Health Benefits of Herbs

Post Pregnancy-Weight Loss

Pregnancy is a beautiful thing to happen to a woman's life. It also adds weight to the beautiful figure you had before. Getting back to shape & looking like a sexy Mom surely is on the top of the list. Just to help out all those women I'm writing this post.

1. Breastfeeding: It is good for you & your baby both. Breastfeeding helps burn around 500 calories.

2. Drink Water: Drinking water helps you keep hydrated & during breastfeeding the body has a tendency to dehydrate.

3. Eat smaller meals, many times a day: Eating small meals are related to weight loss & helps weight maintenance. Skipping meals is not a good idea, as then the body tends to store carbs for future use. Eating lots of vegetables, fruits & fiber filled foods help you feel full for longer.

4. Avoid craving: Eat only when hungry & keep tempting foods out of sight. This will not only help you reduce the excess weight but also help the baby get the right nutrient share. You are the source of nutrients to the baby when you breastfeed.

5. Exercise: Do not hit the gym! Light exercise including walking, aerobics & yoga can be of great help in this phase.

If the above steps are taken care of especially taking care of the diet will surely help.

Saturday Brunch- Pasta!!!

Happy Saturday to all! Lazing around & eating good food is all I want to do. So thought of sharing a brunch recipe, Chicken Pasta in Red Sauce.

Chicken Pasta in Red Sauce

Ingredients
Penne Pasta: 200 g
Chicken: 1 cup small cubes
Broccoli: 1 small
Peas: 1 cup
Baby Corn: 5-6
Onion: 1 medium
Vinegar: 1 tablespoon
Red sauce (tomato based): 1 tablespoon
Oregano: 1/2 teaspoon
Fresh Grounded Black Pepper: 1/ 2 teaspoon
Salt: as per taste
Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon

Preparation
1. Boil the pasta, till it becomes tender. Strain the water & keep aside.
2. Dice the vegetables in 1 inch pieces. Marinate the chicken in vinegar, salt & pepper for 10 min
3. Toss the vegetables till golden in a little oil. Keep it aside in a bowl.
4. Toss the marinated chicken on low flame, cover it till it is cooked & the chicken secretes the fats. Add the vegetables to it & let it cook for some time.
5. Add the pasta to the mix & toss it well, add salt & freshly grounded pepper.
6. Add the sauce & mix it well. Sprinkle the oregano over the recipe & it is ready to be served hot.

A Happy Saturday with a happy brunch....

Healthy Breakfast: Rawa Uttapam

The instant South Indian meals are easy to cook as well as healthy & tasty. I will share the recipe of Instant Rawa Uttapam for a healthy breakfast.

Rawa Uttapam

Ingredients
Rawa or Semolina: 2 cups
Yogurt (un-fattened): 3 cups
Green Capsicum: 1/2 cup chopped
Cauliflower:1/2 cup chopped
Tomato: 1 medium chopped
Onion: 1 medium chopped
Chillies: 2 chopped
Salt: as per taste
Oil

Preparation:
1. Mix the Rawa & Yogurt well till a smooth paste is made. Mix it well with salt.
2. Add the onion & chillies to the mix. Let it stand for 15 min
3. Mix the rest of the veggies in a bowl & add some salt. This will help it get cooked easily and also the taste would be better.
4. On a non-stick pan, let it heat up and then brush oil.
5. Pour the batter enough to get a 6" uttapam.
6. After it is half cooked, add the veggies on the top & turn the side.
7. Let the other side cook on low flame for 2-3 min.
8. Serve it hot with veggie side up.
9. You can make the chutney also with khus khus paste, coconut paste & curd mixed or enjoy it with tomato sauce.

A healthy breakfast with good proteins & good taste served on the platter. Thanks!

Low Carb Breakfast Ideas with Eggs!

Here I am with a few ideas of low carb breakfasts, a day started with protein packed diet will keep you satiated & energized for hours. What better to start your day with eggs... they are protein packed & filled with nutrients you would love to start your day with. Here are a few egg recipes to try for breakfasts.

Omelette: Make your omelette your way! Add low fat goat cheese or crumbled cottage cheese to your omelette or spice it up with bell peppers & tomatoes. Spice up your mornings!

Scrambled Eggs: Add herbs oregano or parsley to your scrambled eggs with a flavour of cayenne pepper with a pinch of lemon. Your scrambled would taste heavenly.

Baked Eggs with cream & mushroom: Bake your eggs with cream & mushroom, they make a good way to start your day, if you are not fond of mushrooms choose your veggies.

Devilled Eggs: Boil the eggs & change the taste of the yolk as you want. Add herbs, spices & molten low fat cheese & fill your egg whites again. Cilantro added as garnishing makes it taste the best.

Poached eggs: Use fresh eggs to poach & if you want some flavours added to your egg, make small pouches of eggs in food grade plastic & add the spices. Put the pouches in boiling water & in 5 min your poached eggs are ready.

Sunny-side Up: Just have it like that!

Let me know your pick of recipe for your eggs for a healthy low carb breakfast. Thanks!

Healthy Vegetarian Recipe: Dahi Soya Chunks

A protein-rich vegetarian recipe with a different tasty tinge is on the plates today. Dahi is none other than yogurt which is known for its great nutritional values, rich in calcium easy to digest & light on the stomach. Soya chunks or soya nuggets possess the qualities of soy protein, an excellent source of plant protein.

Dahi Soya Chunks

Ingredients:
Soya nuggets: 100 g (2-3 cups)
Yogurt: 200 ml
Turmeric powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Paprika or Kashmiri Lal powder: 1 teaspoon (This is for the red color)
Coriander powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Cumin powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Onion:1 medium
Ginger: 1/2 inch
Garlic: 1-2 cloves
Chili: 2-3
Mustard Seeds: 1 teaspoon
Dried Chili: 2-3
Kadi patta or Curry Leaves: 4-5 twigs
Rice bran oil or any white oil of your choice: 1 tablespoon
Salt & Sugar to taste

Preparation:
1. Soak the nuggets in hot water & boil till soft (3-5 min in boiling water).
2. Blend the yogurt with the spices turmeric powder, Red Kashmiri mirch powder, coriander powder & cumin powder with salt to taste.
3. Heat the oil in a pan, add the mustard seeds, dried chilis, chopped onion, ginger, garlic, chili, curry leaves. Add the nuggets till they turn slightly golden.
4. Add the blended yogurt, Stir it well & let it boil. Stirring helps the curry to remain smooth. Check the salt & add a pinch of sugar before taking off.
5. Serve hot with Indian breads or rice.

