28 December, 2013

Health benefits of chillies

Chillies have a ubiquitous presence in Indian cooking due to their pungent flavour. But few of us users and lovers of chillies realise their healthproperties. Nutritionist Neelanjana Singh, Heinz Nutri Life Clinic, Delhi shares with us, some of the health benefits of chillies.

Chillies come in many shapes and sizes. The more pungent ones that generate extreme distress and sweating tend to be long, thin and smooth with a tapering and pointy end. The larger bell shaped fruit, which includes paprika, is less pungent and is used as a cooked vegetable or in salads.

Besides being a potential and potent antibiotic, there are other health and medicinal benefits connected with chillies. One of these is related to capsaicin, the one common factor that makes them pungent.

The presence of capsaicin qualifies any variety of the spice to be called a chilli. It is one of the principal ingredients in many pain-relieving ointments as it stimulates the release of pain-relieving endorphins.

Chillies are also a great aid for the digestive process. When crushed in the mouth, they stimulate the taste buds and this in turn results in an increased flow of salivary juices. Gastric emptying is also improved with capsaicin, which means that it could rid the feeling of food 'sitting' in the stomach.

Scientific data shows that this happens because the sensory nerves regulating the stomach movements are capsaicin sensitive.

In addition, if you are ever feeling low, it may be worthwhile trying to eat some chillies. This releases some endorphins in our system, which generates a 'feel good' effect. It's no wonder that people can get addicted to the chillies.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

28.12.2013

Do you have cyberchondria?

The anxiety that arises about health concerns and makes people look for solutions online, is on the rise.

The next time you develop a sudden rash on your arm that might look funny, don't jump on the keyboard and type away your concerns; if you do so you might be a cyberchondriac! Searching for health worries online is escalating into a new phenomenon — cyberchondria.

Born out of the fear of the unknown

So what makes smart young professionals, homemakers and even young students, try this? Psychologists peg it down to the fear of the unknown, which makes the internet the answer provider. Says psychologist Dr Seema Hingorrany, "We are seeing such cases; these are psychosomatic. A person has an exaggerated view of things, it often happens to people who are sensitive. People read vague symptoms and fear develops. Sometimes they have a maskeddepression and they tend to 'ruminate' a lot about things. A simple knee pain might make them continuously feel that they might have arthritis."

How harmful it is

Doubts and fears over health can trigger other anxieties, sleeplessness, loss of appetite and even put a regular job in danger if you are caught being a cyberchondriac too often at work. "You can develop hyperchondria (a fear of major illnesses). It's important to remember that online material needs to be filtered and validated. What you are thinking could be a psychological masked depression and nothing more." says Dr Seema.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

28.12.2013

Never regret If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s experience

Victoria Holt