How to Lose Weight?: Just Change Common Food Habits

 

Fit people are successfully lean and healthy not due to good luck or hereditary, but because of having developed the right eating habits and regular exercise rou. It is not just what we consume, but also when we choose to eat, and how much, also plays a significant role in influencing our weight. We tell you about five very common eating habits that you need to change right away if you wish to lose weight.

The 'no breakfast' rule

Skipping breakfast is the commonest habit when it comes to food. Many people think that having a cup of tea/coffee is enough to sustain them till lunch. In fact, some even have more tea/coffee in case they feel hungry before lunch! However, did you know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, in case you are planning to lose weight. Studies have found that people who give breakfast a miss are more likely to gain weight than those who don’t. A healthy breakfast helps trigger your metabolism right at the beginning of the day, preparing your body to burn more calories throughout the day.

The 'heavy breakfast' rule

While some completely skip breakfast, there are others who take the “healthy breakfast” too seriously! It is true that breakfast provides energy to the body, and kick starts metabolism for the rest of the day. However, with this view, having calorie-laden foods in the morning is not a very wise idea. Simple carbohydrate-rich foods, like cakes, rice, pasta, white bread, and desserts and fried foods tend to make you feel lethargic throughout the day, apart from aiding weight gain. Try and incorporate as many fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your breakfast, as possible.

Eating only a few times in a day

The belief that if you eat as few times as possible, you will lose weight faster, is very common. However, having 5-6 small, healthy meals in a day is much better way to lose weight, rather than 2-3 large meals. Frequent small meals keep you full longer, provide you with energy, and also keep your weight under control. This is because you keep your metabolism active, thus burning more calories. Also, longer intervals of not eating activate the release of stress hormone, cortisol. This makes you feel hungrier, and eat more later. High cortisol levels are also responsible for accumulation of belly fat.

Eating quickly

Many people believe that if they finish their meals quickly, they might end up eating less. The complete opposite is in fact true! If you try to finish your plate quickly, you tend to get tempted to fill it up again, thus, eating much more. Instead, take your time to chew each morsel well, and take your time to finish your meals. Not only will you eat lesser, but this also aides in better digestion.

Eating late in the night

This habit is mostly a result of a disturbed sleep pattern. When you are awake till late, especially past midnight, your body sends hunger signals, making you want to eat something at the odd hours. Many people resort to comfort foods like, cookies, cake, fried foods, etc., at this time. It is very common for you to binge on high-calorie foods late in the night, when you are either watching TV or working for long hours. This holds truer for people who have starved during the day. If you wish to lose weight faster, make it a rule to have dinner by 8-8:30 pm, and eat nothing post that.

Food combinations bad for digestion

Five faulty food combinations - 

* Animal protein and carbohydrates: Different enzymes are required to breakdown these very different foods. When eaten together, the foods do not get properly digested. That leads to indigestion, fermentation and putrefaction in the digestive tract.

* Fruit with carbohydrates: Fruit digests much more quickly than any other food. Many people think that adding fruit to porridge is a healthy breakfast option. However, it will only hinder the digestive process. It's better to always eat fruit on an empty stomach and ideally early in the morning.

* Dairy with fruit: Smoothies are a breakfast favourite for many people. The problem is that yogurt is an animal protein and when mixed with fruit, it can cause inadequate digestion which leads to acidity, and fermentation in the GI tract.

* Avoid drinking with meals: It's best to avoid drinking large amounts of any fluid with meals, otherwise the digestive enzymes will become diluted and hinder the digestive process. It's best to stop drinking 30 minutes before food intake and wait two hours after eating before drinking water, to ensure adequate digestion.

* Melon after dinner for a healthy dessert: Melon is the one fruit that must be eaten alone, or left alone, as it takes slightly longer than other fruits to digest.


Five useful food combinations - 

* Carbohydrates and vegetables such as brown rice and vegetables.

* Animal protein and non-starchy vegetables make for easy digestion, which will enhance one's ability to breakdown the nutrients and eliminate efficiently. Prawns on a bed of green leaves with cucumber and fennel or grilled fish with lightly steamed green beans.

