What to Eat And Drink in order to Stay Hydrated

     Think of the health travails of a summer day and sweat and dehydration will be the first things to pop up in your thoughts. Dehydration is the loss of water and salts from the body. It occurs when more liquids and salts are lost than consumed. Young children and older people are at greater risk of suffering dehydration than the age groups in between.

Preserving Food In Summer

• Keep raw and cooked food separate: Meat, poultry and seafood should be wrapped separately and kept away from cooked foods or foods meant to be eaten raw such as fruits and vegetables.
• Throw away perishable leftovers that have been kept out for over two hours.
• Pre-cooked food should always be refrigerated and consumed preferably on the same day.
• Always wash raw fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water.

  

Get Summer Fit!

• Quench your thirst with water.
• Adults need to drink at least 1½ to 2 litres of water every day.
• Drink lemon juice, coconut water and buttermilk to replenish the fluids that are lost with perspiration.
• Avoid high protein diets. If on a highprotein diet, you need to drink at least 8 to 12 glasses of water every day.
• Avoid alcohol including beer and wine.
• Drink water before you go out to play or exercise. Drink in between intervals of every 15 to 20 minutes.
•  Source: ApolloLife

Check for the foods that improve Vision

     Our lifestyle choices and the foods that we choose to put on our plates can have a crucial impact on our overall health, including the health of our eyes.

While a diet high in saturated fat and sugar may increase the risk to many eye diseases; including healthy foods such as whole grains, dark greens and brightly coloured fruits and vegetables help in promoting good eyesight and preventing age related eye damage.

Foods that improve VISION:

Dark green leafy vegetables: Lutein, found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli is one of the best known eye-protecting antioxidants.

Carrots, pumpkins and berries: The brightly coloured, especially red and yellow fruits and vegetables are rich in beta carotenoids (vitamin A), antioxidants and Vitamin C, which are essential for good eye health. It is recommended that people choose a variety of fruits and vegetables in their daily diet to take advantage of the myriad nutrients that each has to offer. The best vegetables for the eyes would be carrots, methi (fenugreek leaves), spinach, sweet potatoes, lettuce leaves and fruits like mangoes, papaya, cherries, peach, and watermelon.

Our online portal ApolloLife will guide you more on this.
 

Skincare Myths Busted

As the Sun blazes out this Summer, here is helpful advice on taking care of your skin.

Myth #1:
The higher the SPF (Sun Protection Factor), the better the protection
It is a myth that SPF is a measure of a sunscreen’s ability to protect against sun’s damaging effects. SPF only measures how well a sunscreen will block UVB rays (UVB causes skin tanning and burning). Like say, if you apply a sunscreen with SPF 30, it implies that you can stay in the sun 30 times longer without burning or tanning your skin than if your skin was bare. For Indian skin, SPF 15-30 is adequate. However, you should ensure that the sunscreen is a broad spectrum one which provides both UVA and UVB protection. So look for the label ‘broad spectrum’ while buying a product, or look for ingredients like avobenzone, zinc oxide, mexoryl etc which will offer UVA protection also (UVA rays cause skin ageing) .

Myth #2:
Facials and microdermabrasion are good for your skin care routine Studies comprehensively show that facials do nothing more than make you feel good. They can’t reduce wrinkles or improve complexion. Facials can actually damage your face if the aesthetician picks, squeezes or rubs too hard! It can break down elastin and collagen (the skin’s component that adds support and elasticity), so you have to be sure the massage is very gentle. Facials shouldn’t break the skin. The basis of a good facial is to re-establish balance in the skin usually by cleansing, exfoliation, skin analysis, massage and mask.

During microdermabrasion, fine grains of aluminum oxide are forced over the skin under high pressure. This exfoliates dead skin and stimulates collagen production. But people with sensitive skinned to be prepared to see some redness afterwards. A more effective alternative is to use an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) product. AHAs are great exfoliators and slow the aging process. Recent studies indicate that AHAs may act as free radical scavengers, helping to increase collagen production. In a nutshell, facials and microdermabrasion should be used as and when your skin demands. If you follow a good skin care at home, these might not be required on a regular basis.


Myth # 3:
Expensive skin care products work best A product should not be judged by its cost, but by its ingredients and your requirements. If your skin is oily, no product meant for normal skin, however expensive, will work for you. Routine skin care products like a cleanser, moisturiser, toner and sunscreen should be selected carefully. They should enhance your skin health and should be well tolerated. You might need to change products according to the weather conditions. A summer product might not work as well in winter. You can also take the guidance of your dermatologist, who will assess your skin type, your working schedules, your requirements, budget etc. and prescribe a feasible skin care routine.

