Don't expect to be great and perfect at everything you do - everyone learns from scratch. Here are some of the most common mistakes that parents make during their baby's first year and how you can avoid them...

Getting anxious over everything
It's OK if your baby is spitting, vomiting or crying. Don't get stressed over it all the time. Your baby's bowel movements will get normal soon. Don't worry if your baby is spitting too much of if he/ she is getting enough to eat or whether the crying is more than usual. Pose all your doubts to your pediatrician and put your fears to rest.

Worried about crying
No matter what, your baby will cry - it does not mean that you're doing something wrong and that you need to fix it. Babies are designed to cry. You can change your baby's nappy, wrap them up, feed them and they might still cry. Don't freak out - more often than not, crying is just part of being a newborn. However, if you baby cries inconsolably for more than an hour, call your doctor.

Waking your baby up for milk
Your baby will cry for milk when he/ she requires it. Avoid waking them up in the middle of the night just because you think they might be hungry. Breastfed babies can sleep through the night. If they need milk, they will wake up themselves. Don't spoil your own or your baby's sleep if feeding isn't required.

Confusing vomit and spit up
All babies spit up. Don't think that they're throwing up their meal. If your baby is vomiting at regular intervals (around 25 to 30 minutes), something could be wrong.

Fixing a car seat
Taking your three-month-old baby out for a drive may seem like fun but make sure that the car seat you've installed is fixed properly. Ask for help if you aren't sure. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Forgetting oral care
Just because your baby doesn't have teeth, doesn't mean they don't need oral care. Take a soft cloth and gently dab your infant's gums. Once teeth start erupting, avoid giving your baby a bottle in bed. This will help avoiding cavities or baby bottle decay. You can start using a soft tooth brush meant for babies when your child turns one.

Arguing with your partner
Remember that parenting is a shared partnership. While taking joint decisions are fine, don't try to put your partner down by making them feel they are inadequate and don't neglect your marriage either. While you both focus on the new baby, don't forget that you're also a couple. If you find yourself arguing a lot with each other, remember that even a four-month-old baby can pick up vibes.

Listening to all and sundry about parental advice
How many people have advised you on how to hold your baby, how to feed and burp him/her, why your baby is crying and how he/she should be bathed? While suggestions are always welcome, don't act in haste and do what everyone has to say. Your child is unique - what works for another child may not work for yours.

Is there a best time to exercise?

Not really, say experts. For most people the best time to do exercise is the best convenient time. If you are doing exercise at a particular time daily then you are more likely to see results.

It is often found that those who do exercise in the morning are more disciplined and are unlikely to skip exercise at any cost unlike those who do exercise in the late evening.

Though there are researches on exercise they are still limited. So it is difficult to fix the right time to exercise. "Some people can wake up early in the morning and can easily do exercise without fail. But others are lazy to get up early. So for them it is always better to do it according to their convenience," says Bindu S, a fitness expert.

But some research shows that you have more endurance in the late afternoon as the body temperature is at its highest and so strength and endurance are greater. "Not many can afford to workout when they feel like due to various family and work commitments. So even if you are doing your workouts at a time you despair, don't feel sorry for your body can easily adapt to any circumstance," says George Joseph, a personal trainer. George says more than the physical aspect missing the exercise routine can have psychological impacts. "The guilt feeling that you could not do the exercise can bring forth many negative emotions. This would affect your productivity the whole day.

So, the good news is, whether it is morning or late evening what matters is you do the exercise regularly.

So, happy exercising folks!

Restless legs? There could be brain malfunction

Researchers have found that people suffering from restless legs syndrome, which causes uncomfortable sensations in the limbs, have reduced function in an area of the brain important for controlling movement.

Preliminary results from a new study at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) suggest that such people have up to 80 percent less function in this brain region compared to healthy people.

"This is a disorder that is thought to affect one in 20 people, and can severely affect quality of life, but we still don't know very much about it," says Kay Double, associate professor of neuroscience.

"This study is helping us understand what happens in the brain to cause these symptoms, which will help us find better treatments," she says, according to a NeuRA statement.

