Naturopathy

Of those children, those with daily exposure to incense in their homes were 78 per cent more likely than those with no exposure to currently have asthma -- a pattern that was not true of children with the gene variant.

Incense is usually derived from fragrant plant materials, like tree bark, resins, roots, flowers and essential oils. Previous research has found that burning these materials can produce harmful substances, including benzene and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. A 2008 study of more than 61,000 Chinese adults followed for up to 12 years found a link between heavy incense use and various respiratory cancers, including oral, nasal and lung cancers.


While neither that study nor the current one proves that incense is the reason for the greater disease risks, the more recent one raises the possibility that limited incense use at home could help curb asthma risk for some children, Lee told Reuters Health in an e-mail. Some studies in Asian countries have found connections between incense burning and respiratory symptoms in children, but others -- including one of schoolchildren in Hong Kong -- have not, Lee and his team said.
It is also not clear whether the most recent findings can be generalized to other countries, he added.

Of the children, 48 per cent carried no copies of a gene variant known as GSTT1, which helps regulate a family of enzymes that protect body cells from oxidative damage, including that caused by cigarette smoke or other toxic chemicals. People without this variant have been found to have higher risks of allergies and asthma. "Incense burning is a risk factor for asthma and wheezing, especially in GSTT1 genetically susceptible children," wrote Lee and his colleagues.

Green leafy vegetables
Green leafy vegetable like spinach, fenugreek, pak choy, radish leaves, lettuce, etc. are healthy and are known to reduce the risk of heart diseases and cancer as well. That's because they are extremely low in fat, calories and high in dietary fibre. They also contain folic acid, magnesium, calcium, potassium, etc. These minerals are beneficial for the optimum functioning of the heart. Studies have shown that one daily serving of green leafy vegetables can lower the risk of heart diseases by 11 per cent.

Oats
Oats are one the most healthiest options available for breakfast. Not only do they make you feel full and energetic, they are great for your heart too. Oats contain beta glucan, which is a soluble fibre that helps bring down cholesterol levels especially LDL (bad cholesterol) in the body. Have oatmeal for breakfast or have oatmeal bread or cookies to absorb their benefits.

Whole grains
Whole grains whether its wheat, barley, millet, pulses and even beans for that matter are good for the heart because they provide natural fibre and vitamins. They contains vitamin E, iron, magnesium and a host of anti-oxidants. Regular consumption of of whole grains reduces blood pressure too.

Soy protein
Soy is essentially soyabean curd. They are also available in the form of soya chunks and soya mince easily in the market today. Soy is an excellent healthy substitute for red meats which are high in fat, increase the bad cholesterol and saturated fats which are very bad for the heart.

Olive oil
Olive oil is one of the most healthiest oils available, whose consumption is actually good for the heart. Having olive oil as a regular part of your diet, helps ion lowering LDL (bad cholesterol) in the body. Also, olive oil contains monounsaturated fats that are good for the heart and are packed with anti-oxidants. Extra virgin olive oil contains polyphenols and gives even greater health benefits. Drizzle some olive oil in your salad as a dressing instead of that unhealthy mayonnaise and high-calories dressings, or better still substitute it for your normal cooking oil and see the difference.

Acidity occurs when there is excess secretion of acids in the gastric glands of the stomach. When the secretion is more than usual, we feel, what is commonly known as heartburn, which is normally triggered off by consumption of spicy foods.
Here are some home remedies to cure acidity...

Skip the aerated drinks as well as the caffeine. Opt for herbal tea instead.

Have a glass of lukewarm water everyday.

Include banana, watermelon and cucumber in your daily diet. Watermelon juice is great for curing acidity.

Nariyal paani is known to soothe the system if you suffer from acidity.

 Drink a glass of milk - everyday.

 Have your last meal at least two to three hours before you hit the sack.

 Keeping long intervals between meals is another cause for acidity. Have small but regular meals.

Try to avoid pickles, spicy chutneys, vinegar, etc.

Boil some mint leaves in water and have a glass of this after meals.

Sucking on a piece of clove is another effective remedy.

Jaggery, lemon, banana, almonds and yogurt are all known to give you instant relief from acidity.

Excessive smoking and drinking will increase acidity, so cut down.

Try chewing gum. The saliva generated helps move food through the esophagus, easing symptoms of heartburn.
Ginger aids in digestion. Either buy powdered ginger in capsule forms or add the herb to your recipes.

A simple preparation of lemon water with sugar can be sipped on an hour before lunch to reduce uneasiness.

Have vegetables like drumsticks, beans, pumpkin, cabbage, carrot and spring onions.

Panic attacks are one of the symptoms of anxiety disorders. A sudden wave of oversweeping panic, rapid heart-rate, dizziness, sweating, difficulty in breathing, a feeling of loss of control are among the chief indicators.

Panic attacks can affect people irrespective of gender and age. Here are some remedies for the same:
When you are facing a panic attack, the first and most important thing is to calm down. Take slow, deep breaths as this will not only help you calm down but also slow down heart-rate.

During a panic attack, there's an increase in adrenaline levels in the body. Drink ice water, this will also help cooling down one's body from within. Gently massaging the neck and throat is recommended as these areas of the body tend to get quite tense during a panic attack.

Learning to divert one's attention from the current situation, might not be that easy but is quite an effective way of treating a panic attack. Sniffing aromatic oils or listening to soothing music is another way to deal with a panic attack.

A single sneeze infests a room with deadly bugs and the contamination can last for hours.
Microscopic droplets sneezed or coughed out float around the air in large enough concentrations to spread disease.

A sneeze typically contain as many as 40,000 droplets, some of which leave the body at more than 160 kmph. Breathing in airborne specks of virus found in a typical office, plane or train could infect a person after just one hour, the Journal of the Royal Society Interface reports. It also highlights why so many holidaymakers pick up coughs, colds and sniffles at the start of their trip, following a flight.

Flu passes from person to person through direct physical contact, or when someone sneezes or coughs.
 collected samples of air from the waiting room of a healthcare clinic, three rooms in a nursery and three cross-country flights. Half the samples contained small droplets containing the flu virus.


A typical cubic metre of air contained an average of 16,000 particles of flu virus. Most were less than 2.5 thousandths of a millimetre across, which remain suspended in the air for hours on end. Given these concentrations, the amount of viruses a person would inhale over one hour would be ­adequate to induce infection.

Figs , she says, are loaded with manganese, magnesium, vitamin E and zinc, which are essential for sexual health.



Watermelons contain citrulline, which signals the body to release arginine, which relaxes blood vessels – an effect similar to Viagra.
Champagne is another one on the top. It enters the bloodstream more quickly than wine, so you drink less of it. And with pinot noir or pinot meunier grapes has as many antioxidants as red wine, reports Fox News.
About Rosemary, she said: "If you're preparing a meal of seduction, you want something that will be easier to digest. You don't want blood flow diverted to your stomach."

Chilli Peppers - they replicate symptoms of arousal: flushed cheeks, a tingle on your tongue and plumper, more kissable lips. And they raise body temperature too.

Cheese – releases ten times more endorphins than chocolate, and puts you in the mood.

Reiley adds that the multi-sensory experience of eating, when combined with the right ingredients, nutrients and intentions, makes food positively sexual. And given the frequency with which we eat, that makes food the ultimate aphrodisiac.