NATURAL REMEDIES FOR DIABETES

Diabetes is among the most debilitating of lifestyle diseases, often the precursor to many other types of health disorders such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases and chronic illnesses of the eye. Most diabetics tend to depend upon taking medications, many of which include hormone supplementation injections and drugs for controlling the sugar levels. Though these aids are often critical for managing cases where diabetes seems to have turned into an incurable condition, it is always better to seek natural cures. These natural remedies don’t put forth the kind of side-effects associated with stronger medications and can be resourced from our everyday supplies.
Using Methi Seeds

Fenugreek or Methi seeds are considered the most effective of natural cures that can help alleviate typical symptoms of diabetes. Methi seeds should be soaked in water overnight. The water concentrated with the seeds’ juices should be consumed early in the morning on an empty stomach. For making this natural concoction stronger, you can crush the seeds and sieve them through a cloth or filter paper.

Using Natural Juices

Some juices have been found to be effective in controlling high sugar levels that can prove fatal for diabetics. These are juices of fruits and vegetables that are further enriched with antioxidants and many rare micronutrients. The most recommended variety here is the Bitter Gourd or Karela juice. Other options include grape juice or the juice-like extract made from boiling mango leaves in water.

Aloe Gel Remedy

An effective, natural concoction for diabetes can be prepared by adding a few teaspoons of ground Bay Leaf (Tejpatra) with one teaspoon of turmeric. This mixture should be mixed with an equal amount of aloe vera gel and consumed daily, before
lunch and dinner.

Using Chapattis to Your Advantage

Another useful way of managing diabetes is increasing the daily intake of fiber in the natural form. This includes increasing the fiber content in chappatis that tend to be eaten with regularity in Indian homes. The refined flour should be mixed with a combination of flours procured from different cereals, particularly those high in soluble fiber. This includes flours of barley and lentils like Chana Dal and soya bean.

Using Jarul or Banaba

Diabetics can use Banaba or Jarul plant extract. Banaba is among the lesser known of herbal plants in India. Along with India, it is grown in only a handful of other nations. The herbal powder of Banaba extract can be used to make herbal tea. This plant contains high concentrations of contains Corosolic acid—the most potent of biochemical compounds that stimulate faster glucose metabolism and help to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels that is very useful for combating diabetes.

Easy Natural Remedies for Diabetes

Jamun is one of the rarest plants where nearly each part, the leaves, berry and seeds are known to help in controlling blood sugar levels. Neem leaves are useful in a similar manner. Amla or the Indian goose Berry is similarly effective in managing sugar levels. Instead of using only Neem leaves, you can also add leaves of Tulsi and Bel Patra. All these leaves can be boiled together for increasing the potency of the filtered extract.

Vegetables, grain cut stroke risk in women

Women eating an antioxidant-rich diet suffered fewer strokes independently of whether they had past history of cardiovascular disease or not, a new study reveals.
'Eating antioxidant-rich foods may reduce your risk of stroke by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation,' said doctoral student Susanne Rautiainen at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, who led the study.
'This means people should eat more foods such as fruits and vegetables that contribute to total antioxidant capacity,' she added.
Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the production of cell-damaging free radicals and the body's ability to neutralize them. It leads to inflammation, blood vessel damage and stiffening, the Journal of the American Heart Association:Stroke reported.
Researchers categorized the women according to their total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels -- five groups without a history of cardiovascular disease and four with previous cardiovascular disease, according to a university statement.
TAC measures the free radical reducing capacity of all antioxidants in the diet and considers mutually beneficial effects among these substances.
For women with no history of cardiovascular disease and highest TAC, fruits and vegetables contributed about 50 percent. Other contributors were whole grains (18 percent), tea (16 percent) and chocolate (five percent).
Higher TAC was related to lower stroke rates in women without cardiovascular disease.
Women without cardio disease with the highest levels of dietary TAC had a statistically significant 17 percent lower risk of total stroke compared to those in the lowest quintile.

Chicken and eggs can boost memory function

Including eggs and chicken in one's diet may help boost memory, a new study has found.

This is because the essential nutrient 'choline' found in eggs may sharpen aging brains, the report said.

Rhoda Au and her team of researchers from Boston University School of Medicine performed the long-term health study on 1,400 adults, spanning 10 years, New York Daily News reported.

