Belly Exercises

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Asanas For A WoW Glow !!

Here are some asanas for great skin and hair: 

Sarvangasana: Lie on your back with your legs together. Raise both legs at 90 degrees from the floor. Now raise your buttocks with your palms and take support with your elbows bent on the floor. Make sure that your legs, chest and abdomen form a straight line. Hold this for some time breathing normally and come back to the starting position.

Poorna Halasana: Put your feet together, hands by the side with the palms crossed on the floor. Raise your hips with support from your palms. Now try to raise your legs upwards towards your head in a 180-degree angle. Hold it for some time and come back to the starting position in the reverse manner.

Shirshasana: Kneel down and grab your elbows with your hands. Keep the elbows where they are and interlock the fingers in front of you. Place your head on the floor with the back of your head resting against the fingers. Straighten the knees and raise your hips, your body now resembling an inverted V. Keeping your knees as straight as possible, walk with little steps, bringing your feet close to your head. Keep your back as straight as possible to prevent your neck from arching. Bend the knees, keeping them close to the chest and your feet close to your buttocks. Shift the hips to keep your balance. Keep your knees bent and point them to the sky. Now straighten your legs. Keep your feet relaxed. Make sure that the head supports no more than 10% of your body weight, the rest should be on the elbows.

Matsyasana: Sit on the floor and stretch the legs forward with your palms on the side. Now hold the sole of the right foot, place it on your left thigh while you place your left foot on your right thigh keeping the back straight and palms on the knees. Lie on your back slowly with the support of your elbow and bend your head backwards touching it to the ground. Stretch your mid-back, hold toes with index fingers and keep the elbows on the ground. Hold the posture for some time.

Kriya-jalneti: Add a pinch of salt in a glass of lukewarm water and mix it in a jalneti pot. Bend forward in a 90-degree angle from the floor, then turn your neck towards the left and open your mouth. Let the water enter your left nostril through the jalneti pipe and allow it to come through the other nostril while breathing from the mouth. Follow this up with 30 kapal-bhatis in standing position. Repeat with the other nostril. 

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A-Z OF WEIGHT LOSS

A
AVOID ALCOHOL: You booze, you lose! Alcohol increases your levels of the hormone leptin, which in turn makes you crave sweets.Don’t want to be branded a teetotaller? Order a glass of Sauvignon Blanc – 119 cals per 5 ounces.

B
BREAKFAST: A good breakfast with fibre and protein will keep you full till lunchtime and help you avoid bingeing. Opt for multi-grain cereal, lowfat curd or fruits to kick-start your metabolism.

C
CORTISOL: Prolonged stress leads to high levels of cortisol which makes you crave junk foods. Solution: deal with long-standing stressors. As for short-lived ones, treat yourself to an oil massage.

D
DENSITY: Go for grub with an energy density of two or less. To calculate this, simply divide the calories by the weight in grams (per serving). Stay at it and watch the pounds melt faster.

E
EAT AT REGULAR INTERVALS: Go no longer than five hours between meals. Several small meals through the day lead to a better metabolism and greater control over binges.

F
FRUCTOSE: Ditch the artificially sweetened juices and sodas and get your fructose from natural sources such as fruits. Because natural fructose is kinder to your waistline.

G
GUM: Chewing on gum helps cleanse the mouth of bacteria, satisfies a sweet-tooth and reduces your urge to eat. The next time you feel the urge to reach for a biscuit packet, try a piece of sugarless gum instead for a zero-calorie treat.

H
HEART-HEALTHY FOODS: Overweight people face a greater risk of heart disease. So, switch to olive and vegetable oils. Fill up on omega rich foods like walnuts and fatty fish. Choose non-fat dairy products and lean cuts of mutton and skinless poultry.

I
INSULIN: The amount of insulin you secrete may dictate your diet. High insulin secretors shed more weight on a low-carb diet and less on a lowfat/high carb diet. Got a jelly belly? You secrete excess insulin and could benefit from fewer carbs.

J
JOURNAL: Write down everything you eat and you could cut your intake by 1,000 calories a day. Food journaling may seem boring but goes a long way in making you aware of what you eat and thereby helps you shed pounds.

K
KETOSIS: Ketosis refers to the point where your body runs low on carbs and burns fat for fuel. Therefore, ketosis jump-starts a diet. Restrict carbs and lose more initially. Later, allow yourself wholegrain cereals and roti, in moderation.

L
LOW BLOOD SUGAR: This is often the reason for between-meal cravings especially for sweet. When it strikes, reach for naturally sweet foods such as fruits and accompany it with a little low-fat dahi for a healthy dose of protein.


M
MILK: Get better results from your workout by downing milk. Two cups of skim milk after intense weightlifting can build more muscle and burn twice as much fat as drinking fruit juice. But go with real cow's milk as it’s more beneficial than soya milk.

N
NUMBERS: Nobody enjoys weigh-ins, but people who hop on the scale once a day are more likely to lose and maintain their loss. Make a standing appointment for yourself. But try to strike a balance rather than obsess over the number you see.

