How to maintain hair during monsoon?

In monsoon you might have noticed a little difference in your hair. Your hair become dull & starts losing its shine when the monsoon arrives. It happens because of high moisture in the atmosphere. You need to care your hair a little more to make them healthier, shinier and beautiful. There are few tips that you can try to maintain your hair during monsoon.

How to maintain hair during monsoon?

• The main reason for your hair becoming dull in monsoon is humidity in the atmosphere. You should give your hair a tea-water & lemons juice rinse after you shampoo your hair. For this, first of all boil used tea leaves in enough water so that after boiling at least 5-6 cups of tea-water left in the vessel. Now leave it till it cools then stain it. After staining, you need to add lemon juice into this and use after shampoo as last rinse.

• Oiling your hair is very important in monsoon. It helps in treating monsoon hair problems such as dandruff. You should apply essential oil to your hair mixed with rose water & mineral water. Add 5-6 drops of Tea Tree Oil to 100 ml water. Now shake it well and keep in an airtight container or bottle. Apply this solution to your hair after shampoo and leave it like that.

• You should shampoo your hair frequently during monsoon. Use little shampoo & rinse your hair well with water. If you want to give your hair a shinier look then you can apply a mixture of whisk egg white & lemon juice half-an-hour prior to shampoo.

• Many people face the problem of bad odour that comes from their scalp during monsoon. To deal with this hair problem, you should wash your hair at least 3 times a week. Rinse properly with water. You can also add ½ a cup of rose water to lemon juice in a mug of water and use it as last rinse after washing your hair.

• Dandruff is a very common hair problem in monsoon. You should have hot oil treatment to deal with this problem. Heat olive oil and then apply on your scalp with cotton ball. Leave it for overnight. Next day, you need to apply a mixture of lemon juice & apple cider vinegar to your scalp. Leave it for 15-20 minutes and then wash your hair. 

• To treat with dull hair during monsoon, you can apply a paste of gram flour, ripe papaya & lemon juice. Mix all 3 and make a dripping-free paste. Apply this paste to your hair and leave it for 30-40 minutes. This is a cleansing pack for your hair. Now wash your hair & feel the difference.

Most of us face these hair problems but do not know exactly that “how to maintain hair during monsoon”. In this articles, I have tried to solve almost all your queries about hair problems during monsoon. You should try these home remedies to treat with hair problems during monsoon. 

How to improve low Haemoglobin count & deficiency of Calcium?

Maintaining good health in today’s fast-pace life has become the most challenging job. Most of us are suffering from deficiency of important components needed for healthy life such as Haemoglobin, Calcium, Iron etc. Now the main point to think about is that “Why this situation arises”. The women & kids have mainly seen suffering from these deficiencies.

A brief intro of Haemoglobin.

Everyone of us has studied in their student’s life that haemoglobin is a vital component of our body. The main function of haemoglobin is to carry oxygen from our lungs to the cells of other organs. Haemoglobin helps the cells in functioning properly by boosting them energy. The normal count of haemoglobin in blood should be 14-18 mg/dl in case of men, whereas for women it should be 12-16 mg/dl.

What are the symptoms of deficiency of calcium & low haemoglobin count?

· Weak bones

· Extreme fatigue

· Sore tongue

· Bruising easily

· Lack of blood clotting

· Lack of concentration

· Fainting spells

The most common reason for low haemoglobin count is nutritional deficiency. However, there are many other reasons such as over-dieting, unhealthy lifestyle and some diseases that cause low counts of haemoglobin in blood.

Increasing haemoglobin counts through natural ways is always a good option. There are various fruits & vegetables that help in increasing the haemoglobin counts. So, let’s try to know something about the benefits of these wonder fruits & veggies.

How to improve low Haemoglobin count & deficiency of Calcium?

Consume Fresh Green Leafy Veggies

When we talk about iron sources, one of the top places is taken by fresh green leafy veggies. Leafy veggies such as spinach, fenugreek etc. provides good amount of iron in your blood and helps in minimizing the symptoms of low-haemoglobin counts.

You should also include lentils (such as daal, rajma etc.), grains (such as barley, rice, bajra etc.) and dry fruits (such as almonds, cashew, dried peaches etc.) in your daily diet to increase the haemoglobin level in blood. 

Fresh Pomegranates & Dates

Pomegranate is not only a yummy fruit but also a rich source of various nutrients such as Vitamin A, C, E, Folic Acid & Iron. It has 3 times higher antioxidants of green tea. You should add pomegranate in your diet because it enhances the supply of iron in blood and helps in increasing the haemoglobin count.

