Aging, obesity no bar to happiness

Here's a piece of good news for the elderly and the plump -- gathering years and obesity are no bar to happiness or well-being, says a cross-cultural study.

Researchers from the University of Warwick Medical School found that people reported better mental quality of life as they age, despite aches and stiff bones.

They analysed lifestyle and health patterns of more than 10,000 people in the US and Britain and their links to participants' mental and physical quality of life and health status, the European Journal of Epidemiology reported.

Saverio Stranges, who led the study at Warwick, with Kandala Ngianga-Bakwin, said: "It's obvious that people's physical quality of life deteriorates as they age, but what is interesting is that their mental well-being does not deteriorate - in fact, it increases."

Quality of life was evaluated using a measure which takes in eight different factors, including perception of general health, pain, social functioning and mental health, according to a university statement.

This is in line with previous research, for example by Andrew Oswald, professor at Warwick, which suggests that happiness levels follow a U-shape curve with their lowest point in the mid-40s after which they rise as people move into older age.

Supportive results were found in this cross-cultural comparison study in the US and Britain - two countries which have different welfare and health-care systems, factors which could impact on people's quality of life.

Researchers also found that being overweight or obese did not have a significant impact on mental well-being levels, with people having a body mass index (a height to weight ratio) of more than 30 showing similar mental quality of life levels to those considered to be a healthy weight.

For women in the US, low levels of physical exercise did not appear to impact on their mental well-being. This was not the case for men, where limited physical exercise had a significant adverse impact on their mental quality of life.

Why men start losing interest in sex

Let's face it. In today's fast-paced world, priorities keep changing all the time. Stress at work, problems at home, managing relationships, all this can take a toll on the best of men. But when it starts affecting you in the bedroom, it's time you realized you have a problem.

There are several reasons why men start losing interest in sex.

Consulting psychotherapist and counsellor Dr Minnu R Bhonsle says, "The modern day man is constantly engaged in competitive strivings, aiming to achieve and sustain the good life with more material comforts and luxuries." says Dr Bhonsle.

"This ambition, inner demand and drive to have more, cause stress hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol to be released in the body continuously, building pressure on the body-mind mechanism and affecting one's sex life."

"Employers squeezing every ounce of your energy out in return for huge salaries, performance evaluations, a high pressure job environment with ruthless colleagues, crazy deadlines and targets, with the fear of being laid off constantly hovering, is a huge stressor, which takes a toll on one's sex life"

Stressors
Most men worry about whether they will be able to satisfy their partner. Such thoughts affect sexual performance. If the woman is aggressively demanding and taunting him about the lack of sex, his anxiety levels and the subsequent psychogenic impotence get aggravated.

Other stressors include loan repayments, credit card debts, subscribing to 'enjoy now pay later' schemes, explosion of consumerism and need for instant gratification.

Life brings its own set of stressors that can take a toll on one's sex life. If there is unresolved anger and resentment between a couple, if the man feels caught between family squabbles, if the health of parents or children is a matter of concern, this leaves little or no space for sexual feelings to arise.

Physical stressors like chronic illnesses, obesity, fatigue, insomnia, excessive drinking and smoking and a general lack of fitness have an adverse effect on one's sex life.

Gynaecologist Dr Suman Bijlani says, "If you're wondering what is making your man avoid physical intimacy, you need to find out what is bothering him. Stress, unrealistic expectations, monotony or even your attitude could be reasons. Are you unknowingly intimidating your partner? Do you genuinely express admiration and appreciation for him? Is your hygiene up to the mark?"

"Much as women undergo an abrupt change during menopause, some men may experience a decrease in sex drive and a general decline in energy levels in their 50s and 60s, what is known as 'andropause'," says Dr Bijlani.

Certain drugs used in the treatment of high blood pressure, epilepsy, depression, high cholesterol and others, can also be culprits. If your man shows an abrupt decrease in drive after starting a new medication, consult your doctor.

Depression can also cause loss of libido and confidence. Fertility stressors and demands of planned intercourse during the course of fertility treatment can dampen gusto, too.

Each man's sex drive may differ at different stages in life. His libido is subject to variation in response to the demands of the various events in his life, the state of his mind and your relationship. Lift off the pressure. Chill and let him relax too.