* Bowl of seasonal fruit salad first thing in the morning. This is a gentle way to wake up the system.

* Avocados combine well with either vegetables or fruits. This semi tropical fruit also works well in green smoothies and makes a great dairy replacement.

* Aim to ingest denser proteins, especially animal-based ones earlier in the day to ensure adequate digestion.  

Tips for Flat Tummy

Let your food be your medicine!

Healthy Foods

Alarming Statistics about Disease Status of India

•Current projections suggest that India will have the largest cardiovascular disease burden in the world.

•One fifth of the deaths in India are from coronary heart disease. By the year 2020, it will account for one third of all deaths. Sadly, many of these Indians will be dying young.


•Heart disease in India occurs 10 to 15 years earlier than in the west.

•There are an estimated 45 million patients of coronary artery disease in India. An increasing number of young Indians are falling prey to coronary artery disease. With millions hooked to a roller-coaster lifestyle, the future looks even more grim.

•There are at least 50.8 million diabetics in India, which is the highest ever reported number from anywhere in the world according to International Diabetes Federation. The prevalence of diabetes varies between 6-8% in urban and 2-3% in rural adults.


•Indians tend to be diabetic at a relatively young age of 45 years which is about 10 years earlier than in West.

•The prevalence of diabetes varies between 6-8% in urban and 2-3% in rural adults.

•There appears to be a steady increase in hypertension prevalence over the last 50 years, more in urban than in rural areas. Hypertension is 25-30% in urban and 10-15% in rural subjects.

Sedentary lifestyle is a major cause of death, disease and disability. Physical inactivity increases all causes of mortality, doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and obesity. It also increases the risk of colon and breast cancer, high blood pressure, lipid disorders and anxiety.

How to get motivated for Exercise?

Most of the people don't like to exercise! Follow bellow strategies will help you to get up and going for good.

Be Realistic
First-time exercisers often set unrealistic goals that are too ambitious for beginners. Gerald Endress, fitness director of the Duke Diet and Fitness Center in Durham, N.C. says, “They want to go for maximal goals, but they tend to get overwhelmed.”

So don’t start off trying to work out an hour every day. Instead, set more reasonable, achievable goals, like exercising 20 to 30 minutes two or three times a week.

Keep Track of Your Progress
Remember to chart your progress, whether it's with a high-tech online tracker or an old-school fitness journal. Seeing incremental improvements, whether it's improved time, increased reps, or greater frequency of workouts, can boost your exercise motivation.

Don't Expect Perfection
Another pitfall is all-or-nothing thinking, a perfectionist way of looking at life that leads to giving up when you miss a day or two or your workout doesn’t go well. Endress says if you accept that there will be some sidesteps on your fitness journey, you’ll be better prepared mentally to deal with setbacks.

Expect that you'll get sick from time to time, and be psychologically prepared to miss a few days of exercise when that happens. Don’t let it be an excuse for giving up. "From then on, many people say, ‘I can’t exercise,'" Endress says. "But there’s always a way to exercise."
To keep injuries from side-lining you, do your best to prevent them by warming up, cooling down, stretching properly, and not doing too much too soon.

Don't Compare Yourself to Others
We’ve all seen those toned, fatless specimens who strut through the gym in their Barbie-sized shorts and sports bras.

Don’t compare yourself to them, Endress says. Forget about them. Forgive them. But do not let them deter you from your goal.

Get Support
Enlist the help of your spouse, girlfriends, boyfriends, buddies -- anyone who will encourage you to stay on track.

"The person should be in support, but not say, 'Why can’t you? It’s so easy,'" says Sottovia. If helpful reassurance turns into criticism, gently remind your pal that you don’t need nagging.
If you need additional help, hire a trainer, she advises.

Find the Fun In It
Sottovia and Endress both say it’s essential to find an activity you like. With an explosion in the number and types of fitness classes at most gyms, it has become easier to find something to appeal to you, from aerobics to Zumba.

If you're not the gym type, walk around your neighbourhood or try activities around the house, such as walking up and down stairs or dancing with the stars in your living room. If you're motivated by being social, follow Geiger's lead and join a team.

