Foods that induce happiness and improve mood

  (Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news)

Organic foods are not scientifically engineered to match your taste

Food is known to put a tremendous impact on the overall mood of a person. A happy, satisfied, filled and healthy stomach is as important as a functioning brain for a human being. Hence, one should not just eat food for the sake of survival; instead one should focus on having healthy food.

As per Clinical Neuroscientist Psychiatrist, Daniel Amen, "One of the seven neuroscience secrets to happiness is to enjoy the real happy foods (and beverages) that will make you feel better, not just in the moment but for the long run."

Experts say feel-good or comfort foods like pizza and ice cream give you only a moment of happiness. But, foods which are actually embedded with nutrients that trigger the happiness chemicals and hormones of the body will have a long term lasting happiness.

Organic foods are not scientifically engineered to match your taste, they grow with nutrients loaded within them which deal with the human body mechanism in a health-improving manner.

Seasonal fruits and berries

Organic colorful fruits and berries have a colorful impact on the body as well. These foods are extremely rich in antioxidants which are vital for human health. Moreover, fruits and berries and also vegetables which are seasonal, are grown organically and are not fed with pesticides and other plant growth medicines.

Healthy oils

Oil is often seen as a culprit when someone's health deteriorates. It has never been seen in a good light when it comes to good health. Many times we have been advised against consumption of oils in order to keep our heart healthy. But contrary to all these beliefs, Dr Amen suggests having oils which are healthy. Healthy cooking oils are those which are rich in antioxidants, and have not been ripped off their original mineral contents through a high refinement process.

Eggs

Eggs are considered to be a mood boosting food. Experts say eggs are loaded with choline which helps produce neurotransmitters and hence improve mood. As per a report: "Eggs deliver B-12, folate, protein and healthy fat—all of which are very important in terms of brain function. The yolk is packed with carotenoids, giving it its yellow color, and recent studies at Harvard have linked carotenoids to optimism."

​Foods with low glycemic index

Foods with high glycemic index are known to induce sleepiness as these cause abrupt variations in the blood sugar level. These foods spike the blood sugar level and then crash it unlike foods with low glycemic index. It is therefore advisable to eat foods with low glycemic index in order to have a healthy body and a positive mind.

​Dark chocolate

The impact of dark chocolate on a person's mood is known to all. The sugar in the dark chocolate elevates the mood promoting hormone serotonin in the body, thus improving the overall mood of the person. The sugar facilitates the release of insulin which produces the feel good chemicals known as endorphins which are known to induce euphoria kind of feelings in a human being.

First Aid for Heart Attack everyone should know

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Heart attack is a medical emergency

A heart attack is a medical emergency. If you see someone closeby getting a heart attack you should be aware of the first aid treatments that need to be given so that the chances of fatality for the concerned person is cut down till hospital assistance is available.

In places where medical assistance takes time to arrive, first aid knowledge is like godsend.

For medical emergencies like heart attack one should have a clear idea about the symptoms.

Symptoms of heart attack

Symptoms of heart attack vary and are difficult to understand at that particular time due to the panic associated with it. Commonly, when heart attacks occur people feel terrible chest pain like a pressure, or a tight squeeze or fullness in the heart. The pain is often in the centre of the chest.

Pain is also felt in the jaw, shoulder, arms, stomach and also in the back. "This pain happens because a blockage stops blood getting to the heart muscle. The pain will not ease with rest," says the British Redcross Society.

The person will experience breathlessness, weakness and numbness usually in the left arm.

The person would also faint and sweat a lot during a heart attack.

First aid treatment during heart attack

Soon after you see symptoms of heart attack in an individual do not wait for a moment and start acting. You need to remember that every second counts in such a medically critical situation.

Call emergency number

The first and foremost step is to call the emergency number for ambulance services. Even though first aid treatment will be given, the person still needs to get medical assistance as soon as possible.

Help the person sit down

Soon after you have done the medical emergency call, help the person to sit down comfortably. Sitting eases the strain on the heart. Experts have also said that sitting down reduces the chances of collapsing due to the attack.

Talk to them

Till the time medical assistance arrives, speak to the person gently. Give the person hope that everything will be alright and medical help is on its way.

  Give CPR

If the person loses consciousness, in the meantime, give CPR. "If the person isn't breathing or you don't find a pulse, begin CPR to keep blood flowing after you call for emergency medical help. Push hard and fast on the center of the person's chest in a fairly rapid rhythm — about 100 to 120 compressions a minute," say experts at MayoClinic.

Bottomline

While first aid treatment can delay or in many cases prevent adversities, it is always wise to seek medical help as soon as possible. Do not postpone the hospital visit once you feel okay. It is very essential to get checkups done at the right time so that medical treatment starts early.

Viral: Doctors chant Dhanwantari mantra before surgery; here's why

  (Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news)

 The video of a group of doctors, in green “surgery” outfits, chanting Dhanwantari mantra is going viral. 8-10 doctors can be seen in the video chanting the mantra.

