Deepesh Rajpal's Desk

Studies suggest that cholesterol problems can be talked to/looked at with simple dietary changes. And (medium-hard exercises that last for a while) further improve the cholesterol lowering effects of a healthy diet.  Here are some quick tips to lower cholesterol without drugs : 1 . Say no to trans fats Food manufacturers use trans fats because they extend the shelf life of packaged (cakes, cookies, etc.). They raise LDL (bad cholesterol), lower HDL (good cholesterol), and increase risk of developing heart disease and stroke . They're found in fried foods, (cakes, cookies, etc.) (cakes, pie crusts, frozen pizza, and cookies). Follow this rule: choose fats and oils with 2 grams or less (chicken fat, butter, cream, lard, etc.) per tablespoon. 2 . Switch to olive oil Substituting olive oil for ghee or butter may reduce LDL cholesterol by as much as 15%, which is just like the effect of a low dose of medicine The "good" fats in olive oil benefit your heart. Choose extra-virgi...

Bad rainstorms bring with them a break from the burning summer sun and a much needed drop in temperatures. But they are also known to bring along different viral, bacterial and (related to things that slowly feed off of and weaken other things) infections, some of which can be deadly. By understanding the infections that one is likely to experience/likely to get during the rainy season and having knowledge about ways to prevent them, bad rainstorms can be completely enjoyed in a healthy way. Here are the 3 most common diseases that occur during the rainy season and ways by which you can stay away from being infected:  1 .   Diseases Spread By Water-logging -One of the deadliest diseases that can spread due to water logging is leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that spreads from rat urine contaminated water. The bacteria can enter through cuts, scraped, worn area or through mucous membrane from the eyes, nose, sinuses and mouth. -Symptoms include...

Our immunity is really a tricky entity. It is composed of various components like the good bacteria living in our stomach and the white blood cells that actually fight germs in our body.A weak immune system, doctors say can also be party genetic. However, all experts agree that the following simple steps can go a long way in strengthening one’s immunity: 1 . Get Adequate Sleep Sleep is the most potent healer that the human body is capable of, by itself. While we sleep, our bodies produce a hormone melatonin, an antioxidant and also an anti-inflammatory chemical. This relaxes and heals the body from within. 2 . Exercise Everyday Besides a whole host of benefits that we are aware of, regular exercise can effectively boost immunity. It reduces the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The body produces the ‘feel-good’ hormone endorphin while you exercise that acts as a natural healer. 3 . Eat Fresh Include green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, carrots and fresh fruits in your diet....

From the steam that eases congestion, and the stuff we swim in, and the ice that reduces swelling, water is all around us. The ubiquitous attribute of water makes it a very important and rich resource, whose health benefits are often ignored or underrated. Water even makes up for two thirds of our bodies, which inevitably brings the question – what are the main benefits of drinking water and why should we keep ourselves hydrated? Let’s see a list of benefits that come attached with drinking water and how these can be treated as health tips: Aids in weight loss : Whether you are into power yoga, cardio or a simple gym nut, drinking plenty of water can help in weight loss. Various scientific studies have found out that people who drink water before any meal, lose weight faster than people who don’t. This is so because by this way, the upped intake of H2O makes us feel full, active and may also help boost metabolism Helps fight fatigue: With increasingly complex choices where more and mo...

Jogging is one of those rare physical activities that completely define healthy living. It is also one of the most popular workout regimes that helps keep one in shape or lose weight by focusing on target and core muscles. Also, it does not require athletic training or special skill set, which makes it an ideal workout plan for most of the people. There are no exigent exercise tips that one needs to remember before starting this workout, as the only prerequisite to it is to own a good pair of running shoes! Furthermore, no home tips are also required as the exercise is as simple as it gets – whether you start off early in the morning or after your work hours in the evening. Its benefits are aplenty and are summarized below: ·              Improved cardiovascular system         Regular jogging can help improve cardiovascular endurance system of the body as it challenges           your lungs and heart. By prov...

Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes has reached endemic proportions across the world, which occurs when pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or they are not utilized effectively by the body. International Diabetes Federation (IDF) stated that by 2011, approximately 366 million people around the world were affected by type 2 diabetes and the figure is expected to reach 552 million by 2030. Closer to home, India has one of the largest population living with type 2 diabetes (61.3 million) and the same is expected to rise to 101.2 million by 2030, which indicates that in the next twenty years, one-fifth of the diabetic population will be in India. As such, India faces challenges in the prevention of the chronic disease, which has reached pandemic proportions, making Indians highly susceptible to the disease. Challenging factors:       Diet : Indian diet is usually rich in saturated fats and carbohydrates, which contributes in making up for more calories and sugar tha...

Hypertension or high blood pressure, as we all know, is a chronic ailment which is quite common among the masses. However, the symptoms of the same are not easy to detect as many people suffer from it without being aware of the same. In some cases, hypertension is diagnosed only when BP is measured and that can sometimes lead to extremely serious complications including heart stroke. There are basically two categories of High BP :- a)   Primary     b)   Secondary Primary Hypertension is not associated with any specific cause. It can happen to anyone over a period of time. Hereditary blood pressure falls under this category. Secondary Hypertension, on the other hand, occurs due to another adverse health condition. Although this disease is not associated with many symptoms but there are certain frequent conditions which can be termed as hypertension symptoms.  These include: 1)    Headaches (from dull to severe) 2)    Dizzy Spells 3)...