Similar to pomegranate, dates are also delicious and everyone likes the taste of it. It is another great source of iron and many other vital nutrients such as calcium, Vitamin A & B, potassium and magnesium. Dates also improve the energy level.

Healthy Beetroots

Beetroot is highly packed with iron. You can consume beetroot in any form whether it is salad or beetroot juice. One cup of chopped beetroot will boosts you with 1.1 mg of iron. One glass of beetroot for one month shows outstanding results in improving the haemoglobin counts in blood. However, if you do not like beetroot juice or simply plain chopped beetroot then you can prepare a mixed salad with fresh veggies by adding beetroot, cucumber, carrot, onion and lemon.

Have Vitamin C Rich Food

Vitamin C helps in absorbing the iron from food stuff. Haemoglobin deficiency due to Vitamin C can be covered up with proper consumption of Vitamin C. Oranges, strawberries, kiwi, grapes, guava, papaya etc. are good source of Vitamin C. You should add these juicy fruits to your diet to improve the haemoglobin count in blood.

Increase Legumes in Your Diet

All legumes (such as red kidney beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, chickpeas, black beans, fava beans) are very good source of iron. You should add legumes in your daily diet to increase the haemoglobin count. 

Intake of Yogurt & Broccoli

Yogurt is a brilliant source of calcium. The 250 gms of fresh & low-fat yogurt can gives you 42% of your daily calcium requirement.

Broccoli is another good source of calcium after dairy products. Apart from calcium, broccoli is packed with many vital nutrients such as Vitamin C and fiber etc. You can have broccoli in the form of salad or pasta.

Add watermelon

Watermelon is a nutritious juicy fruit. It gives refreshing feel especially during summer season. Watermelon is a good source of iron, carbohydrates, Vitamin C & B, protein, potassium etc. Regular consumption of this thirst quenching fruit increases the energy level & stamina. The watermelon juice helps in enhances the haemolgobin counts during pregnancy.

Add Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are rich package of iron, Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin C and zinc. 1/4th cup of pumpkin seeds have 8.6 mg iron contains. You should consume pumpkin seeds on regular basis to fulfill the deficiency of iron in blood flow.

How to prevent obesity in kids- Few simple tips for parents

Maintaining proper balance is very important for your kids to achieve accurate body weight. The balance should be maintained in the calorie intakes of your kid with the calories utilized through physical activities & normal growth.

The overweight kids should minimize their rate of gaining weight while permitting normal growth & development. It does not mean that you put your kid on weight-decreasing diet, it can harm your kid. However if you want to do this, it is advised to consult a health care provider first. There are few tips given below for parent that will help them to prevent obesity in kids.

How to prevent obesity in kids- Few simple tips for parents

Maintain balance in calories- help in developing the food habits 

As we have discussed above that proper balance in calories intake & utilized plays vital role in your kid’s growth & development, so you need to improve the dietary habits of your kid. Offer him/her healthy food & snacks with an appropriate count of calories. You can do some modifications in their favorite recipe to make them healthier by reducing calorie-rich fascinations. This is an excellent step towards preventing obesity in kids.

· Motivate healthy food habits- allow small modifications

ü Add some veggies, fruits & whole grain products.

ü Add low-fat, non-fat milk or dairy products.

ü Put limitations on the consumption of extra sugar-added beverages, sugar, sodium & saturated fat.

ü Includes lean meats, fishes, lentils, poultry & beans for protein nutrients.

ü Motivate all your family members to drink lot of water.

ü Serve your kid reasonable sized portions.

· Make favorite recipes healthier

You can improvise some of your kid’s favorite dishes to make it healthier by allowing few changes. You can also try to make some new heart-healthy dishes that might be added into his/her favorite list.

· Omit calorie-rich fascinations

Often treats sounds good but there should be a limit for intake of high-fat, high-sugar and salty snacks. There are few easy to prepare tips that will develop the dietary habits of your kid. These are low-fat & low-sugar treats that will help to prevent obesity in kids.

ü 1 cup blueberries

ü A medium sized apple

ü 1 cup grapes

ü A medium sized banana.

ü 1 cup carrot, broccoli or bell peppers with 2 tsp. hummus

· Make your kid understand the benefit of being physically active

ü Reducing blood pressure

ü Enhancing self-esteem

ü Strengthening bones

ü Minimizing stress & anxiety

ü Helps in weight management

· Helps your kid to be active

Kids should involve in moderate-intensity physical activities everyday minimum for 1 hour. In this attempt you have to help your kid to fight against obesity. You start including physical activities in your daily routine and also motivate your kid to be a part of it. Some of the moderate-intensity physical activities are as follows that are helpful for obesity in kids. 