Restless legs syndrome is a disorder that causes uncomfortable sensations in the limbs.
It often flares up at night and disturbs sleep. It tends to run in families.

The NeuRA study is using ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for changes in the structure and function of the brain.

"This is the first time that anyone has looked for these type of changes in people with restless legs syndrome," says Double.

"If we can understand what is happening in the brain, we will be one step closer to helping the thousands with restless legs get a better night's sleep and lead a better quality of life."

Unplanned sex spices up love life

Don't let monotony creep into your relationship - there are plenty of things you can do to spice things up.

Ditch the 'I have a headache', 'The kids have tired me out today' or 'I'm too busy' excuses and win your partner over inside as well as outside the bedroom. We list out some simple ideas...

- It is easy to get stuck in a mundane routine. Experts suggest you keep aside date nights exclusively for yourself and your partner. Why should marriage stop you from having fun just by yourselves? Be spontaneous and do things that you used to do as a couple but haven't since a while.

- Planned sex needn't be boring. Get busy in places around the house which you haven't explored before. Many couples say that they're usually so tired that when they enter the bedroom, all they can think about is sleep.

- When was the last time you hugged your partner? Sneak up to them and give them a hug. The close contact will immediately turn them on.

- Talk about the positions you tried on in the past. You don't have to use dirty or graphic language. Discuss about past memories and relive them again. You don't have to keep any goals in mind. Just go with the flow and enjoy every moment.

- When was the last time you surprised each other? Slip into the shower when he least expects it. Dress up in something he's never seen you in. Plan a special night without any special occasion.

- Share your fantasies. Don't be shy or afraid of scaring your partner - you never know what you both discover!

- Ever played strip poker? Why not use board games or a deck of cards instead and put them to good use?

- Send your partner a racy text message or an email in the middle of the day. Not only does it take them by surprise, it also builds up the anticipation.

- It's also a good idea to recreate your first dates. Go to places where you used to go when you just got together.

- Don't be afraid of telling your partner what you'd like to try. Men like it when women take charge in the bedroom. Suggest some positions that you haven't tried before and watch him drool!

- Buy a book of new sexual positions and go through it together with your partner. He'll love the fact that you've taken the initiative.

- Don't forget to include kissing in your love making. It often happens that couples get so carried away in the act that they actually forget the intimacy that kissing brings to a relationship.

Eat these good carbs for better energy

Carbohydrates are present in practically everything we eat. There are essentially two kinds of carbs, simple and complex and when it comes to optimal weight and energy management, the simple carbohydrates aren't as beneficial as the complex carbs.

The complex carbs are 'good' for energy and weight control, because they contain longer chains of sugar molecules and take more time to digest - therefore, keeping us full for longer. Today we're telling you what these 'good' carbs are and how they can be a part of your daily diet.

What is an energy food? To perform daily activities our body needs a continuous input of energy. When you eat a carbohydrate rich food, your body converts it to glucogen. After this stage it is either used in providing a steady dose of blood sugar or stored in the muscles for later use. Simple carbs provide an instant dose of energy, by pumping up the blood sugar levels in spikes. This dissipates as quickly as it happens. Complex carbs or energy rich foods, are sources of sustained energy which lasts longer and is used by your body when needed the most.

Whole grains are good for energy! Eating whole grains instead of refined processed grains, is known to reduce cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin levels. The fiber in the grains helps prevent constipation which is a fast growing lifestyle disease. Oats, oats bran, brown rice, whole grain breads are a few examples. Pastas and macaroni made out of whole grains are suggested as well.

Pick a fruit instead of the juice! Juices miss the vital edible skin and the pulp part of the fruit, and therefore are reduced in fiber content. The sugar content in the whole fruit is lesser than the content in the juice. 120 calories of whole apples have about 24 grams of sugar, while similar calorie content of juice has about 30 grams. Juices are a good replacement for aerated drinks, but not for a whole fruit. When you have a choice, pick the whole fruit.