Browse ApolloLife to get some more info on the same.

Know Commonly Used Essential Oils to Rejuvenate

Every shrub, flower, bush, seed or root contains natural oils. They are often aromatic and usually volatile substances, which help in protecting the plants against insects, diseases and other environmental conditions.

These essential oils can be extracted from their sources using steam distillation process and obtained in concentrated and potent forms. Contrary to their names, essential oils are not oily and are in fact clear liquids with strong aromas, though a few essential oils such as orange, lemongrass or Pratyusha Sen patchouli do have a yellow or amber tinge.

Varied applications

• Essential oils are used in aromatherapy as their aroma has physiological and psychological therapeutic properties.
• Essential oils are used in the preparation of several cosmetic items as they have skin benefits and provide fragrance as well.
• They are used in compresses for their healing properties.
• Essential oils are used as natural air fresheners in homes.
• They are used topically for treatment of insect bites or wounds
   
  Know your oils
  The quality and prices of essential oils vary according to the rarity of the oil source, the country of its origin, the climate in which the plant grows best, the distillation quality and the oil yield. Essential oils are also available as blends of two or more oils. Essential oils are packaged in very small bottles made for individual use. They are sold in small quantities since they lose their scent and therapeutic properties if stored for long periods of time.
  
  Essential oils provide natural healing. These oils are synthesized through highly complex procedures retaining their molecular structure to deliver the best results. Using essential oils leaves no side effects and delivers slow but sure results!
  
  Essential oils should not be confused with perfumes or other fragrant oils. Perfumes are artificially created whereas essential oils are natural plant derivatives and have a stronger scent. In fact, just a dab of any essential oil goes a long way in ensuring that the fragrance lingers for long. 
•  Browse our website ApolloLife to know what are the different essential oils? 

Rice Milk And Its Pros And Cons

A lot of people are lactose intolerant or vegan and are constantly looking for dairy-free options of food and beverages. Thus, almond milk, soy milk, tofu etc. have become extremely popular choices. One other such alternative option that has recently taken the health world by storm is rice milk.

It is prepared by processing the rice grains and can be bought from stores or even made at home. But before adding something new to your diet, it’s essential to know everything about it. So here is a list of pros and cons of rice milk to make your decision easier.

Pro: It is a very safe alternative to milk
Rice milk is hypoallergenic. Since it is not made using nuts or any other allergy inducing ingredients, it is very safe to drink for those who are lactose intolerant as well as those who have nuts allergies. It also has sufficient nutrients to be consumed as a healthy alternative.

Con: It is not suitable for diabetics
Like rice, rice milk is high in starch and a single cupful has more carbohydrates than regular or soy milk. In case of diabetes, rice milk may cause a sudden sugar spike which can cause problems. Hence, it is best to avoid rice milk if you are a diabetic.

Pro: It does not contain saturated fats or unhealthy cholesterol
When compared to other milk based products or alternatives, rice milk has the least amount of fats and is considered the healthiest option. It contains minimal fats which are unsaturated and hence it is an excellent option for those who have to follow dietary restrictions due to cholesterol problems.

Con: It is low in protein
Dieticians recommend that we need to consume milk daily to get the essential intake of protein. Rice milk only has two grams of protein per cup, as compared to regular or soy milk which has seven to eight grams. Protein helps with the taste and also leads to a feeling of fullness. However, due to its low protein content, rice milk may not lead to a feeling of satiety and appetite control.

Source: Bpositive Magazine

Know Health Benefits and Nutritional Facts of Dates

Whether you are looking for a sweet treat with natural goodness or a nutritionally packed snack to fight fatigue, dates easily qualify as the perfect choice for most health enthusiasts. High in carbohydrates and fibre, and rich in exotic taste and essential minerals, dates can be a healthy addition to any diet.

 Originally dates came from the Middle East and South Asia. It was prominently so around the Persian Gulf and River Nile. Today they are grown extensively in the warm climate zones across Africa, Europe and Asia. The date fruit belongs to the ‘drupe’ category having a fleshy outer layer and an inner hardened pit with a seed.

Date variants are available either as the soft ‘Medjool’ and ‘Khadrawy’, the semi dry ‘Deglet Noor’ or the dry form ‘Thoory’. The popular and revered cultivars include ‘Medjool’, ‘Khadrawy’, ‘Amer Haji’, ‘Khalasah’, ‘Kenta’ and ‘Khajoor’.

Weighty Affair!

Dates are cholesterol free and loaded with dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These energy-dense delicious fruits are rich in potassium (which helps to check hypertension), calcium (which is useful for skeletal and dental health), selenium (the immunity booster), magnesium and copper.