A simple tasty & healthy recipe for the family to enjoy. 

Natural Beauty Tips for Oily Skin

Suffering from an oily skin, feel sticky all the time, then this article will sure help. Good skin is like a mirror of the well being. However well dressed & chique you look without the perfect skin you cannot look beautiful. If your skin is soft, supple & glows even a tee & jeans would make you look pretty. Oily skin is also acts like a magnet to dirt & pollution making you look dull & tired. These natural tips at home will help you alot fight the odds.

1. Lemon juice applied liberally over the face helps pull out the oil from the skin. Wash after 10 mins & you get a soft oil-free skin. This is an age old remedy works well for oily hair as well.

2. Gentle scrubbing helps the skin to breathe, cleaning the clogged pores of dirt. It also removes dead skin cells & renews your skin surface. The extra sebum, dead cells & dirt are one of the major causes of acne, blackheads, whiteheads etc. The gentle exfoliation helps the blood circulation & gives a glow to the skin.

3. A face mask once a week from natural substances like papaya & lemon juice, apple & honey, almond & honey work miracles for an oily skin. Keeping for 15-20 min and washing it with cold water is very good for skin.

4. Cucumbers also help to manage oily skin due to their cooling, astringent, and soothing properties. The high vitamin and mineral content, magnesium, and potassium, are good for oily skin. Rub a slice of cucumber before going to bed. Wash it in the morning with water.

5. Use a skin toner everyday which will provide the skin with essential nutrients & wipe off extra oil secreted. Rosewater is one of the best known natural toners. Make sure if using any other toner it should be alcohol free.

Try these tips for beautiful oil-free skin.

Best Food for the New Mom

Post pregnancy the food you eat can make you and your baby healthy. The right food not only gives you a good health, lose the extra pounds but also will ensure a healthy baby. Foods that give you constant energy the new mom needs & the nutrients both mom and the baby needs, because if it doesn't come from the food it goes away from the mother's body.

1. Water: The body consists of 75% water and the body needs it for making milk for the baby also, so definitely increasing water intake will help you to make more milk. Also the breast-feeding can cause dehydration in the lactating mother, so drinking water helps.

2. Salmon: Salmons like any other fatty fish have a compound called DHA, which is essential for the nervous system of the baby. The mother's milk has DHA but the nutrient might not be enough if not taken in mother's diet.

3. Low fat dairy product: Dairy products like milk, yogurt & cheese help provide the body with essential calcium, protein, Vitamin D & Vitamin B complex to the body & also the milk you feed to your baby gives him the strength for stronger bones with the calcium & Vitamin D.

4. Legumes: A good source of proteins for vegetarians & vegans. Intake of the dark colored legumes like kidney beans & black beans also provide a good amount of iron in the milk.

5. Oranges: Powerhouse of antioxidant & rich in Vitamin C, they are very much needed by the nursing mother, if sipping on juices check out for natural ones without high sugar levels.

6. Garlic: Garlic has been known as age old remedy for boosting milk in new mothers. Adding it to food not only adds flavor but also the bonus. If not fan of garlic in food, can take pills which are equally good & does not have the afterward pungent smell.

7: Leafy Greens: They are a great source of Vitamin A which is good for the baby. They are also a great source of calcium for vegans. They also provide ample amount of iron & Vitamin C and known for excellent heart healthy anti-oxidants.

8. Eggs: They are versatile way to provide the body with protein & nutrients. If DHA fortified eggs are available in your area, you stand a better chance to increase your DHA intake.

There are also other advised foods which are good during & after pregnancy, you can add the best to your diet for your & your baby's health. A sick mother cannot be a great mom. Thanks!

Fertility Friendly Foods!

If you are trying to start a family & want babies, believe me, diet does help. Our ancestors have always said that the kind of food we eat makes us more fertile & some affect adversely, it's true. So, we will list some foods which, is also suggested by preliminary research, help women in the ovulation stage. A healthy diet which is clean from chemicals & organically grown can give the best results.

Dairy Product: Adding dairy to your daily diet helps you in the preconception stage. It is suggested to to keep it low fat in all forms of milk, yogurt & cheese if you want to keep a watch on your weight as well. But it is known that a full fat version helps in the ovulation stage for women. But keep it under limit to avoid any unwanted consequences.

Lean Meat: Lean version of chicken, turkey or red meat helps improve the protein intake the body. Not only protein they are high source of iron & the iron present in the diet in preconception stages improve the chances. Also remember too much of animal protein will not be good. Vegan diet can add iron by spinach & other leafy vegetables in the diet.

Whole grains or Complex carbohydrates: Any carbohydrate source with a low glycemic index keeping a good watch the insulin is good. Insulin spikes & changing sugar levels are not good for fertility. So, ditch the refined flours & rice etc. Complex carbohydrates are difficult to digest & release the insulin & sugar periodically, this also helps the ovulation process.

Berries: Any berries like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries etc are great if you are planning for the next step. The antioxidants protect you from cell damage & cell aging, including your ovum. The best part is they taste good as well, add to the fruit salad, custard or smoothie.

Omega 3 fatty acids: The best source are fatty fishes and if you are vegan nuts like almonds, sesame, pumpkin seeds etc are great for you. They increase the blood flow to the reproductive organs, beefing up fertility also improving the production of hormones necessary for the reproduction cycle.

These foods for fertility can improve ovulation, hormones production and the health of the eggs and sperms. These foods for fertility also prepare a woman to have a healthy pregnancy. A balanced diet & stress-free life is the best way to a better family planning.

Home Remedies for Acidity & Heartburn

Hi Friends! Hope all of you are doing great. I decided to write about a topic lot of Indians suffer from & probably blame the spicy food we eat, acidity or acid reflux. And at times it does get bad & causes many more associated digestive problems. I will gist down some home remedies which are found to be pretty effective.

1. Raw potato grated & the juice with some water lets acidity vanish in a few minutes. This works like a miracle for acidity.

2.Green coconut water taken daily helps in digestion & aids in relief from acidity & heartburn, also increases appetite.

3. Ginger is known to be great for digestion so adding it to your recipe helps you fight problems related to the stomach.

4. Lemon, Yogurt, Almond & Jaggery are all known for their good effects to soothe heart burns immediately.

5. Avoid caffeine & aerated drinks for best results.

6. Drinking a glass of lukewarm water in the morning empty stomach helps.

7. Clove & cumin are also known excellent for acidity problems, so adding it to food helps. One Clove can also be had raw once a day.

