South Asian women in Canada at higher risk of heart disease

 Women of South Asian descent in Canada are much more prone to heart disease than Canadian women of European or Chinese origin, according to a study.

 The study led by Sonia Anand, an assistant professor of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, was released at Victoria in British Columbia province where an international conference on women and heart disease is being held.

 

The study is the first to examine cardiac risk factors among women of South Asian descent and has found that they have higher than average rates of diabetes, elevated levels of dangerous low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lower good or HDL cholesterol and greater abdominal obesity. The study surveyed 155 South Asian, 155 Chinese and 169 European women.

 

Sixteen percent of the South A

sian women had diabetes compared to only six per cent of Chinese and European women. Cholesterol ratios were significantly worse among the South Asian women and their waist to hip ratio was much greater.

 

But a few factors weighed in favor of the women of South Asian descent --they had less hypertension (14 per cent) compared to 16 per cent Chinese and 18 per cent European and only two per cent of them smoked, as against six per cent of Chinese and 44 per cent women of European descent.

 

"There are certain areas where South Asian women do better than other women," Anand said in her presentation. "And there are certain areas where they do worse. But because they have a higher rate of cardiovascular disease prevalence, the areas where they do less well must be considered as potential risk factors."

 

The high rate of diabetes and abnormal lipids go against the South Asian women. Chinese women have extremely low risk factors in these areas. Anand attributed this to the consumption of more fruit and vegetables by the Chinese women. The vegetables and fruit they consume are "either lightly steamed or eaten raw so they derive more nutritional value from them."

 

South Asians, however, "make their vegetables into a stew or boil them and this could reduce valuable nutrient components," Anand said. At the conference, health professionals from around the world have come together to discuss the latest in science, policy and practice as they discuss prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of heart disease and strokes in women.

 

A fact sheet released ahead of the four-day conference said of the 16.7 million deaths each year attributed to cardiovascular diseases, about 11 million are caused by various forms of heart disease and 5.1 million by strokes. By 2020, 40 percent of all deaths will be related to cardiovascular diseases.

 

Tobacco, participants were told, causes over four million deaths a year, mainly from cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer. An estimated 600 million people worldwide have high blood pressure and three million of them die each year.

 

Linda Van Horn, professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, said according to a study by her, oats are a natural, inexpensive, side-effect free way of unclogging cholesterol-laden arteries. Men, women and children can benefit from the low-fat, high nutrition cereal, but for women going through menopause there are extra benefits.

 

"Don't save oats just for your cereal bowl," said Rose Schwartz, consulting dietitian to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. "Oats, which are rich in cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber, are also terrific for making cookies, quick breads as well as crunchy topping for fruit crisps."

Red wine best for heart, say experts

 The incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) is less in patients consuming less than two or three units of alcohol daily as it increases HDL cholesterol which is cardio-protective. Red wine is the best because it contains antioxidants which prevent CHD, says heart expert Dr PC Saxena, professor and HoD of MLN Medical College Cardiology department.

Prof Saxena pleads for a massive public education programmed on coronary risk factors and lifestyle modifications for reducing the incidence of coronary diseases in developing countries like India.

Striking a warning against Indians going to have the highest incidence of CHD in the world and practically in an epidemic form, Prof Saxena says that modifiable risk factors constituted smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, physical activity and stress.

Smoking or tobacco chewing constituted a major risk factor for CHD. The number and duration of cigarette smoked is directly proportional to incidence of CHD. In smokers the chances of heart attack are two or three times more than non-smokers. Cigar

smoking is less harmful compared to cigarette smoking, he said.

Prof Saxena has expressed concern at children in rural India smoking at an early age and by the time they attained the age of 40 years they suffered heart attack, he pointed out.

Besides, obesity, he said, increased two-fold the risk of CHD. This necessitated maintenance of target weight by diet therapy alone or diet and exercise. Excessive depository fat in abdomen and increased waist-to-hip ratio are associated with increased incidence of CHD, he warned.

