HealthyLife is a part of www.WeRIndia.com, an all India – centric website (https://healthylife.werindia.com) and is solely owned and operated by WeRIndia.com. It is a Indian nutritional portal providing educational articles.This nutritional port was launched on February 5th, 2015.
A farmer’s view: What to know about GMO
Today the largest crop grown in the US is corn, 88% of which is genetically modified. Corn has become a staple in the American diet. You can find some sort of engineered corn in the majority of processed food on the shelves, as well as almost every sweetened beverage you can imagine. Even when you eat conventionally raised meats you are essentially eating modified Corn. It’s a main ingredient in cheap animal feed.
The first genetically modified DNA organism was created in 1974. Mother nature has been busy creating ideal food for human beings for millions of years. Isn’t it a bit naive of us to think we can perfect it in just 40, without real evidence of safety no less? Foods containing engineered foods currently make up over 80% of North Americas food supply. If you are eating processed foods or non-organic produce, chances are that you are eating GMOs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
July is also Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. As CureArthritis.org states, “It is a common misconception that only ‘’old’ people are afflicted with arthritis. Children can get arthritis just like adults. Arthritis is caused by inflammation of the joints. It causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of motion. Juvenile arthritis is the term used to describe arthritis in children. The most common type that children get is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (idiopathic means “from unknown causes”). There are several other forms of arthritis affecting children. Juvenile arthritis affects children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. About 294,000 American children under age 18 have arthritis or other rheumatic conditions.
In India, kids who are afflicted by the disorder are often at their wits end on how to deal with the situation. They find their active life restricted and dependency on medicines increasing. Also, since dietary restrictions come into play, many kids are forced to give up their favorite chocolates and cakes.
According to doctors, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, also known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), is the most common type of arthritis found in children under the age of 16. It is one of the most frequent chronic illnesses among children and an important cause of short- and long-term disability. According to Paediatric rheumatologist Vinaya Kunjir onset of JIA before six months of age is unusual. However, the age at onset is often quite early – with the highest frequency between one and three years of age. Girls are affected twice as many as boys. According to experts, one to four children out of every 1000 children have juvenile arthritis. The condition causes a person’s immune system to attack his own body by releasing poisonous proteins which lead to degeneration, affecting the joints. If left untreated for long, it may develop into more serious complications, leading to even total disability in some cases.
Image: Arthritis warning signs in children
Here are some more Q & A regarding juvenile arthritis.
What Causes Juvenile Arthritis?
Juvenile arthritis is usually an autoimmune disorder. As a rule, the immune system helps fight off harmful bacteria and viruses. But in an autoimmune disorder, the immune system attacks some of the body’s healthy cells and tissues. Scientists don’t know why this happens or what causes the disorder. Some think it’s a two-step process in children: something in a child’s genes (passed from parents to children) makes the child more likely to get arthritis, and something like a virus then sets off the arthritis.
What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Juvenile Arthritis?
The most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap. Other signs include:
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee
Excessive clumsiness
High fever and skin rash
Swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Most children with arthritis have times when the symptoms get better or go away (remission) and other times when they get worse (flare).
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems. It also can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
How Do Doctors Find Out if Your Child Has Juvenile Arthritis?
There is no easy way a doctor can tell if your child has juvenile arthritis. Doctors usually suspect arthritis when a child has constant joint pain or swelling, as well as skin rashes that can’t be explained and a fever along with swelling of lymph nodes or inflammation in the body’s organs. To be sure that it is juvenile arthritis, doctors depend on many things, which may include:
Physical exam
Symptoms
Family history
Lab tests
X rays.
Who Treats Juvenile Arthritis?
A team approach is the best way to treat juvenile arthritis. It is best if a doctor trained to treat these types of diseases in children (a pediatric rheumatologist) manages your child’s care. However, many children’s doctors and “adult” rheumatologists also treat children with arthritis.
Other members of your child’s health care team may include:
Physical therapist
Occupational therapist
Counselor or psychologist
Eye doctor
Dentist and orthodontist
Bone surgeon
Dietitian
Pharmacist
Social worker
Rheumatology nurse
School nurse.
