Health Guide

Health Record provides reliable answers to important health questions. Use this site to learn more about detecting, preventing, and treating a variety of medical conditions.

Abnormal Vaginal Discharge

Written by Mystic on Thursday, January 31, 2008

Some amount of vaginal discharge will always occur from about 2 years before puberty to the time of menopause. The discharge is composed of secretions of the cervical glands, the vaginal lining cells and secretions of Bartholin Glands. The amount of vaginal discharge will change from time to time depending on the body's level of estrogen.

How much discharge is normal ?
The definition of normal will change form woman to woman. But if it involves using panty shields and change of underwear many times a day it probably is more than normal. The week before periods, use of oral contraceptive and being pregnant are all typically associated with increased vaginal discharge.


What are the characteristics of a normal discharge ?
The normal discharge is not itchy nor is it malodorous. A normal discharge is usually clear, creamy or slightly yellow.

When should a doctor be called?
The doctors should be visited when the character of the discharge changes.

  • When there is a sudden increase in the volume of the discharge.

  • When the discharge changes color from the normal yellow-whitish to brownish or greenish.

  • When it becomes malodorous.

The above symptoms of an abnormal discharge may be associated with signs of itching and burning.


What will the doctor do?
The doctor will take a swab from the vagina and see it under the microscope. The result would guide him to do further investigation or give treatment.

If a person suspects that she is suffering from a sexually transmitted disease she should contact her doctor immediately.


MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Vaginal discharge, What is normal vaginal discharge?


Enlarged Breasts (Gynecomastia)

Written by Mystic on Thursday, January 31, 2008

Some boys find that their breasts grow big at puberty. Is this something to worry about?
No. This simply reflects the hormonal change that they are going through. The condition is known as gynecomastia and its concerns are purely cosmetic. Most boys find the development embarrassing and worry being sniggered at by their peer group.

What is the treatment?
In more than 50 per cent cases, within two to three years the enlargement disappears by itself. In the remaining, if the problem is severe, a simple surgery can undo the damage.

Can men get breast cancer?
Yes, but it is rather rare.

Dhatu Rog

Written by Mystic on Thursday, January 31, 2008

What is the Dhatu Rog that quacks make such a hue and cry about?
While straining at stools, a man may sometimes involuntarily pass a whitish fluid in the urine. In actuality, it is the secretion of the prostatic and periurethral glands. But the quacks have spread this myth that it is the semen, which flows out. For this reason, the condition has been named the Dhatu Rog.

Does this require any treatment?
Absolutely none!

Wet dreams (Sleep emissions)

Written by Mystic on Thursday, January 31, 2008

What are wet dreams?
A wet dream or nocturnal emission is simply an ejaculation, which a male experiences during sleep. The act is totally involuntary, over which no control can be exercised.

Aren't they abnormal?
No. Sleep emissions are absolutely normal and innocuous physiological phenomenon. They are just one mechanism the body uses to indicate that it's sperm manufacturing units are going full steam.

Don't they damage health?
No, most certainly not.

Why is it then that some boys and men feel weak after sleep emissions?
Oh! That's simply because this has been ingrained in their minds. While some believe that this loss would weaken them, others shrink in shame as if they have done a wrong. It is this warped thinking which causes weakness, not the primary event itself.
.
What is the treatment?
Just accept it as normal, and you would be fine.

Masturbation

Written by Mystic on Thursday, January 31, 2008

What is masturbation?
Masturbation is the deliberate stimulation of one
's sex organs to achieve pleasure. A natural and healthy method of sexual release engaged in by most people of both sexes, it is a good way of learning one's own sexual response, and an extremely practical way to ease sexual tension. It is an act, which not only the Homo sapiens enjoy, but other species also take pleasure in. Those who observe animal life keenly know that apes and simians enjoy it much the same way as men do.

Does everyone masturbate?
Most males masturbate. Data collected by researchers such as Kinsey, Morton Hunt and Shere Hite indicates that men generally masturbate more than women, and over 90 per cent men accept that they had masturbated to orgasm at some point in their lives.

Isn't masturbation bad for health?
No. The old idea that masturbation is harmful
'that it weakens you, stunts your growth, impairs your memory or even drives you insane'is now entirely discredited. The simple truth is: Masturbation is the first and best way for young people to learn about their new identity as sexually responsive human beings.

Can you masturbate too much?
Masturbation can become compulsive. While it doesn
't hurt, it can make things go awry and cause psychological disturbances like any other compulsion.

How does a man masturbate?
The most common method is by wrapping the fingers around the erect penis and then stroking it up and down until ejaculation. Another common method is to rub the erect penis against something, like a mattress, a pillow, or a sex toy, until ejaculation.

Should one use a lubricant while masturbating?
That depends on personal preference. Many men use lubricants because they find the friction of masturbating a dry penis too uncomfortable. Yet others never do because they began without using a lubricant.