Break It Up
You can make it easier on yourself by splitting your exercise session into two or three sessions, says Endress. Research supports the idea that this can be as beneficial as one long workout, he says.
So, for example, if you don’t feel like exercising for an hour on any given day, do three sessions of 20 minutes each.

Make It Convenient
Do whatever you can to remove obstacles to exercise, and make it as convenient as possible, says Sottovia. If you are time-pressed, for example, don't spend 30 minutes driving to a gym. Try exercising at home to fitness DVDs instead. If you're too tired to work out at the end of the day, set your alarm a little earlier and exercise in the morning.

Forget the Past
Don't let previous bad experiences with exercise hinder you, Sottovia says.
So maybe you weren’t the most athletic kid in high school and were the last chosen for class games. That was years ago. Your goal now is not to win a letter jacket or make the cheerleading squad -- you want to exercise to stay healthy and enjoy your life.

Reward Yourself
Treat yourself for making the effort to exercise -- not with food, but with something that you enjoy, like a movie or flowers, says Endress.

Try to think of indulgences that will reinforce a mind-body connection so you can savour the rewards of your hard work. Plan a short trip, or just an hour in a botanical garden. Go to a ball game. And remind yourself with each precious moment that you are enjoying this time because of all the great things you have been doing for yourself.

Stress-Busting Foods

Stress: We all have it, and how we handle it can make all the difference. Stress management can be a powerful tool for wellness, since too much stress can affect physical health. There are many strategies, and one of them is all about what you eat. Read on to learn how a stress management diet can help.

Stress-Busting Foods: How They Work
Foods can help tame stress in several ways. Comfort foods, like a bowl of warm oatmeal, boost levels of serotonin, a calming brain chemical. Other foods can cut levels of cortisol and adrenaline, stress hormones that take a toll on the body over time. And a healthy diet can counter the impact of stress, by shoring up the immune system and lowering blood pressure. Do you know which foods are stress busters?

Complex Carbs

All carbs prompt the brain to make more serotonin. For a steady supply of this feel-good chemical, it's best to eat complex carbs, which are digested more slowly. Good choices include whole-grain breakfast cereals, breads, and pastas, as well as old-fashioned oatmeal. Complex carbs can also help you feel balanced by stabilizing blood sugar levels.

Simple Carbs

Dieticians usually recommend steering clear of simple carbs, which include sweets and soda. But in a pinch, these foods can hit the spot. Simple sugars are digested quickly, leading to a spike in serotonin. Still, it doesn't last long, and there are healthier options. So don't make these a stress-relieving habit; you should limit these.

Oranges

Oranges make the list for their wealth of vitamin C. Studies suggest this vitamin can curb levels of stress hormones while strengthening the immune system. In one study of people with high blood pressure, blood pressure and cortisol levels (a stress hormone) returned to normal more quickly when people took vitamin C before a stressful task.

Spinach

Popeye never lets stress get the best of him -- maybe it's all the magnesium in his spinach. Too little magnesium may trigger headaches and fatigue, compounding the effects of stress. One cup of spinach goes a long way toward replenishing magnesium stores. Not a spinach eater? Try some cooked soybeans or a filet of salmon, also high in magnesium. Green leafy vegetables are a rich source of magnesium.

Black Tea

Drinking black tea may help you recover from stressful events more quickly. One study compared people who drank four cups of tea daily for six weeks with people who drank another beverage. The tea drinkers reported feeling calmer and had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol after stressful situations. When it comes to stress, the caffeine in coffee can boost stress hormones and raise blood pressure.

Almonds

Almonds are chock-full of helpful vitamins: vitamin E to bolster the immune system, plus B vitamins, which may make you more resilient during bouts of stress such as depression. To get the benefits, snack on a quarter of a cup every day.

Raw Veggies

Crunchy raw vegetables can help ease stress in a purely mechanical way. Munching celery or carrot sticks helps release a clenched jaw, and that can ward off tension

De-Stress With Exercise

Besides changing your diet, one of the best stress-busting strategies is to start exercising. Aerobic exercise boosts oxygen circulation and spurs your body to make feel-good chemicals called endorphins. Aim for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three to four times a week. If you're not active now, tell your health care provider you're going to start exercising -- they'll root for you and make sure you're ready to get moving.