Cure
Clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, Varkha Chulani says that psychosexual aspects unfortunately are rarely considered when it comes to a man's sexuality. "The importance of what a man thinks can't be emphasised enough. If a man has a nag of a wife or a pest in a partner, how can his juices flow? Instead of feeling sensuous, he's irate, dissatisfied and grumpy. Emotional well being in relationships determines to a large extent the sexual wellness.

The overall relationship needs to be examined - how does the couple relate to each other in non-sexual aspects? Is there constant strife, discord, bickering? Does the man constantly feel criticised, blamed, unappreciated. If the man is using sex as a weapon or as a tool to settle scores bring it to his notice.

"Teaching him better coping strategies and taking professional assistance may help. Keeping romance alive requires hard work. Innovating, experimenting, talking about preferences and what gets him turned on is one way. Do not have some unrealistic benchmark about how long you should last, how hard you should be or how often you should have sex. This is no competition - not with another and definitely not with you!" says Chulani.

Some dos and don'ts to cope
- Express love in non-sexual interactions. Do not pressure him.
- Communicate. Don't accuse.
- Work on yourself and the relationship. Don't feel guilty.
- Understand. Don't sympathise.
- Initiate and experiment. Don't dominate.

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.

Potatoes not the dietary villain

Potatoes are often painted as villains for dieters, but a new study has found that the staple food is not that bad after all.

Foods like potatoes and white bread with a high glycemic index (GI) are absorbed quickly by the body, triggering a spike in blood pressure.

But a study by researchers at University of Otago found that when you eat these carbohydrates as part of a meal of meat and vegetables the effects are barely felt.

Bernard Venn and his colleagues enlisted 30 healthy young people and monitored the GI levels of three different meals, including one with potatoes as a side dish.

Surprisingly, said Dr Venn, this meal was low on the glycemic index, meaning the food will burn off slowly, even though it contained an ingredient many fear for its potential weight-gain properties.

"I don''t think people should be too afraid of putting high-GI foods into their meals," Courier Mail quoted Dr Venn as saying.

"Our work suggests that having a small amount of potato with a meal isn't going to drive your blood sugar crazy," he added.

The study has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Misconceptions about salt

Experts tell Zeenia F Baria about the common misconceptions associated with salt

How much salt is too much? Are you among those who won't touch their meals without adding copious amounts of salt? Or do you belong to that category that vehemently refuses to add any salt at all to their diet? Too much salt intake and none at all are both equally harmful. According to Consultant Interventional Cardiologist Dr Vijay Surase, salt is considered by many as an essential part of the human diet. While awareness about the perils of excessive salt intake has increased - with supermarket shelves overflowing with food products, which contain less salt or no salt - the question remains, how important is salt restriction?

"Common salt is composed mainly of sodium and chlorine. Sodium chloride is critical for the maintenance of osmotic balance and other functions. It is true that salt can be dangerous for some people and it is also true that sodium chloride can be obtained from other foods. However, research indicates that approximately 80 per cent of the population will actually benefit from consumption of natural sea salt, which is less refined than common table salt and does not contain added aluminum compounds. Unless you're told specifically by a qualified specialist about limiting or stopping your salt intake, it should not be done so because it can cause terrible weakness, drowsiness, depression, convulsions, and even coma. Even hypertensive patients need not live with this fear about salt. Normal salt intake is fine but excess salt in your diet (consumption of French fries, pickles, papads, chaat masala etc should be avoided," says Dr Surase.

Interventional Cardiologist Dr Shantanu Deshpande says that salt is essential for maintaining homeostasis in our bodies. "The normal requirement is just 500 mg per day. Most Indian diets, however, exceed that limit. Normally excessive salt intake is excreted in the urine. But in almost 50 per cent of individuals, the kidneys are not able to handle this excess of sodium. Excess of salt in your blood stream retains more water resulting in a rise in blood volumes and blood pressure. It also results in hypertrophy of heart and blood vessel musculature resulting in permanent rise in blood pressure. These effects are more pronounced in the elderly and diabetics. Reducing salt intake in your diet reduces blood pressure. A low salt diet containing less than 5 gm of salt per day is recommended for high blood pressure patients who should avoid items like chutneys, cheese, processed food items and junk food.

