6 November, 2013

Families that exercise together stay healthier

With stress levels on the rise, health experts recommend spending more time together in the gym as a family

Every year, families spend a sizeable amount of time and money on vacations and outings. And while it is important to do so to maintain that special bond, it would be more beneficial if folks could also spend some time in the gym together

Exercises for family members

When working out as a family, it is important to set goals depending on different factors like age etc. Mumbai-based fitness trainer Nigel Jairaj, who also works with families, says, "Youngsters usually opt for weight-training to build muscle, while the older generation generally prefers to focus on increasing their endurance and stamina levels to help them cope with their lifestyles. For them, it's best to start off with functional training, cardiovascular exercises and light weight training," says Jairaj.

Family time

With the hectic lifestyles that most families live, where even sharing a meal together is tough, exercising together is a way to counter the pressures of everyday life.

Inspiring kids

Just like charity, fitness too has to begin at home. And with conditions like childhood obesity and young adults suffering from diabetes on the rise, working out together can be a great way to educate your kids about keeping healthy.

Nutrition
Nutrition and workouts go hand in hand. Amrin Mukhi, a homemaker who lives in a family of four that includes her in-laws, says she has seen diabetes levels in her family reduce tremendously. "My in-laws often clock high blood sugar levels. So, I ensure that we all eat food that is recommended by my nutritionist. I even let go of my cook and now prepare dishes that are non-oily and non-spicy," says Mukhi, as Sharma adds, "Fitness literally begins on your dining table."

So, the next time you plan out your budget for a swanky international holiday, make sure you deduct that teeny sum for a gym membership for your family.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

06.11.2013

Ibuprofen not beneficial for patients with cold

A study has revealed that ibuprofen or a combination of both ibuprofen and paracetamolprovide no advantage for patients suffering from cold or sore throats.

Additionally steam inhalation, another common treatment method, has no clear benefit and around 2 per cent of people get mild scalding but not bad enough to see a doctor.

Professor Paul Little, who led the study, said that paracetamol, ibuprofen or a combination of both are the most common courses of treatment forrespiratory tract infections.

He said that clinicians should probably not advise patients to use steam inhalation in daily practice as it does not provide symptomatic benefit for acute respiratory infections and a few individuals are likely to experience mild thermal injury.

Similarly, routinely advising ibuprofen or ibuprofen and paracetamol together than just paracetamol is also not likely to be effective.

The research has been published in the British Medical Journal.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

06.11.2013

The first to apologize is the bravest, the first to forgive is the strongest and the first to forget is the happiest