The non-vegetarians have a high incidence of CHD as compared to vegetarians. Diabetes is one of the most important risk factors of CHD. Presently in India 20 million people are diabetics and are likely to reach 52 million by 2025. Prevalence of CHD in diabetics is 20 to 25 per cent. In diabetics the incidence of silent heart attack is 30 to 40 per cent, he pointed out.

Walking, jogging, cycling for at least 30 minutes thrice a week 373 or for 30 minutes daily reduced CHD factors by 41 per cent, Prof Saxena added.

Scientists plan to grow human hearts in labs

 A cure for broken hearts is on the horizon, as US scientists say they will soon be able to grow new human hearts in the laboratory.

The University of Washington (UW) in the north-western United States announced that it will lead and coordinate a $10-million, 10-year effort to grow a human heart using a patient's own cells.

The bioengineering project, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will involve nearly 50 scientists working at nine UW laboratories, along with five other laboratories in private industry and at the University of Toronto.

"This is a sort of mini-Apollo mission," said Buddy Ratner, director of the UW's engineered biomaterials center and lead investigator for the project.

"Their goal was to walk on the moon in 10 years. We also have an exciting goal to grow a human heart ventricle."

Heart disease accounts for more than one-third of all deaths in the United States, where only 2,300 hearts are available for transplants each year. That means some 50,000 people who meet the strict criteria for

transplants die each year due to a lack of available organs.

"This is going to change medicine," said Margaret Allen, a UW heart transplant surgeon and participant in Ratner's project. "We'll use a patient's own cells to prevent them from ever needing a heart transplant."

Simple ways to cut down calories

 

• Consuming Fewer Calories: One of the best strategies to cut down on calories is by not consuming extra calories. Unfortunately, the risk of developing an eating disorder is linked with this strategy. Therefore, it is advised that you consult a health expert before cutting down on calories.

• Small Servings: Instead of 2-3 large meal servings a day, have 4-5 small servings. Doing so will not only reduce hunger pangs but also cut down on calories.

• Binge on Healthy Foods: Avoid snacks high in calories when you are hungry. In fact, fruits can be a healthy alternative to snacks that are high in calories. Eat to reap healthy benefits, such as better digestion and instant energy. Likewise, prefer water when craving for cold drinks.

• Carry Healthy Foods: Do not take unhealthy foods to work. When you step out of your house, make sure that you carry nutritious foods. Apple, peanut butter sandwiches and fruit juice are excellent options to carry along when looking forward to cutting calories.

• Abstain from Alcohol: Alcohol is high in calories. Apart from accumulating fat, it disrupts several functions of the body.

• Engage in Physical Activities at Home: Household chores, such as dusting, cleaning, playing with kids and laundry will help you burn calories.

• Lifestyle Modification: Make some changes in your routine, such as engage in physical exercise and eat healthy to burn calories.

• Figure out your Average consumption and calorie Requirement: To cut down the calorie intake, you must figure out your average caloric consumption.

• Don’t Set Improbable Targets: There is no urgency as in deadlines to burn calories and lose weight. You can cut down on your current average calorie consumption without having to give your favorite delicacies up.  All you need to do is adopt a flexible approach to limit caloric intake.

• Seek Expert Advice: A health expert should be consulted if you find it difficult to structure a diet. Discuss your diet pattern along with other medical conditions that you may be suffering from to come up with an appropriate diet plan. How many calories one consumes and expends depends on  physical attributes, such as age, height, weight, gender and amount of activity. Therefore, it is advised that you take the help of a health expert before adhering to a specific approach to cut down calories.

 

Onion is a bulbous plant that offers many layers of beauty and health benefits. It sure is an indispensable part of our meals, but can it be of any good for one’s hair? Yes, it does sound somewhat strange to acknowledge its aroma on your hair, but what if we told you it reverses graying and loss of hair? Yes, it is true.

Why onion and not potato?

Well, nothing comes easy. Onions are rich in an essential nutrient required for hair growth: sulphur. A high amount of sulphur in the onions can make them especially effective in stimulating hair regrowth and regenerating hair follicles. Some other essential minerals as well as vitamins include vitamin C and B6, magnesium, calcium and potassium.