My penis goes off at an angle! Is this from masturbating?
No. The changes that sexual activity brings about are always temporary. During the stage of sexual excitement, sexual parts experience certain changes, mostly swelling and change in colour. But these changes are entirely normal and never permanent. The organs return to their usual appearance shortly after the sexual activity stops.

In particular, masturbation never affects:

  • Curves in the penis. Masturbation cannot change the shape of the penis. If many penises have some greater or lesser degree of curve in them when they are erect, and particularly in younger men, if the erect penis tends to point upwards (toward the belly) rather than outward, it is just natural and nothing to worry about. A few penises also have sharp angles when erect. The differences are not caused by masturbation, and unless the abnormality in shape is serious, there is nothing that needs to be done.

  • Color of the skin of the sexual areas. Very commonly the colour of the skin of the sex organs differs from the colour of skin of the rest of the body. In light-skinned people, the sex organs often are darker than the rest of the body, while the opposite is often true of dark-skinned people.

  • Position and size differences of the testicles. It is normal for one testicle to be slightly larger than the other and for one to hang slightly lower than the other. If not for this latter, men would have constantly anguished themselves when they walked with the testes banging against one another painfully!

Does masturbation cause any change in the size of the penis?
No, except temporarily during excitement, when it does get larger. But per se, masturbation neither retards nor accelerates the growth of the penis.

Can masturbation cause any disease?
No.

Will I go blind, bald, and insane, grow hair on my palms or would my penis turn black and fall off from masturbating?
No. These are just old scare tactics to discourage people from doing it. Men's sexual organs are built to do two things: make sperm and semen, and ejaculate it out of the body. Once the semen and sperm are out of the penis, the body ceases to care what happens. The sex organs pretty much don't know and don't care what the source of the sexual stimulation is.

Will I lose my ability to perform with a partner if I masturbate?
Not likely. Only those adolescents who learn to get it over quickly, to minimize the chance of being
'discovered'' may need to learn to 'delay' orgasm in later life. When they wish to acquire the ability to delay orgasm in order to maximize sexual pleasure, they must unlearn all the 'quickie'' techniques.
For most others, masturbation actually helps a person develop a sense of stimulus he needs to have an orgasm. This helps them develop a better control.

Masturbation is only for people who can't get laid, right?
While it's true that some people masturbate just because there is no sexual partner in their lives, there are many who are married or involved in other fulfilling sexual relationships and still masturbate. For them, masturbation is just another form of sex play, which they can do all by themselves. It is an act that permits a person complete and utter control.

Is there any treatment for masturbation?
Masturbation is not a disease! And requires no treatment. Only if it were to become an obsession or compulsion, does it need medical help. In that case, the problem is psychological and it is the underlying psychiatric disorder that merits therapy.

What should be the parents' reaction to their child's masturbation?
Parents should understand that this is simply a normal stage of psychosexual development. They must never scold the child nor make any anxiety-provoking statements such as masturbation will damage his sex life or make him insane or lead to genital dysfunction or deformity. They should provide constructive support and permit the child a natural expression of sexuality without causing any embarrassment.

Brahmacharya (Celibacy)

Written by Mystic on Thursday, January 31, 2008

The orthodox Hindu school of thought portrays human life in four stages. Of these, the first is Brahmacharya. Can you explain what is Brahmacharya, and how scientific is it in the present day life?
At its very basic, the concept of Brahmacharya implicitly implies a complete non-indulgence in sexual thoughts, words and deeds. It is same as being celibate and observing sexual abstinence.

Why? Wouldn't you say sexual abstinence is advantageous to health?
Not at all. Otherwise, the sexual system would have matured at a much later age. Once a person achieves sexual maturity, it is only natural that sex should interest him. At that stage, its deliberate suppression would obviously not be healthy. The unquenched sex drive would simply lead to emotional instability and evoke increased sexual imagery. As a result, guilt, shame and serious psychological problems may occur. This, in turn, may lead to impairment of concentration, irritability, extreme nervousness and insomnia, and further worsen things.

Wouldn't you say semen is vital? Doesn't man become devitalised and age due to its dissipation?
Certainly not! If that were true, men who are incapable of performing sexually would have outlived those who live a fulsome conjugal life. But that's not true. In any case, in all normal men, the sperm manufacturing units just carry on at their job irrespective of what use their produce is put to.

How many sperms does a normal man produce in a day?
More than 200 million!

And what happens to these sperms in case a man is a strict celibate?
The body has its mechanisms to dispose its surplus. If sleep emissions are one way, resorption of the old sperms is another.

Won't you say that conservation of semen leads to longevity and athletic excellence?
No.

Why was then the concept of Brahmacharya established in the first place?
To my mind, its usage may have been similar to the word celibate. Historically, celibate means only "unmarried"; its use to mean "abstaining from sexual intercourse" is a 20th-century development. Otherwise, if you were to review some of the great mythological characters in our history, they certainly did not lead a life of celibacy till 25.

How is the consistency of semen linked to sexual adequacy?
The consistency of semen is so very variable that nothing should be read into that. Several factors such as the period of abstinence, age and intensity of stimulation can change it each time even in a single individual.

