My Health My Wealth My Wellness

The sodium content in the blood influences the functioning of the electrolytes. These electrolytes are responsible for sending signals to the cells which control various operations of the body. When you consume too much water, the sodium levels in the blood decrease. This stops the electrolytes from sending signals to the cells. Overburdens The Heart: The heart performs the vital function of pumping blood through your entire body. When you consume too much of water, this increases the volume of blood inside your body. The increased blood volume causes unnecessary pressure on the blood vessels and the heart, leading to seizure in some cases. Causes Damage To Glomeruli: Glomeruli are capillary beds in our kidneys. They work as a filtering station to excrete excess water from the body. Too much of water can cause potential damage to this system, leading to serious health hazards. The kidneys have to work overtime to process all this unnecessary water that is beyond their n...

Ginger is a perennial root which creeps and spreads underground in tuberous joints. The underground part of the stem, known as the rhizome, is the part that is most commonly used as a spice and is often referred to as the ginger root. Ginger has been used in Ayurveda and homeopathic and traditional medicine for long. Its healing powers have been embraced by many cultures. This medicinal root packs a powerful nutritional punch and is loaded with minerals including potassium, manganese, copper and magnesium. Ginger water or ginger tea is made by boiling fresh ginger root in water, then cooling and straining the liquid. Lemon juice and honey are added to this strained liquid which is then sipped slowly. In her book, “Home Doctor”, Dr. P.S. Phadke mentions that sipping ginger water regularly can help cure kidney problems, arthritis, allergies and cold. According to Macrobiotic Nutritionist and Health Practitioner Shilpa Arora, “Ginger water aids digestion and helps in treat...

According to health experts fasting when done with certain precautions will neither affect the weight of the baby nor lead to premature delivery. With Ramzan round the corner, doctors suggest that pregnant women can fast safely. They should, however, consult their physician before proceeding for fasting. Though Islam exempts pregnant women and lactating mothers from fasting during the month of Ramzan still many of them prefer to fast for spiritual reasons. This has created scientific interest among researchers worldwide to find out whether pregnant women, who observe intermittent or Ramzan fasting, deliver low-weight babies. The study was published in the recent issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. “Healthy Muslim women considering becoming pregnant prior to or during Ramzan can be advised that fasting does not seem to have a detrimental effect on the size (weight) of their baby and it appears not to increase the likelihood of giving birth pre mat...

The decision to go ahead with in vitro fertilization is not an easy one, but once you and your spouse agree on it, the next step is to learn about the process of IVF from start to finish. So what is the IVF process and what are the steps involved? The IVF treatment process seems simple enough – eggs are retrieved, they are fertilized with sperm, and once an embryo forms it is transferred to the uterus and 9 months later you have your baby in your arms! While the process of IVF can be easily explained, there are a lot of very precise and delicate procedures that have to be planned with clockwork precision and the slightest miscalculations can result in a failed IVF cycle. This is why it is important to learn about the IVF process in detail so that you know all the infertility treatment options so that you can make an informed decision. The IVF Process Explained: The process of IVF treatment can involve multiple IVF cycles – with one treatment cycle per menstrual cycle so ...

Yes, we’ve all complained about menstrual cramps and stomach problems during our periods. Even worse, there are those unlucky women who experience such severe cramping and pain that they’re forced to confine themselves to the bed with a hot water bottle as their only companion. While discomfort during periods is not uncommon, are periods really supposed to be this painful? Well, despite experiencing them every single month, most women are completely unaware of what level of pain can actually be considered normal. But don’t stress, because we’re here with all the answers you’re looking for. Read on to find out what level of pain is ‘normal’ when it comes to menstrual cramps and aches. The ‘Why’ Behind Period Pain: “Period pain occurs due to uterine contractions & compression of blood vessels in the uterine walls” Simply put, periods occur due to the shedding of the endometrium – the lining of the uterus. To expel blood and tissue, the uterine muscles contract....

A glass of beetroot juice — a source of dietary nitrate — could dramatically lower as well as reduce heart attack risk, a study has revealed. Dietary nitrate is a compound that dilates blood vessels to decrease blood pressure, a leading factor for developing heart attack. The findings, published in the Journal of Physiology – Heart and Circulatory Physiology, showed that the supplement can reduce overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system that occurs with heart disease and causes the heart to beat faster. “The study found that acute nitrate supplementation using beetroot juice can decrease muscle sympathetic outflow at rest and during exercise,” researchers from the University of Guelph in Canada said. Beetroot Juice: In the study, the team investigated 20 young adult volunteers with the average age of 27, who took part in two tests where they received a nitrate supplement or a placebo. The researchers recorded the blood pressure, heart rate and musc...

Whether you choose to see it as pure genius or devilishly devious, bar owners have long been familiar with the effects of salty treats, and they’ve been exploiting it. Yes, those salty fries and peanuts that you are served for free increase feelings of thirst, making you more likely to increase your drink orders! But why is it that all of these salty foods make you so thirsty? Why Salt Increases Thirst: “High intake of sodium from salt disrupts the natural electrolyte balance, increasing feelings of thirst” Whether we are talking about salted nuts in a bar or chaklis and chips, almost every processed food has a high salt content. In other words, they are high in sodium. When you have an excessively high intake of sodium, your natural balance of electrolyte levels is disrupted and this increases feelings of thirst. But, why exactly does this happen? Let’s take a closer look at what happens when you ingest a lot of salt and it will become a lot clearer. What Happens...