 

Besides being a useful treatment for your hair, onions can help in treating skin conditions because they have the ability to promote blood circulation and decrease inflammation.

How to use Onion as a hair loss remedy ?

Apply a freshly squeezed raw onion juice to your scalp directly. Massage it deep into the scalp as well as hair roots. Leave the juice on the scalp for at least half an hour before you shampoo it off. Make sure you do the treatment at least three times a week for better result.

In a lot of studies, participants who applied onion juice on their hair witnessed a dramatic improvement of hair thickness within just a few months of using this remedy.

 

If the smell is annoying, you could use the mixture of water and vinegar after using onion juice.

This remedy is cheap, but if it does not work on you, visit your dermatologist.

3 Common myths about water purifiers debunked

 As we all know that around 70 percent of the human body is made of water, it is essential for your body to stay healthy.  However, that is not enough. You need to make sure that your body gets clean water as contaminated water–that contains impurities–does more harm to your health than good. Unfortunately, the quality of water has worsened in recent years and problems associated with water contamination have increased tremendously. The widespread problem of water contamination has provided manufacturers of water purifiers the perfect opportunity to market them.

These companies often claim to have developed more advanced water purification products and technologies to reduce the risk of water borne diseases. However, they often tend to confuse consumers by twisting or manipulating facts to suit their advertising campaigns. Here are some of the most common myths associated with water purifiers.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is the latest technology

A number of people end up buying RO water purifiers b

ecause they believe it is the best and the latest technology in water purification. In India, there are 17 different kinds of water conditions and there is no one size-fits-all technology that can be adopted to purify water. Water quality differs not only between geographies but even within a given region.

 

Moreover, if one uses RO water purification in areas where it is not required, then it leads to ‘demineralized water'. Demineralized water has a substantial lack of essential minerals in it and is not considered ideal for drinking. RO technology in a water purifier on its own may not be enough or suitable for every type of water.

 Water purifiers do not retain essential mineral

False! They do; it's just that an incorrect purification technique that doesn't suit the water type may lead to removal of essential minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and salt from water. The notion that all water purifiers will drain away minerals from water is incorrect. However, using a purifier with a water purification technique that doesn't suit the water may drain the minerals from the water. For example, an RO purifier must not be used if the total dissolved solids (TDS) value of the water is below 200ppm. Using RO on such water may remove all the essential minerals from it.

Boiling water is enough

This is one of the most common myths. The fact is that boiling water gets rid of water-borne bacteria and viruses but it has no effect on chlorine content and cysts, and it doesn't remove turbidity and organic and inorganic impurities either. Also, water needs to be boiled for a minimum of 20 minutes for it to remove the disease-causing microorganisms. Secondly, most people are unaware that boiled water, when kept in an open container to cool down, is prone to re-contamination by certain bacteria.

 

Addicted to coffee? Here is how you could be unknowingly sabotaging your system.

It can interfere with the absorption of iron

Drinking too much coffee can interfere with the way your kidney and stomach absorb iron, magnesium and other essential minerals from the food you consume.  Deficiency of magnesium can affect your bowel movements and a poor absorption of this element can make things worse for your stomach.

It can give you a long term stench breath

For those of you who have never realized, coffee has a dehydration effect and may even cause a dry mouth.  As a result, the mucosal cells, which live for around 3 days before they get washed away when they die, could not get flushed out on time, which leaves you with a stinky smell. The more coffee you drink, the more the cells hang around and decay.

 It may interfere with the absorption of food

Although a cupper first thing in the morning is known to stimulate contractions in the bowels to push out the waste quickly, it can also cause the food in your stomach to pass through the small intestines without allowing enough time for the

nutrients to get absorbed.

Coffee on an empty stomach may lead to bloating and pain

Apart from stimulating contractions, intake of coffee on an empty stomach first thing in the morning can enhance the release of digestive juices, such as hydrochloric acid production (HCL), even when there isn’t enough food to be digested. Besides, the gastric acids can then further irritate the lining of your intestine, causing bloating and stomach pain.

 

Coffee can contribute to an expanding waistline

If you don't want to expand your waistline or are looking forward to reducing some pounds, instead of preparing your coffee with whole milk, go for black coffee as it can save up to at least 160 calories.

