My Medicare Blog

Vitamin A: Vitamin A is required for healthy vision, immune function and foetal growth and development. Mothers are susceptible to Vitamin A deficiency particularly in the third trimester because of rapid foetal development and an increase in the blood volume. Including Vitamin A containing foods like animal sources such as milk, butter, egg and fish or Beta carotene rich vegetarian sources in daily diet can help achieve the daily requirement of 800µg of Vitamin A or 6400µg of beta carotene. Calcium: Calcium is needed to build healthy bones and teeth of the baby and for the production of calcium rich breast milk and prevention of osteoporosis in the mother. An important factor in choosing the source of calcium is its bio availability -Milk is one of the best sources of biologically available calcium. Proteins: Proteins are essential for the healthy growth of the foetus and to maintain the mother’s health. Proteins form the building blocks for blood, bones, organs, muscle

About: Creating a calorie deficit is the foremost thing if one wants to lose weight. Any form of exercise when combined with proper diet can help you achieve your weight loss goals. The number of calories you burn while you perform any physical activity depends on the type of activity, the intensity with which you do it and the amount of time you perform it for. It’s wise to choose and perform a physical activity that you enjoy doing and can perform regularly. Swimming: Swimming   in the right environment can also be incredibly relaxing, you’re often focusing on the action which means your brain can switch off a bit from day-to-day concerns. Most people swim continuously, just taking a break when they need it. However, if you’re happy with your technique and want to push yourself, swimming intervals such as sets of 50 or 100 meters can be more fun. Average calorie burn varies per stroke and by speed, but you’re looking at figures around the below for someone of 60k

Ginger: Ginger can help reduce inflammation of the blood vessels in the head, thus providing relief from a headache. Mix equal parts of ginger juice and lemon juice. Consume it once or twice a day. Another option is to apply a paste of one teaspoon of dry ginger powder and two tablespoons of water on the forehead for a few minutes. You can also boil ginger powder or raw ginger in water, and inhale the vapor. Cinnamon: Cinnamon also acts as an effective agent to get rid of headaches. An effective way to use cinnamon is by grinding some cinnamon sticks into a powder. Add some water to make a thick paste. Apply it on your forehead and temples and lie down for 30 minutes and then wash it with lukewarm water. Lavender Oil: Simply smelling the soothing scent of lavender essential oil can be of great help in relieving tension headaches. Research suggests that it can also help improve migraine symptoms. Put a few drops of lavender essential oil on a tissue and inhale it. You can

About: Yoga is an ancient art which was originated in India around six thousand years ago. Earlier people were used to of practicing yoga and meditation in their daily lives to live healthy and strong whole life. However the practice of yoga was declining day by day in such a crowded and hectic environment. Yoga is very safe and can be safely practiced by anyone anytime even by children also to take it’s all the benefits. Before the practice: 1.Use a yoga mattress. 2.Clean your surroundings, body and mind. 3.Yoga should be done on an empty stomach or light stomach. 4.Yoga should be performed in a calm and quiet atmosphere. 5.Consume honey in luke-warm water if you feel weak. 6.Bladder and bowel should be empty before you start. After the practice: 1.Have a bath after 20-30 minutes of yoga. 2.Eat after a gap of 20-30 minutes of yoga.

There are so many natural remedies available that can be utilized for your overall well being. Mouth ulcers : Ripe banana with honey offer instant relief. This can be turned into a paste and applied on affected areas. Sinus congestion : Mix organic apple cider vinegar with a pinch of cayenne pepper powder in less than half a cup of hot water. Have it while it is warm atleast twice a day. Dark circles: Mix orange juice with glycerin to lighten the dark circles. Sore throat : Boil 2-3 basil leaves in water and let it boil on low flame till the juice of the leaf is extracted. You can use the liquid for gargle. Chronic headache : Peel and chop apple. Dash some salt and have it the first thing in the morning.

About: Nipah virus (NiV) infection is a newly emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in both animals and humans. The natural host of the virus are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus. NiV was first identified during an outbreak of disease that took place in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998. On this occasion, pigs were the intermediate hosts. However, in subsequent NiV outbreaks, there were no intermediate hosts. In Bangladesh in 2004, humans became infected with NiV as a result of consuming date palm sap that had been contaminated by infected fruit bats. Human-to-human transmission has also been documented, including in a hospital setting in India. NiV infection in humans has a range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory syndrome and fatal encephalitis. NiV is also capable of causing disease in pigs and other domestic animals. There is no vaccine for either humans or animals. The primary treatment for human

