Fatigue Tips

People very often tend to feel uneasy, right after taking your lunch or for that matter any meal. At that point of time, neither do you feel like doing anything nor do you understand what has gone wrong with your health. This is quite common after-effect of eating, which is mainly related to the digestive process.

There are always certain symptoms, which if you carefully notice, you can pinpoint right before the completeion of any meal. 

• You can feel stuffy pretty easily even after having something in moderate quantity
• A sense of tiredness might creep in, just when you are about to finish your meal
• You might go through a feeling of nausea, which might be the result of indigestion due to the problem of ulcer or gallbladder disease.

What leads to people feeling sick after having a meal?

Food poisoning is one of the foremost problems, due to which you might all of a sudden start feeling unwell after having your food.

• There are food items like curd, which if kept in the open for too long, can easily get contaminated and cause food poisoning.
• Consuming too much of spicy items as well as those containing fat, can have ill effect on your health, thereby resulting in uneasiness.
• Too much eating at a time can also result in people having discomfort due to the time taken for digestion.
• Allergy from any particular food item might also result in you feeling restless or sick after having your meal.

What can you do to avoid having this problem?

There are certain ways through which you can prevent yourself from getting affected adversely after taking your meal. It is often said prevention is better than cure, so little bit of prevention might save you from having digestive pills or any related medicine, which you usually take as and when any sort of uneasiness creeps into your system. As the age old saying goes, ‘eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.’ Of course, this doesn’t mean that you would gobble up anything which comes your way during breakfast and lunch hours.

• Try not to have foods which are spicy or fried, especially during dinner time as most of the problems occur at night.
• It’s always preferable to have smaller meals on a frequent basis, rather than having three large meals in a day.
• Allow your food time to digest, so relax and sit still after eating.

So, we have discussed about the reasons for which you might feel sick right after having your meal, where now you are aware of the symptoms, what causes this problem and how can you prevent this problem from happening.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

People who have good emotional health are aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They have learned healthy ways to cope with the stress and problems that are a normal part of life. They feel good about themselves and have healthy relationships.

However, many things that happen in life can disrupt your emotional health and lead to strong feelings of sadness, stress, or anxiety. Good changes can be just as stressful as bad changes. These things include:

1. Being laid off from your job
2. Having a child leave or return home
3. Dealing with the death of a loved one
4. Getting divorced or married
5. Suffering an illness or an injury
6. Getting a job promotion
7. Experiencing money problems
8. Moving to a new home
9. Having a baby

What is the mind-body link?

You may already be familiar with phrases which describe the mind-body connection in day-to-day life such as something being a “pain in the neck” - it generally symbolises 'burden over mind'.

When we talk about mind, people usually understand it as a collection of thoughts, feelings, beliefs, attitudes, memories, past experiences and personality that make up a person’s internal world.

Mind vs Brain

In colloquial terms, the words mind and brain may be used interchangeably but, the two are in fact not the same. While the brain is a physical organ, the mind can be described a virtual entity present within each cell of our body and extended to minimum 2 inches outside the body. That is why mind controls the body as a collection of thoughts, emotions, imagination and memories. When compared to a computer, the brain acts as the hardware while the mind is the software within it.

Is it all in my head?

Experiencing happiness or sadness not only affects your frame but also affects your physical health. For example, indigestion is commonly triggered by stress and anxiety. On the other hand, physical ailments also affect an individual’s mental well-being. Do you know anyone who feels happy when they are sick? Thus, the mind and body share a deep, cyclic connection. To be physically healthy is it important to be psychologically healthy and vice versa.

Emotions manifest themselves on an individual’s body in a number of ways. This ranges from changes in internal body temperature and blood sugar levels to hormonal imbalances and altered brain chemistry. Happiness and joyous emotions have the ability to boost immunity, alleviate pain and relax muscles while sadness and anxiety can increase heart beats, tighten muscles and dilate blood vessels. Over time, it can also lower a person’s immunity and make them more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections. Anxiety and depression can keep a person from eating nutritious food and exercising and hence lower his or her overall health. Poor emotional health could also encourage the use of stimulants such as alcohol and drugs that cause weight fluctuation, insomnia, tiredness, weakened gut health, sexual problems etc.

How do your thoughts and feelings affect your health?

Your brain produces substances that can improve your health. These substances include endorphins, which are natural painkillers, and gamma globulin, which strengthens your immune system.

Research shows that what your brain produces depends in part on your thoughts, feelings, and expectations. If you're sick but you have hope and a positive attitude and you believe that you'll get better, your brain is likely to produce chemicals that will boost your body's healing power.

