10 beneficial acupressure points for weight loss and good health

Loknath Das
10 beneficial acupressure points for weight loss and good health

Acupressure is based on the concept of life energy flowing through different meridians in the body. So, just by pressing certain points in the body, you can clear any blockage in the meridians and treat different diseases. “Studies have suggested that acupressure is effective in treating nausea and vomiting, lower back pain, tension headaches and stomach ache,” says Dr Manoj Kutteri, wellness director at Atmantan Wellness Centre. Some points can also help with weight loss. According to acupressure, vital energy or “qi” flows through the body. When the flow is…

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Here’s how heart diseases affect men and women differently. Find out if you’re at risk

Loknath Das
Here’s how heart diseases affect men and women differently. Find out if you’re at risk

Heart diseases have emerged as the leading cause for fatalities in men and women world over and also in India. The risk of heart diseases to both sexes is grave, but heart diseases affect men and women differently. Over one crore annual deaths are reported in India and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) cause 20.3% deaths in men and 16.9 percent deaths in women. Despite having a lower mortality rate than men, reports have often suggested that women are more at risk of CVD related deaths. Another Indian study reports that the incidence…

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Snacking on almonds in the morning can help lower cholesterol, glucose

Loknath Das
Snacking on almonds in the morning can help lower cholesterol, glucose

A morning snack of almonds may reduce total cholesterol, and improve the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar in breakfast-skipping college students, a study claims. Many college students tend to skip meals, mostly breakfast, while they transition to a more hectic independent lifestyle, said researchers from the University of California Merced in the US. According to the American Heart Association, daily breakfast consumption may decrease cardiometabolic risk factors including blood sugar and insulin metabolism, they said. “This study, the first among a college student population, shows that for those who…

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Cancer rarely affects elephants, here’s the real reason behind it

Loknath Das
Cancer rarely affects elephants, here’s the real reason behind it

Researchers have identified a “zombie” gene that protects elephants from cancer, a finding that may pave the way for a new treatment for humans. Globally, nearly 1 in 6 human deaths occur due to cancer, whereas less than 5% of captive elephants — who also live for about 70 years, and have about 100 times as many potentially cancerous cells as humans — die of the disease. Humans and elephants have one copy of the master tumour suppressor gene p53, which recognises unrepaired DNA damage — a precursor of cancer and…

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Babies in strollers are exposed to twice more pollution than adults

Loknath Das
Babies in strollers are exposed to twice more pollution than adults

Babies in prams can be exposed to up to 60 per cent more pollution than their parents, causing potential damage to their frontal lobe and impacting on their brain development, a study has found. Researchers from the University of Surrey in the UK examined over 160 references to highlight the factors concerning the pollution exposure of babies in prams and associated mitigation strategies. The study, published in the journal Environment International, also investigated different types of prams based on their height, width, and whether they seat one child or two…

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Adding cabbage and broccoli to your diet may help prevent colon cancer

Loknath Das
Adding cabbage and broccoli to your diet may help prevent colon cancer

Chemicals produced by vegetables such as kale, cabbage and broccoli could help to maintain a healthy gut and prevent colon cancer, a study has found. The research, published in the journal Immunity, shows that mice fed on a diet rich in indole-3-carbinol – which is produced when we digest vegetables from the Brassica genus – were protected from gut inflammation and colon cancer. While the health benefits of vegetables are well-established, many of the mechanisms behind them remain unknown. This study offers the first concrete evidence of how I3C in…

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Move over cold medicines, exercise is the best cure for a runny nose

Loknath Das
Move over cold medicines, exercise is the best cure for a runny nose

If you wish to fight the cold, you better start running. According to a study, conducted by the University of Guelph and the University of Copenhagen, exercise could help people exposed to extreme temperatures protect themselves from the cold. Shivering is one of the first defences against cold and it boosts the body’s heat production. Shivering can only warm you up for so long and after a few hours your muscles will run out of fuel and will grow too tired to contract. Exercise helps build-up muscle in the limbs…

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Lack of quality sleep can affect your social life and make you feel lonely

Loknath Das
Lack of quality sleep can affect your social life and make you feel lonely

Poor sleep can hamper your social life, say scientists who found that sleep-deprived people feel lonelier and less inclined to engage with others, avoiding close contact in much the same way as people with social anxiety. Researchers at the University of California (UC) Berkeley in the US, have found that alienating vibe makes sleep-deprived individuals more socially unattractive to others. Moreover, well-rested people feel lonely after just a brief encounter with a sleep-deprived person, potentially triggering a viral contagion of social isolation. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications,…

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Adding cabbage and broccoli to your diet may help prevent colon cancer

Loknath Das
Adding cabbage and broccoli to your diet may help prevent colon cancer

Chemicals produced by vegetables such as kale, cabbage and broccoli could help to maintain a healthy gut and prevent colon cancer, a study has found. The research, published in the journal Immunity, shows that mice fed on a diet rich in indole-3-carbinol – which is produced when we digest vegetables from the Brassica genus – were protected from gut inflammation and colon cancer. While the health benefits of vegetables are well-established, many of the mechanisms behind them remain unknown. This study offers the first concrete evidence of how I3C in…

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Jacqueline Fernandez’s list of 5 essentials for your fitness wardrobe

Loknath Das
Jacqueline Fernandez’s list of 5 essentials for your fitness wardrobe

Whether you’re running marathons, sweating it out on the treadmill or channeling inner peace through yoga, you need the right wardrobe to keep yourself comfortable. Actress Jacqueline Fernandez, also a fitness enthusiast, has some suggestions. Jacqueline, who has launched the activewear brand Just F, has a list of essentials that every style diva should have in her workout wardrobe: * Snug leggings: The perfect pair of leggings is well-fitted, hugs your body in just the right places and is made of stretchy, flexible fabric that moves with you. Cotton, lycra and…

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