Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile and independent than their peers over time, according to a Japanese study that covered thousands of people.

Green tea contains antioxidant chemicals that may help ward off the cell damage that can lead to disease. Researchers have been studying green tea's effect on everything from cholesterol to the risk of certain cancers, with mixed results so far. 

Green tea may be the answer to healthy aging

For the new study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers decided to examine the question of whether green tea drinkers have a lower risk of frailty and disability as they grow older.

Yasutake Tomata of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and his colleagues followed nearly 14,000 adults aged 65 or older for three years.

They found those who drank the most green tea were the least likely to develop "functional disability", or problems with daily activities or basic needs, such as dressing or bathing.

Specifically, almost 13 percent of adults who drank less than a cup of green tea per day became functionally disabled, compared with just over 7 percent of people who drank at least five cups a day.

"Green tea consumption is significantly associated with a lower risk of incident functional disability, even after adjustment for possible confounding factors," Tomata and his colleagues wrote.

The study did not prove that green tea alone kept people spry as they grew older.

Green-tea lovers generally had healthier diets, including more fish, vegetables and fruit, as well as more education, lower smoking rates, fewer heart attacks and strokes, and greater mental sharpness.

They also tended to be more socially active and have more friends and family to rely on.

But even with those factors accounted for, green tea itself was tied to a lower disability risk, the researchers said.

People who drank at least five cups a day were one-third less likely to develop disabilities than those who had less than a cup per day. Those people who averaged three or four cups a day had a 25 percent lower risk.

Although it's not clear how green tea might offer a buffer against disability, Tomata's team did note that one recent study found green tea extracts seem to boost leg muscle strength in older women.

While green tea and its extracts are considered safe in small amounts, they do contain caffeine and small amounts of vitamin K, which means it could interfere with drugs that prevent blood clotting.

New research suggests people who keep fit counter some of the ill effects of weight gain.

Losing fitness or packing on fat with age can both be bad for the heart - but avoiding either one of those fates may protect the ticker, a study published on Monday suggests. 

US researchers found that of more than 3,100 healthy adults they followed, those who improved - or simply maintained - their fitness levels were less likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other well-established heart disease risk factors.

Similarly, people who maintained their weight had fewer of those red flags than people who became heavier over time. That may sound logical, but part of what's new in the findings, researchers say, is that changes in fitness and "fatness" each appeared important on their own.

In general, people who kept their fitness levels over time seemed to counter some of the ill effects of weight gain. And dips in fitness levels weren't as bad if a person lost some excess body fat.

The results suggest that protecting heart health is not as hard as some people think, according to lead researcher Duck-chul Lee, of the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

That is, just maintaining your weight and fitness levels as you age may be enough to see benefits.

"If you're overweight, losing weight and improving your fitness may be the best combination," Lee says. "But that's very challenging."

For many people, "maintenance" may be more achievable, Lee says.

The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, included 3,148 men and women in the Dallas area who were in their early 40s, on average, at the outset.

Over six years, they developed high blood pressure at a rate of 4 percent each year, high cholesterol at a rate of 3 percent per year and so-called metabolic syndrome at a rate of 2 percent per year. (Metabolic syndrome refers to a collection of risk factors for heart disease - including high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, abdominal obesity and high blood sugar.)

But people who kept up or improved their fitness levels - as measured during treadmill tests - had lower odds of developing those heart risk factors.

Their risks of high blood pressure or high cholesterol were 26 percent to 30 percent lower, versus people whose fitness levels declined. And their risk of metabolic syndrome was 42 percent to 52 percent lower.

Similarly, when people increased their percentage of body fat over time, they were more likely to develop heart risk factors.

For each 1 percent increase in body fat, the odds of those risk factors climbed anywhere from 3 percent to 8 percent.

But in general, people who gained weight stayed healthier if they kept up their fitness levels. And if overweight people shed some fat, they countered some of the negative effects of waning fitness.

The bottom line, according to Lee, is that people who are active should stay active. Even if you don't see a benefit on your bathroom scale, you'll stay fit.

"If you're already exercising, keep it up, and maybe increase the intensity if you can," Lee says.

If you're sedentary but healthy, he says, you can safely take up moderate exercise like brisk walking. Lee adds, though, that people who are obese or have chronic health conditions should talk to their doctors first.

"It's the sedentary people who will get the most benefit from exercise in a short time," Lee says.

He was, however, referring to the benefit of improved fitness. Overweight people often fail to see the pounds fly off when they first start exercising - possibly because they are hungrier and start eating more.