They found that those participants who ate diets packed with plenty of choline, an essential nutrient found in eggs, performed better in memory tests and were less likely to acquire brain changes associated with dementia than those who consumed less choline in their diets.

Other foods high in choline include legumes like soy and kidney beans, saltwater fish, liver and milk, according to Australian news website ninemsn.

Colds and flu: what's the difference?

During the winter months, the number of people who suffer from colds and flu soars.

Both are respiratory infections and they share similar symptoms. As they are caused by viruses, antibiotics have no effect on them. But what's the difference between them?

Colds

Symptoms of the common cold can be caused by more than two hundred different viruses, which is why you can't be immune to the common cold; immunity to a single cold virus will not protect you against the other 199 or so!

It's estimated that children have between four and eight colds a year, while adults have around two to four. You can catch a cold at any time of the year, but they are more common during the autumn and winter months.

Generally, cold symptoms develop gradually, but symptoms should begin to imporove after a few days.

Common cold symptoms include:

•Runny or blocked nose, with mucus
•Sneezing
•Cough
•Sore throat

However, people may also experience a mild fever (especially children), fatigue, earache and headache.
Flu

Just three viruses are responsible for the misery we know as flu. The viruses are capable of undergoing small genetic changes, which often lead to new viral strains.

Having flu one year does not mean that you will be immune to the virus the following year as a new viral strain may be circulating.

Flu can cause severe illness, especially among the very young, the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions.

The symptoms of flu usually develop much more quickly than those of a cold, and can be more severe. These should improve after a week, but can leave the person still feeling weak and tired.

Common flu symptoms include:

•Sudden fever - a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above
•Sudden dry, chesty cough
•Headache
•Tiredness
•Chills
•Aches in muscles and joints
•Sore throat
•Runny nose
•Sneezing
•Loss of appetite
•Difficulty sleeping
Most colds and flu can be treated at home with rest, drinking plenty of fluids and taking painkillers such as paracetamol.

When to visit the doctor

People at high risk of complications such as the over-65s, pregnant women, those with chronic health conditions or who have weakened immune systems should visit the doctor if they suspect they have flu.

Anyone with severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, chest pain, unusually severe headache, severe or persistent vomiting, or a very high temperature should always be checked by a doctor, whether or not it's caused by the flu or a cold.

In addition to these, children should be seen by a doctor if their skin turns a bluish/grey colour, if they are difficult to wake, lack alertness or are lethargic or if their flu-like symptoms appear to improve but return again with fever and a cough.

Prevention

Flu and cold viruses are spread from person to person by droplets or aerosols produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can become infected by breathing in the aerosols or touching a surface contaminated with the virus, then touching your own face.

Good hygiene can help to lower your risk of becoming infected:

•Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. Use a tissue
•Throw used tissues into a bin; don't leave them lying around
•Wash hands frequently with soap and water to stop the virus spreading from hands to face
•Clean hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) regularly using normal cleaning products
An annual flu vaccine is free to those at high risk of complications.

ULTIMATE BEAUTY FOODS

If dieting has never been your forte then continue reading, because when it comes to enviably smooth, blemish-free skin, what you put into your face is just as important as what you put on to it. So in the effort to achieve foundation-free holiday skin, the beach experts over at Beach Tomato turned to Wellness Expert, Ruben Tabares, a nutritionist who knows a scary amount about healthy eating and all-round fitness. So here is their list of the ultimate skin-friendly superfoods. So, keep your fridge full of these nutritious wonders and eat yourself beautiful...

Acerola Cherries –
Cantaloupe Melon – The superman of antioxidant enzymes, Superoxide Dismutase is found in Cantaloupe Melons and is famous for fighting off the effects of free radicals – protecting you against premature ageing (hurrah).
Avocado – Avocados are bursting full of beauty benefits, but are known best for their anti-aging properties, which they get from the antioxidant glutathione. They also contain lutein, which has been proven to help hydrate the skin and help with its elasticity and although they are notoriously fatty, it’s super-good fat, so get munching.
Vegetable Juice - Okay so it's not exactly a food, but combining the most beneficial skin nutrients, such as celery, cucumber, spinach, carrots and apple in one delicious juice, is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Aside from the multitude of vitamins you will be consuming, it is also high in sulphur which is a vital constituent of keratin and collagen, so not only will your skin glow, but your hair and nails will be smoother and stronger from the inside out.
Water – Okay another liquid within the list and an obvious one too, but an essential one at that. After losing two litres of waters at night through loss of moisture it is vital to replenish this with three to four litres of water every day. This water will help you detoxify and ideally should be spring water from a bottle, but tap will do the trick. 
So fill your trolleys and pack your fridges full of these superfood-goodies to get you on your way to beach body perfection, both inside and out. These little superfoods of yumminess are firstly high in vitamins A and B – both vital for a healthy-looking, smooth, clear complexion. Don’t under estimate their size; they have 65 times more vitamin C than an orange – which plays an integral role in strengthening and healing skin - a key ally against both acne and wrinkles.

