All posts by HealthyLife

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.
Sweet Potato Peanut Bisque

Sweet Potato-Peanut Bisque

Makes: 5 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 large sweet potatoes (10-12 ounces each)
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 3 cups reduced-sodium tomato-vegetable juice blend or tomato juice
  • 1 4-ounce can diced green chilies, preferably hot, drained
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 15-ounce can vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • Chopped fresh cilantro leaves for garnish

Preparation

1. Prick sweet potatoes in several places with a fork. Microwave on High until just cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until it just begins to brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Stir in juice, green chilies, ginger and allspice. Adjust the heat so the mixture boils gently; cook for 10 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, peel the sweet potatoes and chop into bite-size pieces. Add half to the pot. Place the other half in a food processor or blender along with broth and peanut butter. Puree until completely smooth. Add the puree to the pot and stir well to combine. Thin the bisque with water, if desired. Season with pepper. Heat until hot. Garnish with cilantro, if desired.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Thin with water before reheating, if desired.

Nutrition

Per serving: 291 calories; 16 g fat (3 g sat, 8 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 30 g carbohydrates; 1 g added sugars; 10 g protein; 6 g fiber; 474 mg sodium; 1011 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (300% daily value), Vitamin C (100% dv), Potassium (29% dv), Magnesium (15% dv).

Carbohydrate Servings: 1 1/2

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: August 30, 2017
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Sleeping student

Sleep is essential for college students

Getting enough sleep is an integral part of staying healthy and relaxed while studying.

How to get enough sleep when you have so much to study and do lot of project work?

Listen to grandma what her experience has to say about getting enough sleep that is essential for college students.

  1. Take a nap: A short nap for 15 minutes can do wonders for the energy levels. Don’t nap in the evening hours close to during supper/dinner time. Ideal time to nap is after your lunch time.
  2. Sit on chair to work: Don’t make a habit of working on the bed. It makes going to sleep harder. Keep the work space and bed separate.
  3. Get full sleep: Whenever it is possible get full sleep. 7 to 9 hours sleep is needed for young adults to be active and to get full energy. If not possible every day, try it as many days as possible.
  4. Schedule: Keeping sleep times at same time can help to get good sleep. It might be harder with lot of work, but try.
  5. When you are sharing room with someone naturally you can be distracted with laughs, talk and discussion. Work with your roommate to get into a sleep schedule. If you don’t sleep enough, then concentrating in your lecturing classes can be tough.
  6. Study time: You may feel like studying longer hours in the night. Why not study from the beginning, make notes and review often. This will help you to perform better in your exams and projects. Not getting enough sleep can result in under performance regardless of how hard you study.
  7. Drinks: Avoid any type of caffeinated drink in the evening hours. Coffee can keep you awake for longer hours even if you want to go to bed.
  8. Dairy: Keeping a dairy and keeping track of your activities every night at same time will help you to get good sleep. As you speak your mind in the dairy you feel relaxed and it helps.
  9. Plan your day in such a way that you get enough sleep. Early to be, early to rise attitude helps. Train yourself to wake up early and early bird catches many more things than others!
  10. If someone is making fun of you for going to bed early, be it. Don’t worry. Your health is in your hand. When you are studying, you know your mind and body best. If you need to catch enough sleep then schedule your day accordingly and don’t bother about what others are saying.
  11. If you are unable to focus on your study at night and your performance is not up to the mark, then your body is trying to tell you that you need to change your habit and probably you need to make change in your routine – to wake up early and study. Early morning after a good night sleep, it is easy to focus your mind on studies.
  12. Keep your gadgets – smartphones, laptop, tablet , audio devices away when you go to bed. As you know light emitting from these devices can disturb your sleep.

A good night sleep is important not only for your health, also for your school, college performances and to do better in your all activities.

Listen to grandma: www.healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit: Image by Michael Drummond from Pixabay

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: August 23, 2017
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Tattoo to monitor blood sugar level

Tattoo to monitor blood sugar level

How cool it would be to get a tattoo that is patient friendly? Well, researchers at MIT and Harvard joined the two concepts to create tattoos that can change color based on blood glucose level of the person wearing them.