How Is Juvenile Arthritis Treated?
Doctors who treat arthritis in children will try to make sure your child can remain physically active. They also try to make sure your child can stay involved in social activities and have an overall good quality of life. Doctors can prescribe treatments to reduce swelling, maintain joint movement, and relieve pain. They also try to prevent, identify, and treat problems that result from the arthritis. Most children with arthritis need a blend of treatments – some treatments include drugs, and others do not.
How Can You Help Your Child Live Well With Juvenile Arthritis?
Juvenile arthritis affects the whole family. It can strain your child’s ability to take part in social and after-school activities, and it can make schoolwork more difficult. Family members can help the child both physically and emotionally by doing the following:
Get the best care possible
Learn as much as you can about your child’s disease and its treatment.
Consider joining a support group.
Treat your child as normally as possible.
Encourage exercise and physical therapy for your child.
Work closely with your child’s school.
Talk with your child.
Work with therapists or social workers.
Do Children With Juvenile Arthritis Have to Limit Activities?
Pain sometimes limits what children with juvenile arthritis can do. However, exercise is key to reducing the symptoms of arthritis and maintaining function and range of motion of the joints. Ask your health care provider for exercise guidelines. Most children with arthritis can take part in physical activities and certain sports when their symptoms are under control. Swimming is a good activity because it uses many joints and muscles without putting weight on the joints. During a disease flare, your child’s doctor may advise your child to limit certain activities. It will depend on the joints involved. Once the flare is over, your child can return to his or her normal activities.
(Kalyani Kutagolla lives with her family in Allentown, USA. She is known for her best vegetarian cooking recipes and cooking skills. Cooking is her hobby and she loves to customize the meals. Whether it is spicy meal, kids meal, traditional Indian cooking or sweets preparation, Kalyani is an expert and her skills are excellent. Expect more healthy and tasty recipes from Kalyani under this category)
Ingredients: (Quantity can serve four people)
1) One cup white rice
2) 5 medium sized tomatoes (sour tomatoes are preferred)
3) 6-8 Cloves
4) 8 Black peppers
5) 2-3 inches Cinnamon stick
6) 2 inches ginger (need to grate)
7) One big size onion
8) Half cup grated coconut
9) Three tb spoon clarified butter (Ghee) (Optional)
10) 4 spoon oil for frying the dry ingredients
11) Mustard, cumin, curry leaves & asafetida for seasoning.
12) Salt for taste
Preparation method:
Without removing the skin boil the tomatoes for 5 minutes. Allow them to cool and then remove the skin.
By squeezing the tomatoes make tomato puree (from 5 tomatoes about 1 and half cup puree can be obtained)
In a pressure cooker, heat the oil.
To heated oil add mustard, cumin and curry leaves followed by broken red chilies and asafetida. To this, add grated ginger followed by long & thin cut onion*.
Once the onion turns reddish brown, add 2 cups of water and tomato puree. Allow the mix to boil and to the boiling mix, add grated coconut followed by rice and salt.
Remove the cooked rice, add clarified butter (optional), and mix the rice.
Garnish tomato rice with finely cut coriander (cilantro) leaves.
Serve with Cucumber salad.
* If more spice is needed one can add little red chilli powder while frying onion.
Korma (or Kurma) is a mixed vegetable dish that has fiber, good fat and spices. This dish goes well with Naan, bread, chapatti, paratha, puri and jeera rice. Korma can be a good lunch box dish. Below is the recipe for Korma.
There are several benefits of Yoga when it comes to health. Several conditions can be cured and several symptoms can be reduced by practicing yoga.
There are several examples of benefits of practicing yoga. You can have a look on all the examples in parts. You can click on each part to get information.
Practice Yoga and Live Life to its full potential : Part 4
61. Release trapped gas : In private or in front of very understanding friends and/or family, use yoga to unleash a veritable symphony of gas that simultaneously reduces bloating and eases the pain of having to hold it all in.
62.Relieve epilepsy : Many researchers have looked into the impact yoga may or may not have on epilepsy patients, discovering that the improved muscle control holds to potential to reduce the intensity of seizures.