Senior Interventional Cardiologist Dr Rajiv Bhagwat says that the importance of salt intake in regulation of blood pressure is well established. "Reduction of salt is one of the most important and effective life style modifications to reduce blood pressure. A 2 mm reduction in historic blood pressure reduces stroke mortality by 10 per cent and seven per cent reduction in mortality from coronary diseases. Besides reducing blood pressure, salt reduction also reduces Left Ventricular Sickness (Hyper Trophy), reduces protein loss in urine, reduces osteoporosis and bone mineral loss with age, protects against stomach cancer, asthma and possibly against cataracts as well. Increase your intake of potassium, which is found in plenty in fruits, legumes, nuts and vegetables. Their intake is an effective mean to reduce blood pressure."

 

Hormone therapy: Is it right for you?

Until 2002, hormone therapy was routinely used to treat menopausal symptoms and protect long-term health. Then a large clinical trial unearthed its health risks. What does this mean to you?

Hormone replacement therapy — medications containing female hormones to replace the ones the body no longer makes after menopause — used to be a standard treatment for women with hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. Hormone therapy (as it's now called) was also thought to have the long-term benefits of preventing heart disease and osteoporosis.

Attitudes about hormone therapy changed abruptly in 2002, when a large clinical trial found that the treatment actually posed more health risks than benefits for postmenopausal women. As the number of health hazards attributed to hormone therapy grew, doctors became less likely to prescribe it. And most women on hormone therapy discontinued its use, often without talking to their doctors.

What are the benefits of hormone therapy?

Women who choose standard hormone therapy during natural (nonsurgical) menopause typically take estrogen and progestin, a man-made version of progesterone. It can also ease vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning and discomfort with intercourse.

Long-term hormone therapy for the prevention of postmenopausal conditions is no longer routinely recommended. But women who take estrogen for short-term relief of menopausal symptoms may gain some protection against the following conditions:

·         Osteoporosis. Studies show that hormone therapy can prevent the bone loss that occurs after menopause, which decreases the risk of osteoporosis-related hip fractures.

·         Colorectal cancer. Studies show that hormone therapy can decrease the risk of colorectal cancer.

·         Heart disease. Some data suggest that estrogen can decrease risk of heart disease when taken early in your postmenopausal years. A randomized, controlled clinical trial — the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS) — exploring estrogen use and heart disease in younger postmenopausal women is under way, but it won't be completed for several years.

For women who undergo menopause naturally, estrogen is typically prescribed along with progestin, a man-made version of progesterone. This is because estrogen without progestin can increase the risk of uterine cancer. Women who undergo menopause as the result of a hysterectomy can take estrogen alone.

What are the risks of hormone therapy?

In the largest clinical trial to date, the combination estrogen-progestin (Prempro) increased the risk of certain serious conditions.

According to the study, over one year, 10,000 women taking estrogen plus progestin might experience:

·         Seven more cases of heart disease than women taking a placebo

·         Eight more cases of breast cancer than women taking a placebo

·         Eight more cases of stroke than women taking a placebo

·         Eighteen more cases of blood clots than women taking a placebo

·         An increase in abnormal mammograms, particularly false positives

The study found no increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease among women taking estrogen without progestin. Over one year, however, 10,000 women taking estrogen alone might experience:

·         Twelve more cases of stroke than women taking a placebo

·         Six more cases of blood clots in the legs than women taking a placebo

·         An increase in mammography abnormalities

The effect of hormone therapy on mammograms is important, because it suggests that women on hormone therapy may need more frequent mammograms and additional testing.

Who should consider hormone therapy?

Despite the health risks, estrogen is still the gold standard for treating menopausal symptoms. The absolute risk to an individual woman taking hormone therapy is quite low — possibly low enough to be acceptable to you, depending on your symptoms.

The benefits of short-term hormone therapy may outweigh the risks if you:

·         Experience moderate to severe hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms

·         Have lost bone mass and either aren't able to tolerate other treatments or aren't benefitting from other treatments

·         Stopped having periods before age 40 (premature menopause) or lost normal function of your ovaries before age 40 (premature ovarian failure)

Women who experience premature menopause or premature ovarian failure have a different set of health risks compared with women who reach menopause near the average age of about 50, including:

·         A lower risk of breast cancer

·         A higher risk of osteoporosis

·         A higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD)

In addition, hormone therapy appears to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and CHD when started soon after menopause in young women. For women who reach menopause prematurely, the protective benefits of hormone therapy may outweigh the risks.

Talk with your doctor about your personal risks.

Who should avoid hormone therapy?