8. Basil Leaves help you with instant relief from acidity gas & nausea.

9. Chewing a sugar free gum also helps lower acidity as it produces saliva which eases out the digestion process & reduces heartburn.

10. Cold milk also helps alot, and if you are suffering from acidity ensure not to drink hot milk, and also don't add any additives like sugar or flavors etc.

These home remedies mentioned above have been tried & tested over years & have aided in relief from acidity & heartburn. Hope it also helps you.

Thinning Hair: Home Care Tips

Today lot of us suffer from thinning hair, one of the major contributing reason for hair thinning is the change in the environment. Though we really cannot do much to avoid these changes but we can take care of our hair & keep it healthy. The major changes you need to do to see changes are:

1. Eat a Balanced Diet: A healthy diet gives you the required nutrition for good hair. Including spinach, kale & chard; beans & tofu; lean meat does well due to presence of protein building blocks, iron, zinc & biotin which are essential nutrients for good hair. Presence of Omega-3 in diet also gives hair the rich & shiny look.

2. Hair Care: It is important to treat your hair well also. Massaging the scalp has shown positive results for most & can work well with coconut oil also, if your hair is oily avoid the oil. Use products which are gentle to your scalp, because the health of the scalp determines the quality of hair. Shampoo & condition your hair regularly, avoid changing the product as it may damage your hair, stick to the product which suits you. Blow drying can damage the hair so use with caution, do not blow hot air to the scalp.

3. Avoid Pollution: Pollution is one of the causes of hair thinning both in women & men, so try to avoid direct contact with air pollutants. If working outdoors, cover your head to avoid contact with air. Also water can be a great problem, which you might have noticed when at times there is a place change your hair fall increases. Use packaged water to wash your hair in that case.

4. De-stress: Stress can be another important factor for hair loss. You must have noticed that even at an age your grandmother has more hair than you do. A simple reason being the lifestyle we lead. Not only food & pollution our hair is affected by the stress in our daily lives. To know about how to de-stress click here.

A few styling tips to make your hair look more in volume include changing your partition helps in covering up & also allows some regrowth in the empty space. Also getting a haircut which gives a high volume & bouncier. Brush your hair with care, hard plastic or metal combs can do damage to your hair. Following these can help you slow down your thinning.

Fluid Retention: Home Remedies

Fluid retention or Water retention occurs due to abnormal accumulation of fluid in and around, cells, tissues etc. This can be usually seen in changing weather, high salt intake & hormonal change during menstrual cycle. Swelling is seen across feet, ankles & hands which also show stiffness in movement due to the same. The body uses a system of hormones and hormone-like substances called prostaglandins to keep its volume of fluid at a constant level. If one were to intake excessive amount of fluids in a day, the amount of fluid would not be affected in the long-term, because the kidneys quickly excrete the excess in the form of urine. Likewise, if one did not get enough to drink, the body would hold on to its fluids and urinate less than usual.

Follow these to avoid water retention:
1. Do not drink alcohol: Alcohol leads to water retention and so taking alcohol is a bad option for people with fluid intake
2. Change your salt intake: Avoid packaged food as they usually have a much higher content of salt in them. This part plays an important role in fluid retention.
3. Avoid wearing tight clothes: They tend to form pockets in the body which give space for the fluid to stay.
4. Keep your feet at an elevated position: This movement against the gravity helps the movement of the fluids in the body & does not allow the fluid to retain at the feet.

Some Home Remedies to help you against fluid retention:
1. Drink Water: Drinking more & more fluids increases the activities of the kidney & helps the body flush out excess fluids from the body.
2. Lemon juice: Lemon juice helps the body to hydrate & thus helps you flush out excess fluid and toxins from the body. It acts as an excellent remedy for fluid retention.
3. Fennel Seeds (Saunf): It is a diuretic (which promotes the production of urine & flushes out excess fluid). It increases the sodium & water output from the kidneys, and is also known to aid in digestion & relieves gas. Drinking the warm water soaked with fennel 3-4 times a day helps alot.
4. Garlic: It is known for its effectiveness for digestion related issues, also for breaking downs fats. It also helps in fluid retention problems in a big manner. Take 2-3 cloves in the morning empty stomach.
5. Onion: It is a great diuretic, and helps in fluid retention. Also eating raw onion with each meal helps increase the insulin production in the body & diabetes patients are greatly benefited.

I hope these remedies & changes in lifestyle can do wonders for you. Also to remember that it is best to try natural diuretics in the above mentioned scenario rather than taking medicines because they might have lots of side-effects on the functioning of the kidney.

Curry Leaves-Health Benefits

Curry Leaves are leaves used widely in preparations from southern part of India. They are strong flavoring agents with a great no. of health benefits. I have personally seen lot of people throwing away the curry leaves or kadi patta while eating. Once you know the health benefits you will really not feel like throwing away. I actually feel very proud that our Indian food habits are very scientifically devised thousands of years ago; the spices, the food & the cooking methods. And addition of curry leaves to the cuisine is just one example.

1. Great to fight anemia: Both iron & folic acid are in abundance in kadi patta which makes it a desired choice to fight against anemia. Folic acid is the carrier of iron in the body so both are essential to keep anemia at bay.

2. Controls Diabetes: The leaves are known to affect the insulin production & performance which helps control diabetes. Also the fiber presents helps the diabetic tendency.

3. Lowers Cholesterol: Curry leaves are known to reduce the LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol by lowering the fat absorption in the body. This also helps in losing weight naturally also.

4. Reduces hair fall & promotes growth of hair: The quality of hair improves considerably on using dry curry leaves mixed with oil as it strengthens the  hair roots & promotes hair growth. It is  also considered useful for graying hair.

5. Reduces congestion in chest & nose:It s packed with Vitamin C and A along with compounds like kaempferol that acts as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. It helps loosen & decongest mucous. It is good for people suffering from wet cough, sinus & chest congestion.

6. Prevents Skin infection: Because of it's anti-inflammatory & antioxidant properties it helps cure any skin infections with its anti-bacterial & anti-fungal properties. This makes it a great home remedy to deal with common skin infections like acne and fungal infections of the nail that are often difficult to treat.

7. Improves digestion & good for diarrhea: It helps a number of digestive issues along with aiding in excretion. Regular intake cleanses the system of toxins as well. Also an upset stomach is taken care with its antibacterial & anti-inflammatory properties.

All these benefits are just a few leaves away. Also it is small plant & can be planted in your garden or also in a pot. And you can use the leaves of the plant without any problem.