If the antioxidants in dates are chiefly the powerful carotenoids, the vitamins comprise the entire range of the B complex – B6, niacin, and folic acid. It is also rich in amino acids. About 100 g of fresh dates provide 400 kcal approximately. So, the flip side is you must be careful about nibbling on too many dates! It is especially so if you are trying to watch your weight.

Browse our online health magazine Apollo Life to know more benefits of Dates.

Its all About King of Fruits - Mango

Delicious, fragrant, and a powerhouse of nutrients, this succulent fruit makes it to the top of almost every Indian’s list of favourite fruits.

A potent source of fibre and iron, mango is rich in Vitamins A, C, E and K. It contains significant amounts of phosphorus, manganese and potassism. The presence of flavonoids
and polyphenol antioxidants in the fruit provides a variety of health benefits

Digestion
The fibre found in mango helps regulate bowel movement and keeps constipation at bay. Mango contains digestive enzymes that help relieve acidity and break down proteins thereby aiding digestion

Diabetes
Mango has a low glycemic index - between 41 and 60 and it is known to reduce complications associated with diabetes. A decoction made with mango leaves is an excellent remedy for diabetics.

Heat Stroke
Unripe mango is a rich source of pectin. When steamed and juiced with cumin (jeera), rock salt and sugar, it offers relief against heat stroke or heat exhaustion in summer.

Cancer
New research suggests that the polyphenol antioxidant compounds in mango act as protection against breast and colon cancers. It is also rich in carotenes that are known to protect the body from cancers of the lung and oral cavity.

Source: ApolloLife

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Benefits of Brahmi The Healing Herb!

Herbal healing is one of the most ancient forms of holistic healing. The latest Ayurvedic herb that is finding its wave in beauty and health care is none other than Bacopa. Known by different names such as Brahmi or Water Hyssop, this creeping herb with white and pink flowers grows wild across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China and Florida.

Best-known for its memory boosting and mood stabilizing capacities, the Bacopa or Brahmi is being extensively used in beauty treatments of the hair, body and skin because of its potent antioxidant properties.

Many centuries ago, the Bacopa herb was used as a tonic for the heart and the nervous system. The main credit for it being an ideal herb for increasing brain function goes to bacopasides, chemical compounds responsible for repairing damaged neurons in the brain.

Uses Of Brahmi

• To improve memory
• As a nerve and cardio tonic; helps in Alzheimer’s disease
• As a diuretic, to help solve urinary problems
• As an adaptogenic (to adapt and adjust to a new place); helps relieve anxiety
• Increases cognitive ability; helps in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Works as an antioxidant to purify the body of harmful toxins and impurities

Brahmi For Skin And Hair:

• It strengthens hair roots and helps in treating dandruff.
• Juice extracted from the plant is used for treating epilepsy.
• Brahmi oil, infused with sesame or coconut oil, has useful benefits for the hair. When massaged deep into the scalp, it helps promote healthy and strong hair, thereby preventing hair damage such as split ends and hair discolouration.
• It works as a cooling agent. Massage the head with Brahmi oil and it will surely give you a restful night’s sleep.
• Regular use of Brahmi oil helps increase concentration, improve retention and memory.
• A paste prepared from its leaves works as an antibacterial cure for
  treating Syphilitic sores.
• Brahmi oil, used in a warm bath, helps in treating dry and damaged skin.
• Powdered organic Brahmi, added to cream cleansers, works effectively as an effective exfoliant.
• Source: ApolloLife

Know Common Causes Of Occupational Nerve Injuries

Things like complex-regional pain syndrome or carpel tunnel syndrome account for some common occupational nerve injuries. All these injuries are mostly related to the peripheral nervous system. Injury to a peripheral nerve or a dysfunctional peripheral nerve can be cause for concern, because it can distort or interrupt the signals or communication between the brain and the related part of the body.

Patients with acute trauma are easily identifiable by the emergency of the event, as in the case of crush injury or laceration. But, repeated mechanical injuries resulting from external forces, as when using a tool in a certain manner or maintaining a body part in a certain position for long periods, may cause sub acute or chronic dysfunct of nerves. The affected person or worker is likely to overlook or ignore the problem until the impaired function affects productivity and safety.
Common Causes Of Occupational Nerve Injuries

• Laceration
• Focal contusion
• Stretching/traction injury
• Compression
• Electric injury

The peripheral nerves are susceptible to such injury because they do not have the barrier of protection that the skull or the spinal cord or the bloodstream provides to the other nerves.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis of individual nerve dysfunction can be done with an assessment of the history of loss of specific motor and sensory function and with standard neurological examination. Nerve conduction test and electromyography study help in differentiating between lesser and higher grades of injury. If the nerve injury is a result of trauma, X-rays, CT scan or MRI scan may be needed to assess the associated injury to bones, cartilage, muscles, tendons and ligaments. 