ü Playing tag

ü Playing soccer

ü Dancing

ü Brisk walking

ü Jumping rope

ü Swimming

· Minimize screen time

You also need to limit the time your kid spend on TV, video games, Computer etc. for not exceeding 2 hours. Instead of that, motivate your kid to get involved into fun activities with their family.

Maintain appropriate body weight

Maintaining appropriate body weight is very important for kid to stay healthy & fit. Obesity in kids is the gateway to many health issues. Obesity invites various diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression etc. Hence it is very important that you help your kid to maintain proper weight to be active and healthy always.

What are the effects or complications involved with obesity in kids?

Obesity in kids is a serious medical condition that can affect your kid physically, mentally, socially & emotionally. Obesity in kids occurs when he/she put on extra weight than average weight of his/her age & height. The obesity in kids can be treated with the help of improved diet and regular exercise. You should encourage your kids to exercise on regular basis. Some of the complications or effects involved with obesity in kids are-

What are the effects or complications involved with obesity in kids?

· Physical effects or complications involved with obesity in kids

Ø High cholesterol & high BP

High cholesterol & high BP is directly related to your kid’s diet. If your kid consumes very poor or unhealthy diet then the chances become strong to develop these severe health issues. Poor diet can cause plaques in the arteries of your kid, as a result of this the arteries become narrow & hard. This can cause heart attacks in future.

Ø Type 2 diabetes

It is a chronic disease that affects the way the body of your kid utilizes sugar. Obesity and your kid’s lifestyle increase the chances of type 2 diabetes disease. 

Ø Asthmatic issues

Asthma is another complication involved with obesity in kids. The chances to develop asthma become stronger if your kid is overweight.

Ø NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)

This disorder generally without any symptoms, causes fatty accumulations to the build up in the liver which can lead to liver damage.

Ø Metabolic syndrome

Well, it is not a disease but a collection of conditions that can increases the chances of severe health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and many others. This collection of conditions involve low HDL (good) cholesterol, high BP, high Blood Sugar, excess abdominal fat, high triglycerides etc.

Ø Sleep disorders

Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious disorder in which the kid’s breathing frequently interrupted and begin when he/she sleeps. This can also be a complication of obesity in kids.

Ø Menstruation at early age

The obesity can also cause imbalance in the hormones which can leads to menstruation at early age.

· Mental, social & emotional effects or complications involved with obesity in kids

Ø Low self-esteem & teasing

Kids sometimes bully their overweight classmates or friends who are suffering from low self-esteem. As a result the chances become great for the kid to go on depression. 

Ø Behavioral issues

Overweight kids influenced to have more anxiety and weaker social skills compare to normal weight kids. These problems can lead the overweight kids to behave out & disrupt their surroundings. In some cases, the overweight kids can also be withdrawn socially by normal weight kids.

Ø Depression

The overweight kids generally suffer from low self-esteem and hopeless feelings. As a result of this, the kids move to depression. A depressed kid can lost his/her confidence, shows uninteresting in normal activities, avoid becoming social, keep calm, prefer to be alone and sometimes cry a lot. However, depression is a very serious issue with anyone whether he is a kid or an adult.

Obesity in Kids- What cause it?

Well, heredity and hormones can be a reason for obesity in kids but in most of the cases the causes of obesity in kids are overeating & under-exercising. Kids need extra calories for their growth & development but it does not mean that they start over-eating. This will only accumulate lots of fat instead of energy. Their diet should be in appropriate proportion to boost them up with extra energy. If your kid is having more calories than he/she is burning then the outcome will only be the obesity. Obesity in kids may caused by various factors, such as-

Obesity in Kids- What cause it?

· Dietary habits

Unhealthy diet & eating too much of high-calorie foods stuff (such as fast foods, candies, cookies, chips, baked food etc.) plays vital role for obesity in kids. Having snacks throughout the day without doing any physical activities also cause obesity in kids. The parents are advised to pay special attention to their kids’ diet. They should add healthy food (including fresh vegetable, fruits, milk products etc.) instead of unhealthy food. 

· Lack of calorie burning activities

This is another big reason for obesity in kids. Televisions, computers, laptops, mobile phones, video games etc. have taken the place of physical activities. Now kids love to spend more time on these devices instead of playing outdoor games. In this way, the kids burn only few calories and the result would be “Obesity in Kids”. The parents are advised to manage some time from their busy schedule and enjoy playing outdoor games with their kids. This will build interest in your kids and they will burn more calories doing physical activities.

