Friday, July 30, 2010

The Science of Appetite


Nature prefers you fat, but you can take control. New research could explain better approaches to dieting and how to curb your appetite.

1. Eat Fiber
Unrefined foods, especially those that are high in fiber, stimulate appetite-suppressing hormones and make you feel full.

2. Brush your teeth
Take a break from that ice cream to brush. The flavor change helps you resist eating more

3.Be consistent
Eating breakfast and regularly scheduled meals keeps hormone levels steady and quashes hunger pangs

4. Slow down
It takes a while for the brain to realize that the stomach is stretching. Eating slowly gives the brain time to catch on

Thursday, July 29, 2010

DocBlog: The Difference between Normal and Abnormal in Psychiatry

Introducing DocBlog – a relevant and educational blog post written by EaseMyHealth doctors to simplify medical conditions and issues.

Here’s the 1st DocBlog post by Psychiatrist Dr. Sujay Prabhugaonkar demystifying basic concepts of normal & abnormal in Psychiatry.

Dr. Prabhugaonkar, M.D., D.P.M. is a qualified Psychiatrist and practices in Mumbai.

Sadness-Depression, Mood swings-Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety-Panic…are all conceptually very similar – so how does Psychiatry differentiate between Normal and Abnormal? The actual difference is in the degree - Specifically in severity and duration as well as the quality of socio-occupational functioning. Here are some simple examples to tell the differences.

What is the difference between normal sadness and depression?

In normal sadness the person is sad for a while, but in depression sadness lasts for at least 2 weeks along with loss of interest in activities, vegetative symptoms like sleep, sex and appetite disturbances, cognitive symptoms like loss of concentration, worthlessness and if severe - suicidal ideation.

What is the difference between normal mood swings and manic depressive psychosis or bipolar disorder?

In normal mood swings, the person alternates between happiness and sadness during the course of the day or week.

In bipolar mood disorder, there are severe mood fluctuations which lead to extreme happiness on one hand and extreme sadness on the other. During the phase of extreme happiness the person not only thinks that he is god or he has some special ability or talent, but also starts spending excessively, eats voraciously, drinks, gambles, shops till he drops or till he becomes bankrupt, changes jobs frequently, has sex with numerous partners, or generally talks excessively not only with family members but also strangers.

During the phase of extreme sadness, he/she becomes lethargic, does not want to go out of the house and sometimes becomes suicidal.

What is the difference between normal concern and anxiety?

During normal concern, the person worries about finance, home, family, job etc. but in Anxiety disorder, these worries not only become the predominant focus of person’s attention but they also spill over the physiological and cognitive functions. Thus he/she breathes heavily, has palpitations, sweating etc along with distractibility, crowding of thoughts respectively. Also one has secondary anxiety i.e. anxiety about the effects of anxiety like having bleeding ulcers or hypertension

What is the difference between anxiety and panic?

Normal anxiety is fear without a definite cause.

Panic disorder is like having severe anxiety in which the person fears he may die or go crazy, lasting for maximum half hour but so severely debilitating that young individuals in their 20s or 30s land up in hospital emergency rooms with chest pains which come out of the blue and their cardiograms turn out to be normal. One eventually has a fear of having further attacks in public because of which he/she restricts going out of the house.

What is the difference between fear and phobia?

Fear is due to the threat of a real danger e.g. when car races towards you, you may sense fear.

Phobia is an irrational fear of object or situation e.g. if one has social phobia, one not only is afraid of public speaking which is normal but also afraid to urinate in public urinals or even eat in restaurants in public.

What is the difference between normal concern about illness and hypochondriasis?

During normal concern about illness, one visits doctors, do the tests if advised, take the prescribed course of treatment and be reassured that our health is in safe hands.

In Hypochondriasis, the concern about the illness is exaggerated e.g. if the concern is about having a heart attack, one would check pulse and be alarmed at missed beats, heart beating heavily or slowly, do multiple tests: ECG, 2D Echo, cardiac angiography, wont be reassured by the doctors sometimes even accusing them that they missed something, doctor shopping, resorting to miracle cures, reading various health magazines and looking out for new invention of a technique or a machine by which finally their disease can be diagnosed and treated.

