The Amazing Benefits of Lemon-Honey-Water Concoction

How many times have you received  the advice of drinking lemon-honey water daily to lose weight quickly? And how many times have you taken it seriously and made it your daily habit? However, drinking it for a few days most of you would get bored of it and probably stop drinking it. But nobody would have ever thought about the number of benefits it offers.

Why Lemon-honey water?

Lemons are a powerhouse of nutrients, rich in magnesium, fibers, enzymes, potassium, calcium, antioxidants, iron, calcium, and vitamin C and B.  The benefits of lemon multiply when it is consumed with lukewarm water and honey.

But how do you make this magical concoction?

Fill a glass with lukewarm water, squeeze half a lemon, add one teaspoon of honey and stir the mixture well before drinking.

Benefits

After reading these benefits of lemon-honey water, you would think twice before skipping it:

Keeps constipation at bay– This magical drink soothes your digestive system, helps produce intestinal mucus, hydrates the colon and infuses water into dry stool – a common reason for constipation. The warm water too helps kick start bowel movements, aiding in regular and constipation-free motion.

Perfect for weight loss – Apart from cleansing your stomach, the lemon-honey mixture goes a long way in helping you lose weight quickly. It helps you feel full and keeps craving at bay. The drink creates a more alkaline atmosphere in your stomach, which helps you lose extra fat faster.

Aids in better digestion – This ultimate health drink helps your liver produce more bile that in turn helps your digestive system to break down complex foods better and utilize its essential components. In short, it helps keep the liver pure and toxin free.

Improves the functioning of the Colon – If you drink this mixture of lemon, honey and lukewarm water, the walls of the intestine, especially the colon, gets stimulated. It’s a natural way to cleanse the colon, allowing it to function better by helping your body in absorbing nutrients, get rid of toxins, stay adequately hydrated and keep bloating at bay.

Blog-image (1)

Helps cleanse the lymphatic system– Experts say that a dehydrated lymphatic system is one of the leading causes of illness. If your lymphatic system lacks water and other essential fluids, it can make you feel sluggish, fatigued, lead to constipation, fluctuates your blood pressure, increase stress and slows the functioning of the mind. Drinking this concoction early in the morning gives your lymphatic system a boost and hydrates the entire system.

Energy booster – If you’re not a morning person, then this mixture can help beat that lethargy and fatigue you often feel in the morning. The scent of a lemon is known to be a natural relaxant and helps in uplifting your mood.

Aids in cleansing your urinary tract and acts as diuretic – Honey is a powerful antibacterial agent, that has the capability to beat a number of common infections. When mixed with water and lemon, the mixture works as an excellent diuretic agent and also cleanses your urinary tract.

Gives you clear skin and a natural glow – Lemon has ample of benefits on your skin. Not only that, its cleansing action also helps in purifying your blood and helps in the production of new blood cells that acts as a potent cleansing agent. The water and honey give a unique restorative, antibacterial and collagen boosting properties to your skin as well.

 

7 Facts about Contact Lenses You Need to Know!

Hate wearing glasses? Doesn’t go with your look? Or in a desperate need of a makeover? ‘Contact lenses’ is the answer to all your problems. Are you still afraid to use them as you think they might damage your eyes? It’s time you clear your doubts regarding contact lenses, as they are completely harmless when used properly.

BLOG-IMAGE

Following facts about them might help you get familiar with them –

  1. Anyone can wear contact lenses – Yes, you can wear lenses, irrespective of your age. Different types of lenses are available in the market based on your specification. For example, there are now bifocal contact lenses for people with presbyopia, and soft lenses that correct astigmatism. And the good part is that they are affordable enough that fits your pocket.
  2. Lenses are not going to get lost behind your eyes – A lot of people have this fear. There is a thin membrane in your eyes known as conjunctiva which covers the white part of your eyes and connects to the inside of your eyelids, which makes it impossible for a contact lens to get lost behind your eyes.
  3. Lenses are totally comfortable – You might feel different during the initial few days, but, with time you will get used to it and probably won’t even realise that you have them in your eyes.  You might feel irritating due to other reasons such as expired lenses or dust in your eyes.
  4. You can remove lenses whenever you want– Lenses are easy to use, removable and an affordable way to make you look different. You should just get away with the fear that they can get permanently stuck to eyes. However, on drying out they might stick to the surface of your eyes but can be easily taken out by re-moistening them with the solution.
  5. Lenses do not require much care – After the adaptation period, one gets used to it and can carry lenses without much problem. They can be carried anywhere with their cases and the solution bottle. You can even choose between daily disposable lenses or 30 day extended contact lenses.
  6. Lenses can cause eye infections – Though contact lenses may increase the risk of certain eye infections, but with the doctor’s advice on how to care for your lenses, how long to wear them and how frequently you should replace them, wearing contacts lenses is very safe.
  7. Lenses can be worn by people of any age – Think you are too old to wear lenses? Wrong! With the latest advancement in lens technology like bifocal lenses and lenses specially designed for dry eyes, advancing age is no longer the barrier to wearing contact lenses.

