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My body is weighed down…

A Mumbaikar writes about her struggles to lose weight and not finding enough time and motivation to keep at it.
Pooja Birwatkarby Dr Pooja Birwatkar

Amidst all the stresses of our lives, inconsequential and significant, one stress grips most people in the world, especially if one is a female. I don’t mean to sound stereotypical in my supposition, but I have observed that women all over the world fuss, fret, frown and lose sleep over the idea of weight loss.

Any woman, from an anorexic model to actors, entrepreneurs, housewives, working women, or any women you see on the street, worries about her weight. We all have the common nagging feeling that we are lost in the fight against the bulge. Nobody is content with their weight we all wish for magic wands to make those oodles of extra weight evaporate into thin air, even as we gobble everything in sight and don’t exercise.

Slowly entering middle age, and trying hard to hold on to my youth, I have tried practically every trick to keep myself fit and fine. Gone are the days when uncomplicated weighing machines would just point to your weight. Now, those same machines heartlessly tell you your weight but also announce that you are obese. Not believing one such machine recently, my worst fears were confirmed when a medical checkup concluded high cholesterol levels and pounds of extra flesh I was carrying.

There began a vicious cycle of thinking positive thoughts alternated with losing my mind over how to reduce my burden on the Earth.

And yet, I am reasonably active (Mumbai people can’t afford to be stationery). My daily dose of exercise is supplemented by going up and down several flights of stairs at the local train station. I run, hop, walk fast to reach office on time. So why do I still have extra weight? Is this much exercise not enough? Sadly, it isn’t. Most medical practitioners will tell you that your mind has to be stress free when exercising. So all of our daily jogs to work and back don’t actually help as they cause more stress and strain.

I am in awe of those super women with not an ounce of extra fat on their bodies guzzling junk food and it doesn’t show on their bodies at all. Meanwhile, I wear what I eat. I see lots of women who eat healthily, but blame it on Mumbai’s commute, which makes you hungry after a long day at work. As one steps out of the trains to run home, the aroma of wada pav being freshly prepared at a stall outside the station makes you salivate. The hungry stomach growls. At that time, Every Mumbaikar's guilty pleasuremy normally sane brain completely reverses sides and tempts me to go for it. “Eat one today, nothing happens, don’t eat it again. It’s okay once in a while. Diet from tomorrow.” I listen to my brain and polish off the fresh snack. And as I am eating the last bite, my brain retracts its own words fast enough to put a politician to shame, and now reprimands me for succumbing. “Don’t you have any self-control? So many extra calories, indulging in junk food!” I curse myself for eating, but a few days later, the same thing happens.

Now that we are not conscious enough.  Mass media and our social networks go out of their way to put the fear of the word ‘calorie’ in our minds, so much so that we count calories more than our bank balances. Our health feeds are full of scary accounts of diabetes, heart rate, obesity, what you should eat, how much exercise you need, what’s bad and what’s worse. There are various accounts of how eating healthy salads, brown rice, quinoa and wholesome soups is good for you, but who is going to make them? After a tiring day at work, all I want to do is ransack the fridge.

People with perfect figures claim that the days they eat a bit extra, they burn it out in the gym. Some say eat and lose it, others say don’t eat and lose it, others advocate choice eating…I ultimately eat and pile it on.

How can one make time for healthy eating and exercise in Mumbai? Tell us in the comments section below.

Dr Pooja Birwatkar is currently pursuing post doctoral research and working in the area of science education. She has been associated with the field of education in the past as a teacher educator, and her area of interest is research in education. 

(Pictures courtesy www.fertilityclinicmumbai.com, gluebomb.com. Images are used for representational purpose only)

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Wellness

Get rid of that stye in your eye

Summer brings with it several eye infections. A stye is one of them, and it is often easy to treat.
Dr Anand Shroffby Dr Anand Shroff | Consultant Ophthalmologist, Shroff Eye Hospital

The medical term for a stye is ‘hordeolum’. Styes are very common at this time of the year when the temperatures soar and make the environment susceptible to bacterial growth. A stye occurs when glands at the edge of the eyelids become blocked and subsequently infected, due to bacterial contamination. I have seen many cases of styes and conjunctivitis this month.