Does a decline in quantity and changes in colour of semen indicate that virility is on the wane?
No.

How old do you have to be to have an erection?
You are never too young or too old. Baby boys can have their first erection soon after birth, and men can remain sexually active well into old age.

Masturbation - Wet Dreams and Youth

Written by Mystic on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Masturbation

  • Masturbation is the deliberate stimulation of one's sex organs to achieve pleasure. It is an act, which not only the Homo sapiens enjoy, but other species like apes and simians also take pleasure in doing it.

  • It in no way results in impotency.

  • It does not cause infertility.

  • Masturbation is not a disease! And requires no treatment. Only if it were to become an obsession or compulsion, does it need medical help.

  • Masturbation neither retards nor accelerates the growth of the penis. It also does not change the shape of the penis.

  • One cannot turn blind, go bald, or become insane from masturbating as is commonly believed.

  • A person who masturbates does not lose the ability to perform with a partner. Infact, masturbation actually helps a person develop a sense of stimulus he needs to have an orgasm.

  • Parents should understand that masturbation is simply a normal stage of psychosexual development. They must never scold the child indulging in it.

  • According to researchers men generally masturbate more than women.


Wet Dreams

  • Wet dreams mean the ejaculation of sperms while sleeping
  • Wet dreams are a normal phenomenon. It is not a disease. And you should not feel guilty about it.
  • It happens in response to the body producing sperms
  • When a boy experiences this he also has pleasurable feelings
  • The average age for this to occur is around 13 to 14 years. By this time the boy already has some signs of puberty
  • Probably, the person who masturbates will experience this less often.

Smoking Facts for Youths

Written by Mystic on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Smoking Facts

  • Cigarette Smoking is a known killer so why begin with a habit that can kill you
  • Smokers in the modern society are treated like second grade citizens
  • There are no second chances. Most of the people who get hooked on to smoking cannot kick the habit.
  • Most of the damage occurs when people start to smoke in their early teens.
  • It diminishes or extinguishes your sense of taste and smell and brings about abundant early wrinkles
  • More than a third of high school students who try cigarettes develop a daily smoking habit before they graduate.
  • Menthol cigarettes are as damaging
  • People say that kissing a smoker is licking a ashtray
  • Second hand smoke is as damaging to people around you
  • Sports and cigarettes do not gel, smoking soon after a good round of exercise may actually cause you much more harm than usual
  • If you continue smoking soon if would be impossible to exercise or participate in sports
  • The sooner you realize that you are a target of the tobacco selling companies the better. The tobacco companies latest motto "Catch Them Young"

Pills and Youth

Written by Mystic on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Pills

  • Modern birth control pills are much more milder versions of their predecessors with relatively less side-effects. Don't let another woman's horror story keep you from trying the pill if you're sexually active.

  • Ortho- Tricyclene, one of the many birth control pills available, is also approved as an acne medication with success in controlling moderate to high, hormonally influenced breakouts.

  • If you smoke, the risks associated with taking the Pill are increased - yet another reason NOT to smoke!

  • Although it is less common, it is still possible to get pregnant within 1 month of going off the Pill.

  • Despite advice you may have heard you do not need to take a break from the Pill.

  • When used correctly the Pill is 95% - 99% effective.

  • When used incorrectly the Pill is totally ineffective.

  • The Pill can not protect you against any STDs or HIV/AIDS.

Periods and Youth

Written by Mystic on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Periods

  • Most girls get there first period between the ages of 11 and 15. But you can get it as late as at 18 or as young as at 10.

  • For the first few years most girls have irregular periods. Don't fret if you miss your periods for months altogether or if you have 2 periods very close together.

  • A period is part of the regular fertility cycle in females. It is merely the expulsion of an unfertilized egg along with uterine wall tissue and blood. Although it seems as if you lose a lot of blood you really only lose between 4 - 6 tablespoons, the rest is tissue and water.

  • Period's work on 28-day cycles. This means you can expect 13 periods in a year.

  • PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) is not a myth but it has been exaggerated. It is more physical than emotional and includes things like bloating, cramping, water retention, elevated body temperature, and skin breakouts.

  • It is possible, although highly unlikely, to get pregnant if you have unprotected sex during your period.

  • Cramps are really cumbersome and for some girls they are severe enough to warrant missing school or other activities. Taking Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen can help ease the pain.

  • Using tampons does not mean you are no longer a virgin.

  • Tampons should not be left in for more than 8 hours since their extended use can cause the disease called " Toxic Shock Syndrome"

Condoms and Youth

Written by Mystic on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Condoms

  • Condoms don't give 100% protection against STDs, AIDS, or pregnancy. Only Abstinence from sex can do that!

  • Sex with a condom does feel different but not worse.

  • Improper knowledge of using condoms is the prime reason for it's failure.

  • Some of the STDs that condoms can help protect you from are AIDS, herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papiloma virus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

  • Latex condoms afford greater protection against viral STDs than natural membrane condoms.