About: Do you struggle to get out of bed, feel constantly drained and rely on pick me ups like coffee and sugary treats to get you through the day. If so, you're far from alone. Research reveal that one in three of us admit we're permanently worn out because of the pace of modern life. You have an iron deficiency: Some have low enough iron levels to be anemic. If you pull down your bottom eyelids and the inner rim looks pale rather than pink, it’s an indicator. You’re not exercising enough: Avoiding exercise because you're tired actually makes you feel worse. Regular exercise makes your heart and lungs work more efficiently, delivering oxygen and vital nutrients around the body. You don’t sleep as well as you think: Junk sleep can be caused by stress, but also by over-stimulating the brain too close to bedtime. For example, by checking emails or using tablets and smart phones that emit a blue light found to disrupt sleep by tricking the brain in

Fish: Fish, like salmon, is not only a great source of high-quality protein, but also contains omega-3 fatty acids which help prevent muscle breakdown and as a bonus, boosts heart health. Almonds: When the munchies strike and they always do almonds are a great go to snack to kill them off while helping you reach your goals. A ¼ cup serving contains 8 grams of protein on average. Almonds are also an excellent source of healthy fats and magnesium, which is important for energy metabolism and also plays a role in protein synthesis. Cheese: Since 70 per cent of all cheese is fat, this makes it a high-calorie food. Another advantage of cheese is that it has good taste and can be added to a variety of dishes. Fat has 9 calories per gm which is more than one gm of carb and one gm of protein taken together. Therefore, including a small amount of cheese in your diet is a smart move if you want to increase your caloric intake. Eggs: Forget the bland whites, whole

Burning of calories: Running is a vigorous form of exercise where you burn a lot of calories. Burning of calories is co-related to feeling hungry. You burn more calories in a run than walking on a treadmill. You’re not eating enough: People who feel hungry after a run are usually the ones who are dieting. The calories in your body are already in a deficit, therefore, this added calorie burn after a run can stimulate your hunger. You’re dehydrated: People who do this end up stuffing themselves and remain dehydrated. Even the practice of having water to curb food hunger is wrong. Learn to differentiate between your thirst for water and food hunger. What to do about it Drink more water: The easiest fix for runner hunger is to make sure you’re hydrated before you set out and then drink a bottle of water afterwards. Eat right after your run: Try to plan a meal within a few hours of training, so you don’t finish your run feeling ravenously hungry, a small

About: A high protein diet is often recommended by body builders and nutritionists to help efforts to build muscle and lose fat. The high-protein diet is a nutrition that ought to be consumed everyday to meet physical needs. However, this diet has plenty of advantages along with disadvantages as well. Here are some of the advantages of high protein diet. Improves your health: Fish is one of the most common foods that one has to consume when you are on a high protein diet. It is full of omega-3 fatty acids that help to lower cholesterol. This reduces our chances of getting or developing any sort of heart disease. It also promotes weight loss. Certain health conditions require restrictions on protein, so, one should follow high protein diet under guidance only. Easy to follow: Most of the diets require intake of foods that might be out of your budget. You may also eat foods that you would not like. However, when it comes to a high protein diet, one just has to stick to pro

About: How to treat minor burns, whether you burn your hand on a pan of cookies, spend too much time in the sun, or spill hot coffee on your lap, burns are certainly not pleasant. Unfortunately, burns are one of the most common household injuries. Best home remedies for burns Mild burns typically take around a week or two to completely heal and usually don’t cause scarring. The goal of burn treatment is to reduce pain, prevent infections, and heal the skin faster. Black tea: Black tea contains tannic acid, which helps in drawing heat away from the burnt skin and thereby , making it less painful. Place a cool, wet black tea bag on the skin and bind it with gauze. Cool water: The first thing you should do when you get a minor burn is run cool (not cold) water over the burn area for about 20 minutes. Then wash the burned area with mild soap and water. Milk: Proteins and fat in milk will not only cool down the burn, but will also promote healing. For best results, s

The heart is a muscular organ in most animals, which pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. Blood provides the body with oxygen and nutrients, as well as assists in the removal of metabolic wastes. In humans, the heart is located between the lungs, in the middle compartment of the chest. The findings showed that just a single session of endurance exercise activities that increase breathing and heart rate such as walking, jogging, swimming increased the expression of genes that are used to repair damaged DNA and helped remodel heart tissue. The genes that are important for genome stability are up regulated in the heart tissue after a single bout of endurance exercise. This may contribute to the protective effects of exercise on cardiovascular health. The results are also applicable to humans since these genes are regulated in a similar way to those in humans. By understanding this process and basic heart biology, future research may lead to

Be positive: Positive approach towards life are the key to success. Your self-esteem is influenced by the fact that how you look at life. Life is not a bed of roses. It is unavoidable that you will have to face critical situations or problems in life. But, what is important is to face them with courage and a faith in your own abilities. Eat right: A balanced diet is a key to good health. Eating the right food in the right way keeps your mental and physical health all right. Include minerals and vitamins in your regular meals. Avoid distractions like television or radio while taking meals. Groom yourself:   This seems like such an obvious one, but it’s amazing how much of a difference a shower and a shave can make in your feelings of self-confidence and for your self-image. Exercise: Exercise has been one of my most empowering activities in the last couple years, and it has made me feel so much better about myself.

