5 Healthy Foods To Incorporate In Your Diet

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Eating healthy is one of the nicest things you can do to your body!

Here we bring some foods which you should incorporate into your diet for amazing health benefits!

  1. Avocados

Avocados are loaded with healthy fats and have majestic benefits! Apart from being tasty, they are also rich in fiber, vitamin C and potassium. Consuming avocados not only help in lowering cholesterol, but also help in reducing arthritis pain.

If you don’t like the taste of avocado, you can add it to your smoothie for its amazing health benefits. Or you can also spread it over your toast.

  1. Papaya

Though this orange coloured fruit is not everyone’s favourite, but it has some amazing health benefits.  Researchers also believe that raw papaya helps in maintaining blood sugar level and cholesterol.

You can start your day with this healthy fruit.  Or you can also add a pinch of salt over it for better taste.

  1. Yogurt

Yogurt is delicious as well as nutritious! If you are struggling with digestive issues, yogurt is the option you need to go for! It contains beneficial bacteria which improve nutrient absorption and enhance digestion. They are also believed to stop the growth of harmful bacteria.

You can add yogurt on your sandwich instead of butter, or you can also try a yummy tart, including berries and yogurt!

  1. Brown Rice

Majority of us go for white rice instead of brown, but brown rice has numerous health benefits compared to white. It helps in normalizing cholesterol levels & weight reduction! Also, it has lesser calories than polished white rice.

If you don’t like the taste of it, you can put some sauce over it, and enjoy its benefits!

  1. Apples

The old saying ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is so true, because apples are high in fiber and other numerous antioxidants.

Carry an apple in your bag while you are at work, or you can also add it in your salad.

Make these foods a part of your daily or weekly nutritional regimen! Your body will thank you later!

Myths and Facts About Hepatitis C

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Hepatitis C is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. According to WHO, an estimated 71 million people have chronic hepatitis C infection, globally.

This World Hepatitis Day, let’s clear out all the myths and know the real facts about Hep C!

  1. Myth – You know if you have Hep C

Fact – You can have Hep C and not know about it

Since there are hardly any early signs of Hep C, people who have this infection might not know that they have it. People usually discover it when they have severe illness like liver disease and kidney problems.

  1. Myth – There’s a vaccine for Hepatitis C

Fact – There’s NO vaccine for Hepatitis C

People assume that there is a vaccine for Hepatitis C, but in reality, there isn’t one developed as of now.  Though, there are vaccines for Hepatitis A and B, but not for Hep C.

If you or someone you know has Hep C, getting tested and vaccinated for Hep A and B is recommended by experts, as Hep A and B along with Hep C can increase your chances of getting sick.

  1. Myth – Hepatitis is an STD

Fact – It is not a sexually transmitted disease

If you are in contact with an infected person’s blood, then you can get the virus. In very rare case, Hepatitis C is spread through sexual contact. It’s not an STD, and doesn’t spread through fluids like semen and saliva. The virus in these fluids is found in very small amounts, the main reason is blood to blood contact with the infected person.

  1. Myth – Hep C is a death sentence

Fact – Hep C is NOT a death sentence

According to HCVAdvocate.org, 90% of people living with chronic Hep C would have long and productive lives. Only a small percentage would develop some serious liver disease. To manage the virus, it is imperative to go to your doctor for the regular monitoring.

Don’t jump to conclusions when it comes to Hepatitis C! Know all the facts and keep everyone around informed!

5 Easy Ways To Stay Healthy This Monsoon

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Monsoon is everyone’s favourite, because it provides respite from the severe summer heat. But, unfortunately, it also brings with it a host of diseases!