  • Condom users and their partners are less likely to get gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease and cervical cancer.

  • For STD and AIDS protection it is essential to use condoms during oral sex.

  • You should never use an oil based lubricant (baby oil, cold cream, vaseline, hand cream or any cooking oil) with a condom since it can cause the latex to break.

Breasts and Youth

Written by Mystic on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

  • Breasts can start growing as early as age 10 and don't stop until your early 20's.

  • During puberty, breasts can grow rapidly causing general discomfort, pain and uneasiness.
  • Breasts have been overly emphasized in our culture making them too big a part of a girls physical identity. This does not mean that a girl with larger breasts is more feminine or "better". Infact, very large breasts can cause pain and poor posture.

  • Breasts have a biological purpose - for feeding babies.

  • Having a baby changes ones breasts forever, and many women get larger (but much less perky) breasts after pregnancy.

  • Bras are more than just undergarments; they are necessary to keep your breasts supported and to stop injury to the breast tissue while playing sports.

  • Breast cancer is rare in teen-aged girls but it is important to get used to checking your breasts for lumps and irregularities as soon as you start having your period. This is especially important if you have a family history of breast cancer.

Alcohol and Youth

Written by Mystic on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Alcohol

Guess which is the most socially accepted addictive substance. Yes, it's Alcohol. Here are some facts on it that you should know.

  • Alcohol is not a stimulant! Infact, it's a depressant.

  • No matter how much you booze alcohol will never quench your thirst. Infact, it makes thirst worst.

  • What is Alcohol extremely rich in? High Empty Calories!

  • Drinking alcohol while you are pregnant can cause FAS (Foecal Alcohol Syndrome) in babies. It is a devastating disorder that often renders it's victims unable to function in society or to care for themselves in socially acceptable ways.

  • Alcohol causes varying degrees of the following side effects in everyone who uses it. These include dullness of sensation, impaired thought processes, impaired memory, impaired judgment, sleep or sleeplessness. Alcoholism can lead to coma and death.

  • Alcohol can bring about behavioural changes that include aggression, sexual openness, excessive talking, lying, phony friendliness and quick tempers.

  • A "hang over" is what strikes you a day after going on an alcohol binge. A throbbing headache and sharp pains at the temples and base of the neck characterize a hangover.

  • 70% of alcoholics and alcohol abusers tend to suffer from a number of physical side effects. These include cirrhosis of the liver, heart problems, obesity and a slurred speech even if you are sober.

Aids and Youth

Written by Mystic on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

  • HIV leads to AIDS in all but a few cases. This virus is not so strong and has a very short life span outside the human body.

  • AIDS is most commonly transmitted through sexual contact with an infected partner. The other causes include injection drug abuse, blood transfusions and last but not the least from mother to foetus.

  • Want to protect yourself against AIDS? Well, Abstinence is the only foolproof method to guard against this STD.

  • Although AIDS/HIV has been found in human saliva but there is no medical evidence to claim that it can be passed on through infected saliva.

  • HIV is impartial! It does not care about the color of your skin, your religious beliefs, your sexuality, your age or your socio-economic standing. Anybody can get this deadly virus! virus!

How to Measure Obesity

Written by Mystic on Monday, January 28, 2008

Measurements

Several criteria have been suggested to measure obesity but a few simplified objective methods for its assessment are now widely acceptable worldwide A person is obese when a he or she is 20% above the recommended weight for his or her height and build. Another direct method for estimation of body fats include Densitometery which simply entails weighing under water and uses the basic principle that fat and other body tissues have different density, and hence the actual fat content can be calculated. Convenient methods used in clinics are as follows:

Skin fold thickness
Ordinary calipers can be used to measure skin fold thickness over the biceps, triceps or below the shoulder and standard charts are used to assess the degree of obesity.

Body mass index (BMI)
This is a quick, easy and reliable method. It uses the ratio of weight in kgs divided by the square of height in meters, i.e., W/H2 for example for someone weighing 70 kgs. and a height of 175 cms. Body Mass Index (BMI) will be 70/(1.75)2 = 23. BMI of 25 is taken as upper limit of normal, and a span of 25-29.9 as overweight. Values above 30 is obese. In terms of disease and mortality, scientists have categorized BMI under four categories.

BMI Relative Index
25-30 LOW
30-35 MODERATE
35-40 HIGH
40 VERY HIGH

Waist/hip-ratios
Ratio of the waist measured at the narrowest part between the rib cage and hips divided by measurement of hips at the widest part determines a simple but useful ratio. Scientists have enough evidence that a ratio higher than 1.0 for men and 0.9 for women are associated with high risks of getting diabetes and cardiovascular morbidity.

Standard tables
Standard tables of height and weight in correlation to the risk of mortality at different ages are convenient. These are derived from various sources such as life insurance data and nationwide disease prevalence. However they have several limitations as they take into account only a cross sections of the population.

The Most useful Criteria
For a quick assessment of obesity and related risk, the BMI and waist/hip ratio are the best since enough data is now available nationwide and worldwide.