According to Indian Ayurveda, certain foods also produce heat in the body. Pitta is associated with heat and its effects are felt during summer. Many patients have a history of styes being formed after they have eaten a lot of mangoes or pickles. Although there are no scientific studies citing this, this is a common finding during summer, at least in India!

My grandmother and mother have followed this tradition of ‘cooling’ mangoes before eating them by soaking them in water. I don’t know how much that helps, but mango lovers who are susceptible to styes in summer should certainly try it. Some people are more susceptible than others, as they have greater amounts of bacteria on their lids or have excessive discharge of the mucous glands and hence are more likely to develop a blockage.

Things we do that encourage bacterial growth:

  1. Not removing makeup before bedtime
  2. Using old, contaminated cosmetics or cheap ones
  3. Rubbing the eyes with unclean fingers
  4. Inserting and removing contact lenses with unclean fingers
  5. Not following proper contact lens hygiene
  6. Swimming without wearing swimming goggles

A chalazion (also known as a meibomian cyst) is different from a stye. Chalazion is a blocked eye lid gland which is long standing, not infected and forms a bump on the eyelid, usually resulting from an untreated stye. A stye is an acute infection of the gland which usually causes redness, swelling, and pain. If you have a swollen lid that seems to be especially tender in one localised area, the chances are high that it is a stye.

Either way, the preventive steps and first line of treatment remain the same and it is best to see an ophthalmologist for accurate diagnosis.

What should you do?

The first line of treatment should always be hot compresses and eyelid hygiene.  When it is painful, it is usually in the acute phase and at this time it responds well to hot compresses.

Because a stye is well sealed from the outside, antibiotic drops do not penetrate very well to the site of infection. However, hot fomentation or applying heat to the inflamed area normally works. The most important aspect of heat application is to do it as frequently as possible especially during the initial phase of the stye. An acutely inflamed stye may begin to drain and at this point topical antibiotic eye drops may help.

Eyelid hygiene: Stop using eye make-up for a while as make-up can be contaminated with bacteria. Apply baby (tear-free) shampoo to a clean, wet wash cloth or ear bud and gently rub along the eyelid margins once a day.  Some prefer using commercially available pre-moistened eyelid wipes. Any mild analgesic and anti-inflammatory tablet may also help reduce painful discomfort.

If the stye hardens and forms a closed cyst, it may need minor surgical removal.

If left untreated…

Some styes remain the same, few get worse and a few get better on their own. If it is on the upper eyelid, it may affect vision, but only due to the drooping of the eyelid, which reduces when the condition improves. On the lower lid it is less likely to interfere with vision. However, it is not possible to know how it will evolve, hence simple home remedies as listed above should be adopted.

(Featured image courtesy medicalpoint.org)

Categories
Beauty

10 homemade night creams for beautiful skin

You don’t need to buy expensive face creams any more. Just make them at home using ingredients from your kitchen.
by Rohit Soni

If you’re looking for a good skin cream and are confused about the sheer variety of brands on offer, you’re on the wrong trail. You don’t need to buy what you need, just make it at home.

It is possible to make some really awesome night creams at home, using ingredients from the kitchen. Note that your skin’s regenerative power is much higher during the night as compared to the day. Also, the skin repairs itself at a faster rate at night, which means that a simple night cream can help your skin as it recovers.

The creams available on sale are packed with chemicals. Why slather chemically rich creams on your face, when you can make so many good night creams using natural products? Here’s presenting 10 homemade night creams and how to make them.

Milk cream. Milk is considered as a natural skin cleanser. Not just cleansing, milk has moisturising properties too, which add a healthy glow to the skin. Prepare your own cleansing and moisturising balm by mixing milk cream, rose water, glycerine and olive oil. Mix the ingredients well until they form a lump. Store the cream in a container, put it away in your fridge and use every night for soft, glowing skin.

Almond oil night cream. Almond oil is the best substance for the skin. Almond oil helps in treating the problem of dry skin effectively. To make this cream, mix almond oil and cocoa butter and melt them over a low flame. Remove from flame and mix rose water and honey to the mixture. Blend all the ingredients and your cream is done. This cream works best in winter.