Don't get discouraged by that, Lee says. You can improve your cardiovascular fitness even without shedding the extra body fat. One way to tell if your fitness is improving, Lee says, is to simply notice how you feel when you go about your normal exercise routine; if it's getting easier, you're getting fitter.

To actually lose weight, diet changes are needed as well.

"Most people will lose weight with exercise if they also pay attention to the calories they're taking in," Lee says.

Parents should be aware that sharing a bed with their baby increases the risk of infant suffocation, an Australian expert warned on Monday.

In an editorial published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), Australian forensic pathologist Roger Byard at the University of Adelaide said research has confirmed infants sleeping in the same bed as their parents face an increased risk of accidental suffocation.

It has been reported that 50 percent or more of all infants found unexpectedly dead are sleeping beside an adult at the time, he said, indicating they may have died from suffocation and not sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

"Accidental suffocation appears to be a more likely mechanism of death than subtle processes leading to SIDS," Byard said.

Byard said parents needed to be better educated about risk factors for accidental asphyxiation in shared-sleeping arrangements.

"It is generally agreed that in Western cultures, the safest place for an infant is in a cot that meets recommended safety features and is positioned beside the caregiver's bed," Byard said.

Vegetables

 
Vegetables are essential to our health and well-being, but if not prepared properly they can lose their nutritional power. Below is a list of bad habits to avoid when preparing your veggies.

Storing Vegetables in the Refrigerator

This is not the best way to store vegetables, since it can deplete certain vitamins. Spinach loses up to 84% of its vitamin C when stored in the fridge for one day, for example. Better to keep them in a dark, dry and airy place.

Trimming off Nutritious Parts of Vegetables

Many people are accustomed to trimming off parts of vegetables rather than washing them. However, this practice wastes valuable nutrients, since many vitamins are contained in the discarded trimmings.

Cooking Vegetables with Low Heat

As much as 59% of vitamin C leaves vegetables cooked over low heat, but when cooked over high heat, the number drops to 17%. In addition, stewing vegetables is not a good idea. Put a little vinegar in the pot when cooking vegetables to help prevent the loss of nutrients.

Letting Cooked Vegetables Get Cold

Sometimes people prefer cooking dinner in advance and waiting until the whole family gets home. Bad call, since 20% of the nutrients contained in vegetables can vanish during the waiting process. It gets worse when veggies are reheated, since as much as 20% of vitamin B and 25% of vitamin C are lost during the process.

Leaving behind the Soup

Chinese are fond of fried vegetables with the juice stewed out. Meanwhile, many people tend to leave behind the soup and only eat the vegetables, which is really a waste because most of the vitamins wind up in the broth. Take vitamin C for example: 70% of the nutrient is dissolved in cabbage soup, and 50% in bean soup.

Frying Vegetables with Meat

Though common, this not a good way to cook vegetables, because they absorb the grease from the meat. For this reason, it is especially bad for people on diets.

Eating Vegetables Only

Vegetarians might need to pay extra attention to this particular tip, as the human body needs help absorbing the nutrients found in vegetables. Such help comes from proteins and riboflavin, both found in meat. This doesn't mean cooking vegetables together with meat, however. Instead, serve them separately.

Washing Vegetables after Slicing Them

This habit washes away most of whatever nutrients are contained in the vegetable.

Eating Raw Vegetables

Raw vegetables can bring potential health problems if they are not washed well. Be sure to soak them in salty clean water for a while before making salads.

No Smoking, Smoking is Injurious to Health

Tips for reduce weight in 7 days

Please note the following points before you take up this weight loss diet regime.

• If you are not comfortable, you can discontinue the diet program on any day.

• You must drink at least 7 glasses of water everyday unless specifically mentioned to drink more in the regime below.

• Continue this program till you lose extra weight. Once you attain proper weight, you may either continue or discontinue the diet regime and follow it whenever you need to.

• This is one of the top 10 diet plans if you are aiming at gradual and healthy weight loss.

• This is a low carb diet plan. If you are suffering from any illness and require high carb diet, consult your doctor before you follow this weight loss plan.

• Don’t blame me if you don’t lose enough weight. Just continue the regime for another 7 days.  

 

Seven Day Diet Regime – Targeting a weight loss of up to 4 Kgs a week

Day 1 [Fruits] – Day one of your diet regime will start with all fruits diet. You may eat fruits of your choice and in any quantity. There is no limit. Eat till your stomach is full. In case you don’t find fruits in nearby stores, you can substitute it with packaged fruit juices but avoid fruit juices that have preservatives in it, they don’t really do any good in this case. On day one, you must eat fruits ONLY and don’t forget to drink at least 7 glasses of water.
Note: The only fruit that will not be on your plate is Banana. Every other fruit is ok except banana. Don’t limit it to just one fruit, have as many different fruits you can.