Asthma- Natural Prevention Methods

Asthma as we all know is a chronic lung disease that inflates the airways in the lungs & disrupts the natural breathing process. It can be associated with a wheezing or whistling sound while breathing, chest tightness, short of breathing & coughing. It is also seen that the coughing increases during night & early morning. The airways which carry air into our lungs are inflamed in people suffering from asthma. The inflammation makes it difficult for the person to breathe normally, due to swelling & the sensitive tissues & cells react with certain inhaled substances making it worse. The muscles around the airways tighten & causing less air to flow to the lungs. To fight inflammation the cells start producing more mucus than usual leaving even less space for the air to pass. These symptoms are very common in childhood & seem to improve with time but not necessarily. Though asthma is not known for complete cure but we can take some measures to lesser the chances.

Apart from the medicines & sterols which are used for treatment of asthma, the below written natural home remedies can help the sufferer.

1. Always keep your house clean, allergens like dust mites, animal dander create more trouble for the person. Do not let these allergens attack you, try to avoid contact with them as much as possible. Also furry pets should be kept at bay as animal hair is known as an allergen.

2. Turmeric is known as an anti-inflammatory agent & has shown good results. Drinking lukewarm milk with a pinch of turmeric helps fight inflammation. Similarly ginger also shows positive effects on curing inflammation & can be effective.

3. Magnesium rich food is good for relaxing the airways, also used in medication in emergency situation. If taking in capsulated form please know the correct dosage as it might have side-effects like upset stomach.

4. Omega-3 fatty acids act as drugs leukotriene inhibitors, which inhibits the action of infammation causing agents in the body.

5. Make a chart of food you eat everyday & the level of asthma for 15-30 days. Asthmatic action can be triggered by food which contains allergens, some people might be allergic to milk products, or other animal proteins, or wheat, sugar or other carbohydrates. So, continuous monitoring can help you identify it for you.

These remedies will not cure your asthma but reduce the severity. Other things to note for asthma patients is a strict non-smoking life, avoid fireplaces or other smoky things. Avoid drugs containing aspirin & ibuprofen as they are known to induce asthma. Try not to sleep on your stomach as this worsens respiratory problems. Do not stop medication if you have been advised by a medical practitioner till they ask you to discontinue the usage. I hope this small article will help you with some insights on better lifestyle with asthma.

De-stress Yourself in a Few Minutes

We all live a stressed life, no matter what we do in our daily lives. Not only our jobs & daily chores make us stressed but the changing environment poses a great risk. So, know how to de-stress yourself and live a better life. Get your mind off the stress & relax. Listing down a few tips to help you out:

1. When feeling too stressed take a pause, just let it go for a few minutes. In a few seconds you will feel a big burden comes off your head. Take a stroll around the office or your house only & the magic occurs.

2. Avoid food with high calories like ice-creams, candy, etc. as they might have a negative effect on the mood. Though some snacking can help keep it only around 70-80 cal, that should be good, it helps you boost your mood. Also it is known that stress adds to the waistline so, this is a sure one.

3. Add some music to lighten the mood. Music is known as a great reliever of stress, so do have some music ready to relieve your stress instantaneously. Personally I feel much better & relaxed once I'm listening to music & working.

4. Green Tea helps relieve stress, due to the presence of theanine (amino acid). It gives the flavor to green tea & helps soothe your nervous system. Please do not substitute it with coffee as it is known to have a negative effect on the mood due to caffeine.

5. Go outdoors. This can be just a matter of few minutes & the change in the surroundings can really calm your nerves & relax. Just looking at something else helps out, just staring the sky or looking at passing by people.

6. Take a hot bath, the heat relaxes the muscles & releases the stress. Some bath salts & soaps do wonders. Scented candles & other aroms can be used for better results.

If none of this work, go pack your bags & take a small trip. And do not reach for your mobile & laptop when on your vacation, a place where you will have time to yourself, meditate, eat & be merry. Works very well for most, why not try it once. Thanks!

Coconut Water- Health Benefits

It is summers & what best other than cool drinks to quench your thirst. Making some healthy choices in the drinks is extremely important. Coconut water is a drink which is widely recognized for its health values. I will just try to point down a few so, there is more reason to include in your diet. Coconut water is the water which is present in the tender or green coconut & not to be confused with coconut milk or oil which are very high is fats & carbohydrates. Rich in natural vitamins (especially the B vitamins), minerals, and trace elements (including zinc, selenium, iodine, and manganese). Full of amino acids, organic acids, enzymes, antioxidants and phytonutrients. Rich source of electrolytes and natural salts, especially potassium and magnesium. 

Let's count the benefits:

1. Weight Loss: As the fruit's water is light, low-calorie and nearly fat-free, as well as low in sugars as well as containing a little fiber to moderate absorption, it can play an important part in weight loss. As water is important part of diet & the calorific value & other benefits makes you feel full, suppresses the appetite.

2. Improves Digestion: Coconut water claims to be a cure for all digestive problems. If you face problem of acid reflux, definitely you will be benefited drinking coconut water. Other problems like stomach flu, indigestion, constipation are also treated by drinking coconut water regularly. Also urinary problems & kidney problems are also taken care with this.

3. Isotonic drink or Refresher: The composition of coconut matches our blood plasma, so it is also known to use instead of blood for transfusion in third world countries during emergencies. So, drinking this drink helps your body also gain good vitamins & minerals apart from water.

4. Reduces Blood Pressure: Coconut water is known to have more potassium than 4 bananas. It helps lower elevated blood pressure and reduce risks of heart attacks & strokes. Also it is known to regulate blood sugar levels due to low calorific value and also moderate sugar absorption in the blood stream.

5. Flawless Skin: Not only drinking but applying it on the skin helps repair the wear & tear of the skin. It is known to reduce the blemishes & helps treat acne due to its purifying powers of antioxidants. It moisturizes the skin when you drink eliminating excess oils from the skin.

6. Anti-ageing properties: It's a natural source of cytokinins, a group of plant hormones known to affect the cell growth & ageing. Rich in antioxidants, potassium & cytokinins balance the pH levels, & strengthens tissues & cells to become firmer, also help fight ageing related diseases.

Luckily this drink has no known side effects, if you are allergic to nuts please check with your doctor.  It is also known for stronger bones, reduces muscle cramps, manage stress & many more. It is great for children & pregnant women. Pregnant women are advised to drink coconut water especially to avoid heart burns & digestion related problems. Drink fresh coconut water only, the more its is exposed to air it gets oxidized & rapidly loses its nutritional value. This drink is also called the fruit of God for this reason. Thanks Friends!