What is the difference between having repetitive thoughts and Obsessive compulsive disorder?

Repetitive thoughts like a song lyric, or the story we reading the newspaper come to our mind and pass away as we go about our routine activities.

But obsessions are thoughts that don’t pass away. In fact they intrude into our consciousness that we still have to clean our hands, that door was not locked while leaving the house, that things are not in a particular order, that we did not pray sincerely.

These obsessions lead to compulsions like washing, cleaning, checking, counting, praying etc. Compulsions reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions e.g. cleaning compulsions reduce the anxiety caused by fear of contamination, checking compulsions reduce the anxiety caused by fear of harm to loved ones

Dr. Sujay Prabhugaonkar will soon be available for online/tele consultation on

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

How to Use Fruits and Vegetables to Help Manage Your Weight





Breakfast: Start the Day Right

Lighten Up Your Lunch


Smart Snacks:

Snacks that are about 100 Calories or Less
a medium-size apple (72 calories)
a medium-size banana (105 calories)
1 cup steamed green beans (44 calories)
1 cup blueberries (83 calories)
1 cup grapes (100 calories)


Remember: Substitution is the key.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Going nuts about peanuts!



In fact, not many know this but the raw peanut butter with crushed skin contains much higher amounts of nutrient than refined ‘nut-only’ butter. But whichever form you prefer it in, there’s no denying its health benefits.
- Unsalted peanuts are good for your arteries. One quarter cup of peanuts contains as much monounsaturated fat as a tablespoon of olive oil. Mono unsaturated fats have been shown to lower blood cholesterol.
- Peanuts’ high niacin content helps in the recovery of cell damage and provides protection against Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive problems.
- Peanuts contain iron, that’s essential for the correct functioning of red blood cells.
- Peanut is rich in calcium which helps promotes healthy bones.
- Peanuts’ fiber content helps lower the risk of colon cancer.
- Peanuts accelerate the growth of male and female hormones.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Friday, July 23, 2010

Study says: Have fun!


According to a study titled "Association of Enjoyable Leisure Activities With Psychological and Physical Well-Being" by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, engaging in enjoyable leisure activities can lower stress hormones and blood pressure, make you feel better all over, and reduce your waist circumference and body mass index.


“When you’re under stress, the usual thing is to cut back on enjoyable activities because you’re feeling uncomfortable and you need more time to deal with the stress. But these data suggest that’s the wrong thing to do, and that continuing enjoyable activities can be helpful,” says study coauthor Karen Matthews, PhD, a professor of psychiatry, epidemiology, and psychology.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Blueberries, green tea may boost memory in old age

A combination of nutrients called NT-020 - made from blueberries, green tea, and amino acids, such as carnosine-successfully promoted adult neural stem cell proliferation in aged rats and boosted their memory performance, found University of South Florida researchers.
The researchers were studying natural therapeutic approaches to promoting the health of neurons in the aging brain.

They tested two groups of aged laboratory rats; one group received NT-020 and another, the control group, did not. In the NT-020 group, the process by which neurons are generated-called neurogenesis- increased. The NT-020 formula was patented by USF and licensed to Natura Therapeutics, Inc.

"Aging has been linked to oxidative stress, and we have previously shown that natural compounds made from blueberries, green tea, and amino acids, such as carnosine, are high in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activity. The combination of these nutrients, called NT-020, creates a synergistic effect that promotes the proliferation of stem cells in the aged animals," said Dr Sandra Acosta, the study's lead author.



NT-020 has also been shown to encourage the proliferation of adult stem cells, which have the potential to develop into tissue and bone cells and also migrate to areas of damage to help with repair. That increased stem cell proliferation coincided with better cognitive performance is significant.


"NT-020 may have not only a positive effect on the stem cell niche. NT-020 may have far-reaching effects on organ function beyond the replacement of injured cells, as demonstrated by cognitive improvement in the NT-020 group," concluded Bickford.

The study was published in the current issue of Rejuvenation Research.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

How to stay healthy in monsoon


It's monsoon time and so, enjoy the rain, but don't forget to keep the mosquitoes at bay or to wash your hands frequently to ward off infections. For, the humid conditions and moderate temperatures create perfect conditions for the spread of diseases.

