Depression

Depression is not your fault and it can be treated :

This is dedicated to someone who recently faced depression close to my heart.I just want to say i will stand by you no matter what.

The first thing to see in depression is to see it as a diesease and not personal failure .There is lot of positive news about depression treatment .New approaches like psychotherapy and antidepressant
medication help millions of people across to recover from depression.

Depression is a complex condition characterized by sadness , feeling worthlessness and lost of interest in social activities.These feelings can last for 2 weeks or go on for decades.It is a disease .It is not caused by personal weakness and is not a character flaw .When you have depression chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters are out of balance . Major factors that causes depression are

1)Childbirth ,a death in the family ,work or relationship
2)Finding out you have long term diesease such as hearth diesease or cancer

You may also
1)Lose or gain weight
2)Sleep too much or not sleep at all
3)Feel restless and not able to sit still ,or may sit quitely and feels that moving takes great effort .4)Feel tired as if you have no energy for the entire day
5)Feel unworthy and guilty everyday .You may have low self esteem and fears that people may not like you
6)Find it hard to focus and remember things or make decisions everyday.

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION :It occurs usally by the changes in hormones levels that occur in pregnancy .Any women can get this depression after her childbirth miscarriage or stillbirth.She may act strangely or hear and see things that are not present .It is an emergency ,because it can quickly get worse and put her or others in danger .These may usally occur if you have a poor support from your inlaws,you have a sick baby ,You have lot of other stress in life .

Bipolar Disorder:Its a diesease that causes extreme mood changes from manic episodes of very high energy to lows of energy Having this order can make you feel helpless.Talking about it to those suffering from it can release your pain and can hope for a better life.

Your self help
1)Be real in what you expect and what you can do .Set goals you can meet.
2)Dont blame yourself or others for your depression
3)Think about putting off big decisions.Wait patiently either for marriage ,divorce or jobs.
4)Get support form others.Your family can set you right kind of treatment and deal with your symptoms
5)Tell someone you trust about your depression.It is better to be with someone than be alone .
6)Build your self esteem and try to keep postive attitute.

Get basics
1)Get regular exercise
2)Eat a balanced diet
3)Get enough sleep
4)Deal with stress
5)Avoid drinking alcohol
6)Take proper medicines as prescribed

Things to say:
1)You are not alone
2)You are important to me
3)Do you want a hug
4)When its over i will be there and so will you
5)I cannot really understand you feeling but i can offer my compassion
6)I am not going to leave you or abandon you
7)I love you
8)I am sorry that you are so much in pain i am not going to leave you.

Things you dont say:
1)There is always someone worse than you
2)No one ever said life was fair
3)Stop feeling sorry for yourself
4)You are always depressed whats new
5)Try not to be so depressed
6)Its your own fault
7)I think your depression is a way of punishing us
8)Havent you grown tired of me ,me and me
9)Have you tried green tea?
10)I was depressed like you

Usally when i am sad i listen to good music and think of all the nice things happened to me what your idea of happiness to overshadow the depression do share to help the readers .

Cold

Everyone gets cold from time to time .Children gets more cold than adults.There is no cure for cold .Antibiotics will not cure the cold ,treat the symptoms.Lots of viruses results in cold but the symptoms are the same

• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Red eyes
• Soare troat
• Headches

If the cold symptoms last for more than 2 weeks then you have allergies or sinustis.Call your doctor
What to do when you catches cold

1. Get extra rest:You need to slow down from your normal routine.Its not necessary to stay in bed but do not expose the diesease to others.
2. Drink plenty of fluids:Hot water,herbel tea,chicken soup will help releive the runny nose
3. Shower:Take hot shower to releive from nose and head.
4. If you feel mucus in your throat then gargle with warm water.This will make your throat feel better.
5. Use paper tissues and not hankerchief this will help not spreading cold.
6. If your nose becomes red and raw then put petroleum jelly around it.

Dont take medicines that contains decongestant for a stuffy nose and cough medicine.Treat each sypmtom on its own.A nasal decongestant spay can help your stufy nose but do not use more than 3 days in a row .You could get a rebound effect which makes the mucous membrance in your nose swell up even more .