Healthy Eating Strategies for New Year

Follow four smart eating strategies that celebrities follow and swear by. A former champion bodybuilder, Rich Barretta has helped sculpt the bodies of celebs like Naomi Watts, Pierce Brosnan and Naomi Campbell. At Rich Barretta Private Training New York City, he offers personalized programs, including target-training methods and nutritional guidance.
Barretta shares the four rules for healthy eating that his clients swear by, which you can easily adopt.

Healthy eating strategy # 1: Cut back on booze

If drinking is a big part of your social life, your waistline may suffer. Not only is alcohol loaded with carbs and empty calories, but people tend to make bad food choices when they're buzzed. A couple sugary cocktails can easily add up to a thousand calories (half of the average person's daily need), so Barretta advises avoiding alcohol altogether. If you are going to indulge, opt for a glass of wine or slim down your drink with smart swaps like trading tonic for club soda.

Healthy eating strategy # 2: Just say "no" to fried food

"Grill it, bake it, broil it, steam it, just don't fry it," says Barretta. Frying something perfectly healthy, such as chicken, takes away nutrients, while adding fat and calories. Plus, by eating fried foods at restaurants that still use trans fats, you run the risk of raising artery-clogging bad cholesterol and lowering fat-clearing good cholesterol.

Healthy eating strategy # 3: Avoid carbs at night

There's no need to deprive yourself of carbohydrates, but you should be conscious of when you eat them. By consuming high-carb foods (potatoes, rice, pastas and breads) early in the day, you have more time to burn them off. At night, carbs are more likely to go unused and be stored as fat. Barretta's smart eating rule of thumb: Stick to lean protein and veggies after 6pm.

Healthy eating strategy # 4: Choose unprocessed foods

We all know that fresh unprocessed foods are better for us, but often reach for processed products out of convenience. While it's challenging to cut out processed foods entirely, there are certain ingredients Barretta suggests you steer clear of, including high-fructose corn syrup, MSG, white flour and processed sugar. Your best bet is to shop around the perimeter of the grocery store, where you'll find fresh meats and produce.

FIBER: Importance & Benefits

For one to stay healthy, proper diet and regular exercise is very important. According to the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), as we grow older, it becomes necessary to consume a diet which is rich in fiber and low in carbohydrates, and this consists of about 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day.

What Is Fiber?

Fiber is also known as roughage. It is the indigestible part of plant foods that pushes through our digestive system, absorbing water along the way and easing bowel movements.
The word fiber (North American) can also be spelled fibre (British). It comes from the Latin word fibra, meaning fiber, thread, string, filament, entrails. Dietary fiber refers to nutrients in the diet that are not digested by gastrointestinal enzymes.

Fiber is found in all plant foods, like vegetables and fruits as well as in legumes and whole grains. This complex food element is not absorbed or digested completely like most other food, and passes through the digestive tract mostly as a whole. This way of digesting helps in the movement of stool and harmful carcinogens from the body.

Types of Fiber

A fiber-rich diet must include both types of fiber – soluble and insoluble.

Soluble Fiber – Soluble fiber dissolves in water. It changes as it goes through the digestive tract, where it is fermented by bacteria. As it absorbs water it becomes gelatinous. The food rich in soluble fiber are oats, oat bran, legumes, and fruits. These dissolve with water in the body and form a gel like substance that helps in lowering the cholesterol and glucose level.

Insoluble Fiber - Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. As it goes through the digestive tract it does not change its form. Food like whole wheat bran, wheat, rye, sprouts, and nuts are rich in insoluble fiber. Intake of these aid in moving waste from the body through the digestive tract as these fibers absorb water and form a bulk which moves quickly.

Benefits

A high fiber diet has no calories and helps in weight loss (as it gives a feeling of fullness and helps in eating less), fights constipation, and regulates digestive disorders. Low fiber diet increases the risk of colon cancer and heart ailments.