Lenses are a good option for those who are scared of getting their eyes operated and don’t consider it as a good option. Though lenses can help you get rid of glasses and get some attention due to the change in your look, you should always opt for things you’re most comfortable in. Moreover, if you decide to wear lenses or go without them, regular eye check-ups and following the instructions from an eye specialist are always highly recommended for everyone.

Know All About Cervical Cancer – The Preventable Cancer

Cervical Cancer is the leading cause of Cancer deaths among women in India, with approximately 1.32 lakh new cases of Cervical Cancer being diagnosed and about 74,000 deaths occurring annually, accounting for nearly one-third of Cervical Cancer deaths across the world, even though it is preventable.

Cervical Cancer is caused when abnormal cells develop and spread in a woman’s cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus. The cervix connects the vagina (the birth canal) to the upper part of the uterus. The uterus (or the womb) is where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant.

Here are few things that everyone should know about Cervical Cancer –

  1. Cervical Cancer is mainly caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that can be passed sexually from one person to another. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection affecting men and women alike.
  1. There are many types of the HPV virus. Not all types of HPV cause Cervical Cancer. In most cases, HPV infection goes away on its own without any specific treatment. But sometimes it can cause genital warts or Cervical Cancer.
  1. Cervical Cancer may not show any symptoms at an early stage, but, one can look for some of its warning signs which are- 10-SIGNS
  2. Other than getting infected with HPV, there are several other factors that increase your risk of contracting Cervical Cancer. These factors include smoking, having HIV, being sexually active at an early age and having multiple sex partners.
  3. There are two tests that help prevent Cervical Cancer or diagnose it at an early stage;a) LBC test – Liquid based cytology is the improved version of Cervical Cancer screening. It is rapidly replacing the conventional Pap smear method. It is a liquid-based pap test in which a sample of cells from the cervix is taken and placed in a liquid solution that preserves the cells. The laboratory machine removes excess blood, mucous and inflammatory cells and produces a thin layer of cells on a glass slide.

    A ThinPrep Pap Test slide is clearer, easier to read, and minimizes obscuring blood, mucus, and non-diagnostic debris, enabling increased accuracy for both manual assessment and computerized assessment of the cells.

    b) HPV by Hybrid Capture – HPV by Hybrid Capture is a test used to show the presence or absence of HPV infection in the cells of a woman’s cervix. The HPV test is usually done in conjunction with LBC Testing. It is done:

    -When a woman’s LBC Test results are mildly abnormal. The HPV Test is then used to tell whether or not HPV infection exists. If the woman is found to be infected with HPV, further tests will be done to be sure that she does not have serious cervical abnormalities.

    -When woman over the age of 30 have HPV infections that do not disappear over time, they may be at greater risk for Cervical Cancer.

     

     

    Women over 30 with a positive LBC Test and a positive HPV Test result have a higher risk of Cervical Cancer and may need to be tested more frequently. Though Cervical Cancer is more common in women in the age group of 30-40, every woman should get screened for Cervical Cancer regularly after every 3 years starting at the age of 21.

    Cervical Cancer is the most common female Cancer, yet the most preventable Cancer with regular screening and follow-ups. In fact, it has a survival rate of 93% when detected at an early stage. Therefore, ensure every woman in your family gets screened regularly.

How to Beat Air Pollution

The national capital, Delhi is ranked poorly in terms of emission levels which in turn has lowered the quality of air. Reducing the number of vehicles on the roads will definitely help in reducing pollution levels.

images

According to a report published in 2010 by the American Heart Association, air pollution has been linked to a number of health issues, particularly in heart and lung. Fine particles from burning coal, diesel, fuel and wood can get deep into the lungs and spread to blood vessels across the body. These particles can aggravate asthma, increase coughing, decrease lung efficiency, increase risk of bronchitis, headaches, lead to irregular heartbeats, nonfatal heart attacks, and premature death among people with a history of heart or lung diseases.

Though everyone is affected by air pollution, the segments of the population that are particularly at risk include:

  • People with asthma
  • People with heart disease
  • People with respiratory diseases
  • Children
  • Working population
  • Older population
  • People with diabetes
  • Pregnant women

Here are some tips to protect you and your family from the dangerous effects of air pollution:

  1. Researching about air pollution levels in your area. Do you know that there are even apps available which can tell you about the daily pollution forecast in your area. You can find such info on apps like Global Air Quality, Air Quality Index etc. So, before stepping out checking the pollution level can be a good call.
  2. Avoid exercising outdoors when pollution levels are high. Go for exercises that you can do while staying indoors. Limit the time of staying outside for children as well.
  3. Use energy star products since they are environment friendly and release less pollution.
  4. Air pollution is highest during the daytime, so plan your outdoor activities in the early morning or late evening.
  5. Include antioxidant-rich foods like fruits and vegetables as they can help shield your body from the damaging effects of free radicals created by air pollution.
  6. To limit pollution in your home, consider purchasing an indoor air purifier.
  7. Avoid smoking in your home, especially if you have children.
  8. Use public transport or shared conveyance to reach to your office/home and help in reducing air pollution level.

 

With a little extra effort, you and your family can breathe cleaner air and enjoy better health because of it.