Tips For Health

• Dissolve 1/2 tsp.of turmeric powder in half a cup of hot sweetened milk and drink for relief from cough and cold. Repeat morning and night for a week.
• Make a decoction of tea leaves, mint, a bit of ginger. Mix in a dash of honey, sip hot to give relief from chest congestion.
• A tsp.each of ginger juice and honey to be warmed and taken just before sleeping, to bring relief from severe cough. Repeat every night for a week.
• Sprinkle a mixture of powdered cardamom and rock sugar (misri) over the tongue, gums and inner cheeks to get relief from mouth sores and ulcers. Repeat 3-4 times a day.
• A clove and a cardamom kept in the mouth while travelling, brings relief to those suffering from motion sickness.
• A drop or two of eucalyptus oil added to water for steam inhalation gives excellent relief in common colds.
• Rub mustard oil on palms and soles to bring warmth to a shivering body. Also use as massage oil for aching joints and muscles. However, the smell may be a bit repulsive, so add a few drops of perfume if desired.
• Use clean skins of boiled potatoes to place as a soothing pack over eyes to refresh and reduce their puffiness.
• To get rid of dandruff apply the following mixture of once or twice a week. Keep for 20-25 minutes before washing off with a mild soap or shampoo. Warm together, 1tbsp. curds, 2 tsp. oil and 1 tsp. lemon juice.
• Sun dry lemon peels till brittle. Powder and use for scrubbing the face clean.
• For a cool clean feeling, rub the inner side of papaya peel all over face. Wash off with water after 15-20 minutes.
• Make a pack of raw potato peels, by folding in a wet gauze. Place two such packs over eyes for 15-20 minutes. Regularly used, this helps in reducing puffiness under the eyes and dark circles.
• A traditional Gujarati way of keeping teeth strong and shipshape. Chew on a twig of the neem tree daily, before brushing!! In gujarati villages this is still the main form of a teeth cleanser.
• Rub the peel of ripe papaya, (inner side) on skin of face and hands, after peeling fruit. Keep for 15 minutes and wash off with cool water, for a fresh clean feel.
• Do not throw away almond peels. Sun dry and grind them to a fine powder. Mix with gram flour, curd and use as a face wash.
• Keep a whole cardamom or clove in the mouth to subside the sensation of vomiting.
• Rub the point of a bee-bite with soft mud and salt made into a paste. The swelling will subside soon, as also the poison will not spread further.
• When grinding urad dal for dosas, keep aside 2 tsp. for applying to hair. Keep on for 15 minutes, wash with shampoo as normally. Gives body and lustre to hair.
• To get rid of dandruff, add one part water to one part vinegar and apply to scalp. Wash after half an hour. Repeat this weekly for good results.
• Make a potpourri of dried roses, lavender, jasmine, mint leaves, oatmeal and a handful of coarse gram flour. Tie in a strong but not too thick cloth. Soak for 10 minutes in bath water and rub yourself with the pouch while bathing for a fresh, fragrant and clean bath.
• To get rid of dandruff, mix juice of 1 lime in 1 tbsp. curd (yogurt) and 1 tsp. coconut oil. Apply to the scalp and hair for1 hour before shampooing. Do this at least once a week for dandruff-free hair.
• Soak a few (4-5) tablets of camphor in your hairoil (coconut) to keep away dandruff and lice.
• Pap smear: Since routine pap smears were introduced, death rates from cervical cancer have dropped by about 70%. The majority of women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer have not had a recent pap smear. Log onto www.papsmear.org. When you register, you can request an email message reminding you to schedule your annual GYN exam.
• Ear swabs: Did you know that cleaning your inner ear with cotton swabs could actually push wax up against the eardrum, decreasing your hearing ability? It is best to clean only the outside of the ears and let wax build-up naturally fall out of the ear canal.
• Food borne Illness: To avoid food borne illness, follow safe food handling rules. Never eat uncooked meat, fish, poultry or eggs. Never eat leftovers that have been sitting at room temperature for more than one hour, and wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food, after using the restroom and before eating.
• Sugar and Diabetes: A high sugar intake does not cause or promote diabetes. Risk factors for the development of diabetes include genetics, age, obesity, and physical activity, not sugar intake. Even those with diabetes can include moderate amounts of sugar as part of a well-balanced diet.
• Stomach grumbling: Did you know that the sound your stomach makes when you are hungry is caused by digestive juices mixed with gas? If your body is telling you to eat – listen. Avoiding food when you are hungry can lead to stomach upset, gas, bloating, and heartburn.
• Vitamin K: Many health experts now recommend daily doses of the antioxidant vitamin E. However, large doses of vitamin E can impair the absorption of vitamin K, a nutrient important for blood clotting and maintaining bone health. If you take vitamin E, be sure to include plenty of vitamin K rich foods in your diet, including spinach, broccoli, cabbage, green leafy vegetables and brussels sprouts.
• Cholesterol: If you are planning to have your cholesterol tested, it may be wise to hold off on exercise that day until after your appointment. Some experts say that exercising can cause a temporary increase in your cholesterol level, by as much as 10-15%.
• Sea Salt: Sea salt is not a better choice (nutritionally) than regular salt. Both are composed of sodium chloride. In addition, sea salt may be lacking an important mineral that most table salts contain – iodine, a nutrient that is found in only a few other foods.
• Athlete’s foot: To avoid athlete’s foot, a fungus that thrives in warm moist environments, use the following tips; Wash your feet daily and be sure to dry thoroughly between your toes. Wear sandals or go barefoot when you can. Never wear the same socks for more than one day and avoid wearing the same pair of shoes 2 days in a row.
• Garlic: Garlic has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and inhibits blood clotting. Experts recommend consuming 1-4 cloves per day for heart-healthy benefits. Try adding garlic to salads, pastas, rice dishes, soups, and potatoes, even sandwiches.
• Smoking Stat: Did you know that cigarette smoking is directly responsible for more than 400,000 deaths per year in the U.S.? About 25% of Americans smoke. Quitting smoking is the most significant lifestyle change one can make to improve personal health.
• Shoes: Did you know that wearing worn out or improper shoes for walking can increase the risk of injury to your hips, knees, ankles and feet? Think of proper shoes as sporting equipment. You can’t play tennis without a racquet. Invest the time and money in the right shoes for your sport – even if it’s walking!
• Tracing your health roots: The American Institute for Cancer Research (www.aicr.org) recommends starting a different kind of family tree. Trace the health roots of your family to find out the most you can about your family medical history. Interview relatives, locate important records and documents and begin a file detailing the medical history of your blood relatives.
• Sodium Free? You cannot survive on a sodium free diet. Sodium is an essential mineral that is naturally occurring in many foods. Within the body, sodium helps to maintain fluid balance, regulate blood pressure and aids in muscle contractions. Therefore, moderate amounts of dietary sodium (about 2400 mg per day) are recommended for most healthy people.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: To help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, use the following tips; lift objects with 2 hands instead of 1, type softly vs. heavily striking the key board, take frequent breaks while typing, and keep your wrists straight vs. flexed.
• Bleeding Gums: Do bleeding gums mean you are not getting enough vitamin C? Not likely. While bleeding gums are a symptom of severe vitamin C deficiency, it is more commonly associated with poor oral hygiene or gum disease. Treating yourself with high doses of vitamin C will not cure gum disease. In addition, adequate levels of vitamin C can be obtained easily through food.