Beans: These are a good source of slowly digested carbs, hence a good source of energy. Kidney beans, black beans, peas, garbanzo beans, soy beans and pinto beans, can all be included in healthy and tasty meals. Rajma or red kidney beans with brown rice, instead of white, gives the traditional favorite a healthier twist.

Legumes: Legumes or pulses have always known to be a rich protein source. Legumes provide a much needed dose of complex carbs to the body giving energy that is stored in the muscles and liver for a later time. Any dal minus the oily tadka is as healthy as it can get! However, do keep in mind that legumes aren't complete proteins, and therefore cannot be your only source of protein in the day. Eat these to capitalise on their complex carb charectaristics.

Eat your greens! Green vegetables, or the greens as they are known, contain minerals, multiple vitamins, are low on fat and also have large water content. Most varieties are complex carbs but the best sources are broccoli, cauliflower, spinach all types of lettuce, celery, cucumbers, cabbage. Green veggies are a certain go with good carbs.

And don't forget the whites: Soy milk is made from soy beans and is a good complex carb source. Dairy products like low-fat yogurt and skimmed milk are also efficient energy resources. Along with this, milk is a known source of calcium content without the added fat, In addition to calcium, milk also provides other essential nutrients like potassium, magnesium, riboflavin, phosphorus and vitamins D, A and B12.

Ways to a Stress-Free Commute

1. Mind over matter: Accept your commute as part of your day so that you stop driving yourself crazy. If you are consistently running late, leave earlier for work to keep your blood pressure from rising. Perception is reality; use your mind to keep you sane.

2. Read a book: Since not everyone owns a laptop or carries one while travelling, you may want to carry a book with you. Nothing compares to reading a good book on your favourite subject, so why not do it? It will engross you and make for a great timepass as well. 

3. Start a conversation: Travel time is the perfect opportunity to meet new people and make friends. You you can start a conversation with the person seated next to you and see if it’s worth it.

4. Soothing fragrances: Perfumes and fragrances work great in de-stressing you and making you feel good. Scents like lavender help you fight migraines and sinus headaches that are becoming extremely common in our hectic lives. If you’re taking the road, scent your car with lavender, vanilla, or any other scent that comforts you or go chic with auto-aroma essential oil diffusers that plug into adaptor outlets.

5. Find your chant: A train or a bus is not like a school. You won’t be awarded to sit on that seat quietly for hours. You can stand up and stretch or try doing a few neck exercises to relieve the tension. Concentrate on your breathing to improve your overall health.

6. Stay in touch: If you don’t have network coverage problems, you can utilise your travelling time to either send an e-mail to your old pals whom you haven’t spoken to or maybe give them a call. They will surely appreciate your gesture.

7. Enjoy the view: When you feel stress levels rising, try to focus on something positive. Look for something natural to captive your imagination, for example the green trees or the blue sky. If your surroundings are beautiful, make sure you don’t miss them. Keep your windows rolled up and the air circulating.

8. Organise supplies: If you find yourself getting delayed, plummeting blood sugars can be a major cause of increased stress levels. Keep a supply of dried fruit, nuts, bottled water, or crackers just in case. You can also munch on these to eliminate the boredom from your journey.

9. Knitting and Crocheting: Socks, scarves, and even sweaters of simple pattern, are perfect to knit when travelling, as they don’t require much of a pattern. See to it that you are using the right materials in the right way to ensure that you are not a nuisance to your fellow travellers.

10. Take short naps: Studies have revealed that a power-nap is very refreshing for the body. If you’re travelling in a train, bus or a car and if the chair is comfortable enough, you may even sleep. Closing your eyes and relaxing for a while will give your eyes the much needed break .

11. Fun dos: If you’re a crossword enthusiast, your travel is the best time to play with words. It takes quite some time to solve a puzzle, crossword or sudoku which will make the distance seem shorter. You can also watch a movie or play a game on your cell phone. If you are fond of writing, pen down your thoughts or write a poem.