Dry Skin Care- Home Remedies

Hi Friends! Our bodies are affected by the season cycle, whether metabolism, sleep, mood swings or skin. In summers whatever you like to eat might not be the coolest ideas for winters. Also similarly the changing seasons can create a havoc for your skin. Oily or Dry skin both can have its toll when the seasons change. I have already written an article on home care tips for Oily skin, today will list down a few for people with dry skin. People with dry skin keep on complaining about dry, flaky, lifeless dull skin, so I would just like to give them some tips for a beautiful skin.

Tips for Dry Skin Care

1. Warm is OK, Hot is not: Make sure you do not bathe or shower with hot water, it can be lukewarm. Hot water strips your skin off the natural oils, and once this layer of oil is gone the moisture can also leave your skin almost immediately. So keeping the moisture locked in the skin is important for people with dry skin, so no hot water baths.

2. Cleanse with Mild Cleansers: It is advised to use soaps which are non-fragrant, as the deodorants &  other antibacterial additives can be harsh on skin. Consider using Ceramides which are fatty acids which help you restore the moisture to your skin. You can also use milk or yogurt can be used 3-4 times a week which help to cleanse the skin & get rid of bacteria and other dryness causing agents. Also the lactic acid present in the milk products act as an antioxidant & anti-inflammatory agent, giving the skin a cooling effect, it exfoliates the dry skin & moisturize the skin, in turn gives you a brighter vibrant skin.

3. Oil your Skin: It is necessary that you keep providing your skin the right kind of nutrition, Dry skin is devoid of moisture & natural oils which makes it dull & flaky. Olive oil & coconut oil are known as the best oils for a softer & moisturized skin. It has antioxidants & fatty acids which will help the dry skin condition well. A very small amount Olive Oil can spread across your body so before applying the moisturizer apply a thin coating of Olive Oil. Or you can apply coconut oil at night & wash it off in the morning, both the oils are great choose yours.

To sum up, I have mentioned milk, yogurt, olive oil, coconut oil which help you get the soft skin you wish. Apart from that avoid harsh soaps & hot water to cleanse, you will definitely benefit. Hope this article helps you. Thanks!

Spa Water- Health Benefits

Hi Friends! Today I will write about Spa Water & it's benefits. What it is? Why is it good for you? When I say Spa Water you don't need to think that it is something which is very costly or cannot be made at home. Spa Water is just flavored water with natural elements, just add cut lemon pieces, cucumber, limes, mint, watermelon etc. Choose your flavor, just add it to the water you drink, refrigerate it & cold flavored water is ready for you. It actually has some benefits which you cannot deny, especially in summers when you are thirsty and can't just keep on drinking plain water.

Benefits of Spa Water:

1. It is Easy: Your flavored water is ready without any hassle just cut a few pieces of lemon or anything you like the flavor & add it to the water you drink. You do not have to make juices or any other cumbersome process. And readily you have access to a different flavor, in your drink.

2. It is refreshing: Spa Water is much more refreshing as compared to plain water. It is filled with anti-oxidants from the ingredients energizing & recharging your senses. Like cucumber helps fight free radicals & thus slowing your aging. Lime has loads of Vitamin C, important for your body.

3. Get Rid of Soda: This will quench your thirst & will help you get rid of the calorie filled sodas & beverages. You can definitely lose a few inches once you switch your sugar filled beverages with spa water. Also the presence of the nutrients from the ingredients make it power water to lose weight.

4. Heal a Hangover: It is a great way to get rid of head ache from last night's hangover. You replenish your dehydrated body with H2O by drinking spa water. Also essential electrolytes, vitamins & minerals help you detoxify your body.

5. Great for supple skin: Water is great for your skin & so is cucumber, lemon, tangerine etc. why not add their benefits together in the spa water. You will definitely have a supple soft baby skin you always wished for. It increases the moisture & elasticity of the skin by keeping the skin hydrated, also detox yourself with the benefits of the other ingredients.

Hope these benefits will encourage you ditch that cola & help you choose this option. Please do share your views with me, if you want to add anything. Thanks!

Beat the Heat

Hi Friends! With half of May gone all of us are facing the heat wave. Let's list down a few health tips you need to take in consideration for the long summers. Beat the heat with home remedies!

5 Tips to Beat the Heat

1. Drink lot of water: Keep yourself hydrated whether the summers are dry or humid. If the weather outside is dry then the sun tends to suck away the water from your skin. You will feel dehydrated, though you are not sweating. In case of humid summers, you tend to sweat a lot, slowly the body becomes dehydrated & there are chances that you might even faint. So make sure to remain hydrated and keep yourself safe.

2. Eat Onions: Onions are a crucial part of the Indian cuisine, this is because of the medicinal values rather than the taste. They are rich in amino acids methionine & cystine also good amount of Vitamin C, this can help detox the body. Onions are known for treating inflammations & heat stroes almost instantaneously. Not only this our mother always told to carry an onion in the pocket when out in the sun, it is said to save you from the heat wave.

3. Avoid the sun: It is best to stay away from the sun during the summers. If you have to go out make sure you wear a good amount of sunscreen to avoid harmful rays. When inside your home pull the curtains & close the windows as soon as the sun is up. If in a dry place then you can place a desert cooler on your window so that the hot air passing through the water circulated pads can make your home cooler. If you do not have a cooler, then place watered pads on the windows & the wind passing through them will keep your home cool.

4. Eat Light:  Summers are a time when it becomes difficult for your poor stomach to digest easily. It is advised to eat light food. It will help you keep light & cool. Eat more salads & green veggies to keep yourself healthy. Avoid carbonated beverages, they might col you for the time being but the loads of sugar present in the drinks can make you gain weight & lazy. Also it is seen if you eat chilies, the capscain found in them would help you generate & cool your body eventually.

5. Dress Accordingly: Wear clothing which helps your skin breathe, cotton & summer cool allows your skin to come into contact with air which helps you remain cooler as you perspire freely. Silk or thick synthetic clothing covers your skin but meanwhile your skin is not able to come into contact with air & the sweat accumulating can cause rashes & outbreaks. Even your feet should be allowed to breathe & make sure your shoes let your feet passage of air. You will avoid smelly feet & also any kind of fungal infections, taking care for diabetic patients is even more important.

Hope these simple tips help you have good summers. Also share your tips! Thanks!

Healthy Vegan Recipe: Spicy Okra

Hi Friends! Today I will share a great recipe with you with less oil & fats with the benefits of Okra or Lady's finger. It is filled with nutrients Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin K, Vitamin-C & folates without any fats. It has good amount of dietary fiber with a very low calorie composition of 30-35 cal per 100 g. Along with this it is also rich in minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium & manganese. The usual Indian recipes use a lot of oil to cook okra, this is a simple & low fat spiced version.