Call doctor when
YOU have trouble breathing
You have fever of 104 degrees (40 degree )orhigher
You have new sypmtom that are not part of the cold like a stiff neck or shortness of breath.
You cough up yellow,green or bloody mucus
Mucus from your nose is thick like pus or bloody.
You have pain in your face ,eyes,teeth that does not get better with home treatment .

Prevent cold

1. Wash your hands often
   
2. Be extra careful around people having cold
3. Keepyour hands away from your face .Your nose,eyes and mouth are the most likely places for germs to enter.
4. Eat well and get plenty of sleep and exercise.This keeps your body strong so it can fight colds.
5. Do not smoke .Smoking makes it easier to get cold and harder to get rid of it.

3 FOOD THATCAN HELP PREVENT DIABETES

Diabetes:There are 2 types of diabetes
1) JUVENILE DIABETES: It is a longlife diesease that develop when the pancreas stop producing insulin ,a hormone that that let sugar move from the blood into the bood cells,where itcan be stored for energy or later use.If sugar cannot move from the blood into the blood cells the person blood sugar rises above a safe level and the cells cannot function properly.

It can develop in any age particularly in children and young adults,usually before the age of 30.Often symptons are noticed after an illness such as flu.Early signs may include
Frequent urination
Extreme thirst
Increase hunger
Weight loss


As blood sugar level rises more symptoms may develop

Blurred vision
Drowsiness
Fast and shallow breathing
Strong fruity odour
Loss of appetite
Abdominal pain
Vomiting

Try and keep the blood sugar level as close to normal as possible.This can be done by eating balanced diet,taking insulin injections and getting regular exercise.

2)Adult onset diabetes:It is a lifelong disease that affects the way your body uses food for energy.The disease develop when the cell of the body becomes resiistant to insulin or pancreas cannot make enough insulin which causes high blood sugar.
The extra sugar in your blood can lead to problems with your eyes ,heart,blood vessel,nerve and kidneys.Common symptons of diabetes are

Increaed thirst
Frequent urination
Unusall weight loss
Extreme Fatigue

But in this level of diabetes the blood sugar level rises slowly so they may not have the symptoms in the early stage.People who suffer from this type of dieseas are usally overweight and physically less active .It is commonly found in over 40 years of age and nowadays found in children too.This can be prevented if the person focuss on keeping blood sugar ,cholestrol and blood pressure at safe levels.


1) VITAMIN C: A European study found out that people consuming more of vitamin c has the lowest incidence of diabetes.Fruits and veggies like oranges,strawberries and broccoli are the best sorces of vitamin c .

2) HERBS AND SPICES: Researchers from the univerity of georgia found out that herbs and spices could prevent inflammationassociated with diabeties .Cloves and cinnamon are examples.

3)EAT SOME BROWN RICE:A compound that help rice grow reduces nerve and blood vessel damage from diabetes.Soak the rice overnight which awakens the compound.

Its always best to read the manufacture instructions and consult your doctor before any intake.

Anything that you can contribute with the imformation to help diabetes would be appreciated .

Benefits of milk

Milk contains vitamin A and vitamins D.Besides building strong bones calcium may protect colon cells,ease migrane headaches and help prevent childhood obesity.

1)HEAD TO TOE MOISTURIZER:Thanks to vitamin A and D and lactic acid,milk softens even the driest wintertime skin.Try this bath mixture Drizzle half cup of honey into running water as you fill the tub add 2 cups of warm whole milk

2)EYE GEL: Give cucumbers some rest.Instead dip cotton balls in cold whole milk,wring them out,and apply to eyelids.The fat in milk hydrates parched skin and reduces swelling.

3)PMS FIGHTER (Premenstrual syndrom)Women who get more calcium and vitamin D all month long by drinking either skim or low fat milk have lower risk of developing pms.

4)FERTILITY BOOSTER:If you are trying for a baby add whole milk to your diet .In a harward study women who ate more than one dairy serving were 25%less likely to suffer ovulation .