Anti-Aging Treatment with Vinotherapy or Wine Facials

Gold facials, diamond facials, collagen treatment and the lot, are old news. In vogue today are the different concoctions of wine facials for the elite. Wine facials are the next big thing in skin care and a wonderful anti-aging therapy. Lately the whole range of wine - red, white, grape, apple and elderberry - is being used in some form of treatment or facial therapy. Red wine, which was predominantly used to raise a toast to health and wellness, is being used to revive the glow in aging skin. The merlot wine has caught the imagination of the ever-growing upper middle class as a potent therapeutic these days. Although the home-made beauty treatments of yore - the multani mitti or grandmother’s secret fruit facials - might still manage to charm one, it is the pricey wine facial which is hogging the spotlight at the moment.

The virtues of wine facial are improved blood circulation and reduced wrinkles. It is one of the best ways to revitalize skin. Although priced relatively high compared to its counterparts the vinic treatment is justified in visible results. The wine may be used in conjunction with Ayurvedic cream or regular cream depending on one’s skin type. The glow from a wine facial is incomparable and because they have a purely herbal base, they are useful in curing infections. Regular sessions over a period of a few weeks result in a clear, blemish free skin. Its antioxidant properties and grape seed polyphenols coax collagen production back in your sagging skin. The benefits of consuming wine are not hidden. Moderate wine consumption is associated with: reduced cardiovascular health risks, for example, resveratrol in grape skin is known to have cardio protective effects; chemo protective effects; decrease in the risk of lung cancer; and decrease in the risk for Alzheimer''s disease. The therapeutic effects of wine in vinic facials just add to the long list of its benefits. Wine has been a favorite drink throughout history, be it as a ceremonial drink, an ode to camaraderie, and offering to God, an accompaniment to delectable cuisine or the cup of winebibbers. Lately it is big in the beauty business as well. A plethora of wine-based facial products are being promoted these days in order for clients to regain their youthful look. Wine-based products have taken anti-aging treatment to a whole new level. Besides the traditional red wine, wines concocted locally from fruits and herbs like fennel seeds, cardamom, apples and apricots are also used as innovative and alternative wine facial treatment. But the question remains if the wine therapy is suited for all skin types. Not all treatments are suited for every skin type. But ingenuity and innovation are the key words in the business. Wine is especially good for oily and acne prone skin as it reduces chances of acne formation. The therapeutic quality of wine relaxes the skin muscles. Almond may be added to the concoction for dry skin and aloe for oily and acne prone skin. Grape wine is a preferred wine, because it is an excellent anti-oxidant. Wine therapy is also being used in spas in conjunction with ayurvedic therapies to soothe frayed nerves and relax the stressed tissues as a passive form of exercise. The procedure helps in the production of anti-bodies, soothes the nervous system, improves circulation and builds up the immune system. A gamut of vinotherapy offerings will leave you perplexed on what to choose! For example, the combination of wine facial and ayurveda indulges the body and awakens one’s mind and senses. This east-meets-west treatment is formulated with a rich blend of wine and exotic herbs that moisturize the skin and rejuvenate ones senses. This is the ultimate in vinotherapy. The seeds, skin and leaves of grape contain polyphenols and procyanidols which exert antioxidants, so here is what you can consider for yourself in the salon or spa: A wine bath for entire body and muscle relaxation. A full body exfoliant, done with crushed pips for shine. But remember, this spa treatment is for those with deep pockets or for special occasions. A wine facial done with flower essences and a mix of mud massaged with grape oil and exfoliants. In conclusion - A healthy skin program includes cleansing, toning and nourishing. The skin suffers if it is not cared for. The human skin breathes, inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide. It needs to absorb sufficient vitamins, minerals and enzymes in order to facilitate breathing. Wine acts as a catalyst that promotes this breathing process. The most beautiful women throughout history have relied on jealously guarded beauty therapies. Some of the most exciting beauty formulas derive their success from wine. Wine is the most common ingredient in natural beauty recipes. It is rich in vitamins and minerals and interacts with specific natural ingredients to help cleanse and beautify the skin, hair and body. If your favorite salon has added a vinic facial to their list, you should definitely indulge in it to benefit from the secret to a youthful skin.