Following are some preventive measures you can take to stay healthy this season:

  1. Take a shower as soon as you reach home after getting soaked in rain – If you get drenched in rain, it’s important to take a hot shower, to get rid of the germs. Also, avoid entering in an air-conditioned room when you are wet, as you can easily get cold and cough with the change in temperature.
  2. Avoid eating street food – We all crave for hot pakoras and spicy street food in these rains, but the chances of these foods being contaminated are higher in this season. Street food can wait, but your health can’t. So, avoid these foods if you want to enjoy the rains in the best of your health!
  3. Keep your house clean – Viral infections like malaria, dengue, typhoid and cholera are rampant during this season. So, keep your house clean and pest-free, and replace the broken drainpipes as they are the breeding ground for germs.
  4. Wash your hands frequently – We all struggle with seasonal flus and cold at this time of the weather. Therefore, it’s important to wash hands before/after we eat to prevent diseases and infections.
  5. Keep yourself hydrated – Staying hydrated is the solution for all your health problems; as it builds up your resistance to fight infections. Drink at least 10 glasses of water and avoid tea, coffee if you can, and switch to green tea/juices to stay healthy.

If you still get ill even after following all the preventive measures, don’t hesitate to visit a doctor for the treatment! You can also avail Oncquest’s health tests to stay protected against these common monsoon diseases like Dengue, Malaria, Chikungunya, Diarrhea and Typhoid.

Stay safe and have a happy monsoon!

Simple Tips To Keep Your Heart Healthy!

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Today’s desk jobs, sedentary lifestyle and workplace pressures escalate stress levels, taking a toll on one’s heart. Not only old people, but youngsters are also prone to these heart diseases.

Here we bring some simple tips to make your heart happier & healthier!

  1. Quit Smoking – This has to be the first step towards a healthier heart! The risk of heart disease reduces by 50 percent, as soon as one quits smoking. WHO also reports that the risk of coronary heart disease in non-smokers is about half that of a smoker’s.  So, before you pick that next cigarette, remind yourself of all the health risks associated with it. It’s high time you take your health seriously!
  2. Watch your weight – Being overweight can double your risk of heart diseases. So, get up, move a little – take stairs instead of lifts, stick to a healthy, balanced diet and be physically active. Don’t lose those extra kilos for anyone but you; your heart will thank you later!
  3. Don’t sit for too long – Sitting for long hours at one place can increase your risk of various diseases, including heart ailments. Even if your job involves sitting all day, don’t forget to get up and go for a walk every hour.
  4. Get enough sleep – No matter what your age is, getting enough sleep is the key to keep your heart healthy! 7-8 hours of sleep is imperative to keep all cardiovascular diseases at bay!
  5. Look after your mental health – Depression is not taken seriously in our country, but the truth is that people with depression have a higher chance of heart diseases. Therefore, look after your mental health, if you feel stressed, talk to your family/friends. Don’t let depression become a threat to your health.

Take care of yourself and let your heart be happy!

5 TIPS TO QUIT SMOKING

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Smoking is one of the leading causes of death in our country, killing almost 1lakh people every year.

Smoking is an addiction, which can destroy your life in ways you can’t even imagine. If you don’t want to be a slave to nicotine for life, and want to break free, follow these tips.

  1. Challenge yourself – Quitting smoking is a gradual process, it won’t happen overnight. Therefore, set goals which you can accomplish. Give yourself the challenge to not smoke for next 2 days, rather than giving yourself a challenge to not smoke for the rest of your life.
  2. Replace your cravings with healthier options – Whenever you feel like having that next cigarette, replace your craving with something healthy like your favourite fruit, your favourite chocolate or something which you really love. Also, don’t hang out in a smoking-zone and keep yourself away from your smoking circle for a while.
  3. Maintain a piggy bank – The money which you were spending every month on smoking, put all that money in a piggy bank. It will give you a positive motivation towards your goal of quitting smoking.
  4. Seek support – It’s definitely not easy to stop smoking, therefore, talk to your parents, friends about it. Tell them how you are feeling, and ask for their help in this. You can also talk to people who have successfully quit smoking or who are trying like you to quit it.
  5. Remember the reason why you started at the first place – When it gets tougher to quit, keep remembering why you started on this path of quitting. Also, you can make a list of things which can improve in your life if you quit smoking, like a healthier lifestyle, healthy lungs and a more meaningful life. Remember the benefits and don’t stop midway.

As soon as you quit, your body starts repairing the damage you did to yourself.  Quitting smoking can make a drastic improvement to your health! Give it a try for yourself!