Obesity In America - Measuring Obesity

Obese Child

Written by Mystic on Monday, January 28, 2008

When obesity strikes early!


Are your wrong eating habits making your child obese? Or is he chubby due to some other reason. Read on to know the factors making your child overweight.

Factors leading to childhood obesity
Obesity in children is when you suspect the weight is 20 per cent more than the ideal body weight. It is more of a social problem than a medical problem. Our society calls such children “cute”, “chubby” and “sweet little ones”; hence a fat child is more accepted. Causes of childhood include the following:

  • Genetic factors-80 per cent of children are obese if both parents are fat.
  • Social factors-Wrong eating habits of the adults and their lifestyle.
  • Media influence-Advertisements luring the children for chocolates, 2-minute noodles, snack foods.
  • Family tensions-A lonely and defected child finds solace in overeating.
  • Medical problems-like diabetes, thyroid problem and certain drugs like steroids.
  • Insufficient exercise-spending more time in front of the T.V.


Prevention of obesity in children
Nutrition and diet - A diet of complex carbohydrates such as potatoes and pasta, as well as chicken, fish and plenty of vegetables. The main meal of the child should be in the middle of the day when he can burn off more calories. Thus calorie restriction is avoided.
Replace daily consumption of soft drinks with 4-5 glasses of water/juice/milk (toned). Thus fats and sugars should also be substituted for proteins, minerals and vitamins and a high fibre diet. “Pay attention to quality and not to quantity”.

  • Avoid sedentary activities such as watching television and get the child into a regular exercise programme or routine.
  • Avoid using food as reward to the children.
  • Reduce family tension.
  • Change of attitudes.

Child | Obesity and Overweight

Source of Stress

Written by Mystic on Monday, January 28, 2008

Survival Stress

This may occur when one’s survival or health is threatened, when one is under pressure, or when one experiences unpleasant or challenging events. Adrenaline is released under such circumstances and one experiences all the symptoms of preparing for 'fight or flight'.

Internally generated stress
This may be due to anxiety, worrying about events beyond one’s control, an approach to life which is tense and hurried, or by relationship problems caused by one’s own behaviour. It can also come from an 'addiction' to and enjoyment of stress

Job stress
Such stress is caused by one’s living or working environment. These may include:

  • Too much or too little work
  • Having to perform beyond one’s experience or perceived abilities
  • Having to overcome unnecessary obstacles
  • Time pressures and deadlines
  • Keeping up with new developments
  • Changes in procedures and policies
  • Lack of relevant information, support and advice
  • Lack of clear objectives
  • Unclear expectations of one’s role from one’s boss or colleagues
  • Responsibility for people, budgets or equipment
  • Stress from one’s organization or one’s clients:
  • Pressures from one’s boss or from above in one’s organization
  • Interference in one’s work
  • Demands from clients
  • Disruptions to work plans
  • The telephone!

Nutritional stresses
The food eaten may contribute to the stresses one experiences. Some examples of stressors are:

Caffeine: this raises levels of stress hormones, making it more difficult to sleep, and can make a person more irritable.
Bursts of sugar from sweets or chocolate: these can make one feel more energetic in the short term. However one’s body reacts to stabilize abnormally high sugar levels by releasing too much insulin. This causes a serious energy dip shortly after the sugar high.
Too much salt: this raises one’s blood pressure and puts the body under chemical stress.

Environmental stresses
One’s environment may be a source of unpleasant or distracting stimuli. These may come from:

  • Crowding and invasion of personal space
  • Insufficient working and living space
  • Noise
  • Dirty or untidy conditions

Pollution: A badly organized or run down environment

Fatigue and overwork: Here stress builds up over a long period. This can occur when one tries to achieve too much in too little time, or when one is not using effective time management strategies.

Lack of Support systems: A lack of support systems or social interaction in general may be stressful to a susceptible person. Social situations such as family problems can be beyond the coping ability of a stressed person.

Personal and family stresses: These may include stress due to Financial problems, Relationship problems, Ill-health and Family changes such as birth, death, marriage or divorce.

Sources of Stress

Soybean for Your Health

Written by Mystic on Monday, January 28, 2008

Want to promote your health in numerous ways? Well, incorporate soybeans in your diet. If you make it a point to eat soybeans you can dramatically improve your high blood cholesterol and maybe reverse the damage done to your arteries. There is also evidence that soybeans help regulate insulin levels, blood sugar, bowel functions and prevent certain cancers, notably of the stomach.

Let us discuss some of these advantages in detail.

Heart food: Scientists say that soybeans work wonders for people with genetically high, cholesterol counts, usually over 300. Eating soybeans instead of meat and dairy products for protein lowers the destructive LDL cholesterol down by 15% to 20%. This works not only in case of adults but in children too. So if you want to keep blood sugar under control, nothing can beat soybeans.

For vegetarian arteries: Good news for all you non-vegetarians out there! There is no need to adopt a vegetarian diet to rejuvenate your arteries refreshingly. Just add soybeans to your meat diet. If you take one half of your proteins in soybeans and one half in meat and diary products, you stand a chance to reduce your blood cholesterol by fifty percent.

