If you have a diet high in carbohydrates chances are that you are producing excessive amount of insulin. Insulin is vital to our life. Insulin role in our body is to keep blood sugar level at a comfort zone in our body. Almost throughout the day blood sugar in our body rises and falls many times, but our body is quick to respond and restore it at a comfortable level.

Insulin can be described as a chemical messenger who usually talks to various tissues in the body which a built in receivers. These receivers are called insulin receptors which are found in surface of liver, muscle and fat cells, certain cells in the kidney and the appetite control center located in brain.

In order to lead a normal and good health, it is vital that a person’s blood sugar level does not rise too quickly and at a higher rate.

High blood sugar signals the pancreas and pancreases after detecting the higher glucose secretes the hormone messenger, insulin. Insulin thus lowers the rising blood sugar by changing the metabolism into storage mode.

All in all insulin commands the body to save food energy which is stored in fat cells for a considerable time when no food is accessible.

• Excess insulin triggers weight gain
• Excess insulin in a body removes the fat from blood and transport it into fat cells.
• Excess insulin communicates the body to burn carbohydrates instead of stored fat.
• Avoid too many carbohydrates in your meal and include enough protein and fiber.
• Remember, cakes, pastries, candies, white table sugar, sodas are the examples of simple carbohydrates.

Someone has rightly said there is no age or time for laughing. When you laugh the world will laugh with you. On reading an interesting article lately, I became confident that yoga therapy involving clapping and laughter has a major role in dealing with various diseases. Laughter and clapping activities helps in fighting stress and improves our blood circulation. These two activities of laughing and clapping can help cure wrinkles, insomnia and irritation.

When you clap it represents joy and keeps us healthy. An alternate medicine system viz Jin-Shin-do and Sujok systems has revealed that our hands have pressure points which helps in curing diseases. When we strike our palms together forcefully it slowly improves our health.

You would have seen at various places people clapping. This scene is common in Indian temples and at yoga classes. Clapping and laughter creates a jovial atmosphere and provides energy to our body system.
People suffering from rheumatism, joint pain, pain in the back and neck can get instant relief. All you have to do is to clap for 10 minutes daily. If a person is suffering from low blood pressure s/he can also get benefited from clapping and laughing session.

Procedure
While clapping ensure your palm touches the palm in every clap. When you clap it normalize blood pressure, it strengthens lungs and heart too. Laughing is also beneficial for your health. A Persian doctor treats his patients in this way. Every Sunday he gathers his patients in hall blindfolds them and makes them listen to jokes. Loud laugher shakes our body and releases good hormones.

With the coming up of smartphones viz iphone and ipad, our life has become uncomplicated. People have now started feeling that in the absence of these smartphone, their life would become monotonous. Iphone and Ipad have given a new lease of life in the field of entertainment and communication. In healthcare related subjects, iphone and ipad are getting stronger and has become a boon to the medical ferternity. With their great utilization all over the world people have become addictive to various apps of iphone and ipad.

Here is a list of 5 useful medical apps for iphone and ipad which you may like to use:

1. Eye Chart Pro – This app is a random instigator for Snellen & Tumbling E charts which helps in randomizing the complete chart or produce one line of the chart at a time. It has user-friendly controls and comes with great animations thus adding some fun while doing serious job.

2. Pzizz apps help in improving the sleep habits of the people. It in actual practice is an audio file which assists in improving sleep quality and length.

3. MyFitnessPal app after taking all the personal information from you regarding your current weight, height, activities, goal etc would help you set goals. For example, if you want to lose 1 pound a week weight this app will help you how much calorie you should take every day to achieve your goal. You can browse the data pertaining to the food and you will know how much calories you eat. This app shows the information regarding your weight through a graph format.

4. MyNetDiary Calorie Counter app is meant for people who want to lose their weight. The app contains 225,000 foods database. The app divulges all the information pertaining to total calories in each of the food item you take.

5. iHear Hearing Aid – iHear Hearing Aid app is meant for those who are unfortunate and can’t hear properly. You can run this app and listen to the sound through a headphone connected to your ear by pointing your iPhone in the direction you want to hear conversation. However, if you are normal you can listen more clearly as to what is going on in the party, who is blaming to whom!

If you are prone to sudden anxiety and your heart started pounding followed by difficulty in breathing due to fear. These are all symptoms of panic attack. Some more symptoms of panic attacks include:

• Choking sensitivity
• Hyperventilation or shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Nausea or upset stomach
• Tingling sensation
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Fear of dying or going crazy

After the panic attack you start feeling dizzy and sick. Panic attack results in withdrawing an individual from normal activities. Panic attacks can bother you any time, even when you are asleep, they don’t come with warning. But have a sigh of relief, fortunately panic attacks are curable if treated on time. A majority of panic attacks lasts for 20 to 30 minutes and could go for an hour.