63. Treat bronchitis : Many yogic positions can assist individuals suffering from bronchitis clear up their breathing blockage and completely fend off the illness. It even works in chronic cases as well!
64.Slow the aging process : With all the amazing health benefits that yoga has to offer practitioners, it probably comes as little shock that it can push back the aging process and keep bodies feeling healthy and fit for much longer.
65.Keep a fetus healthy: Prenatal yoga is an extremely common way for the pregnant to stay in shape during the nine months of agony, but the increased blood and nutrient flow also benefits the unborn spawn as well.
66. Fight eating disorders:Yoga builds confidence and eases depression and anxiety, and because of this many instructors have begun offering classes to those suffering from eating disorders in order to guide them through their trying obstacles safely.
67.Strengthen the core: Anyone looking to build up his or her core muscles for athletic pursuits may want to consider yoga as an excellent supplement to regular workout sessions.
68.Have a social life: The non-competitive nature of yoga means that friends and family interested in its teachings have a low-pressure way to build their relationships. Anyone new in town or looking to meet like-minded new people will also appreciate the social applications of the discipline as well.
69. Lessen the pain of irritable bowel syndrome: Yoga simultaneously relieves physical torment and facilitates proper, healthy digestion, rendering it an ideal choice for victims of irritable bowel syndrome looking to reduce the associated stresses.
70.Prevent dementia: Beyond Alzheimer’s, the mental benefits of yoga also extend to alleviating the symptoms of other dementia-related conditions as well. Younger people who engage in the discipline can stimulate their brains and prevent these illnesses from settling during their twilight years.
71.Improve the lives of stroke victims: When an instructor finds the proper positions that suit the needs of a specific case, yoga brings at least some degree of comfort and clarity to stroke victims.
72.Control hypertension: Because yoga lowers blood pressure, it makes for an ideal way to quell some of the physical issues associated with hypertension – a great supplement to any medication or dietary restrictions prescribed by a doctor.
73.Improve concentration: Many yoga practitioners find the discipline very attractive because of how competently it promotes strong concentration skills.
Practice Yoga and Live Life to its full potential : Part 2
21.Improve coordination : No matter one’s age is, yoga nurtures better connections between the muscular and skeletal systems.
22.Improve lung capacity : The disciplined breathing exercises that yoga entails can increase a practitioner’s lung capacity, which improves their overall physical performance.
23.Complement occupational and physical therapy: Practicing yoga is an excellent way to build physical therapy regimen.
24.Prevent heart disease: Practicing yoga regularly tones the muscle, particularly cardiac muscles and helps prevent heart diseases.
25.Soothe insomnia.: Insomnia and other sleep disorders can be cured by practicing several yoga postures.
26.Relieve Multiple Sclerosis: Many yoga positions can be tailored to specifically meet the needs of practitioners suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, helping them stay healthy and alleviate some of the suffering.
27.Alleviate menstrual cramps: The practice of yoga appeals greatly to women who experience severe cramps during their periods, as it strengthens abdominal muscles and fortifies them against the pain.
28.Massage the internal organ : Thai yoga provides organ tissues all over the body with a revitalizing massage to keep them stimulated and operating smoothly.
29.Lubricate joints : Among the many other skeletal and muscular benefits that pop up during regular yoga sessions, adherents can also enjoy well-lubricated joints, tendons and ligaments as well. This leads to enhanced flexibility and injury prevention.
30.Balance hormones : During menopause, women may want to get into yoga as a means of strengthening their endocrine system and encouraging hormone production through lessened stress.
31.Detoxifying effect: Encourage the body to release any harmful chemical buildups or cellular waste by cycling through yoga moves designed specifically for detoxification.
32.Encourage meditation: Some yoga practitioners enjoy the spiritual element of the discipline, appreciating how the associated deep breathing exercises place them in a viable meditative state.
33.Lower the triglyceride count: Use yoga techniques to dissolve the triglycerides that float about in the blood stream and pose a serious threat to cardiovascular health.