Day 2 [Vegetables] – This is all vegetables day. If you prefer, you may have raw or/and cooked vegetables. Eat as much as you want to, no quantity restrictions. If you want to cook the vegetables, you may do so but avoid using oil while you cook. 7 glasses of water today also.

Day 3 [Fruits and Vegetables] – On day three, you will eat a mixture of fruits and vegetables. No quantity restrictions, eat till you fill your stomach. Also, eat one banana today, just one!

Day 4 [Vegetables, Bananas and Milk] – Today you will eat 6 bananas, 3 glasses of milk and small quantity of vegetables. In the morning, your breakfast will start with 2 bananas and one big glass of milk. You will follow this in the afternoon for your lunch. In the evening eat 2 bananas, eat vegetables and drink one glass of milk.

Day 5 [Rice and tomatoes] – Today you will have one cup of rice, six full tomatoes (medium size) and since you are having lots of tomatoes, drink 10 glasses of water today.

Day 6 [Rice and Vegetables] – One cup of rice and raw/cooked vegetables of your choice. It’s recommended that you eat rice in the morning and for rest of the day, eat vegetables.

Day 7 [Fruits, Vegetables and Rice] – On day seven, eat fruits, vegetables and 1 cup of rice. You may substitute fruits and vegetables with juices as well, but that is to avoid.
This diet regime works well by burning more fat than accumulating it and since it avoids all sorts of food items that eventually gets converted to fat to become a part of your body, the weight loss is faster and harmless.

 

Frequently asked weight loss & diet questions/answers

 

Q: Does diet and exercise help lose weight?

A: Yes! A diet that’s rich in proteins and vitamins but low on carbohydrates and fat helps you stay fit. Low carb diet helps reduce the excess fat from your body but it’s a gradual process and you must not expect to lose weight overnight. Exercising regularly helps burn calories and fat in your body and keeps you fit. Even a walk for 10 mins or climbing 20 stairs helps burn calories.

 

Q: What are the most easy ways to lose weight?

A: Some easy ways to lose weight is by controlling your diet and exercising regularly. Prefer a diet that’s low in carbs and at the same time doing exercise will create a deficit of calories in your body which will help in faster burning of the excessive fat from your body.

 

Q: Can drinking only water help lose weight?

A: Certainly not! Although water has zero calories it also has no proteins or nutritions. The only suggestion about water is to replace soda drinks with water. By only drinking water you should not expect any weight loss.

 

Q: What is BMI (Body Mass Index)?

A: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a statistical measure of the weight of a person scaled according to height, to determine amount of body fat and applies to both men and women. The following are the BMI categories:
BMI value of less than 18.5 -> Underweight
BMI value of between 18.5 and 24.9 -> Normal weight
BMI value of between 25.0 and 29.9 -> Overweight
BMI value of 30 and above -> Obese

 

Q: How is BMI calculated?

A: When measurement units for weight is in kilograms and height is in meters:
Formula: weight (kg) / [height (m)]2
Example: Weight = 68 kg, Height = 165 cm (1.65 m)
Calculation: 68 ÷ (1.65)2 = 24.98
When measurement units for weight is in pounds and height is in inches:
Formula: weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703
Example: Weight = 150 lbs, Height = 5’5” (65″)
Calculation: [150 ÷ (65)2] x 703 = 24.96
Please post your feedback and suggestions in the comments section below.

tips for cure acidity (gastric)

Stomach acidity or hyperacidity conditions are a common problem. Ask the person sitting right beside you in a bus if he had experienced bouts of acidity attacks. Chances are great that he or she would answer you with a big YES. Why is this so? Our stomach produces acid to digest the food that we eat. This is a regular and natural process. Whenever we eat, cells within the lining of the stomach pump acid to liquefy your sumptuous dinner, from mash potatoes to a slab of steak.
Problem occurs when these cells produce large amount of acid, more than your stomach needs. When this happens, you will suffer from stomach acidity. You would know if you were suffering from stomach acidity if you feel a burning sensation just above the stomach, or right below (the hollow part) your breastbone. This is the most classic sign of acidity. Other people experience acid regurgitation. This happens when you are lying horizontal on your bed. You may have a sour taste in your mouth, which resembles the taste of an orange puree that had gone stale. Acid regurgitation oftentimes results to heartburn, or that pain near the heart area.