· Surrounding

If you store unhealthy food stuff (such as chips, pizza, burger, candy bars etc.) in refrigerator or kitchen then your kid will have these options open for him/her what they want to eat. Instead of keeping this kind of unhealthy food, you can keep fresh cut-up fruits, salad, low-fat curd etc. so that when your kid opens up the refrigerator he/she will have these healthy options available to eat. Maintain a good balance in healthy diet and your kid’s wish to eat. 

· Psychological causes

Psychology shows the states of mind. Sometimes kids gain weight due to some psychological factors (such as family problems, negative emotions, stress, anxiety, boredom etc.). They start eating more to cope with these situations. You being parents should always support your kid in any kind of situation. 

· Hereditary causes

Sometimes obesity in kids is hereditary. If a kid has born in a family where people are overweight then the chances are there for the kid to become overweight. The chances become stronger if the kid is more exposed to high-calorie food stuff and not encouraged for physical activities. 

· Medical conditions

However it is rare but there are few hereditary diseases & hormonal disorders that can cause obesity in kids such as Hypothyroidism (related to thyroid gland), Prader-Willi Syndrome (Affected part of brain that controls hunger) and Cushing ’s syndrome (hormonal disorder). 

· Lack of proper sleep

The studies have shown that kids who do not sleep for recommended hours are more likely to become obese. Proper sleep is very important for everyone of us and so for kids as well to stay fit and healthy. 

What are the benefits of Fenugreek/Methi seeds and leaves?

Fenugreek or methi (known in Hindi) is a plant that used as an herb (its leaves) and as a spice (its seeds) as well. The dried leaves of fenugreek/methi (termed as Kasuri Methi) give a finger licking flavor to many recipes. Its seeds also give awesome aroma when used as a spice in various Indian dishes. Apart from excellent flavor, aroma and taste, fenugreek/methi is known for healthy benefits. Let’s have a look at some of the benefits of fenugreek/methi seeds & leaves.

What are the benefits of Fenugreek/Methi seeds and leaves?

· Minimizes the risk of heart diseases

Fenugreek/methi has a vital role to maintain good health of your heart as it contains galactomannan. Fenugreek/methi is also enriched with potassium that checks the activities of sodium to control heart rate and blood pressure. 

· Remedy for hair problems

Fenugreek/methi is a good remedy for hair problem as well. It makes your hair more shiny and black. You can massage your head on daily basis with boiled fenugreek/methi seeds soaked for whole night in coconut oil. It is an excellent remedy to thin your hair and also deals with hair fall problem. Apart from this fenugreek/methi is also good to treat dandruff issue. 

· Helps in heartburn

Many people have the problem of heartburn. Fenugreek/methi seeds play wonderful role to treat with heartburn problem. Just one teaspoon of its seeds gives you an effective result for heartburn problem. The mucilage present in fenugreek/methi seeds provides a coating to the lining of stomach and intestine and also sooth the problematic gastrointestinal tissues. To get better benefits of fenugreek/methi seeds, you can soak them in water for sometime before consuming. 

· Reduces blood cholesterol

Studies have shown that fenugreek/methi is a very good remedy to reduce the cholesterol level. Fenugreek/methi is a high source of steroidal saponins that prevent the absorption of cholesterol and triglycerides. You should add fenugreek/methi in your diet to get good cholesterol level. 

· Minimizes the discomfort during menstruation

Fenugreek/methi has compounds such as isoflavones and diosgenin with oestrogen-kind or properties that shows excellent effects in minimizing symptoms like discomfort in menstruation. These compounds also make the symptoms of menopause much easier. Women are more likely to deficiency of iron during adolescence, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Fenugreek/methi leaves fulfill the deficiency of iron in women but to get increase the iron absorption, do not forget to add tomato or potato into its preparation. 

· Helps in weight lose

Fenugreek/methi seeds play wonder role for health conscious people. You just need to add this to your diet by chewing the overnight soaked seeds in the morning on an empty stomach. The natural soluble fibres present in fenugreek/methi can swell & fill the stomach. This helps in suppressing your appetite and helps to achieve your goal of weight loss. 

· Increases breast milk production in mothers

Fenugreek/methi contains diosgenin that increases the milk production in nursing moms. If you are a lactating mother then you can add fenugreek/methi in your diet to increase the production of milk for your baby. 

