Health & Fitness

Yoga and the nervous system

Yoga is relevant in our age. Far from being mystical and otherworldly, it is a teaching firmly grounded in the physiological realities of science. Our experience of the world depends entirely on the state of our nervous system. This, in turn, is influenced by a host of factors – genes, diet, environment, and lifestyle. If the nervous system is fresh and rested, the body is healthy and the mind is alert. As a result, our thoughts are powerful and clear, our actions, which are manifested thoughts, are successful and rewarding.
2 October 2022, 12:10 PM

Sleeping norms around the world

How beds are shared in a particular culture says a lot about their customs, environmental conditions, values, and material wealth. Besides, who you share your bed with can determine the quality and the amount of sleep that you get, yet another testimony to the fact that sleeping patterns are as much a cultural factor as they are biological.
24 September 2022, 10:56 AM

The invisible mental load on mothers

Most of motherhood that is glorified — the process of giving birth, breastfeeding, the sleepless nights — is visible. What if we say that this is only the tip of the iceberg? The invisible and infinitely more extensive workload frequently goes unseen by the world and is most often, the root cause of why mothers feel tired all the time. We call it the mental load and all mothers can relate.
18 September 2022, 10:06 AM

Food that boost your immune system

It is important to remember that the immune system is intricate. Eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet is just one way to help your immune system. It is also vital to consider other lifestyle factors that may have an impact on health, such as exercise and avoiding smoking.
18 September 2022, 07:32 AM

Health hazards of not changing bedsheets regularly

Not washing your sheets on a regular basis exposes you to the fungi, bacteria, pollen, and animal dander that are typically found on sheets and other bedding. Other things found on sheets include body secretions, sweat, and skin cells. This will not necessarily make you sick. But, in theory, it might. Consider the health risks of not washing your sheets on a regular basis.
15 September 2022, 03:48 AM

How to break your phone habit

Even if there are no notifications or alerts, most individuals check their phones every 15 minutes. Anxiety has developed around our collective relationship with technology to the point that we fear losing out if we do not check in as frequently as we believe we should. Spending too much time on your phone is not just a waste of time, but also a mental drain. Using social media often has been linked to negative outcomes in research examining psychological well-being. It is a good idea to understand and look into minimising your addiction to smartphones.
12 September 2022, 05:41 AM

Strength training for a long life

A new study published in The British Journal of Sports Medicine has found that doing both aerobics, up to three hours a week, and strength training, up to two sessions a week can result in lower mortality risks and better overall health than doing just one or the other. Regular physical exercise has plenty of health benefits, one of which is a longer life. Until now, most research showed that regular cardio or strength training interchangeably was the key to cardiac health, but recently, more and more experts are waking up to the benefits of pairing the two together for maximum longevity and health.
7 September 2022, 10:48 AM

Diet and nutrition for Hepatitis: Foods to eat and avoid when you have a liver problem

There are many confusions and misconceptions surrounding the ideal diet of a person suffering from liver diseases. The diet of a person effected by liver disease like hepatitis and liver cirrhosis must be balanced yet nutritious as it is a part of treatment therapy.
4 September 2022, 13:22 PM

Children play more when they have fewer toys

In an age of hyper-consumerism, it is easy to get carried away buying too much of everything. If you are a parent, your child’s sweet requests often also have a part to play in filling the toy basket much more than intended at the monthly supermarket run. However, offering children fewer toys, rather than spoiling them for choice, has definitive benefits in the long run.
3 September 2022, 09:59 AM

How to improve brain function?