01. Skip the aerated drinks as well as the caffeine. Opt for herbal tea instead.

02. Have a glass of lukewarm water every day.

03. Include banana, watermelon and cucumber in your daily diet. Watermelon juice is great for curing acidity.

04. Coconut water is known to soothe the system if you suffer from acidity.

05. Drink a glass of milk – everyday.

06. Have your last meal at least two to three hours before you hit the sack.

07. Keeping long intervals between meals is another cause for acidity. Have small but regular meals.

08. Try to avoid pickles, spicy chutneys, vinegar, etc.

09. Boil some mint leaves in water and have a glass of this after meals.

10. Sucking on a piece of clove is another effective remedy.

11. Jaggery, lemon, banana, almonds and yogurt are all known to give you instant relief from acidity.

12. Excessive smoking and drinking will increase acidity, so cut down.

13. Try chewing gum. The saliva generated helps move food through the esophagus, easing symptoms of heartburn.

14. Ginger aids in digestion. Either buy powdered ginger in capsule forms or add the herb to your recipes.

15. A simple preparation of lemon water with sugar can be sipped on an hour before lunch to reduce uneasiness.

16. Have vegetables like drumsticks, beans, pumpkin, cabbage, carrot and spring onions.

…:: wish you a long, happy and healthy life::…

20 Tips for Lose Weight...

1. Have you tried to give up sugar and haven’t succeeded? Instead of forbidding yourself certain foods – just eat less of them. If you must have sugar in your tea, cut it down from two spoons to one.

2. Ever notice how if you eat when you’re ravenous, you tend to overeat? So try eating more regularly, even if it means more frequently. Eat an average of 5 small meals a day, instead of 2 or 3 large ones, where you stuff yourself.

3. Be conscious about what you eat . Keep a food diary and note down everything you eat. You may be shocked at the results.

4. Eat or snack only on the dinner table, not on the couch in front of your television. Once you make a policy out of this, you’ll cut down on snacks tremendously. Don’t get too comfortable while eating. Its always better to eat on the go. Always sit straight on the chair .

5. Make rules for yourself. If you experience cravings, give yourself ten minutes before you attack the refrigerator . In most cases, the craving would just die down and you’d walk away.

6. Drink a lot of water. This reduces hunger pangs and gives you more energy.

7. When you decide to finally attack your weight problem, you want it gone by the weekend. But realise that that is just not a realistic approach. If you want it off permanently, you’ve got to take it slow. It may even take up to a year to get to your desired weight – that’s fine, because you’ve got more of a chance of maintaining it.

8. Join an aerobics class. It’s more disciplined and it’s always better to work out in a group.

9. Stay busy. Don’t just sit around wasting time. Chances are your mind will wander to that delicious chocolate cake Partake in activities that are not conducive to eating. Join a singing class, take up oil painting or gardening – cultivate a hobby.

10. If you have to snack, try this. Put your hand in the packet of wafers and take out a fistful. Finish off whatever you get your hands on – and that’s it.

11. Don’t stack up on fattening yummy foods. Its easiest to control food intake if you just don’t have it around. If you feel like chocolate cake, buy a pastry so it doesn’t hang out in the refrigerator all week till you polish it off. Similarly, don’t keep tubs of ice cream in the freezer. Buy a cup or two and eat it when the mood strikes.

12. When you reach for the refrigerator, stop and question yourself. Are you just bored or are you really hungry? In most of the cases the answer will be the former.

13. Stick little post-it notes on the refrigerator saying, Stop! Or Reach for a glass of water.

14. Buy clothes a size smaller and work towards fitting into them.

15. Don’t beat yourself up or lose heart just because you’ve slipped up a few times. You need to keep a positive outlook and keep encouraging yourself.

16. Visualise how you will look without those extra kilograms.

17. Take up yoga.

18. Find new and different ways to measure how far you’ve come. Don’t just stick to the weighing scale. Scout around in your cupboard and try on old clothes that are big for you’re excellent motivation.

19. Find a partner to work out with or to support you. Enlist the help of a friend and go for activities that don’t involve snacking. Take up tennis, go cycling don’t just meet friends over lunch or dinner.

20. Get motivated. No one is going to lose your weight for you. You’re going to have to do it all by yourself, and if the motivation doesn’t come from within you, no amount of friends and family pushing you to lose weight is going to help.

15 Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

RETINAL STIMULATION – make it a point to go outside and stimulate your retinas (eyes) for bout 15 minutes a day with sunlight. This “full on” light exposure can help restore your body’s natural sleep/night cycle, also known as the “circadian rhythm.” Looking straight into the sun is never a good idea, but being in an area where you receive the full brightness of the sun around you is what’s recommended.