Diabetic people who must self-care and especially who are insulin dependent must monitor their blood glucose level. Many patients check sugar level with handheld meters that requires pricking finger to draw blood testing.  This test can be inconvenient and painful. Moreover, the tools required for testing can be expensive. Researchers are working on new ways to track sugar levels that does not involve pricking finger or needle to the body in any way.

Earlier in July, researchers at MIT announced the development of “Dermal Abyss”, (or d-abyss) a bio- sensing tattoo that changes color based on the levels of diabetic patients’ interstitial fluid.

A very thin, flexible, disposable device that sticks to skin like a rub-on tattoo has been developed by these researchers. This device holds small, tiny electrical sensors that can measure blood glucose in the fluid just beneath the skin. Instead of using regular ink, the Dermal Abyss’s biosensors can reflect the amount of glucose, alkali and sodium in the body.

The diabetic friendly tattoo will not show up in pharmacy any soon. Per Katia Vega, a post-doctoral associate at MIT and member of research team “the Dermal Abyss is a proof-of-concept that illustrates the potential of culturally and medically integrated biosensors”. They are biosensor tattoos that visibly react to changes in the metabolism. The purpose of the work is to light the imagination of biotechnologists and stimulate public support for such efforts”.

The technology is still in a very early stage of development and the study was designed to show that the concept is good. To sense glucose levels in actual numbers and continuously and to display in user friendly ways – work is going on. Using a liquid with biosensors instead of traditional ink, researchers want to turn the human skin surface into an interactive display. So far, the team has developed three different inks that shift color in response to glucose level change in interstitial fluid. Interstitial fluid sloshes around between our cells and compromises about 16% of the human body weight. When the blood sugar level rises, the sensor changes its color from blue to brown.

Even though the study is preliminary – the investigation indicates that the tattoo based iontophoresis-sensor platform holds considerable promise for diabetes management and can be extended toward noninvasive monitoring of glucose level. Not only the glucose levels, tattoos sense changes can monitor pH, which indicates dehydration and changes in sodium ion, which can give indications of hypertension. The ink that shifts from pink to purple in relation to pH levels, a vibrant green hue under UV light to show rising salt levels and the third ink blue to brown color change shows increase in blood sugar level.

Device is tested on few people and need to be tested on more people to prove that they are safe and accurate before they are approved for general use.

Image and reference video : https://vimeo.com/216203028

References:

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: August 22, 2017
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Eggless Dates cake recipe

Eggless Dates cake recipe

By consuming dates we get several health benefits. If someone wants to put on some weight date is one of the best option. Dates contains organic sulfur, calcium, iron, manganese and copper. It also supplies dietary fiber and vitamins. Daily dates consumption gives balanced nutrition to body. Other health benefits of dates include: easy digestion, energy booster, immune system booster, treats anemia, cures allergy, boosts nervous system functionality and health, good for heart health, relieves intoxication, reduces sexual weakness and recent studies show that it reduces abdominal caner risk.

An eggless dates cake recipe is below.

Calorie per serving: 420

Total serving : 11

Ingredients:

  1. Dates – 20
  2. Milk -3/4 cup
  3. All-purpose flour – 1 cup
  4. Sugar – ¾ cup
  5. Baking soda – – 1 tsp
  6. Dry fruits – Cashew, walnut, sliced almond and few raisins – together ¼ cup
  7. Butter – ¼ cup
  8. Vanilla extract – 1 tsp (optional)
  9. Pinch salt (optional)

  Baking mix preparation:

  1. Remove seeds from dates and add to milk. On medium heat boil milk with dates for 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. Allow it to cool and grind. Add sugar and butter to grinded mix.
  3. Add all-purpose flour little by little followed by baking soda and dry fruits – pieces of walnut, cashew and raisins. The consistency of cake mix should be slightly thicker than dosa and idli batter.

Baking procedure:

  1. Now, apply little oil to baking pan and Sprinkle little all-purpose flour inside the container.
  2. Transfer the baking mix to the pan. Thickness of the baking mix at least should be 2 inches for easy lifting.
  3. On top of the mix place slices of almond.
  4. Bake the content at 350F for about 35 to 40 minutes. After 35 minutes using a knife check whether the content is baked or not.
  5. Remove and allow the cake to cool.
  6. Date cake is ready to serve now.