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  Soda: Did you know that most sodas contain about 6 tsp. of sugar per 8 oz.? Instead of soda, grab unsweetened decaf brewed tea, or plain water with a slice or lemon or lime.

• Sleep deprived? Can’t sleep? Use these tips to improve the quality of your zzz’s: go to bed and get up at the same time every day, avoid alcohol (it can actually keep you up), avoid heavy meals or snacks prior to bedtime, exercise regularly but avoid exercising within 2 hours of bedtime, take a warm bath just before bed.
• Wear sunscreen! Apply sunscreen before going outdoors. Always choose a brand that contains both UVB & UVA protection and a minimum SPF of 15. Applying sunscreen is a small inconvenience of time in comparison to the benefits it provides.
• Alzheimer’s Phytochemicals are thought to play a role in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s as well as cancers and heart disease. To increase your intake, incorporate the following foods into your diet: olives, green and black tea, soy, flaxseed, blueberries, cherries, pears, grapes, spinach, strawberries and lentils.
• Not the quick once over According to the American Dental Association, you should strive to brush your teeth twice a day for a minimum duration of 2 minutes each time. Two minutes is about the length of the average ‘commercial break’ during your favorite nightly television program. If you are unsure how long you spend brushing, try setting a kitchen timer. You may be surprised just how long two minutes can be!
• Chicken Soup: It’s true. Chicken soup really does help to relieve the symptoms of a cold. The hot vapors help break up congestion, making it easier for you to breathe. Vegetable soup should also do the trick if you are a non-meat eater. Don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids and avoid caffeinated beverages, which dehydrate the body.