Benefits of soluble fiber:

It reduces cholesterol, especially levels of LDL (bad cholesterol)
It regulates sugar intake, this is especially useful for people with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Food sources of soluble fiber include: kidney beans, pinto beans, brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach, zucchini, apples, oranges, grapefruit, grapes, prunes, oatmeal, and whole-wheat bread.

Benefits of insoluble fiber:

Promotes regular bowel movements and prevents constipation
Speeds up the elimination of toxic waste through the colon
By keeping an optimal pH in the intestines, insoluble fiber helps prevent microbes from producing substances which can lead to colorectal cancer
Food sources of insoluble fiber include: vegetables - especially dark green leafy ones, root vegetable skins, fruit skins, whole wheat products, wheat bran, corn bran, nuts, and seeds.

It is important to note that a balanced diet should consist of all food forms. One must not eliminate other food to consume high fiber diet. Just make sure that your diet has good fiber as it will reduce the risk of ailments like cancer, diabetes, and gastrointestinal problems, and also help in losing weight.
 

Immune System: Tips for Improvement

Immune health is the backbone of every human system. It is dependent on many factors namely the genetic background one is born with, age, medical history and chemicals the human body is exposed to. We humans have such hectic lifestyles that stress is part and parcel of our daily lives. All these factors affect your stamina.

The human body is prone and susceptible to damage if proper steps are not taken in that direction. Regular exercise regime, proper diet, right nutrition and small lifestyle changes will make a lot of difference. We all have to take a closer look into enhancing our immunity towards diseases and learn about the top five tips that will help boost immunity from within.

 The immune system is a network of cells and body tissues that work in collaboration to protect human body from infections or viruses. White blood cells are good cells that protect the body and help fight diseases to maintain good health.

1. Include Protein in your Diet
Protein as we all know is a great building block for a healthy body and mind. It also helps to keep the immune system healthy. A protein rich diet is advised by nutritionists worldwide for a leaner and healthier shape. Low protein food has low fibre content and this stresses the immune system as it consists of carbohydrates. Hence, your first step should be to add protein to your everyday diet.

2. Limit or Minimize Sugar Intake
If you want to stay healthy and boost your immunity system then sugar in any form is a strict no-no. When people give into sugar craving or urge to binge in chocolates, then they are most likely to experience a sudden drop in energy levels. Dieticians suggest to avoid any form of carbonated drinks and starchy sugary stuff for a healthier life.

3. Early to Bed and Early to Rise
Adequate amount of sleep is quintessential when it comes to a better lifestyle. Your body gets tired after a hard day’s work, so it is important that you get eight to ten hours of sound sleep in a day.

4. Eat Right Foods and Supplements
Read the nutritional content value on the labels of all the food you intake. Vegetables and fruits consumed in their natural and raw form have high fibre content. The enzymes help you and protect good cells in the body. Those following a hectic schedule often opt for supplements to keep their body healthy. These supplements are readily available and easily found in all health stores.

5. Follow Yoga or Exercise
Listen to your body’s needs, do whatever suits you and your lifestyle. Doing breathing exercises like Pranayama and Yoga will improve your body’s metabolism. These are also good for the digestive system, which in turn improves your immunity. Deep and slow breathing do wonders to one’s body and you will surely notice the change in your thinking and body mechanism if you do it regularly.

These lifestyle changes that you will follow will have you on the right track for a better tomorrow.
 

Tips to reduce High Blood Pressure Effectively & Quickly!

Salt is everywhere!  No matter what product you look at, you will find salt – hidden and not so hidden.  Because of this, we have become a society addicted to this rock.  The consequences of salt addiction can be detrimental to our health, unless we make the decision to protect our health and reduce the sodium in our diet.

Many medical experts consider salt a primary contributor to high blood pressure, increased risk of stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. Sodium is necessary for optimal health – we only need 500 mg. per day!  The problem is, that we Americans consume an excess amount.  Sodium is necessary to regulate fluid balance, contract muscles, and conduct nerve impulses.  The recommended amount is no more than 2,400 mg. each day which equates to roughly 1 teaspoon of salt.  Most of us use three times this amount and over time can create health issues such as High Blood Pressure.