About: Do you feel low on energy through the day? Exhausted, tired even as the day goes on Well, make a few lifestyle changes and see how you perk up for good. Kale: Kale is also great sauteed as a side dish, chopped into soups, and tossed with whole wheat pasta. Kale contains the amino acid L-tyro sine, which may help give you a mental lift, as well as a number of antioxidants and fiber to fill you up and help keep your blood sugar stable. Almonds: We all know that almonds are a good snack option as they contain important nutrients, like magnesium and B vitamins, that help convert food to energy. Research shows that people with low magnesium levels tend to tire more quickly during exercise due to magnesium's role in energy metabolism. Bananas: Bananas are nature's prepacked and portable healthy snack. They're filled with fiber, vitamin B6, and potassium — nutrients that promote sustained energy and muscle function. Oatmeal: Oatmeal for

About: Platelets are one of the very important parts of human body. They help in the process of blood clotting and prevent excess loss of blood from the body. But due to certain reasons like cancer, liver diseases, leukemia, anemia, infections, alcohol, exposure to chemicals, deficiency of vitamin B12, auto immune diseases, infection in blood etc the count of these platelets are decrease which is not at all a good sign for your health. Beet root: Beet root is a rich source of anti oxidants plus the hemostatic properties of beet root are very useful in increasing the platelet count. Therefore it is advisable to drink 1 to 2 table spoon of beet root juice 3 to 4 times in a day. Papaya: Several studies have proved that the juice of papaya leaves is very effective in increasing the platelet count. Therefore it is advisable to drink a glass of papaya juice daily in order to treat the problem. Water: Drinking normal water is actually very helpful in stimulating the

About: A tummy ache is a common complaint and affects people of all ages. The causes could be several indigestion, menstrual cramps, even gastritis. Simple home remedies might not cure you of your ailment but will definitely ease your symptoms and give you temporary relief. Chamomile Tea: Take a cup of chamomile tea (one cup of water per teabag). Chamomile tea is an excellent home remedy for uncomplicated stomach upsets because it possesses anti-inflammatory and sedative properties, all of which may contribute to a lessening of abdominal discomfort. Chamomile relaxes the muscle of the upper digestive tract, easing the contractions that move food through the stomach and small intestines this will relieve spasms and tummy cramps. Ginger tea: Ginger tea is another good option simply add some ginger bits to a cup of hot tea and drink it. The chemicals present in ginger relax the stomach muscles and relieve cramps. You could also add ginger bits to honey and warm water and

About: Foods are very much related to time and the physics of our body can agree with them only if they are taken for a certain period. For instance, there are some foods that are beneficial to us, but can actually work in a negative way, if taken at a wrong time. Spicy food: Eating spices and chilies on an empty stomach may irritate the stomach lining which can lead to acidic reactions and cramps. They are pungent in nature and can trigger indigestion. Sugary foods: Majority of us are under the impression that it is healthy to have a glass of fruit juice to start your day, it may not be the case. After long hours of rest with the stomach being empty, sugar in the form of fructose in fruits can cause an overload on your liver. Processed sugar is even worse, so avoid breakfast desserts or overly sweet smoothies. Citrus Fruits: Though citrus fruits like oranges, grape fruits, and lemons are high in vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants, they may irritate your stomach whe

Eat vegetables: There is good evidence that oxidative damage caused by toxins and metabolism contributes to the ageing process at a cellular level. Foods (but not supplements) high in antioxidants seem to protect us from oxidative stress. Avoid sugar: Sugar is a direct cause of ageing and significantly reduces lifespan in organisms from yeast to primates. Not by a small amount either. Moisturize: The appearance of your skin is largely dependent upon moisture. Help it out by using moisturizers to keep your skin soft and hydrated. Work with a professional to determine what type is best for you. Olive oil and honey: Both olive oil and honey are packed with nutrients and are very effective in fighting ageing. Olive oil has anti-ageing antioxidants that make it a very good choice for skin care. Mix 1 part of olive oil with 1 part of honey. Rub the mixture on your skin and let it stay for 10 to 15 minutes. Wash it off and pat dry. Yogurt: Yogurt is ri