Source: ApolloLife

Some Ayurvedic Principles in Diet

Whilst the basic elements of a healthy balanced diet regime comprising fibre-dense grains, fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts remain the same, an ayurvedic diet also outlines the specific foods which must be included or avoided as per the existing doshas in an individual. Such a personalised diet with a holistic approach ensures optimum health and vitality.

Ayurvedic Diet Principles

As per ayurvedic classification, our body’s metabolism is governed by three doshas or characteristic body humours which determine our physiology, temperament and risk to diseases. It is believed that the Panch Tatva i.e. jal, vayu, agni, aakash and prithvi make up our body and the way they work in our body is described as doshas, namely Vaata, Pitta and Kapha . Each dosha constitutes a combination of any two Tatva or elements and the two most predominant dosha decide the ‘Prakruti’ of an individual. This unique doshic thumbprint must be maintained and any imbalance or ‘vikriti’ in the dosha levels results in ailments. An ayurvedic practitioner analyses the individual’s prakruti, dosha tendencies, degree of ama (or toxins) and the strength of digestive fire before designing a customised ayurvedic diet.

Certain basic principles of an ayurvedic diet regime are:

A meal must include the six rasas or flavours like sweet (madhur), salty( lavana), sour (amla), pungent (tikha), bitter ( katu) and astringent (kasahaya). Each flavour or taste enjoys a unique impact on different doshas.  Vaata is pacified by sweet, sour and salty foods; kapha by bitter, pungent and astringent foods and pitta by sweet, pungent and astringent foods. But it is not as simple as a formula! For instance, eating more of vaata pacifying foods by a vaata person may aggravate his kapha dosha and again create imbalance. So moderation is the key.

Apollo Life will guide you more on types of different diet types.

Tooth Paste Types and their Main Purposes

The humble toothpaste makes its way into all our grocery lists. But how many of us are truly informed about this hygiene essential, is a different story altogether. The earliest toothpastes originated in India, Egypt and China. They were made of flower petals, salt and water mixed into a thick paste and rubbed onto teeth using twigs of medicinal plants. 

Modern day toothpastes have a base of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide along with various other additives which cater to a variety of dental requirements.

Types Of Toothpastes:

Just the number of options you have when you buy a tube of toothpaste can be overwhelming. Should you go for tartar control or fluoride or both? Not to mention whitening toothpastes or formulas with all natural ingredients. When it comes to choosing the best toothpaste for you, it’s important to think about your unique oral health needs.

• Fluoride Toothpaste

Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars and starch that remain on your teeth after eating. Fluoride helps protect your teeth from the acid that is released when this happens. It works in two ways. First, fluoride makes your tooth enamel stronger and therefore it is less likely to suffer acid damage. Second, it can reverse the early stages of acid damage by re-mineralising areas that have started to deca.

• Toothpaste For Sensitive Teeth

For people who have teeth that are easily irritated - for instance, by hot or cold temperatures - there are toothpastes that are specially formulated for sensitive teeth. These toothpastes usually contain potassium nitrate or strontium chloride. These chemical compounds, which can take up to four weeks to offer relief, reduce tooth sensitivity by blocking pathways through the teeth that attach to nerves.

• Whitening Toothpaste

To help people on a quest for pearly whites, many whitening toothpastes are now being marketed for everyday use. Whitening toothpastes do not typically contain bleaches. Instead, they contain abrasive particles or chemicals that effectively polish the teeth or bind to stains and help pull them off the tooth surface. Although you might be concerned that the abrasiveness of whitening toothpastes could damage your teeth, studies suggest that whitening toothpastes are no harder on tooth enamel than other types of toothpastes.

Read our site ApolloLife to know how to Choose The Best Toothpaste?

Underarm Sweating can be Treatable

Excessive sweating of the underarms is called axillary hyperhidrosis. Although neurologic, metabolic and other systemic diseases can sometimes cause excessive sweating, most cases occur in people who are otherwise healthy(primary hyperhidrosis).

Heat and emotions may trigger hyperhidrosis in some, but many who suffer from hyperhidrosis sweat nearly all the time, regardless of their mood or the weather.

Treatment :

Over-the-counter antiperspirants:
Home remedies like these are usually tried first because they are readily available. Antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride (for example: by Dove or Oriflame) may be more effective when other antiperspirants have failed. So-called "natural"antiperspirants are often not very helpful.