· Reduces scars and helps in soothing skin inflammation

Fenugreek/methi has anti-inflammatory compounds present in it that acts as a remedy for numerous skin problem such as burns, boils etc. The seeds of fenugreek/methi work as a great remedy to get rid of scars. 

Control blood sugar level

Fenugreek/methi is a wonder remedy for diabetic patients. The galactomannan (a natural soluble fibre) present in fenugreek/methi helps in minimizing the rate of sugar absorption into blood. It is also a good source of amino acids that helps in inducing the insulin production. To get the benefits of fenugreek/methi, the diabetic patients must add it in their die.

· Treats fever and sore throat

Fenugreek/methi is a very good home remedy to treat with fever. You just have to take fenugreek/methi with a teaspoon of lemon & honey. It helps in reducing your fever and nourishes your body as well. Fenugreek/methi also helps to deal with cough and pain from sore throat by the soothing effect of mucilage present in it.

· Helps in proper digestion

Proper digestion is one of the most important benefits of fenugreek/methi. Fenugreek/methi is packed with fibre and antioxidants, thus helps in excreting the harmful toxins from our body. If you are facing the problem of indigestion or stomach pain then have fenugreek/methi tea, you will get instant relief.

· Minimizes the risk of colon cancer

Fenugreek/methi contain fibres such as Saponins, Mucilage etc. that binds to toxins present in the food and excrete them out. This helps us in preventing the colon cancer by protecting the mucous membrane of colon. 

Home remedies to treat stomach ulcer

Stomach ulcers are the open sore in the stomach lining that creates because of hyper-acidity in the stomach. There are many factors that can cause stomach ulcer such as excessive consumption of painkillers, bacterium H.pylori etc. Stomach ulcer is curable with proper medication and treatments. It can also be cured in natural ways that is home remedies. Home remedies are the safe and natural ways to treat stomach ulcers. Some of the useful home remedies to treat stomach ulcer are discussed below.

Home remedies to treat with stomach ulcer

· Fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains

Healthy diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains are not only good for your overall health but some particular type of food also helps in healing stomach ulcer. Experts say that vitamin rich food helps your body to heal ulcer. Your diet containing polyphenols, antioxidants protects you from ulcer and also helps in healing stomach ulcers. Foods and seasonings that contains polyphenols are-

o Black olives

o Dried rosemary

o Mexican Oregano

o Blueberries

o Dark chocolates

· Flavonoids

Flavonoids or bioflavonoids are one of the most effective home remedies to treat stomach ulcer. Flavonoids are nothing but a compound that occurs naturally in various fruits & vegetables. The food and drinks that are enriched sources of flavonoids are-

o Berries

o Broccoli

o Red grapes

o Soybeans

o Teas (especially green tea)

o Apples

o Kale

o Legumes

Flavonoids protect the lining of stomach and helps in healing the ulcer. You should consume flavonoids in balanced amount because higher amount of it can interfere with blood clotting. You can add flavonoids in your daily food habits or can also have it as a supplement.

· Probiotics

These are the living bacteria & yeast that helps in improving your digestive system so that it functions properly. There are various common food items that are good sources of probiotics, especially fermented foods such as-

o Yogurt

o Kimchi

o Buttermilk

o Miso

· Garlic

Garlic extract is a wonder remedy for stomach ulcer as it has shown to inhibit H.Pylori growth in researches. If you do not like the taste of garlic, you can have extracted garlic in supplementary form. Garlic works like a blood thinner, so you should consult your doctor before you add it in your diet.

· Honey

When we talk about home remedies to treat stomach ulcer, how can we forget honey. It is much beyond just to taste sweet. Honey contains almost 200 elements, various polyphenols and many other antioxidants. Honey work as a great antibacterial that can inhibit H.pylori growth. You can have honey as a soothing solution to your ulcer, provided your blood sugar level is normal.

· Cranberry

It is popular remedy to fight against infections in urinary tract because it protects the walls of bladder from settling of bacteria. Cranberry or its extract has the ability to fight against H.pylori as well. You can have cranberry in the form of juice or supplement or can eat cranberry alone.

· Mastic

Mastic is the sap of Mediterranean trees grown. You can chew mastic as gum or can swallow it as a supplement. Chewing mastic helps to fight against H.pylori. If any other treatment is not showing any improvement to your stomach ulcer, you can give a try to mastic gum as it does not have any kind of side effects.

What to avoid in stomach ulcer?

o Carbonated beverages

o Processed foods

o Deep fried foods

o Coffee, including decaf

o Chilies & hot peppers

o Salty red meats