Spicy Okra
Ingredients:
Okra: 250 g
Olive oil or Rice bran oil: 1 tablespoon
Turmeric: 1 teaspoon
Kashmiri Red Chili powder or Paprika powder: 1 teaspoon
Corriander Powder: 2 teaspoon
Cummin Powder: 2 teaspoon
Aam chur powder or Dried Raw Mango Powder: 1 teaspoon
Lime juice: 1 teaspoon
Salt to taste

Preparation:
1. Wash the okra well & slice of a part of it's top, not exposing the inner edible part. Now make a long slit across the length of each of the okra. Dry them in a towel & keep them aside.
2. Take a mixing bowl & mix all the spices  and salt well. Now add the lime juice & some oil to get a paste, it should avoid being too liquid to avoid spilling over.
3. Start filling each okra with this paste. Make sure that the filling is not too much, it should not come out. Press the okra well after filling to bind it. Once all is done just add the rest of the oil to the mixing bowl & let all the spices be in the oil now take the okra in the mixing bowl, toss it so that it gets coated with the oil & spices.

4. You can now preheat the oven or airfryer (3min) at 180C or 355F.
5. Place the filled okra in the oven or the airfryer & cook for 7 min. And your Spicy okra is ready. If you want it crispy like chips can continue for another 2-3 min.

You can enjoy this recipe with Indian bread or Roti & yogurt. Also if you made it like chips, go snack them any time. I find this recipe very tasty & easy to cook. You can make simple changes as per your taste & you can have variety of okra chips. If you don't like spices just go ahead with the lie juice & salt. Share your ideas with me. Thanks Friends!

Healthy Vegetarian Recipe: Dahi Parwal

Hi Friends! Here is a tasty & healthy recipe you will love. This recipe is light for the summers and easy to digest. Let's see how it is made:

Dahi Parwal:

Ingredients:
Parwal or Pointed Gourd: 6-8
Onion: 1
Ginger: 1/2 inch
Chili: 2
Yogurt:1 cup
Corriander powder:1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Cummin Powder: 1 teaspoon
Cardamom: 2 small
Cinnamon: 1 inch
Olive oil: 2 teaspoon
Salt to taste

Preparation:
1. Take the Parwal or pointed gourd, Cut the ends, peel off the skin. Make side-slits on the side on the body of the parwal for the cooking to take place properly.
2. Chop the onion and slit the chili.
3. Mix the yogurt with ginger paste, and corriander, turmeric, cummin powder.
4. In a heated pan, add the olive oil. Then add cardamon & cinnamon after making it into small pieces.
5. Then add the chopped onion, once light golden in color add the parwal  & chili and after mixing it well cover it for some time on low flame.
6. When the parwal becomes tender add the yogurt with spices. Add the salt to taste.
7. Let it cook for a while on low flame. You will see a uniform mix in the gravy.

It would taste awesome. Serve hot! You can enjoy this recipe with rice. This would be a light & healthy recipe. Hope you like it friends!

Healthy Egg Recipe- Scrambled Egg with boiled Potatoes

Hi Friends! Welcome to you a fresh new week, will start your week with a healthy egg recipe, you can enjoy any time of the day. It is a very simple & easy recipe.

Scrambled Egg with Boiled Potatoes
Ingredients:
Potato: 1 large
Eggs: 2
Condensed milk: 2 teaspoon (unsweetened)
Onion: 1 medium
Tomato: 1 medium
Cilantro: A few springs
Chili: 1
Dried Oregano: 1/2 teaspoon
Dried Basil: 1/2 teaspoon
Paprika Flakes: 1/4 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Olive oil: 2 teaspoon

Preparation:
1. Boil the potato with skin, cut into half in a bowl with water @ 100% Microwave for 8-10 min
2. Beat the egg with little bit of salt & condensed milk.
3. Pour it into a heated pan  with 1 teaspoon of olive oil & slowly stir it as it condenses to get a perfectly scrambled egg. After finishing keep it aside in a plate/ bowl.
4. Chop the onion, tomato, cilantro & chili finely. Take the boiled potato & cut into cubes of 1/2 inch each.
5. In the same pan add oil. Then add Onion, when it starts getting little light add the cut-boiled potatoes & mix well. Add the spices (dried oregano, dried basil, paprika flakes & salt as per taste). Add half the tomatoes to the same and after a min add the scrambled egg & turn off the burner.
6. Serve it on the plate & garnish it with chili, cilantro & rest of the tomato pieces. And serve it with love!

This can be had any of the meals & is filling for a person. Enjoy this recipe & let me know how you like it. Thanks Friends!

Pranayam (Yoga) for Healthy Life-2

Hi Friends! This post is in continuation to my previous post on Pranayam. I had informed about three ways of doing Pranayam to be healthy & will continue with the rest of the three. To read about the previous ones already discussed & benefits of Pranayam please click here.

Bahya Pranayam
1. Sit with cross legged on the floor or ground.
2. Inhale fresh air & fill your lungs, hold.
3. Exhale the air forcefully (do not make it uncomfortable)
4. Now touch your chin to the chest & pull your stomach in so that it feels that you are trying to touch your back with your stomach.
5. Next lift your chin & breathe in slowly, hold it. Then exhale.
6. Repeat this 5-6 times.

Brahmari Pranayam
1. Close your eyes & start breathing.
2. Close your ears with the thumb & place the index finger above the eyebrow. Place the rest of the fingers on your eyes & face.
3. Keep your little fingers near your nostrils.
4. Now start breathing & fill your lungs with air.
5. Partially close your nostril with your little finger & breathe out with a humming sound like a bee originating from the throat.
6. Repeat thhis 3-5 times.

Udgeeth Pranayam
1. Breathe into fill your lungs with air.
2. Then slowly breathe out chanting "Om" originating from the throat with an emphasis on O and a short M.
3. Repeat this 5 times.

Enjoy doing Pranayam daily & let me know how you feel. Thanks Friends!

Healthy Chicken Recipe: Herb Grilled Chicken Breast

Hi Friends!! Today I present to you the very tasty healthy herb grilled chicken breast recipe. Chicken is high in proteins & has high tryptophan (amino acid) which helps in production of serotonin to help fight depression.