Stonebreakers: Want to guard yourself against gallstones? Well, take a diet rich in soybeans. It is believed that soybeans possess the power of dissolving gallstones.

Good for regularity: Soybean is a legume and legumes of all types are considered excellent in promoting healthy bowel function. This is the reason that soybeans help to produce softer, bulkier stools and protect against constipation.

Soybean Plant Health

Soybean: Health Claims for Soy Protein



Anticancer food: Soybeans help to lower the risk of cancers especially of the stomach. This is because like other legumes, soybeans are rich in anticancer protease inhibitors.

Spinach: King of vegetables!

Written by Mystic on Monday, January 28, 2008

It's rightly called the "king of vegetables" as it has got therapeutic benefits and has been indicated in treating conditions like anemia, blood depravity, heart disturbances, kidney derangements, piles etc. And if you need vitality eat half a cup of spinach every day. It'll also cut down your risk of getting cancer, especially of the lungs.

Why spinach!

Former smokes, pay attention! This green leafy vegetable has been found to be a potential cancer -preventer especially of the lungs because of its extremely high concentration of carotenoids, including beta-carotene. Infact, spinach tops the list of vegetables in being richest in having this compound. It is also blessed with chlorophyll, another potential cancer blocker.

Studies have found that people eating a serving of spinach like vegetable a day, even former smokers, are much less apt to develop lung cancer.

This vegetable has also been found to reduce blood cholesterol in animals.

Tips to Beat the Heat and Keep Sweat Free

Written by Mystic on Saturday, January 26, 2008

Handy tips to beat the heat and keep sweat free

Sweat by itself has no odour but it begins to smell bad if it remains on the skin for more than a few hours. This is because certain bacteria that flourish in the sweat cause chemical changes, which produce the unpleasant smell.

There are things that you could do to keep the stink at bay. So here goes!

Get in the habit of having bath twice a day. This will lessen the chances of stale sweat buildup. Pay special care to the underarms and genital area. You should use mildly perfumed soaps, which are soothing to the skin as compared to their stronger cousins which can cause skin allergies. Those who have dry skin should use medicated soaps sparingly as they have a drying effect on the skin. All you women out there! This is just for you. Be scrupulously clean during your menstruation. Dry your body thoroughly after having a bath. All those talcum powder enthusiasts; you can use a talcum powder to refresh you, however, it is not an effective body odour battler, especially in the underarms area. An underarm deodorant is also a good idea as it works by masking the smell and may have a limited anti bacterial action. Sprays are more effective than the roll-on's which tend to be sticky.

An antiperspirant can stop the action of sweat glands by about 40%. For excessive sweating Mycoderm powders works, but steer clear of the eyes. Dermatologists recommend powders with neomycin and gentamicin for stubborn body odour. Wear cool, cotton clothes that are more absorbent and allow more air circulation. Sleeveless and short arm sleeves allow air to get to your armpits. Wear clean under garments and change these twice a day. Do not forget to wash your clothes frequently as they can also harbour bad smell.

And last but not the least, underarms should be kept waxed or clean-shaven to prevent perspiration and bacterial pile-up on the hair shafts. Never try to camouflage an unwashed body with perfumes or scents which will only combine with bacteria and sweat, and will produce a nauseating smell. Follow our tips and leave a trail of fragrance behind you this summer.

Why do we sweat

Written by Mystic on Saturday, January 26, 2008

We sweat as a result of two kinds of sweat glands, the eccrine and the apocrine. The former has a number of about 2 million and are found all over the body and some parts of the sexual organs. The sweat that emanates from them is a clear, salty fluid, which contains various waste materials, which evaporates on the skin's surface to reduce the body temperature. Many of these glands are found on the thick-skinned areas such as palms of hands and soles of feet. It is due to these glands our hands and feet turn soggy when we are anxious or shy.

The apocrine glands are sparse in number and are the stinker glands. They are mainly concentrated in the armpits, the groin and around the nipples. The fluid from them is a thickish milky product that contains fats and proteins. It is called musk when we are sexually aroused and body odour when it is offensive.

Stinking Problem

Written by Mystic on Saturday, January 26, 2008

STINKING PROBLEM INDEED!

Stink free Get away! You're stinking !! Do you often hear this on the onset of summers? Your friends scurry for fresh air when you take off your shoes, during examinations you sweat so much that your paper becomes clammy, you walk in an awkward manner so as to keep your body odour to yourself, to top it all you break into a cold sweat each time a guy or a girl speaks to you. After all nice girls and guys don't sweat. All this leaves you embarrassed and all the more sweaty. You wish fervently that like your ooh! so cool friends you could also feel fresh and keep sweat free.

But here's something to cheer you up. There is no need to sweat about sweat. Actually instead of turning up our noses at it, we should be grateful for it. And why? Well, let us count the ways. Sweat helps to eliminate waste products from millions of microscopic glands scattered under the skin. It helps to maintain the body temperature by the process of evaporation by which water is converted to vapour, which in turn cools the body. Infact one droplet of sweat can chill a whole litre of blood by one degree.