 

Many factors and repercussions can be associated with painkiller addiction. But, a fact that remains common throughout is that no one decides or chooses to become addicted to prescription painkillers. There was never a person who popped an OxyContin and then decided to spend the rest of his life in isolation.

 

However, in many developed countries like the USA, while illegal street drug abuse is declining, the abuse of prescription painkillers is rising.

 

It is for the same reason that like any other commonly abused drug, opiate narcotics or prescription painkillers have the ability to stimulate areas of the brain that are linked with releasing pleasurable feelings.

5 Reasons You Should Do Bridges Daily

 

• There is no doubt, a strong and toned rear has so many benefits. It not only helps you look fabulous but also makes you strong. It does not matter if you have flabby or flat glutens, you can easily sculpt them in no time by practicing bridges regularly.

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• Here is why you should add bridges to your workout every day:

• Reduce Knee and Back Pain

• The posterior chain, i.e. glutens and hamstrings, easily get neglected. The quadriceps usually take over all your daily activities and high-intensity workouts, and therefore, do most of the work which often leads to knee and

  
  
  back pain. This is mostly because the dominance of one muscle over another can lead to injury but don’t worry, you can try bridges to engage that posterior chain to even out the muscle use.

• Improve Athletic Performance

• Nothing is as good as strong glutens when it comes to producing power. As we know power boosts all the athletic movements hence, strong glutens help you run faster and jump higher.

• Also read: Yoga Asana for Full Body Pain Relief.

• Your Clothes Will Fit Better

• A high, toned and rounded rear looks great in any situation and stronger glutens make your shape look better in whatever you wear.

• Strengthen Your Core

• The bridge exercise activates all the core muscles, including the transverse abdominal (flattens your core), rectus abdominal (six pack) and oblique's (hourglass figure). So, try any of the bridge variations to work on these muscles deeply and tighten up your muscles in one easy move.

• Improve Your Posture

• Do bridges on a regular basis as it strengthens your glutes to maintain a better posture when you're sitting or standing for an extended period of time.

Do Whole Eggs Help Burn Belly Fat ?

 

How Eggs help to Burn Belly Fat

• It is a common belief that eggs increase bad cholesterol levels. It was believed that a couple of eggs trigger cholesterol levels above the recommended limit. But now this belief has been discarded by various researches that have shown that dietary cholesterol has a minimal impact on the blood cholesterol level. According to recent studies, it is dietary fat that increases the level of bad cholesterol. If you are still afraid of cholesterol from eggs then remove its yolk. But remember that whole eggs can give you far more health benefits and help to burn weight.

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• Whole eggs are enriched with vita

  
  
  min B 12 and proteins that are very helpful in breaking down fat.

• Egg yolk has high micronutrient density which increases the overall nutrient density of each calorie. Wondering how this will help to burn belly fat? These nutrients work by regulating your appetite for the whole day .i.e. make you fuller so that you end up eating less.

• “Fitness” magazine has recommended eggs as food that helps to burn belly fat. The reason being that they help with satiation thus preventing excessive calorie consumption. According to a research cited in “Fitness” magazine people who ate eggs for breakfast feel less hungry throughout the day. Whole eggs help to maintain the healthy level of fat burning hormones in the body.

• Whole eggs provide the all-essential amino acid to aid your body’s daily maintenance.

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• According to a latest study that compared two groups (first group consisted of people who ate cereal or bagel for breakfast while the other group ate eggs for breakfast); people who ate eggs either lost weight or maintained a healthy weight. However, the other group gained weight.

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• Another study conducted at the University of Connecticut compared whole egg eaters and people who ate only egg whites for 12 weeks. Results revealed that by the end of the 12th week men who ate three whole eggs on a daily basis had increased HDL (good cholesterol associated with low risk of heart diseases) by 20% and the LDL (bad cholesterol) level remained the same. The other group had no change in either of them.

How to Cut Calories Gradually ?