Negative thoughts and emotions can keep your brain from producing some of the chemicals that help your body heal. But this doesn't mean you should blame yourself for getting sick or feeling down about a health problem. Some illnesses are beyond your control. But your thoughts and state of mind are resources you can use to get better.

The mind-body link and your health

Some of the body’s systems are more affected by the mind-body link more than others. You may recognise some listed below:

1. Digestive System Changes: It is common to experience an upset stomach (e.g. nausea, diarrhoea, bloating or pain) during times of stress. There are lots of nerve connections between the brain and the gut. In fact, the gut is sometimes called the ‘Little Brain’ for this reason.
2. Skin Conditions: People with skin conditions, including eczema or psoriasis, notice that during stressful periods their symptoms can become worse and respond less well to conventional treatments.
3. Heart Symptoms: Changes in the way the heart works are common in stressful or exciting circumstances. For example, stress or excitement can cause the heart to beat faster and raise blood pressure. These normal changes in heart rate and blood pressure as a result of stress can be concerning for people with or without heart conditions.
4. Fatigue: Fatigue can also be affected by how we think and feel. For example, boredom can lead to feeling fatigued and sleepy whereas an unexpected piece of good news could give you a burst of energy. Fatigue can also be present as part of mood problems such as depression and anxiety. People who experience health problems may struggle with fatigue which is a combination of physical and emotional factors.
5. Thinking Styles: How you think - your ‘thinking style’ - can affect how you feel emotionally and physically. Some common thinking styles make it seem very likely that something bad is going to happen. This can make you feel worried, sad or upset even though the thought is not true.

Mind-Body Therapies

Below is a short list of some of the more common types of psychotherapy. Some therapy techniques have been scientifically tested on a large scale basis; while others are newer and often combined with more established psychotherapies.

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
2. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
3. Psychodynamic Therapy
4. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
5. Hypnotherapy

Using the mind-body link to help you manage your health

• Learning how to relax can help your mind and body. You can try different things until you find one that works for you. For example: Listen to relaxing music.
• Spend five minutes focusing on the rhythm of your breath.
• Try using prayer or meditation to relax.
• Imagine being in a peaceful scene, such as a beach or woodland. Notice what you can see, hear, touch, taste and smell.
• Try not to rush around during the day. Leave plenty of time for your planned activities.
• Talk to someone when you are feeling stressed, anxious or down you might not feel like doing anything.

Thankfully, like physical ailments, emotional ailments too can be treated.

Sodium deficiency or hyponatraemia refers to the low sodium concentration in the body of an individual. As other minerals, Sodium also plays essential roles in the human body. It is required for many of the functions of the body, including blood pressure management, fluid balance and the proper functioning of the nervous system. It may also sometimes lead to neurological impairments which affect walking and attention and could also result in bone fracture. Hyponatremia can be caused due to drinking too much of water, without enough replacement of sodium from the body. However, consuming too much of sodium can increase the volume of blood in the body, resulting in various health problems and can sometimes lead a person to coma.

The symptoms of sodium deficiency or hyponatraemia aren’t usually always specific. They can differ from person to person and depend on how rapid the fall in the sodium concentration of the body is. However, some of the common symptoms that are usually seen in the affected persons are as follows:

1. Gastrointestinal distress: One of the symptoms of hyponatraemia includes gastrointestinal distress. It may cause a decrease in the appetite of an individual and also result in nausea and vomiting. However, if a person suffering from sodium deficiency experiences vomiting, then their problem may continue to worsen.
2. Cognitive Impairment: Deficiency in sodium level can also result in abnormal mental status. Hyponatremia causes expanding of the tissue cells in the body. However, maximum tissues in the body can handle this change but the brain cannot. It is not capable of compensating for the increased size of the cells and as a result, the brain starts to dysfunction and causes a headache, confusion, lethargy and the problem of fatigue. With the worsening of the conditions, the person can experience hallucinations, decrease in consciousness and may also lead to coma.
3. Muscular Problems: Due to the drop in Sodium concentration, a person can experience various muscular problems including spasms or cramps. He/She may also suffer from fatigue. The weakness in the muscles and seizures are some of the additional symptoms of sodium deficiency.

The severity of these symptoms depends on the speed i.e., on how fast the fall in the blood salt level is. A gradual, low-level drop can be tolerated if it lasts for a few days or weeks, but the deficiency of sodium in the body can be fatal if not treated as early as possible. It may even lead to the death of a person.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Kapha is responsible for governing all body functions related to lubrication. Some of the typical body functions that Kapha has a direct impact upon includes lubrication of lungs and joints, body weight, growth, and formation of the seven tissues- fat, bone marrow, nutritive fluid, reproductive tissues and fat. There could be several symptoms indicating an imbalance of Kapha in the system.