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: August 21, 2017
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Home remedies of sweet flag

Home remedies of sweet flag

Sweet flag also known as baje, vacha and scientific name is Acorus calamus.

Root has a warm taste, bit bitter, pungent, gives unique fragrance and is aromatic. Its active principles are taken by boiling water, steeping in oil or by preparing paste.

Sweet flag root is useful for many conditions and traditional medicines uses sweet flag for various purposes and illness of the human body. However, it is not recommended in high dosage.

Home remedies of sweet flag :

For babies health issues:

1. Babies suffer because of bloated stomach and gas. This might be because of indigestion. Take a piece of sweet flag/vacha/baje and burn it slightly in flame. Cool and using water prepare paste by rubbing the root on a grinding stone. Mix a very little paste of this in milk and feed baby. It soothes baby’s tummy.

2. Sometimes due to white tongue toddlers does not develop taste for food and they refuse to eat. Prepare a paste of acorus and take a pinch of the paste and give it to toddler. This helps them not only getting back taste bud also, increases their appetite.

3. Mix sweet flag paste in honey and give little to toddler. This helps in controlling cough and sore throat. Also, if you are worried babies does not communicate orally, this remedy helps. It also helps in controlling diarrhea.

Make sure there is no fungal infection in the root before using it. And do not give more than ¼ tsp of sweet flag at a time for babies.

4. Traditional use of sweet flag teething bracelets for babies: Acorus has antimicrobial properties. For this reason in India beads prepared out of the sweet flag is used in baby’s bracelet. It smells good too. When babies bite the beads, the extract from the beads enters their system, keeping away all illness!!

Hair lice control:

Hair oil prepared from sweet flag is good for controlling hair lice. Sweet flag oil is a natural insecticide and is good for the scalp skin. To prepare hair oil, soak and steep dried sweet flag in coconut or sesame oil and keep it under sunlight for few days. Drain the oil and use it on hair. Alternatively, warm the dried sweet flag in any of these two oil and strain the oil and use it for hair application to control hair lice.

Indigestion:

Not only for babies and children, sweet flag is good for adults too. During indigestion to a cup of warm water add, little ginger powder and little sweet flag paste. Add little honey and drink. It reduces stomach pain, flatulence and other indigestion problems.

Memory boosting and to release stress:

Sweet flag has a calming property and soothes nervous system. In Ayurveda sweet flag is recommended for epilepsy and depression conditions. It also acts on brain cells and boosts memory. Boil sweet flag root in one cup water and strain the water and drink.

Massage oil:

Acorus oil can be used as a remedy for headache and to get relief from arthritis pain. Steep pounded sweet flag root in coconut oil and expose it to sun light for a week or so. Let the contents release in the oil. Use this oil and give massage to body parts and joints to get relief from the pain.

Other uses of sweet flag :

  • It removes phlegm, clears congestion, helps in insomnia, chronic bronchitis, and bronchial asthma. It also tranquilizes the mind!
  • It is helps to reduce stomach acidity and eases heartburn and dyspepsia.
  • Chewing of root helps to reduce toothache
  • Smokers can get help of sweet flag to quit smoking by chewing the root.
  • During drug withdrawal, it can also blunt gastric upset.

Before using sweet flag make sure that it does not interfere with the medicines that you are prescribed from your doctor and seek recommendation.

Grandma’s home remedies – Grandma online. www.healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acorus_calamus_002.JPG,

Attribution: H. Zell / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: August 18, 2017
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You can drink this plastic

You can drink this plastic

The threat the whole world including the oceans facing is use of plastic. Do you know worldwide every year nearly 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed? Island of Bali which is a beautiful place is also no exception for this threat. Much of the plastics that dumped by China is washes towards Bali shores. A local surfer Kevin Kumala tried a solution for plastic problems.

While watching, motorcyclists wearing disgusting vinyl ponchos that do not decompose the biology graduate thought of a solution to create a better plastic that would not leave trace behind.