Apple night cream. Apple is very beneficial for the skin. Their multivitamin content nourishes the skin, while the antioxidants present in apple help in protecting the skin from free radical damage. The use of this cream helps in your skin’s anti-aging fight. Cut an apple into small pieces and blend them with some olive oil until they form a smooth paste. Now boil this paste for a few minutes on low flame. Remove from flame and add rose water to it. Cool the mixture and store in a container. Using this cream every night would help in fighting fine lines and wrinkles.

Green tea night creamGreen tea night cream. The detoxifying properties of green tea help in clearing the skin by removing all its impurities. Aloe vera also imparts softness to the skin. Go ahead and make your own green tea and aloe night cream. Start by mixing bees wax and almond oil, boil them until mixed properly. Now add aloe vera gel and mix again, finally adding green tea extracts and almond oil to the mixture. Store the cream in a container and use it every night before going to bed.

Aloe vera night cream. Aloe vera’s benefits for skin and hair are numerous. Its rich properties help get rid of acne and blemishes. Aloe vera is also very beneficial if you want soft and supple skin. To prepare this cream, you need to mix some fresh aloe vera gel and lavender oil. Now add one spoon of primrose oil to it and mix all the ingredients. Store the cream and you are done.

Glycerine night cream. Glycerine in very useful in locking in the moisture of the skin and along with the varied properties of coconut oil, almond oil and rose water, this cream works wonders. Mix some coconut oil and almond oil and boil the mixture until they are properly blended. Remove from flame and add glycerine and rose water to the mixture. Cool the mixture and store it in a container. Voila! Your cream is ready.

Olive oil night cream. Olive oil helps moisturise the skin and imparts a soft glow. For this night cream you will need olive oil, coconut oil, bees wax and a Vitamin E tablet. Mix olive oil, coconut oil and bees wax and heat them until everything is melted. Now crush the Vitamin E tablet or add its capsule’s powder to the mixture and mix well. Store the cream at room temperature.

Cocoa butter cream. Cocoa butter is great for the skin. The use of cocoa butter cream helps in getting rid of dry and chapped skin. Not only this, cocoa butter also helps in getting rid of wrinkles. To prepare this cream, you need coconut oil, olive oil and cocoa butter. Add all the ingredients and boil them until they are mixed properly. Now wait till the mixture cools before you store it in a container.

Avocado night cream. Avocados are rich in Vitamins A, B, C, K and E, apart from potassium and magnesium. All these nutrients help provide an anti-aging Avocado night creamboost to your skin and help in making it clear and soft. Blend egg or yogurt in a blender and add mashed avocado to it. Blend the mixture again to form a smooth paste. Store in a container and use this cream two times in a week to reap its benefits.

Turmeric night cream. Turmeric helps in treating a number of skin problems, apart from brightening the skin. Soak some almonds overnight and blend them to make a smooth paste. Add turmeric, lime juice, sandalwood powder, yogurt and saffron to it. Blend again to make a smooth paste. Store in a container and use every night for beautiful skin.

(Pictures courtesy www.jellibeanjournals.com, www.fashionstown.com, www.stylecraze.com. Pictures are used for representational purpose only)

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Wellness

Flu shots for pregnant women in Mumbai?

Huge rise in flu cases all over India spurs city gynaecologists to advise influenza immunisation shots to their pregnant patients.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

India has seen a significant rise in influenza (flu) cases over the years, exposing millions to serious life-threatening health complications. Data shows that influenza contributes between 5 per cent and 10 per cent of all acute respiratory infections (ALRI) such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis, leading to an upsurge in hospitalisation and even deaths.

Amongst the high risk groups, there is a gradual rise in vaccination only amongst children. However, even though pregnant women are also a high-risk group, unfortunately, they are not always advised to take this crucial vaccination. Pregnant women face an increased risk of flu complications because of the changes in their immune system. The complications include pneumonia, ear infections, worsening of pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart and kidney problems and can lead to hospitalisation. Influenza can also lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as babies with a low birth weight, premature deliveries, emergency caesarean, still births and neonatal deaths.