The growth of bacteria is caused by high humidity and a temperature that is neither too high nor too low. It results in diseases like jaundice, malaria, typhoid, cholera, cough, cold, fever and flu. Here are some tips to be healthy and enjoy the monsoons.

- Ensure that the water you drink is pure. The household should be kept clean at all times and special attention should be paid to the hygiene of kids.



The natural immune system becomes stronger and more capable of handling threats when it is successful in containing an infection on its own. Overuse of antibiotics, exposure to radiation, hazardous chemicals and widespread use of corticosteroids should be avoided, say experts. Building natural immunity is especially important in children whose immune systems are vulnerable to a large number of diseases. Doctors suggest that choosing a healthy lifestyle and eating a balanced diet are the key to building a strong immune system.

- Immune-nutrients which are present in numerous food items should be consumed regularly as they help in building the body's immunity and enhance its ability to fight infection.




So stay fit to enjoy the monsoon to the hilt.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Health Benefits of Coconut Water



Coconut Water Hydrates the Body

Coconut Water Relieves Urinary Problems

Coconut Water Kills Intestinal Worms

Coconut Water Breaks up Kidney Stones

Coconut Water is Used in Blood Transfusion

Coconut Water is an Antibacterial

Coconut Water Controls Vomiting


Monday, July 19, 2010

The Benefits of Sleep and The Power Nap


Why A Power Nap?
While small children typically take naps in the afternoon, our culture generally frowns upon mid-day sleep. However, many people experience a natural increase in drowsiness in the afternoon, about 8 hours after waking. And research shows that you can make yourself more alert reduce stress and improve cognitive functioning with a nap.


How Much Sleep Do You Need?

The Effects of Missed Sleep: Sleep is cumulative; if you lose sleep one day, you feel it the next. If you miss adequate sleep several days in a row, you build up a ‘sleep deficit’, which impairs Reaction time, Judgment, Vision, Information processing, Short-term memory, Performance, Motivation, Vigilance, Patience. Fatigued people also experience more moodiness, aggressive behaviors, burnout and more stress.


How Long Should I Sleep?



Tips For a More Effective Nap: If you want to obtain more sleep, and the health benefits that go with getting enough sleep, here are some tips for more effective napping and sleep at night:
- If you don’t want to nap a long time, set an alarm.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Can't blame your genes for health related problems!

One way to change our genes is to make new ones. Another is to change our lifestyles.

Well, our genes are not our fate, and if we make some changes -- they're a predisposition, but if we make bigger changes than we might have made otherwise we can actually change how our genes are expressed.

Research shows that lifestyle has a more predominant role in deciding your health. Watch this short 4 minute ted video :)

Friday, July 16, 2010

Preventive Health Checks: When is a good time?


What is a "Preventive Service"?
A preventive service might be a test, or it might be advice from your doctor. Preventive check ups can include the following:
- Tests (also called screenings) to check your general health or the health of certain parts of your body
- Regular measurements of weight, cholesterol levels and blood pressure
- Advice about diet, exercise, tobacco, alcohol and drug use, stress and accident prevention
- Immunizations ("shots") for both children and adults
- Special tests at certain times in your life, such as during pregnancy and after age 50

What preventive services do women need?
Adult women should have their weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked regularly. They should also have a Pap test at least every 3 years to screen for cervical cancer starting at age 21 or approximately 3 years after they have sex for the first time.
After the age of 50, women should have a mammogram every 2 years to screen for breast cancer. Women who have risk factors for breast cancer, such as a family history of breast cancer, may need to have mammograms more often or start having them sooner. After the age of 50, women should be tested for colorectal cancer.

What preventive services do men need?
Adult men should have their weight, cholesterol levels and blood pressure checked regularly.
Men older than 50 should be tested for colorectal cancer.

When is the right time to get a health check up?
The measures to watch out for depend on one's age, gender and risk level. We came across a good round up of the adult preventive care timeline and would like to share it with all our readers

If you cannot find this legible, please go to:

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Burn Calories With Everyday Activities









Teaspoon 'child overdose' warning


Parents have been warned not to give their children medicine using an ordinary teaspoon because of the risk of overdose.

A study found that teaspoons vary from a capacity of 2.5ml to 7.3ml, meaning youngsters could be receiving an inaccurate dose.