IS PREGNANCY SAFE AFTER 40

If you get pregnant past that age you have a 10 fold increased risk compared with women younger than 40 of placenta previa.Its the dangerous condition in which the placenta does not move up and away from the opening of the uterus during pregnancy this can cause severe vaginal bleeding and activate premature labour.If you are in your 40 and considering pregnancy its critical to be proactive and get a thorough screening to rule out hidden heart dissease or diabetes.All the women in this age group needs to get their blood pressure,cholestrol,and blood sugar levels checked as well as ekgbefore trying to get pregnant.

Right now the oldest documented mother is omkari panwar a 70 year old indian women who gave birth to a 2 pounds twins in 2008.The cutting edge of IVFtechnology is enabling women to get pregnant experts are concerned about the increased risk of developing breast cancer.There are fair number of women getting pregnant in their mid 40 through IVF who have a tough of hypertension,are a little overweight or are prediabetic.A 2002 University of Southern Califonia study found out that 26% of women ages 50 to 54 suffered from preeclampsia a life threatning condition characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine and 13% developed gestational diabetes.

Reserch also show that women who have recently given birth are more likely to develop breast cancer in the 15 years following .There are also heart concerns after pregnancy.Most people tend to gain weight with each pregnancy and keep those extra 10 pounds aroun for a while.
Get a good consultation from your doctor before taking the risk of your health.

KITCHEN CURES 1

You know that what you eat and drink directly affect your wellness.But did you know that certain items in your refrigerator,kitchen cabinets,and spice racks can treat everyday health concerns such as cold,stomach upset,skin blemishes,tension headches.

BLEMISHES,RASHES AND BURNS:
Turmeric is antibacterial,antifungal antiviral and antitumoral makes it effective for skin conditions.Use it to reduce pimples and soothe acne and sunburns.

SORE THROAT:
WHEN YOU HAVE TROUBLE SWALLOWING
Honey and lemon can bring soothing relief in throat pain.The lemon contracts inflamed tissues and provide vitamin c and honey soothes and disinfect.
Fill a tbsp of honey and squeezethe lemon juice .Put the spoon in your mouth and suck on it slowly.

TOOTHACHE:
Clove will immediately numb the gum.Add few drops of water to cloves to make thick paste .Pack on the sore gum for 15 minutes then spit out.Repeat as required.

Ecofriendly tips

Here are ecofriendly tips which will help you save money and become more envoirmentally concious
1) Switch to compact fluorescent lights since they use 66 percent less energy than regular bulbs.
A small sign on the wall can be a helpful reminder for children to turn off the lights.

2)Placing a plant in your home improves the air quality significantly

3)Fix leaking faucets to save water

4)Set a fun recycling center .An organised recyling center makes it easy to seperate plastic,glass,metal and newspaper

5)Start buying organic foods.

6)Stop using plastic bagsat the grocery store.Instead of adding waste buy cloth bags instead

7)Institute a no idle rule at school pickup areas.Turn off your engine while you wait for your child.

8)Use mugs instead of disposable cups in the office

9)Unplug any unused electronic charges or equipments.Energy saps through your cord if your cell phone charger ,curling iron,coffeemaker,or other electronic items are plug in.About 5 percent of the power drawn by cell phone charges is actually used to charge your phone.

10)Fill your refrigerator to capacity it will stay colder and run more effeciently saving you money.

11)Help the envoirment and decrease the paper clutter in your home by the amount of junk mail you receive .

12)To save on fuel ,turn off the air conditioner and roll down your windows when you travelling less than 55 mph.

WHY AN ORANGE

I love this article written in times of india for this season .
Oranges are the source of vitamin c .Good intake of vitamin c reduces the risk of colon cancer .It is also a source for healthy immune system good for preventing colds and ear infection.Antioxidants in oranges help reducing the signs of aging.It keep blood pressure under control due to presence of magnesium.Fibre in orange help in keeping blood sugar level under controlthereby making oranges a healthy snack for diabetes.

OPTINUM HEALTH

To start, pick a physical activity that you like to do and do it!

-Eliminate high-risk activities. Wear your seat belt, and do things that can reduce the cost of health care.

-There needs to be a cultural transformation. Community leaders such as rabbis, priests, teachers, and principals need to make a long-term commitment to health-literacy, and then spread the word. Knowledge about health risks is easily accessible, so we all need to take on the role of a leader if we can.

-The greatest predictor of health status in a community is socioeconomic status. People need access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and it has got to be safe to go outside.