Prescription-strength antiperspirants:
These are the ones containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate.

Iontophoresis:
A device that passes direct electricity through the skin using tap water – difficult to use.

Oral medications:
From the group of medications known as anticholinergics, which reduce sweating – have uncomfortable adverse effects.

Botox (botulinum toxin):
Has been approved in the U.S. by the FDA for treating excessive axillary (underarm) sweating.

Surgery:
Cervical sympathectomy (ETS), as a last resort.

Check out ApolloLife website to know what is the Role of Botox in order to treat excessive sweating.

Explore various options for Childcare

The outlook for a child with a hole in the heart is very good, irrespective of whether it is remedied by surgical intervention or non-surgical intervention. Explore the options for the child in your care.

 The commonest of the birth defects observed in infants and newborns are largely related to the heart. The incidence of congenital pediatric cardiac abnormality is almost one in every 100 pregnancies. The diagnosis may be made during pregnancy or sometimes after the birth of the baby. The diagnosis of heart defects in a newborn or pediatric cardiac abnormality or pediatric cardiac ailment usually involves a pediatrician hearing a heart murmur. A heart murmur happens to be an abnormal heart sound. A cardiologist comes into the picture for confirmation – he will perform an echocardiogram to confirm whether the heart murmur is from an abnormality or whether it is just an innocent murmur. An abnormality noted thus is often a condition of the heart, which on occasions also warrants surgical intervention.


Cardiac defects in newborns and infants are mainly of two types -
One of them is the case where the newborn or the baby turns blue and the case where the baby does not turn blue. Almost all conditions in which the baby turns blue require surgical intervention. The other may be treated by balloon angioplasty or device closure. Both these methods are nonsurgical. The more common defect is a ‘hole in the heart’.

Pure And Impure Run Ins

The case presenting as a ‘hole in the heart’ may be a ventricular defect or an atrial defect. The isolated hole is found between the chambers carrying red and blue blood (pure or oxygenated blood and impure or deoxygenated blood respectively). The condition arising from an isolated hole in the heart should not be confused with conditions where a hole is present in association with many other abnormalities of the heart. The outlook for a child with a hole in the heart is very good, irrespective of whether it is remedied by surgical intervention or non-surgical intervention; non-surgical remedy is generally done through stenting or angioplasty as in adults.

A hole in the heart results in extra blood flow to the lungs. The affected child is susceptible to chest infections and has difficulty in gaining weight; the child’s parents and guardians will encounter problems when feeding the child.

ApolloLife guide you to know further on the heart care condition in kids.

Things to know about Asthma

No one really knows what causes asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways in the lungs. The consensus is that a mix of hereditary and environmental factors cause it, but the scientific community is still to crack the ‘how exactly’.

 What every asthma patient knows too well though, is that it causes recurring attacks of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing.

Tightening Airways:

Asthma makes the airways become extra-sensitive, when the inflammation lasts a while. Various triggers like allergens, viruses, dust, smoke, stress, etc. can then cause faster and impacting damage, by:

• Swelling up the airways, making them narrower, limiting the airflow.
• Tightening the muscles that surround the airways, making them even narrower
• Producing too much mucus, which blocks the airways
• Making the airways extra-sensitive to irritants

Sitting Ducks:

• Blame it on the genes, but you are more likely to get asthma if it’s been already running in your family.
• Children with eczema or food allergy are more likely than other children to develop asthma.
• If you have an existing allergy to pollen, house dust mites or pets, your chances for developing this illness go up.
• Exposure to tobacco smoke, air pollution or other inhaled irritants can also cause asthma symptoms.

 Browse Apollo Life to know more details on Asthma and its treatment.

Facts about Endometriosis

As the lining of the uterus is also in the intestines and stomach region they have other problems like constipation, flatulence and painful bowel movements? Hence how can it to cured? 

Yes if the disease is sometimes spread to other organs surgical treatment can cure, but many times these women require some kind of medication lifelong.

Feeling of bloating or altered bowel habits is one of the nonspecific symptoms often ignored by women. In fact the gold standard method of diagnosis of endometriosis is laparoscopy. 

It is also one of the reasons for three types of ovarian cancer, which are they and how many such cases are found in India? 

Yes studies have shown that women who have endometriosis can have 2-3 times higher chances of developing certain types of ovarian cancer namely endometroid or clear cell ovarian carcinoma. 

At which stage does the cancer develop in these women? 

This is s a difficult to answer this question. We do not know if all women with endometriosis will develop cancer and if so when. It is important for women with endometriosis to be in follow up of a doctor and take appropriate treatment as and when required.

Author: Dr.Rooma Sinha