 

• In order to lose weight, having a well-balanced diet is a must. Of course you also need to exercise. The balance between intake of calories with diet and exercise need to be struck. For losing a pound every week, you need to cut 500 calories daily from your usual intake. If this seems too drastic for you to follow, know that there can be easy ways to reduce calories, i.e. ways in which you may not have to give up your favorite delicious foods. Simple ways of doing this are to have small servings of foods such as chips or cookies, and chewing them for a longer time so that it gets digested better.

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• Steps to Cut Down Your Calories

• Replace unhealthy snacks such as fried chips, candy and cookies with healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables.

• Stick to water when craving for soda drinks or lattes arise. You consume hundreds of calories in 2 or 3 gulps of these drinks. To give taste to water, squeeze a lemon in it. Honey and lemon can also be taken with water in the morning.

• Prefer low calorie foods over high-calorie ones. Typical example is low calorie skimmed milk compared to high calorie full cream milk. The calorie count of skimmed milk is almost half that of full cream.

• Do not take unhealthy snacks to work. Your lunch should consist of healthy, nutritious foods. Apple slices, peanut butter sandwiches, a few almonds and one serving of apple juice make for a nutritious lunch.

• If you use smaller plates, it works in two ways to make you eat less. First, it makes you feel that your plate is full and secondly, you are able to cut back on portion sizes and thereby, calories.

• Say not to alcohol and smoking. Alcohol adds hundreds of calories and smoking has an adverse impact on the body’s normal functions.

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• Note: Not having enough calories may not be the best strategy for you. This is because you can be at risk of an eating disorder. Not having enough calories can put your body in starvation mode, in which it conserves fat for producing energy. Advice from your doctor would be needed to know whether your body is suited for cutting calories as a way of losing weight. If it is, the course charted out above would be one of the best you can follow for implementing your plan of cutting down calories.

Eggs are a natural source of whole proteins that help to burn unwanted belly fat. However, this must not give you the wrong impression that eggs will “spot reduce” fat from any particular area of the body. Instead eggs must be taken as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Healthy diet along with regular exercise will help to lose overall weight including your belly fat.

 

Benefits of Weight Loss in Women

 Even losing a few kilos will do you a great benefit, if you are planning to lose weight then keep these benefits in your mind to be motivated. Start slow and small but you will be benefited tremendously.

• A healthy heart: Being overweight can put your heart under a lot of pressure as it has to work harder and pump more blood making it prone to various problems. When you lose weight not only do you do your heart a favor but also help decrease high blood pressure which is a starting point in various heart ailments.

• Increasing levels of good cholesterol: Knocking off some extra kilos and maintaining a regular exercise regimen will help boost good cholesterol or HDL. Reducing risk of diabetes: Losing even a little weight will help your body regulate blood glucose levels and reduce any risk of developing diabetes.

• Reduce risk of cancer: Losing weight will also help you reduce risk of developing cancer. Overweight men are found to ha

  
  
  ve prostate cancer while overweight women tend to suffer from ovarian and cervical cancer.

• Reduce risk of osteoporosis: Think about the pressure that is exerted on the bones and joints of an overweight body. When you lose some weight you help in easing off the pressure making them stronger and less likely to be inflicted with osteoarthritis.

• A quality life: Losing excess weight will help you live longer and have a better quality of life. Excess fat is an invitation to various diseases and also an instability factor during old age. People who are elderly and overweight have problems with mobility.

• Better sex life: Weight loss will help in spicing up your sex life. Losing even a few kilos will help men have normal erections and maintaining it while women are more likely to be interested in sex due to improved body image.

• Better reproductive health: Both overweight men and women tend to have fertility related issues. 

• Will rev up your energy levels: Weight loss will help you feel active and more in control. Overweight people are seen to be more sluggish due to the extra weight which can make moving around tiring.

• Boosting your self-image: Overweight individuals tend to suffer from low self-worth and self-consciousness. Losing even a few kilos will help a great deal to boost self-image and act as a motivational point to reach an ideal weight.

Tips to Lose Weight for Men Over 50

 There are a lot of health hazards associated with being overweight after 50 for men and women alike. High blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol and many cancers can result from carrying extra weight, especially if it is centered on the stomach. An optimal balance of healthy diet and exercise plan can help you keep fit even in this age when your body has started to decay.