O
OMLETTE: Eggs are an ideal protein source. Protein helps build muscle, which will fry more calories per pound than fat. Bonus: You burn about 25 per cent of the eggs' calories just by digesting them.

P
PEANUTS = PROTEIN: Take the edge off your appetite by snacking on a handful of peanuts everyday. Because, protein is the "secret" to weight control. Peanuts also boost your resting metabolic rate due to their fatty acid content.

Q:
Q 10
Coenzyme Q10 is one of the nutrients needed to produce energy. Most people an energy - mg a day. Other benefits include a stronger immune system. Besides, it's also a great antioxidant.

R
REPLACEMENTS: Replace any silly weight loss pills you have been advised to take, with a good low fat smoothie.You will lose just as much weight without the side-effects of a pill.

S
SLIP-UPS: Slip-ups are bound to happen.Anticipate them. Instead of letting them derail your efforts, learn from them and get right back on track by simply keeping your eye on your target.

T
TEA: The fat-busting benefits of green tea boil down to disease-fighting compounds called catechins. Max your results by steeping your tea for longer. The darker the hue of your brew, the more catechin-rich the cup.Add some lime to tone down the bitterness.

U
USER-FRIENDLY: There are a million fad diets around; your friends are probably trying some too. But what helps you lose weight isn't the type of diet but compliance with it. Find a plan you can live with so you'll stick to it.

V
VINEGAR: Studies show that consuming 4 tbsp of a vinegar mixture with a high-carb diet drops your calorie intake by 275 per day. If you can't stomach vinegar, mix into a low-fat dressing to add zing to your salad.

W
WATER: It quenches thirst without the calories. Infact, water also ups your caloric burn rate. Sipping six extra 8-ounce glasses a day can burn 17,400 more calories (about 5 pounds of fat) per year.

X
XYLITOL: Xylitol is a natural substance found in vegetables that tastes and looks just like sugar. But while sugar harms, xylitol protects against disease and has anti-ageing benefits. In its crystalline form, it can replace sugar in cooking.

Y
YOGA: Normal-weight women who practise yoga for four or more years will gain three pounds less over 10 years than those who don't. Grab your mat and get breathing!

Z
Zs
When you skimp on sleep, your brain thinks you're low on fuel and sends a message to your stomach to start growling.Women who sleep for 5 hours or less are an average of 5 pounds heavier than women who snoozed for 7 hours.Want to stay slim? Hit the pillow. 

SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4602859,prtpage-1.cms

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10 tips to reduce weight naturally

1) Fruits and green vegetables are low calorie foods, so over weight persons should use these more frequently.


2) One should avoid intake of too much salt. Salt may be a factor for increasing the body weight.

3) Milk products like cheese, butter should be avoided because these are rich in fat. Meat and non-vegetarian foods should also be avoided.

4) Spices like dry ginger, cinnamon, black pepper etc. are good for loosing weight and can be used in a number of ways.

5) Vegetables like bitter gourd (Karela), and bitter variety of drumstick are useful for loosing weight.

6) Taking of honey is an excellent home remedy for obesity. It mobilizes the extra deposited fat in the body and puts it into circulation, which is utilized as energy for normal functions. One should start with small quantity of about 10 GMs. or a table spoonful to be taken with hot water. It is good to take it in early morning. A teaspoonful of fresh lemon juice may also be added.

7) Cabbage is considered to be an effective remedy for loosing weight. This vegetable inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it is of great value in weight reduction. It can be taken raw or cooked.

8) Exercise is an important part of weight reduction plan. It helps to use up calories stored in body as fat. In addition, it also relieves tension and tones up the muscles of the body. Walking is thebest exercise to begin with and may be followed by running, swimming, rowing.

9) Lime juice is excellent for weight reduction. Juice of a lime mixed in a glass of warm water and sweetened with honey should be taken every morning on an empty stomach.

10) Measure the portions of your food every meal and make sure that the portions are small. For example one portion of rice should not be more than the quantity which can fit in your fist. Smaller meals at a regular interval of 4 to 5 hours will keep your metabolism high and prevent your body from converting the food you intake into fat. You must also include regular exercise in your daily routine to help enhance weight reduction.

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Aloe vera - nature’s beautician

Aloe vera, which is mostly used to treat various skin conditions and topically heal wounds, can be traced back to early Egypt where it was called the ‘plant of immortality.’

What is aloe vera?

Aloe vera, (pronounced alo vera) which is said to have originated from Africa, is a stem-less or very short-stemmed succulent plant with fleshy green leaves.

Aloe vera, which is also called the ‘burnt plant’ with its anti-inflammatory, anti-healing, healing and cooling properties, is the main ingredient in several skin care products. In addition, aloe vera is rich in amino acids, vitamins A, F, C and B.

For years researchers have been conducting studies to learn the benefits of aloe vera and have found that the plant does have properties that can be effective in treating several skin conditions, minor skin infections and also burns and wounds.

Aloe vera gel is the transparent, juicy substance found in the long thick-skinned leaves of the plant. This gel is suitable for all skin types. Even people with sensitive skin can use the aloe vera gel.