An acute panic attack results in Anticipatory anxiety in which a patient feels anxious and tense. This anticipatory anxiety could be extremely disabling. People suffered with panic attacks start avoiding crowded places like shopping malls or sports complex. Further people start avoiding travelling in cars, subways, airplanes i.e. everything related to travel.

Treatment for panic attacks

Panic attacks can be treated successfully with the following ways:

One of the most sought after treatment to deal with panic attacks is cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy focuses on the thinking patterns and behaviors. In this therapy fear is looked in a more realistic light. A patient is usually asked if you are travelling what is the worst that could happen. Patient is assured that nothing truly disastrous could happen.

In Exposure therapy a patient is asked to be involved in physical sensation, through different movement activities a person become less afraid and feel great control over any panic attack.

Ginger root vitamin can be touted as a wonder drug as it has the ability to combat various conditions including headaches and common colds. Ginger root is also effective during upset stomach. If ginger root taken in the form of flat ginger ale and crackers it is more effective as it controls upset stomach quite fast.

Ancient civilization has been using this vitamin in cooking and medicinal form. The ancient civilization used to believe that ginger root can help prevent ailments like athlete’s foot and motion sickness. It has also been established that women who undertake ginger tea regularly can get relief from menstrual cramps completely.

Ginger root practically is not a root but instead is an underground stem, though it is very effective as a vitamin and supplement. Like hawthorne berry Ginger root is harvested year round. Did you know that longer the ginger remains.in the ground the spicier and hotter it gets. This ginger can’t be grown everywhere, it is normally grown for commercial purposes.

Ginger also helps in baking and is normally used in breads, cookies, jellies and jams. When you shop for ginger ensures that the gnarly fist viz its bulb is smooth and the surface is hard when touched, it should also be heavier. If the ginger bulb is light the ginger is of not good quality.

Results of laboratory studies which was conducted among seasick sailors revealed that ginger has more effectiveness for relieving motion sickness than placebo. A recent report from The American Association for Cancer research conference in Phoenix said ginger has the ability to suppress cancer cells.

Thousands of cookies rely on ginger. It is one of the best tasting and selling supplement the mankind has got.

If you are making great efforts to sleep during night or are have a feeling of tiredness during the day. Or you don’t feel fresh when you get up in the morning or you wake up several times during night time. There is possibility that you are suffering from sleeping disorder called insomnia.

Why insomnia occurs?
There are several reasons which contribute to this sleeping disorder of
Insomnia viz:

• Watching TV or using computer or smart phone in bed
• Taking coffee late in the night or evening
• Eating a heavy oily food during night time
• Being under stress and anxiety
• Not getting any physical exercise during day time

How to deal with insomnia?

• Try to relax before going to bed.
• Take green tea or milk at night.
• Make sure your bed is comfortable i.e. it is not too hard or soft.
• The room is dark enough.
• Don’t nap during day time
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and exercise four hours before going to bed.
• Avoid taking sleeping pills you become addictive to it.
• Establish good hygienic habits when you go to sleep, it may be one of the reasons for not getting a good night’s sleep.

If you are suffering from stress, you may have to take the cognitive behavior therapy in order to control emotions.

Make it a habit of sleeping and waking up at the same time. If all methods fail you may like to consult a specialist. Remember a normal adult requires 6 to 9 hours of sleep to remain healthy and active.

Home Remedies for Insomnia

There are some home remedies which can help you deal with insomnia:

• Take Chamomile Tea or Green Tea
• A spoonful of honey helps you deal with insomnia
• Valerian Tea or tincture helps in controlling insomnia
• Take warm milk before going to bed
• Or take a hot bath with Epsom salts

Just came across a news item when it said that Denmark in Europe has imposed a “fat tax” on foods like butter and oil in order to curb unhealthy eating habits. During the month of October 2011 Denmark imposed a tax of 16 kroner or $2.90 per kilogram of saturated fat in a product.

This tax was however, approved during the month of March 2011. This tax however, has been introduced in an effort to help increase the average life expectancy of Danes. Like other European countries Denmark has already implemented higher fees on chocolates, sugar and soft drinks. This Nordic country has become the fIrst in the world to have implemented tax on fatty foods.

During the month of September Hungary had introduced a new tax known as “Hamburger Law” which involved higher taxes on salty snacks, pastries, soft drinks and food flavourings.

