A lot of youngsters and teenagers are now using artificial sweeteners instead of sugar on a regular basis. Sweeteners are also consumed in large amounts in the form of ‘diet drinks’. Sugar-free chewing gum, chocolates, ice creams and jams also find many takers. Some believe consuming sugar-free products will help them reduce weight. Some just get into it out of peer pressure. On top of that, many nutritionists and fitness centers recommend it as well.

It has been scientifically proven that sugar substitutes have many harmful side-effects. Some of the compounds used to produce these sweeteners are also used to prepare various medical drugs. So it is like popping those medicines daily in large amounts. Imagine the impact on your body if you do this continuously for months or years. Also, many of the compounds in sweeteners have been found to stimulate the formation of cancerous tumors in certain organs. Some chemicals used in these substitutes have been proven to cause damage to the kidneys.

Using sugar substitutes is not the solution to obesity. The best way by which one can  lose weight is by finding a way to get rid of excess fat in the body. Brisk walking and regular outdoor activity will help you lose weight and stay fit. Practicing a safe and healthy diet goes a long way towards shedding those extra kilos. It’s also important to cut out (more…)

The primary thing to do for treating diarrhoea is consult a doctor. There are different types of organisms which cause diarrhoea and it isn’t possible to destroy them by just drinking light coconut water or lemon tea. They have to be treated with proper medication. Otherwise they will grow rapidly in the stomach and lead to bigger problem which will require prolonged medication.

Here are some dos and don’ts which needs to be followed during diarrhoea:

Milk should be avoided as far as possible for at least 48 hours. If only milk needs to be fed to the child, make sure to dilute it with boiled water. Light tea may also be good. Best is to consume milk only in the form of curd or buttermilk for two days. For breakfast, toasted bread or idli dipped in curd can be given. Salt and sugar may be added to the curd.

The reason for avoiding milk is that it is an ideal medium for bacteria and other organisms to grow and the infection inside the body will increase instead of being controlled and destroyed. On the other hand, curd has bacteria which can fight the organisms causing the infection. Non-veg food should be avoided completely for atleast 48-72 hours. Non-veg food again is the ideal medium for organisms to grow. (more…)

Losing weight and staying fit is top priority for most people and today, there are several workout and diet options available that will help you get to that goal. You can either hit a gym or dance class or even invest in a personal gym at home to burn the calories. At the same time, though, it is important to stick to a personalized diet plan that best suits your requirement.

Before embarking on an exercise or diet routine, it is essential to figure out what you want for your body. Are you looking at losing weight or building muscle mass? Because each of these requires a different strategy.

HOW TO BUILD MUSCLE

If you are already at an ideal weight and want to build muscle, focus on strength training exercise, weights, stretches and some yoga as well at least three to four times in a week.

To build muscle mass quickly, the workout should be supplemented with a good diet. The diet must include at least three meals with a perfectly balanced mix of carbohydrates and proteins. You may consume extra protein in the form of skimmed milk or egg white. Also remember that daal should be an integral part of lunch and dinner. (more…)