Various uses of aloe vera

Anti-aging agent: Aloe vera protects, nourishes and moisturizes your skin. According to a study published in the Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry magazine, aloe vera, when applied topically, improves the levels of collagen. Aloe vera also protects your face from developing fine lines.

Before going to bed, gently massage a thin layer of fresh aloe vera on your face, around the eyes and the corners of your mouth. This will keep your skin younger looking.

Aloe vera as moisturiser: Apply aloe vera on the skin before the application of make-up. This will prevent your skin from drying. Even men can use the aloe vera gel like an aftershave. The healing properties will help in treating the minor nicks and cuts caused while shaving. During winter your skin tends to dry more often. To keep your skin hydrated, make a mask by mixing equal parts of honey and aloe vera gel (pure extract from the plant) and apply on your face. Wash it off with warm water after 15 minutes for a glowing, soft skin.

Aloe vera for treating acne: For those suffering from acne, aloe vera with its anti-inflammatory properties is a blessing. According to a study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center, aloe vera gel has more anti-inflammatory properties than one percent of cortisone cream. It also has strong antibacterial properties, which will heal the skin quickly and naturally with very little scarring.

Aloe vera to reduce stretch marks: Want to get rid of those ugly stretch marks you gained due to weight gain or pregnancy? Hundreds of women try scores of cosmetics to hide these scars, but in vain. Stretch marks are nothing but tiny tears in the skin caused due to sudden and excessive stretching. Aloe vera gel can help you with that. Regular application of aloe vera gel helps in hiding these marks by healing the wounds.

Aloe vera for sunburns: Application of aloe vera gel on sun burns will reduce the pain as well as the swelling and keep your skin moisturised. Recovery will be quicker if your skin retains its moisture.

In addition, aloe vera also acts as a brightening gel by removing dead cells and keeps oiliness under check.

So go ahead and make aloe vera a part of your daily beauty regime for a glowing, supple and spotless skin!

Article Source: http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/beauty-splash-aloe-vera-nature-beautician-110019077.html

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Useful Natural Healing Chart

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Top 5 HIV Myths Busted

The word HIV still causes unease among a lot of us. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions around this infection; including the one that it is not safe to share food with someone who has contracted the virus.

According to Dr Shivi Jaggi, a sexologist, one of the causes of HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is unprotected sex. “It gradually destroys the immunity of your body, but a person infected with HIV can lead a normal life,” he says. So, Let's take a look at few HIV myths which are busted.

Myth 1: HIV is the same as AIDS

HIV is not the same as AIDS! Period. HIV can lead to AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A person could get or become more susceptible to AIDS only when their immunity is lowered. “However, proper precautions and medication can delay or even prevent an HIV positive person from getting AIDS,” says Dr Jaggi.
Myth 2: I am faithful to my partner, I cannot get HIV

The HIV virus can be transmitted through other mediums like use of infected needles, transfusion of infected blood, unprotected oral sex, anal sex, etc. “Being monogamous does not necessarily make you safe,” says Mumbai-based sexologist, Dr Ketan Parmar. However, it can reduce your chances of getting infected
Myth 3: People with HIV cannot hug or share food

HIV can be contracted through unprotected sex with an infected or multiple partners, sharing needles, transfusion of infected blood and unprotected oral and anal sex. Your saliva contains very minute traces of the virus which means kissing cannot transmit the virus. "Unless one of the person has cuts or sores in their mouth," says Dr Parmar. Sharing food, and utensils does not put you at risk .
Myth 4: Women infected with HIV cannot have children

Women who are infected by the HIV virus are afraid they might pass on the infection to the infant. “But with antiretroviral therapy, the chances of transmitting from mother to child is very low,” says Mumbai-based gynaecologist Rishma Dhillon Pai. This gives many women a chance to conceive in spite of being infected. The medication should be taken through pregnancy and after, as recommended by your doctor. “If there are any complications, one may have to opt for a caesarean,” she says. Mothers should however avoid breast feeding as that could pass on the infection to the child.
Myth 5: You don’t need a condom for oral sex

HIV can be contracted through oral sex. “If semen from an infected partner enters your mouth and you have cuts, sores or bleeding gums, you are at risk,” says Dr Jaggi. This could also mean that you could pass on the virus if you are infected. You could get infected with HIV through anal sex as well. 

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STROKE - Top Ten Facts

Stroke is the third most common cause of death, after cancer and ischemic heart disease.

It is also the most prominent cause of physical deformity

Stroke has a yearly incidence of 180-300 per 100,000, in the United States. 

Its incidence is accelerating in developing countries due to unhealthy lifestyles. 

2/3 of stroke victims are above 60 years old.

1/5 of the victims die within a month of its occurrence. Half the survivors become physically deformed.

A damage in the left side of the brain may result in paralysis of the right side of the body; a damage on the right side, paralyzes the left side. 

Hypertension accounts for 30-50% of stroke risk.

Patients with diabetes mellitus are 2-3 times more predisposed to stroke.

Stroke can occur due to a disruption in blood supply or due to a blood vessel damage.

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How Soft Drinks Impact Your Health?

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Facts about Human Brain

Human brain if the most interesting and complicated organ. And these facts only prove this statement.

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