Long-COVID brain fog, mum brain or work burnout — there are quite a few reasons in today’s world that can bring intelligence levels to a drop. If left in that state, the mind, just like a person, can become lethargic and unwilling to get back to its original sheen. For a growth-oriented individual, low smarts could also mean a slowdown in their career. Fortunately, there are a number of ways one can constantly challenge their mind and keep it alert and focused.
3 September 2022, 09:55 AM

Purpose of yoga as explained by the Sutras of Patanjali

There are many wisdom traditions and spiritual maps to help you journey inwards. Yoga is one of these. Vedic scholars in ancient India spent many years in meditation to intuit this knowledge. Buddha studied with many of these teachers before his awakening. The knowledge was passed down orally till they were most accurately transcribed in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. For this article, I am drawing from a fabulously accessible version translated by Alistair Shearer.
29 August 2022, 09:59 AM

Never had COVID? Curious Case of NOVIDS

Have you considered yourself a Novid? If you do not know what the term means, it refers to someone who has never had COVID-19, special or just blessed with plain luck. Experts and researchers alike are trying to decipher the phenomena. In a post-pandemic world, almost everyone you know has been infected at some point. However, we all know someone who says they have never had it. A good amount of data indicates that millions who believe they never had COVID were infected by it but didn't get tested due to no symptoms or simply thought they had regular flu or allergies.
25 August 2022, 13:50 PM

Can you overcome rejection?

It is always difficult when someone turns you down and says ‘no.’ Be it a personal favour or a business pitch, it can be hard swallowing rejection. Sometimes, it is because we fear being rejected because of internal shame or embarrassment, or because of the way we were brought up, we sabotage our own relationships and opportunities which would be good for us. So, to learn how you can accept rejection, it might be worth trying to understand why you fear rejection in the first place.
21 August 2022, 10:21 AM

How to make the most of guava season

It is no secret that the reigning royalty of summer fruits includes mangoes, lychees, pineapples, various berries, guavas, etc. And while we have said goodbye to most of these fruits as the season comes to an end, guavas are just about coming to a peak. Here are 8 ways to make the most out of this guava season while they are still in the market!
10 August 2022, 14:17 PM

Is napping harmful now?

After studying 60,686 individuals who provided information on their napping habits four times between 2006 and 2019, the researchers have come to the conclusion that individuals who napped frequently have a 12 percent higher chance of developing high blood pressure and a 24 percent higher chance of having a stroke as opposed to people who never nap.
31 July 2022, 11:25 AM

Ways to shed pounds after 40

It might be difficult to lose weight after the age of 40. Slowing metabolism and a decrease in daily physical activity can lead to weight gain if these biological changes are not matched with a corresponding reduction in dietary calories. Still, shedding pounds after age 40 is not a hopeless endeavour. Here are a few ways to tackle mid-life weight loss.
31 July 2022, 11:16 AM

Self-care to help with mum burnout

Mothers nowadays are trying to do it all — work and parenting — with a schedule that seems to get busier every day. With sleepless nights, an early work routine, pumping schedules, school events, work deadlines, and the need to provide quality time to children, mothers have their hands (and arms and legs) full. Mental and physical exhaustion, also known as mum burnout, can lead to dire consequences not just for them, but for children too
28 July 2022, 11:34 AM

How physical punishment harms children

Raising your hand or voice, for that matter, on a child simply because they are weak and younger than you in age, is an act of cowardice on the part of the parent. Some fantastic and in-depth research has been done in this field. Psychologists and paediatricians both agree that physical abuse is extremely harmful for a child, having both physiological and mental consequences. Abuse comes in many forms and what is equally surprising is that a lot of parents have no idea that many of their actions can count as abuse.
28 July 2022, 11:29 AM

Warning signs of a heat stroke

With record breaking heat waves being experienced all over the world, heat stroke is a very real risk that many of us will face even without realising. A heatstroke, also called a sun stroke, is the most serious form of harm caused by exposure to extreme heat, usually indicated by a core body temperature of 104°C. But there are warning signs of a heatstroke in the making, and we can all look out for the following symptoms to help avoid it for ourselves and prevent it in the people around you.
26 July 2022, 07:05 AM

Ways to cut bad cholesterol

A balanced level of cholesterol is necessary for the body to build and maintain cells. Trying to reduce your excess cholesterol comes with added perks like better physical health, mental health, and a healthier lifestyle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cholesterol levels should be checked every 5 years after hitting the age of 20. Here are some ways you can keep your cholesterol levels in check. Follow these tips and lead a better, more active, healthy, and fulfilled life.
8 July 2022, 22:04 PM