Herb Grilled Chicken Breast

Ingredients:
Chicken Breast (boneless): 3 pieces
Dried Oregano: 1 teaspoon
Dried Basil: 1 teaspoon
Dried Parsley: 1 teaspoon
Lime juice: 1 tablespoon
Garlic: 1 clove grated
Raw Papaya Juice: 1 tablespoon
Olive oil: 2 teaspoon
Salt: as per taste

Preparation:
1. Take the chicken breast pieces, and place it on the slab to tenderize the pieces. Use a tenderizer or the blunt side of the knife & pound it for a while.
2. Take the pieces in a vessel & mix it with the papaya juice (can grate the raw papaya & press it to get the juice). Cover it with a lid & refrigerate for 1 hour. Your chicken breasts will be very tender.
3. To the same vessel add the other ingredients herbs, salt, lime juice, garlic, olive oil. Mix it well & refrigerate the marinade.
4. Grill the chicken for 20 min approx at 300 F. Check if cooked with a fork.
5. Serve it with mustard sauce.

Let's enjoy a healthy grilled chicken today. Thanks!!

Yogurt based Smoothies

Hi Friends! Today I am writing about 3 simple to make yogurt based smoothies with fruits. Make your yogurt taste yum in the summers also perfect for people who can't have milk.

Mango Smoothie

Ingredients:
Mango (Ripe) :1
Yogurt: 1 cup
Cinnamon powder: To sprinkle
Dried Cranberries: few pieces

Preparation:
1. Peel the mango & cut the flesh into pieces.Add it to the mixer grinder.
2. Add the yogurt to the mixer grinder & churn it well to get a smooth paste.
3. Pour it in the glass & sprinkle the cinnamon powder and garnish with the cranberries & your cool smoothie is ready.

Berry Smoothie

Ingredients:
Strawberries: 1/2 cup
Cranberries: 5-6
Blueberries: 5-6
Raspberries: 5-6
Yogurt: 1 cup
Honey: 2 teaspoons

Preparation:
1. Wash the berries & place it in the mixer grinder.
2. Add the yogurt to the mixer grinder & churn it well to get the smoothie.
3. Add the honey & run the mixer once more. And pour it to enjoy the chilled berry smoothie.

Orange Smoothie

Ingredients:
Oranges/ Tangerine:2
Yogurt: 1 cup
Slices of Tangerine: for garnishing

Preparation:
1. Peel of the tangerines or oranges & remove the seeds, then add to the mixer grinder.
2. Add a cup of Yogurt to the mixer & run till a smooth paste is got.
3. Pour it into a glass & keep the slices on the edge to present.

So these super cool ideas for this summer are going to be great as a mid time snack as well.

Healthy Chicken Recipe: Tandoori Chicken

Hi Friends! Today the famous tandoori chicken from India on your platter. It is very tasty & yummy and believe me my variant has less fats too. I will just straight run down to the recipe.

Tandoori Chicken
Ingredients:
One Chicken: cut into 4 pieces
Yogurt: 2 tablespoons
Turmeric: 1/2 teaspoon
Red chili powder: 1 teaspoon
Ginger Garlic Paste: 2 teaspoon
Cashew: 7-8 nuts paste with small amount of milk
Whole Garam Masala: Cloves (4-6), Cardamon (4), Cinnamon (2 inch), Cumin seeds (1/2 tablespoon), Corriander seeds (1 tablespoon), Black Pepper (10), dry red chilies (1-2)
Olive oil: 1 tablespoon
Salt: as per taste

Preparation:
1. Take the chicken pieces & wash them. Make slits on the chicken pieces.
2. In a heated open pan  dry roast till it becomes fragrant. Then grind it well to get a fine powder. If the quantity is too less, just double the quantity & keep the powder for future use.
3. Mix the yogurt, ginger garlic paste, cashew paste, turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala powder & olive oil to get a smooth mixture. Add the salt to the mix as well.
4. Marinade the chicken pieces with this mixture completely & refrigerate the marinade for 2 -4 hours.
5. Now preheat the oven to use for broiling or grilling at 425F or 220C.
6. Place the chicken on an aluminium foil wrapped baking tray & cook in the oven for 20 min- 30 min, turn around the pieces once in between.
7. Check if the pieces are completely cooked by poking it with a fork, if cooked the fork can be inserted easily.

And your tandoori chicken is ready, I have allowed a high time for marinating the chicken because it helps the chicken to become soft & supple. If in a hurry a good 1 hour is fine for marination.You will not also get the traditional red color for the food as I have not used any food coloring agent. You can enjoy this with roti or Indian bread, with a green chutney (a paste of mint & raw mango with yogurt base). I hope this recipe is liked by you.

Healthy Egg Recipe: Deviled Egg

Hi Friends! I would like to share a very simple & tasty recipe today, made by different people in a different way. I will tell you my way with a twist of Indian taste & definitely the food value of eggs ranging from protein, vitamins, calcium, minerals all intact.

Deviled Eggs (Indian Style)
Ingredients:
Eggs: 6
Cilantro: a few springs
Chili: 1
English Mustard paste: 2 teaspoon
Onion: 1 small

Preparation:
1. Boil the eggs in a saucepan with water covering the eggs for 12 mins.
2. Remove from flame & drain the water. Run under cold water. Peel the eggs & keep aside.
3. In the meanwhile when the eggs are cooking, chop the onion, cilantro and chili finely.
4. Take the hard-boiled eggs & cut them into halves and remove the yolks.
5. Take the yolks in a mixing bowl & smash them. Add the mustard paste to the same and mix it well.
6. When you have got a smooth paste add the chopped cilantro, onion & chili and get a homogeneous mix.
7. Now arrange the egg whites on a plate & fill it with the yolk mix.
8. Your delicious Indian Deviled Eggs are ready.

Hope you like this recipe friends. This is a very original idea from my end please let me know your opinion on the taste.

Pranayam (Yoga) for Healthy Life

Hi Friends! Today we are going to talk about Pranayam the ancient technique of breathing exercise. It consists of six breathing exercises out of which we will talk about three of them. At first listing down the benefits of these exercises for you so that you know why you should include it in your daily routine.
1. Improves blood circulation
2. Eases out breathing
3. Healthy heart & other organs with proper movement & blood circulation
4. Increases life expectancy
5. Better mental health

Bhastrika Pranayam:
1. Sit with crossed legs in your lawn or your porch on the ground.
2. Close your eyes & breathe deeply so that your diaphragm goes down & your chest expands.
3. Release your breathe at once.
4. Repeat for 5 mins.
5. Start it slow & with time you can increase your speed.

This technique helps us to ease out our breathing process & improves our concentration and other mental abilities.