 

Exercise for Weight Loss after 50

 

• Mild Strength Building – You can try out some mildly strenuous Yoga poses or take to gym workouts with the same understanding. Make sure that the exercises are not setting in fatigue. Don’t think that you are unable to build strength at this age. It might be the way out of excess weight.

• Stretching and Posture Exercises – Men over 50 can do static stretches of all muscle groups. Some examples are standing on one leg for 30 seconds or walking around the room with a book kept on the head. It is important that such exercises not only build strength and stamina but also help you maintain balance. Learning to balance yourself is one of the objectives of such exercises.

• Endurance – Fifty plus men should at least have a regular routine of exercise for increasing the heart rate. Depending upon the condition of your health, you can try brisk walking, bicycling or jogging for 15 to 30 minutes.

Diet for Weight Loss after 50

 

• Know your metabolism – The first thing to do when looking to plan the optimal diet is to evaluate your metabolism. Aging slows down metabolism and you need to find out how much of an effect it has had on yours. To keep metabolic rate up, eat smaller, more frequent meals. This helps to burn fat throughout the day.

• Healthy Foods – Include at least 2 cups of fruits and 3 cups of raw vegetables in your daily diet. Get a diet chart and by using it, make sure that only 5 percent of your food is saturated fat, i.e. the fat which comes from butter, processed foods, fatty meats and whole dairy products. Nuts, olive oil, and sunflower oil should replace the unhealthy food choices.

• Calorie count – Do not take more than 2000 calories a day if you lead an inactive life. The maximum permissible for a person with an active life is 2500 calories a day.

Natural Way to Lose Weight

 Every year the fitness industry makes millions out of obese people with ample promises of weight loss that are hardly ever fulfilled. When there is a will there's a way and weight loss may not always require professional help. At your disposal are perfectly natural ways to lose weight.

 

Tips to Lose Weight Naturally

Fibrous and Citrus Fruits

Most unwanted weight is acquired through the consumption of extra calories. At the same time nutrition is compromised. Balance it out by eating plenty of fibrous fruits like apples, pears and peaches. They instantly make you feel full and provide plenty of vitamins and minerals necessary for a healthy body. Citrus fruits won’t quell your hunger but are high in Vitamin C and remain the best option if you want to avoid sugary caffeine drinks. They instantly make you feel fresh and boost your energy levels.

 

Honey

While you’re sipping green tea to accelerate weight loss, do not forget to add a teaspoonful of honey to it instead of refined sugar. The best sugar source in the world is also full of enzymes which are extremely beneficial. Honey is also better than saccharine or other

chemical substitutes for table sugar.

 

Vegetables

Choose vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini and other gourds that come with high water content. These veggies are a proven natural method for stimulating weight loss. Never overcook but let them remain a bit green. Add to these leaves like spinach and cabbage and you have got yourself the best diet food in the world.

 

Water

Drinking plenty of water not only gets the toxins out of your system but leads to rapid weight loss. However, be careful to minimize your salt intake as high sodium levels in your body result in water retention.

 

Chewing

Chewing is one of the best ways to lose weight naturally as when you fake mastication your gastric juices start pumping and your metabolic rate increases. The extra calories will burn faster and you will lose weight. The downside is that you may feel hungrier. You can remedy it by consuming vegetables and fruits. When you’re chewing do not opt for sugary chewing gums. Avoid even the artificially sweetened ones. Cardamoms, cloves or mint leaves are safer and natural choices.

 

Protein

Up your protein intake as you lower your carbs consumption. Go for beans, lean white meat and lentils with minimum rice and chapattis. Protein will help you build a stronger body without the unnecessary fat.

 

Exercise

Without exercise the protein you consume will be stored as fat so it’s necessary that you move your body in a regulated way. You don’t need a fancy gym membership with heavy duty machines to help you. Try perfectly natural ways to exercise like sprinting and running. You can also use your body weight against itself to work out. For instance push ups and sit ups are two such methods. Women should not feel hesitant to do that either because weight free exercises are for everyone.