Kumala used cassava a common root vegetable that grows in Indonesia to make a mimic of plastic. Kumala and his friend both studied bioplastic and took a note of new materials used in bioplastics like corn and soy starch. Using cassava starch, vegetable oil and organic resins they devised their own recipe that resulted in 100% bio-based material – both biodegradable and compostable, breaking down over period of months both in sea and land. It also dissolves in hot water.

As per Kumala, this bioplastic leaves no traces of residue. It dissolves in water and one can drink that water too as it causes no harm – Kumala claims. It also passed oral toxicity test and is harmless to sea animals.

The company Avani was launched in 2014 to sell the Cassava -plastic ponchos. In three years’ company made its mark by selling Eco products to various purposes. Today, Avani Eco produces company sells four tons of material a day including plastic bags, food packaging and even convers for hospital beds!!

The Entrepreneur has hopes on producing more eco plastics as the demand is raising. With help of reliable investors, they want to make it big. Says Kumala “Govt of Indonesia is supporting us and we are working with them to create a roadmap to be plastic-free by 2018”.

The notion of reduce, reuse and recycle has always been preached but it is crucial to implement this with “replace” says Kumala.

If you visit Company’s website this is the information you will find:  Avani bags are made from purely 100% bio-based material and it is also widely considered as one of the lowest cost for cassava-based bioplastic as well as having distinguishing features as below:

  • 100% made from renewable bio-based, not oil
  • Compostable and biodegradable
  • Safe to consume for land and marine animals
  • Can be recycled along with paper
  • Customizable shape and design
  • Can be dissolved in a matter of less than 150 days when discarded in bodies of water.

The cost of biodegradable plastic is much higher. However, to overcome green premium barrier for bioplastic industry, young entrepreneur like Kumala need support. Per Kumala -Indonesian Govt’s preferential purchasing schemes in favor of bioplastics can help to overcome the “green premium” as a barrier to growth.

Do you know? The plant derived materials are also derived from raw materials such as corn and potato starch, so manufacturers claim they are sustainable as well as biodegradable. Shrimp shells and Algae are two of the many emerging feedstocks in bioplastic industry.

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References:

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: August 17, 2017
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Scale pose

Scale pose

Scale Pose: Tolasana -Seated, lifted and arm balanced pose is tolasana or scale pose. It is often a part of Ashtanga yoga. This pose is excellent for core and abdomen strengthening. The abdominal exercise helps in strengthening and improving digestive organs.  It is also helps in engaging bandhas. Bandha in yoga refers to body locks. The two bandhas’ that you need to engage in this pose are Mula and Uddiyana bandha. Mula bandha is contraction of perineum and Uddiyana is contraction of abdomen to the rib cage. One need to be extra careful while doing this pose while focusing on bandhas. If you are new to Yoga then you need to know that Tolasana is an advanced pose that should be performed under supervision. Before performing the pose learn how to do full lotus pose and warm up the abs, hip flexors and shoulders by doing few Sun salutation, dandhasana and plank poses – www.healthylife.werindia.com

Anatomy: Abs, Hips, Wrists

Level: Advanced

Pose Type: Arm Balance, Core, Hip Opener

Sanskrit: Tolasana (toe-LAHS-anna) tola = balanced, scale

BENEFITS

  • Strengthens the arms and wrists
  • Strengthens and tones the abdominal muscles
  • Reduces stiffness in the knees and ankles
  • Stimulates the digestive system
  • Opens the hip joints

CONTRAINDICATIONS

  • Shoulder or wrist injuries
  • Ankle, knee, or hip injuries

HOW TO

  1. Begin in Padmasana (Lotus pose).
  2. Flex your feet, pressing your ankles into your thighs.
  3. Place both of your palms on the floor, next to your hips.
  4. Exhale and press down firmly through the palms of your hands. Engage the abdominal muscles, and lift the buttocks and legs off the floor.
  5. Stay in Scale pose for 10 to 15 seconds. Then slowly lower yourself down onto the mat. Switch your leg crossing, and repeat on the other side.

MODIFY OR REPLACE

Alternatives:

  • Padmasana (Lotus pose)

Modifications:

  • To lift up with ease, place blocks underneath your hands.