So there is no need to feel ashamed about sweating. It is just 99% pure water with some traces of salt and potassium. Although, annoying, excessive sweating means that you are in a pretty good shape. And who could be a better example of this but the athletes, who sweat more than the couch potatoes.

Carrots Health Benefits

Written by Mystic on Friday, January 25, 2008

The Power of Crimson Carrots!!!

Are you the nervous kinds? Well, we suggest that you start eating carrots to get over your nervousness because American folklore has it that carrots are wonderful to get rid of general uneasiness, asthma, dropsy and skin disorders. This is not all! We'll tell you some more. Just read on

Some "Carroty" Facts

Carrots: Good for blocking cancers: The most exciting aspect of carrots is that they possess the power to curtail the most incurable cancers, notably of the lung and pancreas. Dynamic studies have revealed that the beta-carotene in carrots retards cancer progression. Undoubtedly this is good news for all the heavy smokers. A single carrot every day can do wonders for you.

Carrots: Good for your Heart: Raw carrots decidedly depress your blood cholesterol. So if you eat about two medium sized carrots every morning for breakfast you cut your blood cholesterol by eleven percent on an average.

Carrots: Good for getting rid of constipation: Carrots have the ability to provide you relief and prevention from constipation.

Some Practical Tips (Carrots Health Benefits)

  • To get the most anticancer protection, eat some carrots cooked because cooking releases carotenes that are believed to be active agents against carcinogenic attacks.

  • Do not eat carrots in the mistaken assumption that they will allow you to continue smoking. Carrots are in no way a substitute for quitting smoking.

  • Ex-smokers especially recent quitters should eat carrots regularly to possibly shirk off smoking related cancers down the road.


Nutritional benefits of carrots

Yummy Yogurt!

Written by Mystic on Friday, January 25, 2008

Yummy Yogurt: The fermented milk with living microbes kills bacteria, prevents and treats intestinal infections including diarrhea, lowers blood cholesterol and boosts the immune system. This is not all! It improves bowel functioning, contains certain compounds that prevent ulcers and has even anticancer activity. What more could one ask for! Let us know all these wonderful benefits of this wonderful food in detail. Read on

Yogurt combats Diarrhea: The antibacterial action of yogurt has been found effective against the E.coli germ, a frequent cause of traveler's diarrhea. The lactobacilii from yogurt add good enough microorganisms in the intestinal tract that are sufficient to overcome the deleterious ones. Infact it restores microbial balance in the intestinal tract. That's why yogurt helps to relieve diarrhea.

Yogurt: A natural antibiotic: Research has shown that the bacteria in yogurt are natural antibiotics. Infact scientists have isolated seven natural antibiotics from yogurt and other fermented milks. Some of these bacteria possess bacteria-killing powers equal to pharmaceutical antibiotics like Terramycin.

Studies have shown that yogurt can prevent and sometimes cure dysentery and diarrhea especially infant diarrhea.

Yogurt: An anticancer agent: Scientists have detected several cancer fighting properties in yogurt. There is evidence to show that it can prevent cancer especially of the colon.

Yogurt as a stomach balm: Yogurt is rich in fatty hormonal substances called prostaglandins that protect the lining of stomach against noxious agents like cigarette smoke and alcohol. It also helps tickle brain chemicals, keeping your mind more alert. Thus, skim milk or low-fat yogurt is for staying awake, not going to sleep.

Watch out!

People with lactose intolerance cannot take yogurt without developing a tummy upset. So if you're allergic to milk, take care.

VLCC Centres

Written by Mystic on Friday, January 25, 2008

CALCUTTA
Ms. Rachna
Clinic Manager
47 A, Theatre Road
Calcutta
Ph.2809221 /2809222

CHENNAI
Ms. Neena Gulati
Clinic Manager
Horizon Centre
94, TTK Road
Chennai
Ph.4671918 /1966

JAIPUR
Rachna Raj Seth
K-14,1st Floor
Priyamvada Sadan
Ashok Marg, "C" Scheme
Jaipur
Ph- 0141-363251/252/253

CHANDIGARH
Ms. Richa Aggarwal
Clinic Manager
82,83 SCO , Sector 8C
Chandigarh
Ph. 779007/779581

AMRITSAR
Jasbir Saluja
Clinic Manager
17/1,Kennedy Avenue
Arnritsar
Ph-0183-213304/05/06

LUDHIANA
Ms. Rohini Sood
Clinic Manager,
4th Fir, 1st Mall, Mall Road
Ludhiana
Ph-443939

VLCC Centres in MUMBAI

Written by Mystic on Friday, January 25, 2008

Ms. Mona
Clinic Manager
352 Linking Road, Khar(W)
Mumbai
Ph.6055861/62

Ms Rubina Sharieff
Clinic Manager
Backbay Hall, Ground Floor
Babubhai Chenoy Road, Marine Drive
Mumbai
Ph-2819325/26