Women with breast cancer, heart disease or a history of blood clots should probably not take hormone therapy for relief of menopause symptoms. Women who aren’t bothered by menopause symptoms should not take hormone therapy for prevention of memory loss or strokes. Instead, talk to your doctor about other medications you can take or lifestyle changes you can make for long-term protection from these conditions.

If you take hormone replacement therapy, how can you protect yourself from the added risks?

Talk to your doctor about these strategies:

·         Time it right. The risk of hormone therapy causing heart disease is not significantly raised in women under age 60. In fact, some studies suggest that estrogen may protect the heart when taken early in your menopausal years.

·         Minimize the amount of medication you take. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time needed to treat symptoms. If you have lasting, debilitating menopausal symptoms, your doctor may recommend longer term treatment, but will follow up regularly to ensure that the benefits of hormone therapy continue to outweigh the risks.

·         Find the best delivery method for you. You can take estrogen in the form of a pill, patch, gel, vaginal cream, or slow-releasing suppository or ring that you place in your vagina. If you experience only isolated vaginal symptoms, estrogen in a vaginal cream, tablet or ring is usually a better choice than a pill or a skin patch. That's because estrogen applied directly to your vagina is more effective at a lower dose than is estrogen given in pill or skin patch form.

If you haven't had a hysterectomy and are using oral or skin patch hormone therapy, you will also need progestin, which is available in a pill, combination pill, vaginal gel, intrauterine device or combination skin patch. Your doctor can help you find the delivery method that offers the most benefits and convenience with the least risks and cost.

What can you do if you can't take hormone therapy?

Women shouldn't have to struggle through menopause. You may be able to manage your menopausal symptoms by making healthy lifestyle choices. In fact, your doctor may recommend that you change your exercise or eating habits before you try medication. If lifestyle changes aren't providing enough relief from bothersome symptoms, there are many medications besides hormone therapy to relieve discomfort.

The bottom line: Hormone therapy isn't all good or all bad

Clearly, hormone replacement therapy hasn't lived up to its billing as a panacea for age-related disease. But the news isn't all doom and gloom either.

The best way to determine if hormone replacement therapy is a good treatment option for you is to talk to your doctor about your individual symptoms and health risks. Be sure to keep the conversation going throughout your menopausal years. As researchers learn more about hormone therapy and other menopausal treatments, recommendations may change. Review your current treatments with your doctor on a regular basis to make sure they're still your best option.

Quick tips to stay fit at work

                                           

Exercising at work seems impossible. While we find it difficult to keep our hands off that packet of chips lying on our desks, the rest of us make frequent visits to the canteen to admire the spicy and tangy nibbles. It is okay to pander to your favourite food sometimes as long as you manage to burn those extra calories. So, how do you stay active and fit at work?

Doing the small things right 
To be fit, one has to be mentally and physically agile along with a lot of energy and a positive frame of mind. "Fitness comes with a combination of willpower and determination. At work, one can do several things in order to be active. Activities such as bending down to pull out a file, stretching, walking up to your colleagues to deliver or receive messages or documents rather than using e-mails, getting up and fetching yourself a cup of coffee/ tea and other beverages instead of ordering it can also help in a large ways," says Manjushree Dandekar, a fitness trainer and expert.

"My workplace is very close to my residence, so I choose to walk it up. Walking to work is the best option since I can avoid signals, traffic and at the same time, reach work on time," says Gautam Karkhanis, a fitness freak. However, this is possible only for a few lucky ones. The others have a plethora of options such as using the stairs in the office instead of the elevators. You'll burn a large number of calories and increase your stamina this way. It is one of the easiest and most common ways to work out while on the go. Climbing up and down the stairs keeps away lethargy and inactivity. Those with workplaces at the top floors can try climbing atleast three to four floors. You may also try squeezing a sponge ball while you read documents, make official phone calls and talk to colleagues. This will reduce your stress levels, while strengthening the muscles of your palms and hands alongside.

Watch what you eat 
Eating tiny, healthy meals every two hours would keep you away from lethargy which most of us experience after a heavy meal. Small intakes of food also keep you energetic throughout the day as your body gets the required nutrients to do so. You have to make sure that you consume energy-rich healthy foods. Keep away from junk food as much as possible. You may opt for fruits or fruit juices, a glass of toned milk, sandwiches and lots of salads. These are easily available at most of the canteens in offices and are quick and easy to make and carry from home.