SEQUENCING TIPS

Before:

  • Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Legged Forward Bend)
  • Ardha Purvottanasana (Reverse Table)

After:

  • Ardha Purvottanasana (Reverse Table)
  • Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold)

TEACHING CUES

  1. Do not push yourself into this posture. If you feel pain in your knees at any point, come out of the pose.
  2. Keep your spine straight, reaching the crown of your head toward the sky.
  3. Keep your chin parallel to the floor.
  4. Lower your shoulders away from the ears.

VARIATIONS

  • Lolasana (Pendant pose)

WATCH OUT FOR

  • Not breathing !!

This article and image is reproduced here with permission from https://beyogi.com

 

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: August 10, 2017
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Shoe care tips

Shoe care tips

Your feet health depends on your shoe too! Taking care of your shoe is important because you don’t want to end up in some type of foot ailment.

When you are working, depending on type of work you might need to wear proper shoes. Some places need special types of shoes to protect feet. Buying and wearing shoes is an investment.  When you buy shoes make sure it fits properly to your feet. If not, you might end up in blisters that can take time to heal.

After buying costly shoes it is important to take care of shoes and maintenance of shoes depends on their texture. If you keep shoes clean it will protect your toe nails and feet. If not, you may end up not only with stinky shoes also it can cause microbial infections!! It becomes a hygiene issue.

How to take care of your shoes? Here are few tips.

1. Before wearing shoes, make sure that your feet are clean and wear socks. Trim your toenails and keep space between toes clean and neat.

2. Shine shoes if you keep wearing them. Shine the shoe after you buy them and before wearing them. It is important because, it not only protects the shoe, it also gives good impression about yourself when you are at work or in public.

Smelly feet problem?

  • If your shoe is giving bad odor, put baking soda inside the shoe and let it sit overnight. Baking soda absorbs the odor
  • Another way to remove odor from shoe is use mixture of white vinegar and water. Use a rag to clean inner surface using this mixture and leave it to dry.
  • Use black tea bags – boil the tea bags and cool them. Place the cooled tea bags inside the shoe overnight. Wipe the excess decoction that may sit inside the shoe using dry towel.
  • Don’t be lazy… wear clean socks!

 3. To remove scuff marks from shoe surface use non-gel toothpaste. Apply a little and use soft cloth to rub the surface.

4. If shoes are wet during rainy or snow season, insert newspaper or paper towel inside the shoe – paper will absorb the moisture. If not, microbes will grow inside your shoe. Keeping the shoe near the heat source spoils the shoe material.

5. Use petroleum jelly to keep your shoe in condition. Apply little Vaseline jelly so that shoe will retain its longevity.

6. To remove salt from the shoe surface use 2/3 of water and 1/3 vinegar mixture. Dip a rag in the solution and dab it on the shoe surface. Use a towel to dry the surface.

7. If you are wearing leather shoe, while you keeping the shoe on rack insert a cedar shoe tree to absorb moisture. It also removes the odor from shoe.

8. Add a rubber sole to protect the original sole of your dress shoe. It protects the original sole and gives extra cushion that feet need.

9. Give rest to your shoes. If can afford have one or two more pairs of shoes and rotate shoes each day.

10. Cleaning and maintenance of different shoe materials: Cleaning the shoes depends on the fabric material. If you use leather shoe polish and condition it. Suede should be brushed. Use stain guard to protect the fabric. Use fabric shampoo to wash your canvas shoes. Avoid using washing machine. Washing machine can damage the shoe.

11. Shoe storage: Store the shoes that you don’t use often in a proper box. Always keep shoes back in shoe racks. Don’t keep shoes near heat source after your exercise or if they are wet. Use one of the above-mentioned method to remove water or sweat and make sure shoes are dried properly before placing them rack. If not, you might end up in toe fungus or rashes.

Now a day there are many types of shoes available including for those who are diabetic. Understand and learn how to keep your feet and shoes clean and microbe free.  Sometimes smaller wounds can end up in major foot ailments.

Grandma’s tips: www.healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit: https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-emqdb (Free for commercial use)

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on:
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