Many of my clients suffer from high blood pressure, so it is vital to help them lower the sodium in their diet.  Having integrated the following tips into their daily lives, they are not only living healthier, they are living a better quality of life and they don’t miss the salt!

Tips To Effectively Reduce Sodium
- Read food labels.  Reading a nutrition label will tell you exactly how much sodium you are consuming.
- Buy fresh foods.  Avoid sodium-ladened processed foods.
- Recipe calls for salt?  Cut the salt in half.
- Rinse your canned beans, canned vegetables and canned tuna.
- Avoid bacon, ham, pickles and olives.  These items are cured in salt and are loaded with sodium.
- Avoid meats packed in a marinade or sauce.
- Skip the cheese.  Cheese has a high amount of sodium – 1 cup of low-fat cottage cheese has 745 mg. per cup!
- Minimize or avoid instant foods such as pasta, soups, rice and cereals.
- Choose the labelled “Lower Salt” versions of  foods when grocery shopping.
- Eat out less.  Restaurants and fast food chain’s menu items are notoriously high in sodium.
- When eating out, don’t be shy about asking to have your food prepared without added salt.
- Buy low-sodium or salt-free condiments, sauces and marinades.
- When cooking, Replace salt with herbs and spices.  You can leave out salt and never miss it with added spices.
- Add salt at the end of cooking as salt flavour diminishes.  If you need to add salt, do it at the end of cooking.
- Lemon juice adds zest and freshness.  It does a great job of replacing salt.
- Don’t add salt to your food at the table – put the salt shaker away.
- Try a low-salt cookbook for many delicious low-salt recipes.

Did you know that your taste for salt is acquired?  Your desire for salt is reversible.  By gradually decreasing  the salt in your diet, you will easily adjust to foods without salt.  Most people find that after only two weeks of lowered sodium in the diet, they begin to no longer miss it.

By mindfully choosing to reduce your sodium or salt intake, you will create very large health benefits that will serve you for life.

HYPERTENSION: Information in Indian System of Medicine

 

                                                          AYURVEDA
DefinitionAyurvedic Name: Vyanabala Vaishamya

A systolic blood pressure equal to or greater than 140 mm of Hg and /or a diastolic pressure (phase V) equal to or greater than 90 mm of Hg

Causes

• Family history

• Faulty dietary habits (fatty diet)
• Stress, anxiety, tension
• Obesity

Preventive Measures
Don’ts (Apathya)

• Don’t suppress the natural urges to pass urine, flatus stools

• Avoid stress

Dietary
• Junk food, salty snacks
• Canned vegetables
• Excessive condiments, fried food etc.

Lifestyle
• Stress
• Addiction of Alcohol, Tobacco, Tea, Coffee
• Night awakening
• Day sleeping

Health Promoting Tips
Do’s (Pathya)
Dietary changes
• Low salty diet
• Low fatty diet
• Fruits & vegetables
• Coconut
• Butter milk

Lifestyle changes
• Meditation, Pranayama
• Moderate exercise
• Positive attitude
• If obese-weight reduction

 

Curative Herbs• Shankhapushi (Convolvulus pluricaulis)
• Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamamasi)
• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
• Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentine)


                                                    HOMOEOPATHY

Definition

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a chronic cardiac medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. Blood pressure is a measurement of force against the walls of arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. Condition is characterized by systemic arterial pressure consistently above 140 mm Hg systolic and 90 mm Hg diastolic.

Causes

 

Primary (essential) hypertension

• Idiopathic.

• Predisposing causes

- Family history of high blood pressure

- Life style (Smoking, extra salt intake, lack of exercise and high calorie diet)
- Mental stress.
- Type A personality ( ambitious, impatient, competitive, time-conscious etc.)
- Hyperlipidaemia.
- Obesity.