Alternatives 
Nowadays, a lot of bosses also encourage their employees to join yoga and aerobics classes. Some of them even have work-outs and exercising sessions conducted for their employees by fitness professionals. "Exercising and staying active at work can increase your level of productivity since your body and mind is active at every instant," says Manjushree.

You can also be innovative in the quest to stay fit. Concurs Sushama Soman, a businesswoman, "I have my own office so I conduct walking meetings instead of the ones in the conference room. It meets make me feel both active and fresh and my employees too like the idea of it."

Here are a few more simple tips to keep you moving:
- Park your car a little away from your workplace to ensure that you walk more.
- Take deep breaths from time to time to be more alert. It will relieve you from pressures and tensions.
- Use the restroom on another floor by taking the stairs. It will make you walk a few extra steps to keep you active.
- Walk while you take a phone call.
- Stretch whenever you feel like to ward off stiffness.
- Take breaks at regular intervals.
- Avoid binging into fried snacks.
- Opt for healthier options like fruits instead.

Keeping fit is not only about jogging or lifting heavy weights. It's about adding short bouts of easy and simple movements that help keep you agile and fit. Squeezing in a little time for yourself while at work, isn't that tough after all. If you're regular with it, you'll take pleasure in your job. You'll smile at your boss while he/ she mounts you up with more work. So get going today and make your way to fun and fitness at office!

A rigorous exercise regimen makes us all feel good but it is difficult to make time for it, Chaitrali Sardesai suggests quick and easy ways to stay fit at work 

Beauty tips for natural beauty

Source: Times of India - Rejuvenate

The popular saying beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder may hold true to an extent, but restricting beauty to a phrase is not fair, especially when we can make use of various natural beauty tips to enhance our looks and overall appearance. Today, the beauty stores are flooded with a vast range of chemical beauty products. Though the “look” and “feel” of these big brands may often tempt us, we should never forget the benefits of using homemade beauty and skincare recipes, organic beauty products and natural beauty products.

Free Beauty Tips

1. Sleeping on your back will prevent many wrinkles and breakouts on your face, and even wrinkles in your cleavage area.

2. Wearing clothes that are tight make you look heavier. Even a slim girl can bulge over too-tight jeans.

3. Put on a coat of clear nail polish before a colored polish to keep your nails from discoloring.

4. Being angry really does take away from your beauty now and will result in more wrinkles later.

5. Wearing less make-up makes you look younger.

6. Vitamins and minerals are needed for health and beauty, but more is not always better. Too much Vitamin A or Selenium can cause hair loss. There is nothing beautiful about losing your hair.

7. If you are unhappy with a hair conditioner, it will still make a great “shaving cream” for your legs in the shower.

8. When shaving, don’t stretch the skin or you could cause ingrown hairs by shaving hair off slightly under the skin.

9. Drink plenty of water and get eight hours of sleep every day.

10. Tighten bra straps as they stretch out, or buy a new bra when they can’t tighten any further, to keep the bosom looking young and perky.

11. Instead of shaving over and over, with the hairs coming in darker and thicker each time, try waxing. Waxing to remove hair will result in softer hairs each time and result in permanent hair loss after a few sessions. Aussie Nad’s is an all-natural product which is easy to use.

12. Sleeping on two or three pillows at a time, or on an Acid Reflux Sleep Wedge will help get rid of dark circles under your eyes.

13. Exercise while dieting is a must or your skin will be too large (and saggy) for your smaller body. It is much, much tougher to tighten skin after your body shrinks than as you go.

14. After washing your face, rinse in cold water (fair-skinned people should use cool instead of cold) to close the pores and tighten the facial muscles.

15. If you are out of quick-dry spray for nails, dip your fingers into a bowl of ice-cold water. (Don’t to touch the sides of the bowl.) Your nails will dry very quickly.

16. Good posture can make you look much slimmer.

17. Wearing a low heel will give you better posture than wearing flat shoes.

18. Renew thick nail polish by adding a few drops of fingernail polish remover to the bottle.

19. Make a nail polish bottle not get stuck closed, put a thin coat of Vaseline inside the lid.

20. Clean hair brushes occasionally with dish soap and borax. In a dishpan of very warm water, add 1/2 cup of borax and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Swish the brushes to stir, rinse, and let air dry. Scrub any stubborn spots with a used toothbrush.

