Category: Body

Five Ways to Heal your Thyroid in Winter

We are in the thick of winter, and if you think that your hypothyroid or low thyroid symptoms (fatigue, brain fog, dry skin and the feeling that you will never feel warm again, ever) have a connection with the cold weather, your hunch may be right. A European Journal of Nutrition study published in 2011 connected cold weather with deficiencies in iodine, a crucial element the body needs to produce thyroid hormone. The study recruited approximately 400 healthy adults living in Brussels, Belgium, and reported that iodine concentrations in the body rose in spring and summer months and dropped in the fall and winter months. Continue reading Five Ways to Heal your Thyroid in Winter

11 Tips to Avoid Getting Sick on the Plane

Remember the H1N1 virus that created havoc in 2009? I wrote this piece back then. I’m not really sure about the bug nomenclature this year, maybe its H3.2N5.6, but that’s not the point, the point is that flights are getting increasingly crowded and the threat of picking up a virus or some other bug with a scary name on a plane is still real. Spring break may be history, but summer is just around the corner and most of us have been nursing serious cases of wanderlust since mid-January. Whether your destination is JFK, CDG or POO (the not-so-charming code for Brazil”s Poco De Caldas Airport) these tips will take you from one terminal to another in a happy and healthy way.
Continue reading 11 Tips to Avoid Getting Sick on the Plane

Mid-Month Wellness News Roundup

If you don’t have the time to sift through all the wonderful trending health news and make matching changes (we call them edits around here) to your lifestyle despite being a health enthusiast, don’t fret. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. Here are the top 4 write-ups (according to me) of the at least thousand pieces that I have read in the wellness world this mid-month. One of them is just a facebook update of one of my favorite health gurus, and the other a gist of a television show, but the information is just as exciting and the advice, just as sage. Continue reading Mid-Month Wellness News Roundup

Greens 101: Charismatic Curry Leaves

What is Indian food known for? Tandoori, kebabs, gulaab jamun and curry, right? But have you heard of the curry leaf? It is time for some insight about this pungent leafy green that is often used in Southern Indian cooking as a flavoring agent. Recently, I came upon an article that reported all sorts of wonderful benefits of the leaf and the fact that it also helped prevent diabetes and cancer. I was inspired to dig deeper to find out more about the leaves that I often set aside on my plate, forget to eat and then throw away. Why are they so awesome? What makes them so healthy? And why do I hyperventilate when I peek into the refrigerator and find out that I’m almost out of them? Continue reading Greens 101: Charismatic Curry Leaves

Greens 101: Wonderful Watercress

Take one bite of this leafy green and you’ll know that it means serious business. A plant with a 4000 year old history, Nasturtium Officinale, commonly known as watercress has been revered world over for its medicinal properties. Belonging to the mustard family, natural chemicals found in this leafy green that impart a characteristic pungency and kick to it are also responsible for its kickass healing benefits. Through its bright green color and its sinus clearing horseradish like taste, watercress can turn a ho-hum salad or a sandwich into a totally epic one. Continue reading Greens 101: Wonderful Watercress

How to Prevent Ear Infections

Ear infections in children are a common childhood illness. While common, they can cause extreme discomfort in children and often result in a trip to the doctor”s office and a prescription for an antibiotic. In addition, sometimes children who suffer an ear infection cannot hear well for sometime after the infection clears. Children suffering frequent ear infections may have language delays due to having hearing problems in a developmental phase that is critical for language acquisition. Some simple proactive steps go a long way in preventing this painful condition. Continue reading How to Prevent Ear Infections

Do Phthalates in Cosmetics cause Adverse health Effects?

Commonly found in cosmetics, learn why some phthalates such as dibutyl phthalate have been linked with cancer, neurotoxicity and male reproductive problems.

Virtually omnipresent in the modern world, phthalates are synthetic chemicals with multifunctional properties. Known as plasticizers, they are added to plastics to make them flexible and resilient, and are used to manufacture medical devices, vinyl flooring, garden hoses and children’s toys. Continue reading Do Phthalates in Cosmetics cause Adverse health Effects?

Making a Case for Fasting

I have often argued with my mother about her eating habits. On most days she eats breakfast at 11 AM, lunch at 3 PM and snacks on fruits for dinner. She regularly skips meals when she is not hungry and fasts regularly for religious reasons. I was convinced that her erratic eating patterns are responsible for all her existing health conditions. Or was I? Continue reading Making a Case for Fasting