Kapalbhati Pranayam:
1. Sit in the same position as mentioned above in open air (lawn or porch).
2. Inhale through your nostrils normally, allowing the lung to expand.
3. Exhale through both nostrils forcefully, assist by pulling in your stomach.
4. Repeat for 10 min

This technique helps us concentrate on forced exhalation & normal inhalation. The contraction of stomach muscles in the process helps you in burning fat around the area & improved digestion.

Anulom Vilom Pranayam:
1. While sitting in the same position, close your eyes & concentrate on your breathing.
2. Close the right nostril with right thumb breathe from your left nose, fill your lungs.
3. Move away the thumb & now close the left nostril with the middle & ring finger of the right hand. Exhale completely from the right nostril slowly.
4. Now inhale with your right nose & fill the lungs.
5. And now move your hand & close the right nostril with the right thumb like earlier & exhale.
6. Repeat the process for 10 min.

This technique of alternate breathing helps improve breathing and also uses both the nostrils & clears any congestion. It also helps people suffering from problems of sinus.

I hope this article gives you an insight on how useful introducing pranayam in your daily routine. It gives a fresh start to your day & shows great results in improving the quality of life. Thank You!

Healthy Vegan Recipe: Aloo Gobhi

Hi Friends! A very blessed Good Friday & Happy Easter to all of you. My friend has asked for this recipe so writing this recipe for her. This is again a simple vegan recipe & very tasty to eat. The preparation varies from people to people but I like it this way.

Ingredients:
Aloo Gobhi (Potato Cauliflower)
Cauliflower: 20 florets
Potato: 1 large
Peas: 1 cup
Ginger: 1 inch grated
Cumin seeds: 1 teaspoon
Mustard Oil: 2 teaspoons
Turmeric: 1/2 teaspoon
Cumin powder: 1 teaspoon
Corriander powder: 1 teaspoon
Kashmiri Lal Mirch or Paprika: 1 teaspoon
Cloves: 4-6
Bay leaf: 2
Black Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon
Salt to Taste
Chili: 1 slit

Preparation:
1. Semi-boil the potato with the skin (cut it into half while boiling). Cut it into 1 inch cubes.
2. Heat mustard oil in a non-stick frying pan. Add the cumin, cloves & bay leaves. Add the florets and mix it well & cover it to cook.
3. Mix the turmeric, paprika, cumin powder & corriander powder and ginger in water to make a liquid paste.
4. Add the sliced boiled potato pieces & peas, mix it with florets. Add the mix of spices with salt to taste. Mix it so that all the veggies are coated with spices.
5. Let it cook for some time, and stand for some time.
6. After complete serve it in a bowl. Sprinkle black pepper powder, & slit chili for garnishing.

The taste it just awesome & the process is simple. It also has benefits of Indian spices like cumin, turmeric, black pepper, corriander, all great for health. Apart from it cauliflower, potato & peas which provide nutrition needed by you. Hope you like it... Thanks!

Benefits of Walking

Hi Friends! Mid of the week & missing your daily routine of exercise. Add a twist start walking, it is the simplest of all to add to your routine.

The benefits of walking can be listed as below:
1. Improved cardiovascular & lung fitness.
2. Better management of hypertension, high cholesterol, joint & muscular pain, stiffness, and diabetes
3. Reduce body fat
4. Increased muscle strength
5. Strong bones & improved balance

These are the health benefits which should be on your mind while planning for that walk. Well other than that the benefits which can be mentioned are available to everyone, and best there is no cost for this exercise. It is also good for beginners, no pain which is generally associated with work out. It does not give you results in a week but the long term effects are worth noticing.

When you walk 30 mins a day your body becomes active & it really does not pose any health risk. You can make walking a part of your life easily & add it to your routine. The time of the day doesn't make any difference on the amount of calories burnt.

Walk 10000 steps a day & you will keep your heart fit. Wear a pedometer while walking to count your steps, this will help you motivate. Be comfortable while walking, whether you run or walk the same distance you lose the same amount of calories. Only when you walk you take more time to cover the distance. Once you become comfortable while walking, you can increase the intensity by walking uphill, walking longer, increase the speed etc.

To enjoy walking the footwear you wear has to be perfect else it can give you blisters or sores, comfortable shoes are a must. What else we can do to increase our pleasure while walking is simple like listening to music, walking with friends, taking your pets for a walk. Go explore new places while walking, make your walk more interesting. If you want to stick near your residence, take rounds around your complex. You will not get this comfort with any other form of exercise.

So, friends how about a walk right now. Because there is no correct or right time to start. Start early to be healthy. Thanks!

Diabetes & Foot Care

Hi Friends! We know that diabetes is becoming a very common disease in the society today, and high blood sugar levels over time start affecting the various organs of the body. Trying to throw some light over one of the common problems faced by patients of diabetes mellitus which is foot problems. Diabetes is responsible for ailments related to kidney, nerves, eyes, blood vessels etc. Immunity is also affected in most cases of these patients. Commonly foot problems are seen in patients which is due to damage to the blood vessels & walking and other physical activities can create abnormal pressure on the skin, bones & muscles. Normal sweat secretion & lubrication of the foot is reduced under diabetic conditions finally leading to foot sores.

Because of a weak immune system the healing process is affected in patients. The wounds can lead to bacterial infections of skin, muscle, tissues etc. These wounds take turn into gangrene, the slow absorption of antibiotics is affected due to poor flow of blood to these parts of the body. People with diabetes should take extra care of foot.

• You should learn to examine your foot regularly to recognize early signs of diabetic foot problems.
• Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly and try to remain within the target range.
• Wash your feet regularly & dry them carefully.
• Apply moisturizer to your feet to avoid drying & cracking of skin.
• Do not let your shoes trouble you. Wear right shoes of correct size, blisters & burns in foot can be a serious problem.
• Poor circulation of blood can cause troubles so wiggle your foot & legs in intervals of 5 mins.
• Do not use extra hot or cold water or therapy on your foot. It can cause trauma & can lead to internal damages without your knowledge.
• Do not smoke. tobacco can cause damage to the blood vessels of your feet. The damage can interfere with your healing process.
• Trim your toenail carefully avoiding any cuts etc. Do it with a nail clipper & not scissors for safety. If you are unable to do it ask your family members.
• Avoid tripping, remove all obstacles which might be a reason for hurting yourself. Also avoid walking on uneven grounds to be safe.

These are a few tips every diabetes patient should follow for foot care. If anyone in your family suffering from diabetes, ensure they know about foot care. Enjoy a safe & happy day. Be Healthy!!