Dr Parikshit Tank, Chairman, Safe Motherhood Committee, FOGSI, says, “The number of pregnant women dying of flu is on the rise. Such cases could have possibly been prevented through immunization. Unfortunately in India, there is little or no awareness amongst pregnant women or the general population that influenza could lead to serious complication for them and their newborn child. Maternal immunisation against influenza protects the mother and also safeguards infants”.

“Immunisation for influenza should not just be administered in times of an epidemic, such as now. The need for immunization must be made a habit, and pregnant women must make sure to get the vaccination regardless of the surrounding health environment. Efforts must be made to increase awareness and access of the influenza vaccination”, added Dr Tank.

Dr Suchitra N Pandit, Imm. Past President FOGSI and Consultant, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai says, “It is very important for a pregnant woman to take preventive measures to protect herself and her baby from the complications of flu. A single shot flu vaccine is the safest and most effective way to prevent flu and provide immunity to the mother and newborns. This is why our recent FOGSI Good Clinical Practice Guidelines have included the influenza vaccination in the recommended vaccination list for pregnant women. This will help raise awareness and reduce the risk of influenza and its severe outcomes.

“Globally a lot of work has been done to create awareness. Even in Asia we have an organisation named Asia-Pacific Alliance for the Control of Influenza (APACI), whose aim is to reduce the burden of influenza in the region, by assisting public awareness programs on influenza, promoting it among healthcare professionals, through the provision of educational information and activities”, adds Dr Pandit.

Seasonal influenza is characterised by a sudden onset of high fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise (feeling unwell), sore throat and runny nose. Most people recover from fever and other symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention. But influenza can cause severe illness or death especially in people at high risk. India has already witnessed a swine flu flare-up that killed a total of 2,167 people across different states and affected 35,077 people as on April 11, 2015.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccination against influenza is the most effective way to prevent influenza and its complications. Furthermore, WHO also states that pregnant women constitute the highest priority group for seasonal influenza vaccination. The flu shot has been given to millions of pregnant women over many years and has not been reported to cause any potential harm to either mother or baby. Lack of awareness, overcrowding, poor sanitation and myths about the disease, add to the disease burden.

Considering the benefits it has for the mother and infant, the Association of Physicians of India (API) and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) also recommend vaccinating against influenza during pregnancy.

(Picture courtesy www.medicaldaily.com. Image used for representational purpose only)

Categories
Beauty

The 3 best mud masks for your skin

Summer is here and the heat is on. Here’s presenting three natural mud masks to protect your skin this season.
by Rohit Soni

The skin is one of the most important organs of the body and everyone wants to have beautiful and healthy skin. A number of products are available in the market that claim to do wonders and make you beautiful. But instead of opting for a cosmetic product, why not go the natural way? Getting healthy and a beautiful skin is very easy if you use natural products, especially with the help of simple mud masks. These masks can help you get rid of a number of skin problems like acne, pimples, spots, aging etc.

Try these masks:

Anti-acne mask

One of the major problems that everyone faces is the problem of acne. No matter who you are or what your age is, the problem causes severe distress. Excessive oil and extreme dryness are the major reasons for acne breakouts, but you can get rid of the problem by using these masks.

For oily skin: Take some green clay, yogurt and rose water. Mix the clay powder and yogurt and add a few drops of rose water. Apply the mask to your face and let it set for about 20 minutes. Once the mask dries, use cold water to rinse it off.

For dry skin: Mix white clay powder, honey and rose water and apply over the face. Wash off after half an hour.

Anti-aging mask

The appearance of aging on the skin is enough to embarrass you. Several factors like nutritional deficiencies and a sedentary lifestyle may lead to aging, as also stress and pollution, but you can easily reduce aging marks with this mask.

Prepare a mask using sea clay powder, egg white, lemon juice, green tea extracts and rose water. Mix the clay and lemon juice, and add green tea extract and egg white. Add rose water last. Apply the mask to the face and wash off when dry. Use this mask regularly.

Fairness mud mask

Pollution, oil, dirt and exposure to sunlight can affect the beauty of your skin and make it skin look dull. Therefore it is advisable to use a fairness face mask that will restore your complexion.