However the ultimate goal of Denmark by introducing fat tax is increase the average life expectancy of Danes. Various experts are of the view that the tax mechanism is very complex as it involves tax rates on the percentage of fat used in making a product rather than the percentage that is in the end product.

This is a welcome gesture, other countries can take a heed from Denmark and Hungary who have introduced laws to deal with fatty products in order to combat weight related problems which leads to strokes and heart diseases. India on the other hand introduced in the past higher tax on cigarettes and tobacco. It will be great that tax on fatty items may also be implemented for the welfare of the common people and tax on food containing fIbre may be lowered.

Recently U.S. News & World Report revealed that Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) as the best diet of 2012. The aim of the DASH diet is to prevent and lower high blood pressure. DASH diet was able to win the “best diet overall” category. This is the second time that DASH diet has won this honor.

Various experts echoed their opinion on the DASH diet which is not only a blood pressure lowering diet but contain an incredible nutritional value. The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) won the second place while the third place went to weight loss diet by Mayo Clinic. The outcome of these diets goes to 22 experts in the field from diet, nutrition, obesity, diabetes, food psychology and heart disease.
Best diets for weight loss according to rankings

Weight Watchers Diet, The Biggest Loser Diet and the Jenny Craig Diet took the top three slots for weight loss. The data revealed that dieters gained most from Weight Watchers Diet for both short term and long term weight loss.

DASH diet was deemed offering overall nutritional value. The diet contains highest levels of potassium and B-12. Weight watchers had a bit lower nutrients and followers had to take multivitamin with it. The study took two years for completion. The final report of the fact has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The DASH diet consists of vegetables, grains, dairy and other food items which are given to a person on calorie basis. If you are taking high amounts of fiber, potassium and magnesium you should have a minimum craving for sweet food. Are you listening weight loss watchers?

Everyone in their life time usually come across neck pain. Sometime people after getting up early have to face neck pain. According to doctors 7 out of 10 people usually encounter neck pain in their life time. Neck and shoulder is vulnerable to pain. Did you know neck pain is the real cause of 90 percent undiagnosed headaches?

Here are some useful steps which will help your neck pain at bay:

1. Use olive oil or use ice massage and a hot water bath when you face neck pain.

2. Try keeping neck in a neutral position it will help balancing the head and your shoulders.

3. Avoid leaning your head at a static place when you use mobile or telephone. You can achieve your head in a neutral position with the help of speakerphone or headset.

4. When you work on computer, desk top or laptop keep your head balanced over your spine. You should also properly adjust the computer keyboard and monitor.

5. At any cost avoid high heels. You would have noticed that women usually suffer more headaches than their male counterparts.

6. When driving your posture will matter most. Position your seat in such a way so that you can sit up straight.

7. Don’t forget to have neck exercises gently. This will help alleviate the pain and your muscles keep on working perfectly.

8. Take rest. Rest is recommended when you experience neck pain.

9. If your neck pain is unable to resolve with exercise and any medication or massage this should be a symptom of a serious condition.

10. Immediately consult your physician for thorough check up. Good Luck!

I was wondering that time and again we were informed that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. After a while the same thing we started hearing about the benefits of banana. Now that I was wondering as to why Guava, the tropical fruit, with its fantastic flavor and health promoting qualities is called the “super fruit”. Guava comes out to be a dark horse as for as health benefits are concerned. Guava is rich sources of various vitamins, minerals and fibers. Various researches have proved that guava prevents cancer and heart diseases. It also prevents age-related diseases like cataract, Alzheimer’s and rheumatoid arthritis.

With the presence of complex carbohydrates and dietary fibers guava helps in lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels. As guava is rich in Vitamin C, it can effectively treat male infertility caused by sperm clumping. Even people suffering from constipation can get recovered as it contains dietary fiber in abundance. A single piece of guava contains 165 milligrams of Vitamin C while an orange has only 69 mg of this vitamin. According to researchers in the US department of Agriculture (USDA), guava is one of the richest fruits in antioxidants.

Helps in losing weight
Delicious fruit of guava can also control your blood pressure and cholesterol level as it contains beta carotene, potassium and soluble fiber. People who intend to lose their weight can rely on this food without any doubt.

Want to look stunning?
If you want to look stunning and improve the texture of your skin, you can start taking Guava. This fruit controls skin problems as well. Guava also treats bleeding in nose and gums. If you take one guava during breakfast it will provide you much needed daily dose of folic acid, calcium, fiber, protein, iron, vitamin A, B and Vitamin C. Healthandcare.in, health portal recommends making it a habit to take one guava a day for overall improvement in your health.