5 Foods That Help You Sleep

Should you let yourself have that midnight snack if you're having trouble sleeping and you think hunger might be part of the problem? Here are five foods that can actually help you drift off:
1. Cherries. Fresh and dried cherries are one of the only natural food sources of melatonin, the chemical that controls the body's internal clock to regulate sleep. Researchers who tested tart cherries and found high levels of melatonin recommend eating them an hour before bedtime or before a trip when you want to sleep on the plane.
2. Bananas. Potassium and magnesium are natural muscle relaxants, and bananas are a good source of both. They also contain the amino acid L-tryptophan, which gets converted to 5-HTP in the brain. The 5-HTP in turn is converted to serotonin (a relaxing neurotransmitter) and melatonin.
3. Toast. Carbohydrate-rich foods trigger insulin production, which induces sleep by speeding up the release of tryptophan and serotonin, two brain chemicals that relax you and send you to sleep.
4. Oatmeal. Like toast, a bowl of oatmeal triggers a rise in blood sugar, which in turn triggers insulin production and the release of sleep-inducing brain chemicals. Oats are also rich in melatonin, which many people take as a sleep aid.
5. Warm milk. Like bananas, milk contains the amino acid L-tryptophan, which turns to 5-HTP and releases relaxing serotonin. It's also high in calcium, which promotes sleep.

Top five dinner meals that will get you good sleep

For remaining mentally sharp and productive throughout the day and for ensuring that you are emotionally balanced, having a sound night-time sleep is critical.

Rather than seeking help in the form of chemically-formulated sleep medications that are often addictive and are known to have serious side-effects, it is better to opt for natural aids. The safest and probably the most undemanding solution to all your sleep problems is food. Following are Five Dinner Meals that will help to optimize your overall sleeping pattern and halt your progress towards serious complications due to sleep deprivation such as insomnia:

1. Whole-wheat rotis with potatoes

Most carbohydrate sources, particularly those rich in complex carbohydrates, like whole wheat are recommended for ensuring better sleep. This can be easily used for dinner by opting for whole-wheat flour. Rotis made from such flour help to promote sleep by stimulating release of insulin. This hormone is a stimulant for ensuring that tryptophan is directed towards the brain. Here, tryptophan is metabolized into serotonin which in turn is the primary biochemical for establishing a general feeling of wellness. It fights stress or anxiety-induced sleep disturbances. Ideally, these rotis should be combined with at least one potato-based dish. Potatoes are known to breakdown the acids that interfere with the metabolism of tryptophan.

2. Spinach combined with low-fat yogurt

Whether consumed with whole wheat chapattis or brown rice, spinach is a recommended dietary sleeping aid. Most leafy green vegetables like spinach are a rich source of iron that is vital to neutralize a common sleep deterrent referred to as Restless Legs Syndrome. This condition is actually a form of subdued hyperactivity or an anxious reaction to any persistent thought that prevents onset of sleep. A recommended combination with spinach is having low-fat yogurt. This is a proven source of magnesium and calcium. These two micronutrients are essentially sleep-supportive minerals that promote deeper, more relaxing sleep. Eating yogurt with spinach is also recommended to ensure that absorption of iron is comprehensive.

3. Beans with flax seed rotis

Beans in form of kidney beans are a rich source of B vitamins including Folic Acid, B6 and B12. These are vital, sleep vitamins, i.e. they help in regulating the sleep cycles and assist metabolic process related to serotonin. This is why vitamin B supplements are commonly recommended to people diagnosed with insomnia. Flax seed or Alsi is commonly used as a fiber and nutrition resource in the form of flax seed oil or as a flour ingredient. A bit of grounded flax seed should be added to the whole wheat flour. Flax seeds are enriched with Omega 3 Fatty Acids that help to fight-off sleep disturbances like stress by aiding the complete absorption of serotonin.