-Work within your community to provide opportunity. Write to your assemblymen and demand a supermarket that provides fresh fruits and vegetables.

FLAT BLASTING WORKOUT

The fat-blasting workout involves interval training, which is weight training and cardio done in intervals with no rest between. Putting cardio and weight training together saves a lot of time, as you're getting double the workout. For weight loss, the bottom line is burning more calories than you consume. If you increase your energy expenditure and limit your caloric intake, you will lose weight.Not only does this workout burn fat, but it also increases the immune system to help reduce the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and strokes. Make sure to keep your heart rate up the entire workout. By keeping your heart rate up, you'll increase your metabolism and burn much more fat than doing just cardio or weight training. Working in your target heart rate will burn both fat and carbohydrates.

FORGIVENESS

An inability to forgive can take a negative toll on your mental, emotional, and physical health. A study authored by Dr. Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet at Hope College in Missouri, found that when people focused on hurtful memories or grudges, their blood pressure surged and brow muscles tensed. Thoughts of forgiveness, however, prompted a greater sense of control and comparatively lower stress responses. You won't "teach someone else a lesson" or fix a situation. The only person a grudge hurts is you.

Simple Strategies for Forgiveness
1. Admit It Hurts
Denial will get you nowhere fast. Strategy: Write out what happened and what you learned from it, and make it part of your past, not your present.

2. Forgive Sans Strings
An apology is nice, but is not required in order to forgive; depending on one from the offender can cause more stress. A study published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion suggests that those who expect an apology before forgiving experience more psychological stress than those who don't. Strategy: Start small. Forgiveness comes with practice, so start with the person who cuts you off in traffic or holds up the line at the bank. Instead of fuming, practice wishing that person well.

3. See the Best
Forgiveness is a choice to see things differently. Strategy: Next time you're hurt, shift your attention to the person behind the act. He's more than one thing he said -- and you're more than a victim of it.

4. Forgive Yourself
Without the ability to do this, you'll find it hard to practice it toward others. If holding a grudge is bad, then being both blamer and blamee is a double whammy. Strategy: Go easy. Next time you lose your cell phone or forget a birthday, don't beat yourself up. Let it go and move on.

Good night sleep

Sleep is important not only for mental but also for physical health.Lack of sleep can affect your immune sysytem ,not good for diabetic patients and heart patients.Reserch showed that lack of sleep can contribute to cravings,overeating,and weight gain.People sleeping less than 5 hours and more than 9 hours are considered unhealthy.

FOODS THAT HELP TO SLEEP
Milk contains tryptophan, which is a precursor to serotonin.

- Vitamins B6 and B12 are also necessary for your body to generate serotonin. B6 can be found in spinach and B12 in animal-derived products such as dairy foods.

- Magnesium-rich foods, such as green vegetables and almonds, can also facilitate sleep. Magnesium acts as a muscle relaxant.

- Some people take melatonin supplements to help them regulate sleep. Bananas are a good source of melatonin.

- All foods should be consumed at least 45 minutes before your planned bedtime to allow the majority of digestion to occur before you try to sleep.

FOOD TO AVOID
Chocolate not only contains caffeine but other compounds called alkaloids, which have a stimulating effect.

- Alcohol may make us feel calm and relaxed, but it actually greatly diminishes the quality of sleep by disturbing neurotransmitter production, such as serotonin. Alcohol is also a diuretic and may keep you running to the bathroom all night.

- Artificial sweeteners like aspartame contain phenylalanine and aspartic acid, both of which are excitatory.

- Fatty foods are also a no-no before bedtime. They take longer for the body to digest and the process of digestion can keep you awake.

- Spicy foodscan contribute to heartburn and keep you awake.

- Highly processed carbohydrates, which are found in white bread, can cause rapid changes in blood-sugar levels, which disturbs sleep.

Body and Soul

To have a good breafast is very important in the morning .A good way to start would be with a grapefruit tea.
Take half cup of grapefruit or orange juice with one cup of water in a pan to boil.Put one cardamon stick and 2 tspof honey when it starts boiling remove and serve in a glass.I have tried it and not only taste good but is healthy.Have you tried well its never too late.