Make a mask using green clay, mashed cucumber, mashed strawberry, milk and honey. Start by mixing the clay powder, honey and milk to make a smooth mixture. Next, add mashed cucumber and strawberry to the mixture. Apply this paste over your skin and allow it to set before you wash. Rinse it off using lukewarm water. Do this regularly to get clearer and fairer skin.

So girls, get ready to dazzle the world with your skin with these simple mud masks – without ever stepping out to buy a mask ever again.

Do you have a natural mud mask recipe? Tell us in the comments section below.

(Picture courtesy www.jumia.com.eg)

Categories
Wellness

Are you not getting better? Your diet is the culprit

Dr Nandita Shah gives a simple mantra to completely reverse diabetes, cardiac problems, and even cancer – the right diet.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

India leads the world in diabetes, depression and heart disease. The numbers of cancer, HIV-AIDS and other auto-immune disease cases is also on a daily upswing in the country. What are we doing wrong?

Dr Nandita ShahDr Nandita Shah, Founder, SHARAN, tells The Metrognome about what we’re doing to make ourselves sick – eating all the wrong food. She insists that simply cutting down on meat, salt, oil and sugar will not do the trick, it is time we all went completely vegan. In a freewheeling chat, Dr Shah explains the benefits of veganism and why it is the best option to reverse the most serious illness.

Excerpts from the interview:

How did you stumble upon the concept of reversing diseases through diet?

Being a doctor myself, I realised through my practice that real health is not about giving medicines to get rid of symptoms of a disease. I practiced homoeopathy, which is a holistic system of treating diseases. But even with that, people would get better with a remedy, but soon return with the same problem.

In 1981, when I began my practice, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer were rare and usually occurred only in the aged. Today, these diseases are not just striking a lot of the population, but even young people are developing them. Our bodies are designed to heal themselves, but we come in the way of the healing process. Observe animals in nature – they know how to heal themselves. They don’t need hospitals and doctors to the extent that humans do. I asked myself, ‘Are we causing our own diseases? And if so, how?’

We have a herd mentality; we do what others do. This also applies also to what we eat daily and how we choose to treat ourselves when we are ill. For instance, a diabetes doctor will ask you to cut sugar and carbs from your diet to lower your sugar levels, and we do this blindly even though we know that no one gets well from this regimen. Sugar is not the cause of diabetes, high blood sugar is the result of it.

The food we put into our bodies has a direct effect on our health.

What is the principal problem with our dietary habits that causes diseases?

The biggest problem is that we will put anything into our months. Eating is a completely instinctual exercise – all animals in nature eat according to their instincts but we don’t know what our instincts are. Take the example of a child. He will refuse to drink a glass of cow’s milk. So his mother coaxes him to drink it with sugar and chocolate powder added to it, knowing that these substances are harmful for him. No other animal, except humans, will drink another animal’s milk.

We are constantly brainwashed by the media and by other people to eat all the things that we shouldn’t eat at all; sugar, refined and processed foods are at the top of this list. The first thing I do in my practice is to connect patients to their instincts. I teach people to eat the right food. You would be surprised to know that even a long-standing 30-year-old diabetes can be completely reversed just by correcting the diet. Our bodies are interested in healing, but we don’t allow the healing to happen.

How does a vegan lifestyle impact the diseases or disorders we may be experiencing?

Like I said earlier, we eat anything and everything that comes our way, and this causes sickness. The first thing to do is, make a list of everything that’s being advertised, and then refuse to eat it. No one would spend money on advertising foods that are instinctual. We already know that we should eat them. Cut out sugar, cooking oil, animal products (including milk), and refined and processed foods from your diet, and see the difference it makes. When preparing food, use grated coconut or crushed peanuts in place of oil. Sweeten your food or drink with dates and raisins.

What has been your most interesting experience in reversing a disease in your patient?

That the ones who have minor illnesses are resistant to change, but those to whom doctors offer little hope will do anything to get better! I find that those who are willing to think and stand up for themselves, get better. People must realise that expensive treatment systems are not aimed at making you better, because they do not address the cause. They must understand that the solutions are often simple and available in nature, there is no need to take medicines just because everybody else does.

(Pictures courtesy SHARAN and abcnews.go.com)

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