Some of them include the following:

1. Mind: An increased Kapha of the mind is characterised by symptoms, such as a feeling of lethargy, drowsiness, and sluggishness, excessive sleep, feeling of depression and melancholy, laziness and brain fog. An accumulation of Kapha in the mind can lead to severe depression, withdrawal symptoms, diabetic coma and frequent loss of consciousness.
2. Digestive tract: Kapha can wreak havoc on the digestive tract. Some early signs of Kapha accumulation in the digestive tract include a heavy feeling in the stomach, indigestion, excess salivation, poor appetite, nausea, slow metabolism etc. As a result of excess Kapha, the stool can be sticky, pale, heavy and oily. This can lead to diabetes and mucoid diarrhea. If not treated early excess Kapha can lead to hyperglycemia, anorexia nervosa, and blood in the stool.
3. Kapha accumulation in skin, adipose tissue, muscles and circulatory system: An accumulation of Kapha in other parts of the body can lead to hypertension, itching, lipoma formation, cold sweat, swollen lymph, pallor, low strength of the body, itching etc. In the case of long standing Kapha accumulation some serious aggravation from the present condition can lead to obesity, thrombosis, leukaemia, malignant tumours, edema, high cholesterol, blood stagnation, hypertrophy, heart failure etc.
4. Kapha in respiratory system: Kapha in the respiratory tract can lead to coughs, hay fever, sinuses, nasal crust, chest pain, runny nose, excess mucus and frequent cold. If the existing condition becomes serious and treatment is not done on time, some serious complications can lead to cystic fibrosis, sinus infections, excess phlegm in the throat, chronic sinus etc.
5. Other parts of the body: If Kapha accumulates in other parts of the body it can lead to symptoms such as excess urination, low libido, premature ejaculation, heavy testicles, swelling of the joints, dental tartar, sex desire, fibrocystic lumps, goiter, enlarged spleen, gallstones, endometriosis, cystic ovary, lordosis, protruded eyes, heavy feeling of the eye, prostate enlargement, white urine, neurofibromas, hydrocephalus, gangrene , prolonged menstrual cycle osteoma, kyphosis, prostatic calculi, bone spurs etc.
6. Food to avoid Kapha symptoms: Some foods that need to be avoided include carbonated drinks, oily food, chilled food, deep fried snacks, red meat, foods which are heavy to digest, milk especially buffalo milk, sweets, Ghee, fruits like Banana, Mango etc. excess salt and sour, all forms of alcohol except red wine, the latter can be consumed no more than once in a week.

Today’s post is about the benefits of good sleep. A good night’s sleep is incredibly important for health. In fact, it is just as important as eating healthy and exercising. Here are some reasons why good sleep is important.

1.    Poor sleep can make you fat: short sleep duration is associated with a drastically increased risk of weight gain and obesity, in both children and adults.

2.    Good sleep can improve concentration and productivity: good sleep can maximize problem solving skills and enhance memory. Poor sleep has been shown to impair brain function.

3.    Sleep improves your immune function: getting at least 8 hours of sleep can improve immune function and help fight the common cold.

4.    Poor sleep is linked to depression and hormonal imbalances: poor sleeping patterns are strongly linked to depression, particularly for those with a sleeping disorder. 

5. Less self control and discipline: interestingly, lack of sleep also has a profound influence over our self control. Those late night fast food dinners are, many times, due to being too tired or having the willpower to resist the temptation. Having good self-control requires a lot of effort, which wilts away when you are sleep deprived. 

6.    Lack of motivation and self drive: lack of sleep causes tiredness and thus in return effect our productivity at work.

The bottom line is that if you want to make being lean and toned a lifestyle, this is one habit that you need to get nailed down.

Taking care of a newborn is round-the-clock job as the baby needs constant attention. There are many parents who get stressed out as taking care of a newborn as a first-time parent is challenging. There is no need to get stressed out and the best way to keep a cool mind is to make use of practical strategies.

Practical strategies to follow to stay stress-free
A newborn baby in the family definitely brings a lot of excitement, but it also brings along much stress and fatigue to the parents. It is very important that during this time, you take care of yourself by eating a healthy diet and avoid giving up on sleep.