Ms. Aman Kanwar
Clinic Manager
28, 29, 30 Bezolla Complex
Near Swastik Chamber,
Sion Trombay Road, Chembur,
Mumbai
Ph. 5235210/369

VLCC Centres in NCR of Delhi (Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida)

Written by Mystic on Friday, January 25, 2008

Ms. GunjeetPurthi
Clinic Manager
B 9 Sector 16
NOIDA
Ph 91510787/88

Ms Vimi
Clinic Manager
A 14/23
DLF, PH-l
Gurgaon
Ph-3 54900/901
Karnna Sunil
SCF-1,Sector 17
Faridabad
Ph- 91-269901/02

VLCC Centres in New Delhi

Written by Mystic on Friday, January 25, 2008

Ms. Shobha Sehgal
Clinic Manager
II/IB PusaRoad
New Delhi
Ph. 5824200 /01 Ms. Vandana Chakarvarti
Clinic Manager
A 1/29 Janakpuri
New Delhi
Ph. 5511700 /052

Ms. Reema Hingorani
Clinic Manager
4/8 Roop Nagar
New Delhi
Ph. 3965458 /59 Ms. Meenu Chopra
Clinic Manager
BJ/I I Shalimar Bagh East
New Delhi
Ph. 7495441

Ms. Anju Malik
Clinic Manager
37 North West Avenue
Club Road, Punjabi Bagh
New Delhi
Ph. 5156837/5178001/03 Ms. Suneet Kaur
Clinic Manager
R 75 Greater Kailash,
New Delhi
Ph. 6217740/41

Ms. Vineeta Vij
Clinic Manager
99 New Rajdhani Enclave
New Delhi
Ph. 2427777 /2426606 Ms. Deepa Kharbanda
Clinic Manager
D-978, New Friends Colony
New Delhi.
Ph. 6318884 /6

Ms. Monica Behl
Clinic Manager
38 Main Road, Pitampura
New Delhi
Ph. 7181300 /3100 /7182100 Vibha
Prakasdeep building
22, Daryaganj
New Delhi
ph-3278935/ 36/37/38

Ms. Anita Kapoor
Clinic Manager
A-2/28, Safdarjung Enclave
New Delhi
Ph. 6193089 /6193104 Kopal Verma
F-21, South extension-1
New Delhi
Ph. 4610006 /7

Ms. Kuljit
14/18, East Patel Nagar
New Delhi
Ph- 5786131 /5733741

Winter Bathing Make-up and Hair Tips

Written by Mystic on Friday, January 25, 2008

Already there is feeling of approaching winter in the air. Most of us love to get tucked up in warm pullovers and jackets. But the harsh weather can play havoc with our skin and health unless we take care. If the weather makes you feel rather drab, leaves your skin dry and gives a dull and flyaway look to your hair, this article is just for you! Just read on, now is the time to give yourself a boost. So here goes:

Hair Tips: Want to have shining tresses? Well, give your hair warm oil massage, starting from the crown of the scalp and working all the way down through the hair shaft. Remember to keep your hair covered when you go out into the cold. Know why? Well, doing so will prevent your hair from getting brittle or splitting in freezing temperatures.

Hair dryers are the in-thing nowadays. But it's always better to let your hair dry naturally as far as possible. Make sure that it's completely dry when you go outdoors.

Bathing Tips: Now that winters are almost here, you must have noticed that your skin is getting dry. We give you tips to make it soft and satiny. Whenever you take bath, add a few drops of oil to the water. Even powdered, skimmed or a pint of fresh milk added to the bath water can work wonders for your skin. Keep your baths brief.

The perfect time to have bath in winters is before bedtime. This way you give your skin a long soothing opportunity to replace natural oils. However, be super generous with body creams and moisturizers.

Make-up Tips: In winters your make-up should be rich and warm. Want to make your eyes and teeth look whiter and brighter? Well, use grey blues, browns, pinks and warm beiges. These colours will enhance your beauty making you look younger, fresher and more feminine.

Here are some more handy tips.

  • Layer your make-up. We tell you how. Apply a thin layer of lip-gloss followed by your favourite lipstick, and then again a top-on coat of lip-gloss. Apply a film of moisturizer on the eyelids, then foundation and finally the shadow and highlights.
  • Chapped or sore lips are definitely not a pretty sight but these are very common in winters. You need more than lipstick to protect your delicate lips. Use Vaseline on lips and leave it overnight. It'll wok wonders!
  • If you want to prevent your hair from getting dull and dry, use shampoo frugally. Avoid holding hair dryer too close to the hair.
  • If the cold winds make your nostrils red, cream them at night. By day, conceal redness with a touch of foundation tinted slightly deeper in tone from the one you apply on the rest of your face.
  • Colds are the curse of winter. Keep them at bay by keeping your health perfect. Take large doses of Vitamin C.
  • Last but not the least, take plenty of exercise whether it is walking, playing tennis or dancing.