‘You should drink one glass of warm lemon water every morning as soon as you wake up’ – you might have often come across this health advice. Have you ever wondered why it is so? What is the benefit of drinking warm lemon water every morning? Read on to find the answer to this question. Boosts Energy   Energy is probably the first thing that you need in the morning! A glass of warm lemon water will provide you just that. The molecules present in a lemon can charge up the body instantly and improve your mood, as well. It has also been proved that mere scent of lemon can render a calming effect to our body. Enhances your immunity Our immune system tends to get weaker with age. Vitamin-C is a component which can give our immune levels an instant boost and lemons, as we all know, are loaded with this vitamin. So, lemon water every morning is the key to staying fit and healthy always. Freshens Breath Lemon water is an effective mouth freshener along with fighting dental problems such as ...

Hypertension or high blood pressure, a condition that is extensively prevalent in India. Blood pressure, as it is known, is the pressure of blood in heart as well as in blood vessels. Low blood pressure can cause dizziness while high blood pressure can be a cause for a severe headache. In both the cases, it can prove to be risky for our overall health. In simple terms, it is quite imperative to maintain our blood pressure level to its healthiest best, i.e. 120/80. Several studies in the past years have suggested certain lifestyle changes, which if followed, can help you achieve a normal blood pressure and sustain it, as well. What are these lifestyle changes? Scroll down to find out Balance your intake of Carbohydrates Excessive weight is sometimes regarded as one of the major reasons for blood pressure abnormality. The increase in weight can be said to be directly proportional to our diet especially carbohydrate consumption. Indulge more in a diet with low carbs as it will keep a che...

A beverage that you must have heard a lot about in health columns and magazines is green tea. Touted as one of the healthiest drinks available on the planet today, this herbal beverage is quite delicious, as well. What does this drink has which has made it so popular among health driven people? Why is it considered as a healthy substitute for the regular tea? The answers to these questions lie in the remarkable benefits of green tea. Improves Brain Functionality Caffeine, a compound, which is known by every coffee and tea drinker, is present in green tea, as well. But, the amount present is not as much as coffee but is enough to produce the desired effect. The caffeine present in green tea is known to sharpen the memory and enhance the brain’s response time making an individual smarter. Apart from caffeine, another compound known as amino acid L-theanine which combines with caffeine to produce a synergistic effect and improve the brain’s functionality. Burns Fat Surprisingly, green tea...

There are approximately 30 million heart patients in India as per 2015 statistics. Today still, the cardiac problems among Indians are on the rise. What are the reasons behind increasing cardiovascular issues? What are the major risk factors that lead to cardiac arrest? Let’s find out. There are basically two kinds of risk factors that can lead to cardio vascular problems A)                  Fixed risk factors B)                  Factors that can be prevented A. FIXED RISK FACTORS Fixed risk factors are such factors, which cannot be prevented or altered. These factors include: 1)      Age – The older one gets, the higher is the risk of suffering from a cardiac arrest. 2)      A family history- if you have a family history of either of your parents or siblings, then your risk of a cardiac ar...

'Laughter is the best medicine ' – We hear this phrase every now and then. This is not just a stated fact but carry an extremely significant meaning, as well. Laughing at least 5-7 times in a day can prove to be highly effective for our overall health. How? Scroll down and find it yourself. A great Cardiac workout Laughing with all your heart can prove to be remarkably helpful for your heart health. It can be a great cardiac workout for people who are suffering from any injury. Laughing pumps up the heart, burning as much calories as one can burn by walking at a moderate pace. So, laugh it out and ensure a healthy heart. Lowers BP Laughing is indeed the best medicine when it comes to lowering the high blood pressure levels. Laughter can also reduce the risk of minor strokes and heart attack. Boosts Immunity Laughing hard can provide an effective boost to the T-cells present in our body. T-cells are the specialized immune cells, which get activated when you laugh thus strengthen...

Diabetes, especially Type-2 diabetes is often termed as the 'silent killer disease'. Why? The reason behind it is that this disease does not come with prominent symptoms. Sometimes this disease is not detected until the condition gets severe. However, there are certain symptoms of Type-1 and Type-2 Diabetes, which one should know, in order to identify this ailment at an earlier stage. Let us gain an elaborative insight about this chronic disease and the warning signs that it comes with. 1. Intensive Thirst One of the earliest symptoms of diabetes is peeing more than regular. A normal individual usually pees for 4-7 times in a day but a diabetic might do much more than that. This in turn also leads to intensive thirst as the person starts feeling much thirstier than usual. Why does this happen? This happen because the glucose, which your body reabsorbs in normal conditions, is not able to do so when your blood sugar level goes up. 2. Dry Mouth Lack of necessary amount of fluids...