4. Cauliflower/Kale (Javi) with whole wheat rotis

Many green vegetables are a natural source of Tryptophan. Among these, Kale or Javi is recommended for dinner. Javi also contains biochemicals that fight-off anxiety. When combined with tryptophan-boosters like whole wheat bread or rotis, it acts like the perfect sleep-promoting meal. If you cannot find Javi in your area, you can use cauliflower or cabbage.

5. Cooked lentils with brown rice

Carbohydrate foods that are high in fiber tend to aid the gradual release of Tryptophan, ensuring that the stress-fighting capabilities of Tryptophan are sustained over a longer period. Among these high-glycemic foods like Brown Rice are recommended which can be combined with cooked dals. Lentils are another high-tryptophan food item. These are easy-to-digest and also provide the body with essential proteins.

YOGA FOR TYPE2 DIABETES

....Keep stress at bay and control diabetes with these asanas:

YOGA has wide-ranging therapeutic values, one of the most important being the management of type 2 diabetes. But how exactly does yoga prevent/cure diabetes?
Yoga helps you keep your blood sugar levels under control in three ways: by checking your weight; by relieving stress (a major trigger for escalating blood glucose levels) and by improving the functions of the pancreas (the organ that produces insulin, a glucose-regulating hormone). Even though there's very little scientific data to prove yoga's action on the pancreas, wisdom in the field points to it. I would recommend a few asanas that will help you control diabetes better than before.
BHUJANGASANA
Lie on your stomach with legs and toes together and pointing outward, hands by the side of the body, palms facing upward and forehead on the floor. Now bend hands from the elbows and place palms on the floor near each shoulder. Keeping your thumb under the armpit, raise the chin and turn the head backward over the right shoulder as you inhale. Raise the thorax up to the navel. Hold this position for some time while breathing normally. Come down to the starting position while exhaling. Also good for bronchitis, asthma and spondylitis. It strengthens the spine, lends flexibility to the chest, shoulders and abdomen and firms the buttocks.

DHANURASANA
Lie on your stomach and bend your knees, holding your ankles with both hands. Inhale and raise the upper body and legs. Hold for some time, breathing normally and come back to the starting position. Also good for digestion, this asana cures constipation while strengthening and improving the function of your spine.
NAUKASANA
Lie down on your back with your feet together and palms resting on your thighs. Inhale and raise both legs, lifting your upper body off the floor. Hold it for some time and breathe normally keeping your hands parallel to the floor. Now come back to the starting position slowly. Also good for nervousness and tension. Naukasana lends flexibility to your joints and bolsters the capacity of your intestines, while improving the functions of your stomach, liver and pancreas.
BHRAMARI PRANA-YAMA
Sit on the floor in a comfortable posture with a straight back, eyes closed and shoulder muscles relaxed. Inhale deeply and exhale slowly with a murmuring sound like a bee. Also good for lungs. It enhances your oxygen efficiency by reducing carbon-dioxide in the blood.
VAMANKRIYA
Add one tablespoonful of salt to one litre of lukewarm water and drink all of it, as quickly as possible, until you feel full to the point of throwing up. Lean forward and insert the middle and index fingers of your right hand deep into your throat. Vomit out the water until your stomach is empty. Relax in the shavasana pose for 10 mins. You need to do this near a wash basin. Also good for gastro-intestinal problems. It also relieves you of headaches, nervous weakness, chronic cold and asthma.

Fruits for brain

Oranges have thiamine which helps covert food into energy. They also have vitamin B6, which improves brain functioning. They are powerful brain boosters that improve the oxygen supply to the brain.

Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes can help protect against the kind of radical damage to cells which occurs during the development of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's.

Protect neurons from the cognitive decline that accompanies ageing. They improve nerve cell communication and can prevent and even halt signs of Alzheimer's. Apples also boost the levels of neurotransmitters that influence signals important for movement, sensory perception and attention.

Antioxidants in pomegranate prevent the free radicals from damaging your brain cells. Pomegranate may even reduce your risk of Alzheimer's. It contains high amounts of glucose and can be a good energy booster for the brain.

Bananas have a high level of potassium, which helps in keeping the oxygen levels in the brain normal and promotes strong signals between the cells. They have tryptophan which enhances brain functioning by eliminating depressive tendencies.