NO NAPS – Avoid naps during the day. If you sleep during the day, your body may not be as tired as necessary to get to sleep at night.

COOL ROOM – Keep the temperature in your room cool and comfortable.

WAKING ACTIVITIES – Don’t participate in waking activities while in bed, like watching TV, eating, talking on the telephone, texting your friends, or using your laptop. Remember, bed has traditionally been for sleep. Train yourself to limit your bed-related activities, and your body will begin to associate your bed with sleepiness. Reading in bed is different. Reading can help you focus your mind, especially if what you read is boring. Save the murder mysteries for daytime and pick up a boring book for sleep. Reading in bed is an age-old trick for quickly getting to sleep.

GO TO BED AT REGULAR TIME – There’s no easy answer to the problem of being too tired during day-time and not tired enough at bed-time. Nonetheless, most experts agree that it is most helpful for you to go to bed at a regular, planned time. If you need to sleep more, it’s better for you to go to bed at your regular time and get up earlier. With time, your body should re-adjust and give you the hours you need. Be careful about driving or operating machinery when not fully rested, though. If you feel tired to the point of losing visual focus, you should definitely not be operating heavy machinery – no matter what. When not sleeping well for a period of time, ask someone else to drive you to work, if you can.



DON’T EXERCISE (<3 HOURS) – Don’t exercise within three hours of trying to fall asleep – this raises the heart rate. Slow stretching on the other hand might be just what the doctor ordered to get your body slowed down and feeling good.

DON’T EAT STIMULATING FOODS (<3 HOURS) – Don’t eat stimulating foods within three hours of trying to fall asleep – lying horizontally interrupts digestion and may cause heartburn. Also, eating high fat and carbohydrate foods might help make you groggy and help you fall asleep, but calorie-conscious people may need to weigh the benefits of such an approach to insomnia.

AVOID STIMULANTS (<2-3 hours) – Avoid all stimulants such as caffeinated and nicotine in cigarettes. Caffeinated products include coffee, tea, sodas, and especially colas. Even some aspirin or other headache remedies often contain caffeine! “Energy drinks”, Mountain Dew and a wide variety of other “energy bars” or supplements often contain a high amount of stimulating products. Check your vitamin and other supplements to make sure none of them are stimulating as well. (Look them up on an Internet search engine if you are unsure.) Check labels to see if products like aspirin are in any other product you take before bed. It is a surprise to many people to learn that even cigarettes can be stimulating when you are tired. Stay away from all these substances if you want a good night’s sleep.

AVOID LIQUIDS. (<2 HOURS) – many people are just simply drinking too many fluids before sleep. Parents with bedwetting children learn to curtail all liquids about 2 hours before sleep, thereby allowing the child’s body to void excess liquids about 30-60 minutes before actual bed-time. Well, adults have the same pattern of voiding as children. If liquids are taken before sleep, those liquids create an urgency to urinate that can awaken the adult. While that adult usually has enough bladder control to get to the bathroom, they often do not have the ability to get back to sleep. Stop drinking before sleep, and see if you stop waking up to urinate.

WIND DOWN (<90 MINS) – 90 minutes before you go to bed, wind own your day and don’t participate in anxiety-inducing activities like checking your mail, email or even watching the evening news.

WRITE DOWN CONCERNS (<30 MINS) – Spend a few minutes before bed at night writing down your concerns and stresses, then hopes or things you’re thankful for, so that you can give your mind a rest while you are sleeping.

CALMING MUSIC/SELF-HYPNOSIS - Listen to calming music, white noise, self-hypnosis or a “brain recalibration” tape for sleep. Such tapes are scientifically designed to help you “reset” your brain and calm down. When developed by researchers rather than marketers, they are remarkably effective. Just be sure to buy your brain recalibration audios from reputable sleep companies, and not slick marketing companies.

GET UP IF YOU CAN”T SLEEP – If you can’t fall asleep after 15-20 minutes get out of bed.

AVOID BRIGHT LIGHTS – if you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep within 30 minutes, get up but avoid as much light as possible. Light will only stimulate your brain’s day/night balance (circadian cycle). Avoid computer-based hypnosis programs just prior to going to bed for the same reason. The light emitted from a computer screen is intense. Any strong light is more likely to stimulate and wake your nervous system.

REDIRECT NIGHTMARES/BAD THOUGHTS – If you have a nightmare or stress-inducing thoughts, focus on a different ending. Write down your nightmare, or tell someone else about it to stop the continual thoughts.