Secondary hypertension

• Renal diseases – Acute and chronic, Polycystic, Hydronephrosis Renal artery
stenosis
• Endocrine
- Thyrotoxicosis.
- Acromegaly.
- Cushing’s syndrome.
- Hyperaldosteronism.
- Phaeochromocytoma.
• Neurological
- Brain tumour.
- Psychogenic.
• Disease of blood vessels like athersclerosis
• Polycythaemia.
• Iatrogenic.
• Pregnancy induced.

Preventive Measures

- Avoid excess alcohol, smoking, high calorie diet, extra salt and oily fried food.

- Adopt relaxation techniques to avoid too much mental or physical stress.
- Diet including fruits, fibers and containing more vitamins and minerals.
- Reduce chances of ebing Obese by regular exercise.

Health Promoting Tips

• Lose weight. Reduction of weight also modifies other cardio-vascular risk factors like diabetes and dyslipidemia.

• Restrict intake of salt, fried food and other foods rich in saturated fats (like ghee, butter, cream, coconut oil).
• Avoid stressful situations as far as possible.
• Take plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Abstain from tobacco & alcoholic beverages.
• Take regular morning walk or adopt a particular exercise regimen.
• Practice yogic exercises, pranayam, meditation, etc.

 

                                           UNANI

Definition

Zaqtuddam Qawi (Hypertension) is a condition in which the veins of body become hard due to the pressure and amplitude of the blood flows in it. It is also called as Salabat-e-Urooq (hard pulse disease).

Causes

• Mauroosi (hereditary) factors.

• Obesity (Siman-e-Mufrit)
• Alcoholism (Kasrat-e-Sharab)
• Smoking (Kasrat-e-Tambakunoshi)
• Certain diseases (Khilti Amraz) e.g. diabetes mellitus, gout or kidney disease.

Preventive Measures

• Follow guidelines of Asbab-e-Sittta Zarooriya (six essential prerequisites).

• Avoid tobacco in any form.
• Avoid alcohol consumption.
• Avoid oily, fatty and salt rich diets.
• Avoid stress.
• Maintain body weight.

Health Promoting Tips

• Do Riyazat-e-Motadil (moderate exercise) as per instructions.

• Stop oily, fatty and salt rich diets
• Adopt healthy lifestyles.

Curative Herbs

• Khaskhas Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum Linn.)

• Tukhme kahoo Lettuce (Lactuca sativa Linn.)
• Kishneez Coriander (Coriandrum sativum Linn.)
• Asrol Serpentine wood (Rauvolfia serpentina Benth.)
• Seer Garlic (Allium sativum Linn.)
• Sankaholi Morning-glory (Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.)

Regimens

• Fasad (Venesection)

• Irsaal-e-Alaq (Leeching)
• Idrar-e-Arq (Diaphoresis)

                                       SIDDHA

Definition

Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood against the wall of the main

arteries. The normal blood pressure level is 120/80 mmHg. Hypertension is the blood pressure, which is above the normal level, consistently for more than six months. According to Siddha philosophy the vitiation of Azhal humour is the main cause for Athi Rattha Azhutham. Hypertension is one of the major causes of death and disabilities worldwide and hence it is rightly called as ‘Silent Killer’.

Causes

• Hereditary

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Obesity
• High blood cholesterol
• Diabetes mellitus
• Hectic and stressful life
• Mental agony
• Insufficient sleep and rest
• High salt intake

Preventive Measures

• Avoid excess intake of Salt

• Reduce the intake of Oil, Meat and Egg
• Avoid Smoking & Alcohol

Health Promoting Tips

• Take plenty of water & fruit Juice

• Drink decoction of cumin and coriander seeds
• Walking
• Breathing exercise
• Meditation
• Yoga

Curative Herbs

• Cirakam - Cuminum cyminum

• Maruthampattai - Terminalia arjuna
• Musumusukkai - Mukia maderaspatana
• Ven Thamarai - Nelumbo nucifera
• Sarpagandha - Rauwolfia serpentina
• Vellai pundu - Allium sativum
• Elam - Elettaria cardamomum
• Kothumalli - Coriandrum sativum
• Sataamaangil - Nardostachys grandiflora
• Elumicam Pazham - Citrus aurantifolia
• Venkayam - Allium cepa
• Seenthil - Tinospora cordifolia