The video has been shared by the Twitter account @SheetalPronamo and is said to be from Kumareswar hospital in Karnataka. The video says the doctors chanted the mantra before the operation of a patient.

"Doctors chanted Dhanwantari mantra at Kumareswar hospital in Karnataka before Operation. Benefits of mantra- Whenever the mantra is chanted, its divine energies touch you & work on your body, mind & soul with a healing touch," reads the tweet.

Dhanwantari mantra holds religious significance in Hinduism and is for Lord Dhanwantari who is considered to be the Father of Ayurveda medicine. It is believed that chanting Dhanwantari mantra alleviates human sufferings and promotes prosperity. Mantra chanting has prime importance in Hinduism. The word mantra comes from two words: man which means mind and tra which means release. Chanting mantra increases self awareness, lessens stress, give calm to the inner self, brings in a more positive outlook in the person.

Dhanwantari mantra:

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaaya Dhanvantaraye Amrita-kalasha HastaayaSarva-amaya Vinashaaya Trailokya Naathaya Dhanvantri Maha-vishnave Namaha.

While many people have praised the doctors for upholding the traditions, many others have questioned how a video was recorded inside an operation theatre.

"Thanks for sharing. It is Amazing to know that such pious prayer is chanted before the operation . Doctors know that they treat but HE who heals," says one Twitter user.

 "Chanting of Mantra is good but this video frm OT is wrong & not a professional ethic," says another.

Things you are never told about old age

 (Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news)

It is the beginning of the golden period of one's life

Old age comes to all. Unlike the cycle of happy days and sad days, old age doesn't have on/ off phases. Once it comes, it stays forever for good. Contrary to what many believe, old age is the beginning of that phase of life where you have already seen everything. It is the beginning of the golden period of one's life where many things have already been known and seen.

​It is the best part

Old age is always associated with diseases, illness, poor health and many other such biological complications. One should never believe in these myths. A human body's susceptibility to diseases depends on its immunity and its agility. Though there are age specific diseases, they can always be avoided with a healthy lifestyle. There are many examples of old people living a life better than most youngsters.

This is not where you need to slow down

Rightly said! If the body keeps going forward, nothing can stop it. Often old people are told to rest or slow down. The physical capacity of a person doesn't depend on the age, it depends on the will power of the person. Do not coerce yourself to just sit down because you have crossed a certain age.

Age does not bring you immobility, it gives you experience to keep going forward.

You can pick a new habit

It is never too late to learn something new. When you reach an age where you feel you have time for yourself, just sit and think about what you missed doing the most during early years. Due to the burden of worldly matters people often skip pursuing their passion, so old age is the right time to do it.

These days, you can learn a gamut of things just by sitting in your living room. Or if you are a social person and love making friends, just step outside, make friends and learn a thing or two.

​Do not fear, fear

Many people restrict themselves from undertaking adventurous pursuits with the fear that old age and old body will not be able to cope with it. While courage and fear both live in the mind, it is how the person deals with them matters the most. Old age does not mean you need to cut off your activity just because some other old fellow could not pursue it. Stand apart, set an example for others.

Challenge your body to something exciting. Remember, if the mind accepts it, nothing can defeat it.

Body may undergo changes

This happens during every passing year. Body grows, and keeps growing as long as we fuel it properly with healthy nutritious foods and drinks. Likewise, old age will also bring in certain changes in the body but that should not be a reason to worry. Proper exercise, good food and sufficient water will help the body recuperate

Rising cases of refractive eye error among students due to

 (Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news)

Rising usage of digital devices for online education among students has led to the increasing prevalence of refractive error among school and college students, as per a survey conducted by New Panvel-based R J Sankara Eye Hospital.
Out of the 247 students screened in the hospital’s OPD (outdoor patient department), 79 students were detected for refractive error, which was 32 percent compared to the normal trend of 10-15 percent, according to doctors at the New Panvel based hospital.

Refractive error leads to vision becoming blurry and hazy on an individual’s eyes and common symptoms includes headache and can further lead to digital eye strain (DES)

 As per another study recently published in Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, out of the 217 students who participated in the survey, 109 students were found to be suffering from DES of which 26 percent were mild 13 percent were moderate and 11 percent were of severe grade with most common symptoms being itching and headaches.

The average time spent using electronic devices had increased to 5 hours a day for 36 percent of students due to online teaching or e-learning introduced during the pandemic after schools were shut.

 The risk of DES is seen rising significantly for those students spending 4-5 hours per day on digital devices, as per several other studies, said Dr. Ankita, Paediatric Ophthalmologist at RJ Sankara Eye Hospital, which is one of the 12 super speciality eye hospitals managed across nine Indian states by Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Medical Trust – a social enterprise.

 If detected early, vision therapy can help in preventing progression of symptoms of digital eye strain.

 "Vision therapy includes a series of in-office and home-based exercises administered over a period of weeks or months with the help of special glasses, filters, prisms and computer assisted vision programmes that improve eye focusing, coordination and tracking,” Dr. Ankita said.