Instead, parents should use the special spoon provided with a medicine or buy a syringe or spoon with measurements on it.

They should also consult the medicine's packaging to make sure their child is given the right dose for their age.

Experts from Greece and the US looked at 71 teaspoons and 49 tablespoons collected from 25 households.

They said a parent using one of the biggest teaspoons would be giving their child 192% more medicine than a parent using the smallest teaspoon. Some of the tablespoons were also twice the size of others.

The experts, writing in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, said that not only is there a risk of overdose, but some youngsters could be given too little medicine.

They said: "Teaspoons and tablespoons are unreliable dosing devices, and thus their use should no longer be recommended."

Professor Matthew Falagas, director of the Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Athens, was one of the authors on the study.

He said: "The variations between the domestic spoon sizes was considerable and in some case bore no relation to the proper calibrated spoons included in many commercially available children's medicines. We not only found wide variations between households, we also found considerable differences within households."

Contributed by: Anju Narayanan

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Do you need to supplement?








Tuesday, July 13, 2010

A diabetes breakthrough from India




India is considered the diabetes capital of the world, with as many as 50 million people suffering from this chronic disease, so any new discovery is welcomed with open arms.

The team spent 2 million rupees and took two years to come with this novel solution. These scientists have already patented the technology, commercialized it and the new insulin could well become a big money spinner in times to come, feels the man who discovered this new form of insulin.

"It is a multi-million dollar technology transfer agreement with royalties once the product goes to the market and if I am not wrong it is one of the biggest scientific innovations to have come from a government owned research laboratory," said Professor Avadhesha Surolia, Director, National Immunology Institute, New Delhi.

The researchers treated natural human insulin at varying temperatures and chemical conditions and one such special formulation does the magic. In experiments done on rats, mice and rabbits the team could control the sugar levels like of these diabetic rats simply by giving an injection once every three months.

Imagine having to do away with multiple injections everyday to control the sugar problem. The simplicity of the discovery and its huge potential has attracted immediate attention.

"Both conceptually and for clinical practice it is an exciting discovery because it uses natural chemically unchanged insulin and clinically it is useful because it provides ease for patients by reducing the number of pin pricks," said Dr Ambrish Mithal, Diabetologist and president, Endocrine Society of India.

It is not often that new drug is discovered in India, but its use in humans could still be many years away.

The new insulin molecule discovered by Indians in India could become a blockbuster drug in times to come as it holds a lot of promise, currently being tested on animals like on rats, it will soon undergo human trials and then it may become available as drug for the treatment of diabetes.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Calculate your calorie requirement and plan!

Do you know how many calories you need in a day? This will help you plan a diet and exercise routine to suit your objective of weight loss or gain (or maintain status quo!)

The USDA 2000 calorie diet is only a recommendation - You can use the tool given below to determine how many calories you actually need daily. Simply fill in the fields and hit "Calculate Daily Calorie Needs" below.

Plums - the lesser known fruit full of nutritional benefits!


There are very few fruits that have such a bright vibrant colour as the plum. On a trip to the local fruitwallah during plum season, they are very hard to miss. Did you know that when plums are dried, they are known as prunes and give large amounts of energy to the body?

Plums are an excellent source of vitamin A; vitamin K and vitamin C. Plums are zero in fat, saturated fat-free, sodium-free and cholesterol-free. They are also an excellent source of fiber. A single plum has around 36 calories which makes it a dieters dream...less than a bread slice! Plums are one of the few fruits that are extremely suitable for diabetics as they are low in the glycemic index. Plums have also been tested to prove that they are good laxatives.

The vitamin C and phenols in plums have antioxidant qualities these as Ialways say are the little soldiers that help prevent diseases.

Plums are also beneficial for the eyes and helps prevent macular degeneration. They boost immunity and improve cardiac health as well. Plums have more nutritional benefits than anyone imagined!

Did you know that plums assist in iron absorption? So for all of you out there who are taking iron supplement: try a plum for a change. While buying plums, look for plums without cracks or soft spots. They should give way only when slightly pressed. If they are ripe when you buy them, they should be stored in the fridge. To ripen them, store them at room temperature. Plums have more nutritional benefits than anyone imagined!