1. It is also essential that you drink a lot of water and when the baby sleeps you should also sleep. You can work out a suitable night time schedule with your partner so that both of you can take care of the baby and rest as well.
2. This way, you will be able to take care of your baby without getting extremely tired.
3. It is important that you set up some visiting rules for your relatives and loved ones so that you get the required rest. It is equally important that you insist your friends to wash their hands with a hand sanitiser and then carry the baby.
4. As a parent, it is very important that each day you set aside plenty of time for the nursing sessions, and if you plan to go out you must give yourself added time to pack the required supplies.
5. It is essential that you spend more time with your newborn as it needs more attention and love from you.
6. It is very important that you create a proper and perfect sleeping environment for your baby, and you should make use of a good mattress so that the baby sleeps comfortably and even you get to sleep.

Share your emotions with your partner
It is important for parents of a newborn to share their emotions with each other and stay connected with each other. By sharing your thoughts and emotions, you can lighten your mood. Parenting is definitely a challenging job and to enjoy this phase of life, it is important that the stress associated with it is handled properly. In case you are finding it hard to handle your baby, it is advisable that you consult your doctor, who will help you adjust to your new life with your newborn.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Research has shown that nail paint contains chemical substances that can be harmful to the body. These chemicals can enter the body through the pores of the nails. The health eradication is applicable for people who are applying on their nails and salon workers who apply nail art to their clients, day in and day out. Here is one must know before applying the beautiful shades of color on the nails:

What are the harmful agent present in nail paint?
There are three dangerous industrial chemicals that are mixed with nail paint that is dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde. Owing to their notorious health implications, these chemicals are known as toxic-trio. Toluene is used as a solvent in nail polish that aids smoother finish and holds the pigment together from separating inside the bottle. It, however, affects the reproductive system and the central nervous system. Similarly, dibutyl phthalate and formaldehyde can cause a problem in breathing, internal hemorrhage etc.

1. Health Hazards: Regular to health care products-nail paint, in particular, can have a wide range of health implication. From skin irritation to an eye injury, allergic reaction to breathing problems once can face a lot of problems that are totally uncalled for. Research also indicate that regular exposure to nail paint crop up neurological problems, impair the process of body development, affect the reproductive system etc. Research conducted by the Cancer Prevention Institute, California showed that there is an increased risk of cancer for people who work at beauty care salon due to their increased exposure to beauty products.
2. Problems related to pregnancy: Frequent nail paint can lead to a premature pregnancy. Some other problems related to pregnancy include undersized babies, spontaneous birth of the baby and preterm delivery. There have been too many instances of failed pregnancies witnessed among beauty salon workers. Some other symptoms that are related to mail paint exposure that is seen during pregnancy include chronic headaches, very low appetite, lethargy etc.
3. Way forward: It is evident that nail paint can pose a serious threat to women in general. The best way to go forward is to choose a nail paint that has a low toxicity rating- preferably within 2. This can be a little challenging since most beauty products do not portray the toxicity rating. If the latter is not mentioned in the body of the product, go for a product, that states the absence of chemical product. Organic nail paints can be the best alternative to address the challenges of conventional nail paint.

However, the availability of organic nail paint is still a challenge. Not many companies sell it, the consumer base for these beauty products are thin as well.

Being away or oblivious to social media is synonymous to not following the herd. Social media probably is no more the latest fad; it is the given code to take a deeper look into the present age. The rewarding fact about social networking sites is their ability to transport us to people and places millions of miles away from us. This epoch with its dictates of overproduction and maximum utilization of labor, snatches away the boon of communication.

Some of the mental health problems that you may suffer from due to social media addiction are discussed below:

1. Peer Pressure- Social media use also creates the fear of missing out because you want to do what everyone else is doing. This evokes anxiety and will give rise to negative feelings and emotions, which further creates mental health problems, stress and anxiety disorders
2. Fatigue and Stress- When you are using social media, you are constantly switching from one task to another because there is just so much to do and see. This information abundance can tire out your brain, especially when it is received chaotically. Your brain needs time and room for absorbing the data and processing the information, but multitasking on social media makes your brain work overtime. This can prevent it from relaxing and it will become exhausted as it tries to deal with the barrage of information. Hence, the fatigue puts your mind under a lot of stress and you may not be able to concentrate on anything at all.
3. Social Anxiety- Even though the whole point of social media is to allow people to stay connected with others, it doesn’t have the same satisfaction and element associated with the actual human interaction, which is a crucial human need. In fact, in some ways, it is too distant and this is not a good thing for those who become dependent on social media as it can lead to social anxiety. Those who are already suffering from this problem will find it even more difficult to indulge in face-to-face interaction. Real human interaction can become extremely scary for people as it is becoming common to hide behind your computer screens and not go out at all.
4. Distraction- Social media is just tailor-made for decreasing our productivity because you spend hours looking at everyone else’s life when you could be doing something else. This means that most of your time is spent on viewing photos, liking posts, and writing comments and these activities don’t really require the use of your intellectual abilities. They aren’t intellectual at all and distract you from activities that are such as reading, studying informational articles on the internet, etc. Your brain doesn’t get enough food for development and your intellectual abilities can decline in this way. Your brain will slow down and not be able to respond quickly to various situations.
5. Insecurity- One of the major problems with social media is that posts typically present an idealized version of what’s going on in everyone’s life. Usually, what you see isn’t actually reality because everyone has their problems and issues. Nevertheless, you end up comparing your own life with that of others and think less of your own. If people in your newsfeed seem to be having a good time, it will make you envious and affect your mood negatively. Research has shown that widespread use of social media can demotivate people, make them aggressive and cause a decline in confidence.

So are you being adversely affected by social media? Here are some signs to look out for:

1. Low self-esteem.
2. Feeling low when you see other people's images and lifestyle.
3. Envy of others people lives - wishing your life was like someone else's.
4. Finding social media as your first and only choice of activity done for enjoyment.
5. Not having as many face to face conversations with your relatives and friends and feeling disconnected.
6. Being unable to do anything without feeling you need to share it online.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Ashwagandha is a herb that’s been getting a lot of attention lately and for good reason. It is best known for its ability to promote energy and stamina without stimulating the heart. It also has the capacity to help the body adapt to reduce various types of stress. As a body-balancing herb, it also remedies occasional sleeplessness. Most people take ashwagandha as a supplement and you can find it in our stresscare formula along with holy basil and gotu kola.

Benefits of ashwagandha

• Balya – improves strength and immunity.
• Vrushya/vaajikari – acts as aphrodisiac.
• Rasayan – improves life expectancy and anti-aging
• Useful in cough/cold
• Useful in vata disorders like – parkinson’s disease, paralysis
• Useful in quick wound healing
• Anti-toxic therefore useful in detoxification
• Useful in leukoderma on internal and external application
• Relieves itching
• Useful in intestinal worms
• Useful for the treatment of muscle wasting/emaciation/post-tubercular treatment to improve muscle mass and strength.
• Improves semen quality and quantity
• Reduces blood pressure on oral intake
• It has anti-anxiety properties so widely used for the treatment of depression, chronic fatigue syndrome etc.
• Being rich in anti-oxidants and has hypoglycaemic activity, useful in the treatment of diabetes.

As per the latest statistics published by the 'center for disease control and prevention', about 9% women suffer from the deficiency of iron. Though the proportion is relatively low, iron deficiency can lead to various diseases, which can be very difficult to cure. So, look out for these telltale signs of iron deficiency and check whether you suffer from any of them.

1. Fatigue: Your internal system uses iron for the production of hemoglobin, which is a component in the red blood cells, responsible for carrying oxygen to all parts of the body. So, when the iron content is low, there is not enough hemoglobin produced and all organs do not receive oxygen in the required quantities, which is bound to make you feel tired at most times.
2. Inability to focus: People with iron deficiency often suffer from alteration in the synthesis of neurotransmitters. This can lead to decreased functionality and focusing abilities. This may also lead to the development of apathy towards all things, including family, friends, books, music or anything that you loved and enjoyed doing.
3. Breathlessness: Without a proper supply of iron, there could be an oxygen crunch in the body, compelling you to feel breathless. This may happen anytime like when you are working out or walking or reading a book.
4. Paleness: Do you think your skin has lost luster and has become pale in the last few days? That’s definitely not a good sign and may be a symptom of decreased flow of blood and reduction in the RBC count.
5. Trouble doing your daily chores: Low levels of iron in the body can cause your endurance level to suffer. Thus, you may find it difficult to run up the stairs or catch a vehicle or swim for a while.
6. Soreness of muscles: Even if you could push yourself to reach the gym, you would experience that the burn lasts longer than normal. Lack of required amount of iron prevents your muscles to recover at the right pace. As a result, you are likely to suffer from aches in the muscles.
7. Brittle nails: If there is a recent development of spoon-shaped or concave depression in the nails, it could be a sign that your body is iron deficient.

Often people tend to ignore the warning signs that the body gives to indicate the problem that’s cropping up. But you can’t take your health for granted. So, check for these signs without any delay get help from a doctor in case you notice them. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!