 

High Cholesterol signs: These signs in eyes can tell if you have hypercholesterolaemia

 

(Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news)

Know about high cholesterol symptoms in eyes

High cholesterol or hypercholesterolaemia is not unknown to us. It is needless to talk about the havoc this condition wreaks on the human body. Hypercholesterolaemia is the presence of an excess of cholesterol in the bloodstream limiting blood flow and increasing heart attack risk or heart stroke.

Hypercholesterolaemia is also known as lipid disorder or hyperlipidemia.

General symptoms of high cholesterol

Unfortunately, a disturbance in the lipid profile doesn't have any visible symptoms except a few generic warning signs which are not distinct to the condition. The common warning signs of high cholesterol are nausea, numbness, fatigue, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, chest pain or angina.

These symptoms are also associated with other medical complications because of which people are not aware of the high cholesterol condition until its late.

High Cholesterol symptoms in eyes

As per reports, due to high cholesterol certain changes are visible in the eyes. Though these symptoms are not specific to high cholesterol but these can guide one to visit a doctor and take timely medical assistance.

Xanthelasmas are the whitish or yellowish plaques that occur on the outer surface of the upper eyelid. Though this condition is also linked with other medical conditions, its association with hyperlipidemia is also commonly suggested. These are usually soft and semi solid.

Corneal Arcus is also another indicator of high cholesterol. This is a pale white ring around the iris of one's eye. Iris is the colored part of the eye. "If you’re under 50 years old and have corneal arcus, it's a strong sign that you have familial hypercholesterolaemia," experts say.

High cholesterol in India

There are more than 10 million cases of high cholesterol reported per year in India, on an average.

As per a 2017 research study, in India high cholesterol is present in 25–30% of urban and 15–20% rural subjects. This prevalence is lower than high-income countries. The most common dyslipidemia in India are borderline high low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high low density lipoprotein cholesterol and high triglycerides.

​What is the role of cholesterol?

Cholesterol carries some vital functions in the human body. It is used to build the structure of cell membranes, for preparation of hormones like oestrogen, testosterone and adrenal hormones. Cholesterol also boosts the metabolism and it is also essential for the body to produce vitamin D. This fatty substance is produced by the liver. It also comes from food. Most of the cholesterol that comes to the human body is through foods that come from animals.

Cholesterol consists of low-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins and trigylcerides.

Low-density lipoproteins are called bad cholesterols and the high density lipoproteins are called good cholesterols. Triglycerides are the building blocks of cholesterol.

When does cholesterol become a menace?

When the level of cholesterol crosses the ideal or threshold level, it becomes trouble for the human body.

Cholesterol less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) in the human body is considered to be normal. Ideally the good cholesterol or the HDL cholesterol should be above 40 for men and 50 for women while the bad cholesterol or the LDL cholesterol should be less than 100. At normal range, the triglycerides should be less than 149 mg/dL.

 

Get more of Vitamin D while working from office: Here’s how

 (Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news)

Sun is the best source of Vitamin D

All components of food are equally important for our wellbeing. All of them have a different role to play in the functioning of the body and it is important to include all components of food in our everyday diet so that the body doesn’t suffer from any deficiencies or imbalances. Vitamin-D is one such component of food that is found abundantly in our surroundings but seldom in the bodies of individuals. According to studies, Vitamin D deficiency prevails in epidemic proportions all over the Indian subcontinent, with a prevalence of 70%–100% in the general population.

Sedentary and extremely fast paced lifestyles are responsible for people not going out enough and thereby being deficient in Vitamin D. People who work from offices are especially susceptible to Vitamin D deficiencies because they have to sit indoors for a fixed period of eight hours. Today we bring to you some tips that people working from the office can use to get more sun and Vitamin D!

Exercise outdoors before going to work

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium and avoid diseases such as osteoporosis. Exercising outdoors before going to work is a great way to get the much needed dose of sunlight for the bones and joints. Make sure you exercise for at least half an hour in the sun if your work requires you to sit indoors all day. Exercises as simple as brisk walking or jogging can help the body stay fit and get all the sunlight.

Eat your lunch outside

This involves factors such as convenience and choice but going out in the open to eat your lunch can help you get the sunlight that you need. Spending your lunch break outdoors also helps you get access to fresh air which is good for overall health and is thus a great option if your workplace offers any such options and your colleagues agree to it.

Go for lunch walks

In case your workplace does not allow outdoor lunches for any reason, you can finish your lunch and go out for a lunch walk with your colleagues in order to soak in the Sun. Lunch walks can be fun and also help you get a break from sitting all day.

Organize outdoor team meetings

Having team meetings outdoors is another way in which you can increase the time during which you remain outdoors. Since team meetings happen frequently, outdoor team meetings will allow you to step outside for a fair amount of time and get the required sunlight.

Park far away

Parking your car far away from the office premises will allow you to walk a considerable distance. Walking to and from the parking station will allow you more time in the open and expose you to more sunlight. It will also save you from hassles involving parking spaces and spots.