Author: Dr.Mike Boucher

How to make sure your kid eats healthy

Source: Times of India - Rejuvenate

After a shocking report yesterday on how more and more urban Indians are becoming obese, here’s some good news. School children are starting to get conscious about eating healthy. With principals, teachers and parents increasingly becoming worried about the rise in obesity among children, they are not only looking into what’s being served in the canteen and brought in tiffins, but also bringing on board dieticians and nutritionists. Here are some tips to make sure that your child eats right.

Healthy proteins: Growing children need protein. Dairy products (milk, curd, paneer etc), dals and pulses should be a part of their daily diet. For non-vegetarians, chicken and fish is advised, but not red meat. At snack time, give them a sandwich made of brown bread with cottage cheese, tofu or chicken.

Essential nutrients: Fresh fruits and vegetables are very important as they provide essential vitamins and minerals. A good way to ensure your child eats vegetables is by making yummy, vegetable soups for him. They are low in fat, yet nutritious. You could make sure he eats enough fruit by cutting up fruits and adding them to his morning cereal.

Go nuts: Children should regularly consume small amounts of dates and nuts, like almonds and walnuts. Though high in calories, they build immunity. Tip: Throw in a couple of almonds or a few dates into a fruit smoothie.

Start early: Children should be told the ill effects of consuming junk food. There should be restrictions on food sold in school canteens. You could make suggestions about what kind of food should be served during the next PTA meet. And if your child’s school agrees, you could also suggest that they get a nutritionist or dietician on board.

All work and no play: Schools and parents should emphasise sports and a healthy diet. Encourage your child to play a sport of their choice everyday. It could be anything from basketball to swimming, cycling or cricket. This ensures that they get their daily dose of cardio.

Why do we like to eat fatty foods?

Source: Mid Day

Ever wondered why we reach for ice cream, pizza and other fatty foods when we're feeling down? There may be a scientific reason. 

A new research has suggested that fatty foods literally serve as 'comfort' foods and help lift our mood.

The findings could explain why so many people become obese when facing stressful situations.

Dr Lukas Van Oudenhove from the University of Leuven, in Belgium, and his colleagues used MRI scans to assess the emotional impact of fat when injected into the stomach.

They recruited 12 healthy-weight volunteers and scanned their brainwaves as they were shown a series of sad and neutral images as well as exposing them to sad and neutral music.

They then inserted either fatty acids or saline into their stomachs but didn't tell the volunteers which was which.

This meant they could bypass the effects of sensory stimulation as well as any associations to childhood foods.

The scientists found the music and expressions caused people's moods to fall across the board.

However, the levels of sadness among those who consumed fatty acids were around 50 per cent lower compared to those who received saline.

"Eating fat seems to make us less vulnerable to sad emotions, even if we don't know we're eating fat," the Daily Mail quoted Oudenhove as telling HealthDay.

The researchers said their findings could have important implications for people with obesity, eating disorders and depression.

The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Effective Living Clinic

               Bringing Positivism in Life

We welcome you to Effective Living Clinic at Vashi, Navi Mumbai, India, an unique clinic that caters to psychological as well as physical cure in most scientific and natural way. Effective Living Clinic gives a professional touch to your issues and would bring positivism in your Life. 

We all need right guidance and moral support to excel in life sometimes....real good professional touch to cater to exact needs that you currently face. At Effective Living Clinic, we provide scientific guidance and therapeutic care for relief from pain and suffering, instill confidence and mental peace, mend relationships and help you take right decisions at the right time both in your personal and professional life.

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Today in India,  Effective Living Clinic is seen as a preferred Wellness destination with Yoga, K Yoga, Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Therapeutic and Wellness Massage, etc. together with medication which alleviates stress, removes toxins, tones skin with anti-aging properties, removes unwanted fats in the body, reduces weight, adds vigor along with providing nourishment and pampering the body and mind.

The potential of Wellness tourism is being further explored by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.  Over the years, Medical Tourism has gained momentum and today India is medical tourism hub. More and more tourist are coming to India to avail State-of-the-Art health care services at an affordable cost.

Effective Living Clinic has the advantage of having highly qualified and experienced doctor and medical professionals with world class infrastructure in terms of Clinic and if need be take guidance and treatment from the best hospitals around to take care all of your medical needs. Effective Living Clinic also provides counselling and psychotherapy sessions to those needed during your visit to the Clinic to channelize your mind and relationship that brings positivism in your life.

Visit Effective Living Clinic to enjoy the unique experience of your journey from illness to wellness.