Top 10 Interesting Ways of Eating Oats

Whether you are looking for weight loss or cholesterol management, oat no doubt can prove an unbeatable food option. There are unfathomable ways of incorporating oats into your diet, provided you are ready for innovations. Over 40 studies show that eating oatmeal may help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. According to Quaker, all it takes is 3/4 cup of oatmeal each day to help lower cholesterol. The soluble fiber in oats helps remove LDL or "bad" cholesterol, while maintaining the good cholesterol that your body needs.

The oat is rich in protein, has lots of beneficial minerals such as calcium and magnesium, trace elements like silicon and potassium as well as iron - while also being very high in vitamin content. The presence of these bodybuilding nutrients in the oats makes for strong bones and teeth, most of these vital minerals found in the oats are also necessary for the maintenance of a healthy nervous system in a human being.

Who the hell would like to follow a bland diet even if the blood sugar level refuses to come down. If you want to fight hunger and maintain a healthy weight check out these:
- Smoothie: You can go on to add apple, banana, pear, roasted walnut or almonds to milk/yoghurt and oats to make a delicious smoothie, anytime during the day to give your body a healthy punch. Choose the pink skinner gala apples or green skinned Granny smith apples for milk shakes. They don't turn brown soon. Use honey or sugar replacements for a healthier and diet version of smoothie. Half a cup of oats are enough to 2 cups of milk.

- Pancake: can be sweet or salty, depending on what you like to eat more. You can try masala pancake, making a sparing use of spices and vegetables like onion, tomato, coriander, fresh fenugreek, chilies etc. You can try oatmeal pancake with egg, milk and sugar incase you are craving for something sweet.

- Bread: Bake your own oat Wholemeal porridge bread and serve with poached eggs or baked beans. While adding cinnamon and nutmeg while baking remember that they inhibit yeast activity, so more yeast than typical is required. This is a good thing to keep in mind when adapting a normal bread into a cinnamon bread. You can go on to add raisins, nuts and seeds while baking.

- Biscuits: Oat biscuits and cookies can serve a healthy option with tea or coffee. To add variety you can add grounded almond, desiccated coconut or walnuts.

- Salad: Let your family applaud you for this healthy creation. Get oats transformed into a healthy salad along with minced onion, cherry tomato, sprouted beans, boiled potato, cucumber, lemon herbs like, mint and parsley. Do not forget to boil oats (salted water) for 25 min, drain and rinse under cold water.

- Flapjacks: Sweet bar! Traditional Flapjack is one of the quickest, easiest and importantly cheap baked goods to make. Put the butter, sugar and honey in a saucepan and heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Add the oats and nuts, fruit, ginger or coconut and mix well. Transfer the oat mixture to the prepared cake tin and spread to about 2cm (?in) thick. Smooth the surface with the back of a spoon. Bake in a preheated oven at 180C/350F/Gas 4 for 15-20 minutes, until lightly golden around the edges, but still slightly soft in the middle. Let cool in the tin, then turn out and cut into squares. Store them in air tight container, for anytime meal. You can try adding seeds, fruits and nuts of your choice.

- Gravy balls: If you are looking for "vegetarian meat balls" try adding oats in place of minced meat. Add onion, spices, sauces, boiled potato, rice milk and soaked rolled oats, to form uniform balls. Bake or fry them, add to gravy or eat it as a snack. You can serve on top of spaghetti with maranara sauce.

- Cake: Oats cake is one healthy snack you all can enjoy. The need for healthy snacks to substitute the junk food is increasing day by day. Grind oats to get a fine powder. Make a thick paste from the tender coconut flesh. mix these two ingredients well. Add the jaggery syrup and blend well with the oats and tender coconut mix. Sprinkle cardamom and a pinch of cinnamon powder or dried ginger powder and mix all these ingredients well with hand. Keep in mind that what we need is a combined flavor. Take this in a steamer and cook well. These sweet tender and thin cakes do satisfy your taste buds and the body will get enriched by the nutrients it do have.

- Skirlie: a traditional Scottish dish. It is eaten on its own, used as a stuffing for a mock-sausage, the mealie pudding, or used as a stuffing for chicken (most commonly) or other fowl. Oatmeal was a staple ingredient of the Scottish diet, it absorbs other flavors and is filling, so it was found in many dishes of Scottish cooking. Skirlie was used to 'pad' out a meal in which meat is scarce. In the North East it is eaten with mince as well as with chicken. It is still a much loved dish in Scotland today. You can try your hand by making use of onion, lard and fine oats.