34. Burn off post-baby fat. : Following a pregnancy, one can slough off a bit of the accumulated baby weight using postnatal yoga – the lesser-known counterpart to prenatal yoga.
35.Improve self-confidence: Engaging in regular yoga sessions has the potential to facilitate self-confidence and improve upon poor body image and other psychological issues.
36.Kick off migraines: Migraine sufferers would do well to consider yoga as a possible conduit for ridding themselves of their debilitating pains.
37.Anger management: Yoga’s calming, stress-relieving properties carry with them the additional benefit of serving as an excellent means of reining in the psychological and physiological damages associated with too much anger.
38. Improved respiration : All disciplines that fit underneath the broad heading of “yoga” require deep breathing exercises that encourage stronger, healthier lungs.
39.Improved depth perception: Heavily spatial exercises such as yoga require participants to make note of the people and objects in their vicinity, helping them build stronger depth perception along the way.
40. Relieve constipation: When the bowels back up and the thought of downing glass after glass of prune juice seems unappealing, try some yoga positions that explicitly help users unbind.
Practice Yoga and Live Life to its full potential : Part 1
1.Loosen up the muscles:One of the major reasons why people take up yoga to begin with revolves around releasing any pent-up tension in the muscles.
2.Increase the range of motion:Stretching out muscles regularly not only relieves pent-up stress, but trains them to attain a greater range of motion as well.
3.Keep muscles active : Anyone who must maintain a sedentary lifestyle can offset muscular atrophy by engaging in regular yoga sessions to keep them active and stimulated.
4.Increase flexibility:Athletes enjoy yoga for the heightened degree of flexibility that it affords them, which enhances performances through perfectly ethical, natural and safe means.
5.Improve posture:Maintaining good posture not only radiates an attractive confidence, it also decreases stress and tension in various parts of the body.
6.Alleviate anxiety and depression: As yoga relaxes the muscles while simultaneously stimulating them, so too can it do so for the mind. While it might not cure depression with the same competence as talk therapy, it can still provide an excellent conduit for lessening many of the symptoms.
7.Strengthen and tone muscles:Yoga exercises keep muscles strong and taut using the body’s own weight, making them an excellent solution for anyone seeking a way to stay healthy and fit.
8. Increase blood flow: Some of the more intensive yoga practices really get the blood pumping, keeping the body healthy by circulating oxygen and nutrients to the organs and muscles more efficiently.
9.Alleviate arthritis:Outdoor yoga under hot Sun holds numerous benefits for those suffering from arthritis.
10.Improve balance:Anyone seeking a way to strengthen their center of gravity may want to consider yoga as a possible route towards accomplishing their goals. This is good in later stage of life.
11.Focused mind:One of the additional positives of yoga’s increased blood flow involves bolstering the brain’s functionality and keeping the mind as clear as possible.
12.Boost metabolism :Certain yoga positions may help increase the metabolism, making eating more effective, and promoting weight loss.
13.Alleviate gout : While yoga will not fully cure gout, when combined with heat it can certainly relieve much of the pain associated with uric acid buildup.
14.Supplement weight loss : Infusing Yoga into a weight loss regimen can certainly render positive effect on the weight loss program.
15.Improve complexion :When combined with a healthy diet and the right medications, yoga helps in relaxation and makes a person look gracious and younger.
16.Improve lymph circulation : Along with keeping the blood pumping with a healthy, regular rhythm, yoga also stimulates the lymphatic system and helps the body maintain proper circulation.
17.Reduce pregnancy pain : Pregnancy places considerable stress on the pelvic region, and yoga strengthens all the related muscles to reduce the incredible physical strain before, during and after childbirth.
18.Align the spine :Even beyond maintaining proper posture and poise, a properly-aligned spine may prevent injury during workouts and reduces the chances of suffering from general back pain.
19.Lower blood pressure :Yoga can assist those who suffer from high blood pressure exercise better control over their circulatory system by regularly scheduling time for specific breathing and positioning protocols.
20.Build better self-awareness : Introducing children to the various yoga techniques helps in finding physical boundaries and keeps mind focused on activities. This helps in build self awareness.
