Obesity: It’s time to ring the Alarm

Delightful juicy pieces of fried chicken or double burgers might be a pleasure to the taste buds but regular intake of such food may cause obesity. Obesity has hit India hard and almost 5 per cent of the Indian population is obese, according to a survey conducted by National family health survey.

Obesity, in simple terms means, an excess amount of body fat. It is usually determined by the Body Mass Index or BMI. A person is considered to be obese, if he/she has a BMI of 30 or above.
This condition mostly affects people between the age group of 24-39. Young people living in big metros or fast growing cities are mostly victims of sedentary lifestyle. They would rather spend time on their gaming portals  and computers instead of going out and having a good game of football. While India is one of the biggest beneficiaries of globalization, passive lifestyle and obesity is growing almost hand in hand.

Diet is also a problem area. High calorie diets, processed and junk food make it even more difficult. Intake of alcohol and aerated colas has also gone up. Obesity can cause high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. It could even lead to a stroke.

Exercise and diet are the best ways to tackle obesity. However, if these options fail, one can opt for bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery. Surgeries like Laparoscopic Gastric Banding and Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy are proving to be very effective these days. With the Gastric lap band surgery one can expect to lose about 50 per cent of excess weight in the first one year of the surgery. And with laparoscopic Sleeve surgery one can shed about 60 per cent excess weight in 6-12 months time.

Earlier, there used to be this misconception that weight loss might have an adverse effect on the patient’s health. People who have undergone this surgery had to go back to treat surgical defects. Many were said to have regained weight after couple of years of the surgery. With advancement of research these surgeries have minimal risk and the success rate has gone up steeply. Controlled medication and postoperative supervision has minimized side effects. However, the patient has to follow a strict diet and exercise routine throughout his/her life post this surgery.

Obesity is one of the biggest health challenges that the world is facing today. Studies show that obese people have reduced longevity of life. Hence, it is time that we take charge and prevent this condition from taking shape of an epidemic.

5 Common Healthy Foods To Eat After Bariatric Surgery

Exercise and diet alone, often fail to effectively treat people with extreme and excessive obesity. Bariatric surgery is performed in order to help such morbidly obese individuals lose weight. This is achieved by reducing the size of the stomach with a gastric band or through removal of a portion of the stomach. Post surgery, patients must be extremely careful about what they eat. Appropriate modifications to their diet must be made according to the doctor’s advice. Here are a few suggested foods that can be consumed by bariatric surgery patients.

Clear Liquids: For the first one week after the surgery, patients should strictly be on liquid diet. You can consume one to two ounces of liquids per hour at regular intervals. The clear liquids include water, fat free milk, fat free broth, sugar free jello and popsicles. It is important to stay hydrated during this phase. Some doctors may also recommend protein shakes a few days after the surgery.

Pureed Foods: Due to the smaller size of the stomach, patients are advised to consume smaller meals throughout the day. Pureed foods will help make the digestion of food easier. Patients should consume around 60-70 grams of protein daily. This can be in the form of protein shakes, egg whites, non fat soft cheese and non fat cottage cheese. Apart from this, patients should maintain initial intake of clear liquids. It is advised that a gap of one hour should be maintained between consumption of pureed foods and liquids.

Soft foods:   Any food item that can be easily mashed with a fork or a spoon is known as soft food. It is recommended that you consume 1 to 2 ounces of protein each day, while eating 3 to 6 small meals on an average. You should try to include high quality lean protein sources along with small servings of fresh vegetables and fruits. This includes lean chicken, lean turkey, fish, egg whites, non fat cottage cheese, tofu and non fat cheese. You can also eat boiled or mashed vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, green beans, tomatoes, avocados and bananas.

Solid Foods: Although solid foods can now be eaten, patients should strive to maintain a healthy balance of proteins, vegetables, grains and sugars. Patients should steer clear from pre packaged and processed foods. Instead, opt for fresh, home cooked meals. Be sure to include plenty of green leafy vegetables in your diet and stay away from refined sugar products. Drink plenty of liquids throughout the day to remain hydrated at all times.

Dumping Syndrome: Since the gastric surgery involves modifications in the dimensions of the stomach, patients should be very careful to avoid the dumping syndrome. Dumping syndrome occurs when sweet or fatty foods have been consumed in large quantities or at very fast pace. The stomach then dumps food into the small intestine even if it has not been broken down properly. This can cause extreme discomfort, nausea, diarrhea and cramping.

9 Amazing Home Remedies for Migraine

Characterized by a throbbing pain Migraine usually, confines the one side of a brain. It gets worse with movement and generally lasts for 72 hours. According to WHO, migraine is one of the 20 most disabling conditions around the world.

Though migraine headaches are extremely troubling but gulping down medication every time the headache occurs can be a hassling task. It also happens that after a point the medication stops to react on the body. Thus an ideal solution here is to opt for home remedies. Let’s look into the home remedies that act as a boon when a migraine hits you.

Ice Pack

The cold treatment is one of the most effective and best treatments for migraine pain. Take few ice cubes and wrap in a thin towel. Place this ice pack on your temples, forehead, and nap for 10-15 minutes. Repeat the procedure till you start to feel better.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar helps in reducing migraine as it is the nutritional powerhouse. Add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water with 1 tablespoon of organic honey. Consume this solution on a daily basis to prevent a migraine.

Chamomile

Chamomile contains soothing properties that help in relieving migraine pain. Take 2-3 tablespoons of dried chamomile and steep it in hot water for a few minutes. Add lemon and honey for improved taste and consume it twice a day to ease out the symptoms.

Peppermint

Peppermint contains anti-inflammatory properties which help in soothing the nerves. You can prepare a peppermint tea and mix honey in it. Repeat this as per the requirements. You can also take a few drops of peppermint oil and rub on your temples for a soothing effect.

Ginger

According to a study, ginger helps in treating migraine pain. Drink ginger tea thrice a day to attain relief from migraine symptoms. You can also chew a small piece of raw ginger to get relieve symptoms like nausea and digestive distress.

Cloves

Cloves can also help in reducing the throbbing pain due to its cooling effect. Crush a few cloves and place the crushed cloves in a pocket or handkerchief. Smell the packet whenever you experience a headache. Alternatively, you can prepare an oil fusion by mixing a few drops of clove oil with coconut oil and a pinch of sea salt. Massage your temples and forehead to attain quick relief.

Lavender Oil

Lavender is not only great for the scent but it also aids a headache associated with a migraine. Put few drops of lavender oil on your handkerchief and simply smell it till you start to feel better. You can also put a few drops of lavender essential oil in hot water and inhale it in the form of steam.

Massage

Massaging your head to ease the migraine pain is a great trick. Massage your head gently with your first two fingers in a circular motion. Focus on the middle of the forehead, corner of the eyes, and base of the skull. You can alternatively heat sesame oil, and massage with this oil to get more relief.

Basil

Due to its strong scent, basil helps in lowering headaches. Add 4-5 basil leaves in boiling water and allow it to simmer. Increase the flavor by adding honey and slowly start sipping the tea. You can also chew basil leaves or take steam of basil leaves by adding it in the boiling water.

Dieting May Not Be A Good Choice For Weight Loss Among Adolescents

Adolescence is an age of body and hormone change. Teenagers tend to become more irritated and anxious during this age. The fact is that in this age, body develops its organs due to which working, sleeping and eating habits of teenagers undergo major changes. Children are more prone to get obese during these years of teenage which last from 11-13 to 17-19. Young children develop a craze of following popular celebs and imitating them and their ways. In the world of social media, kids start trying to imitate their newly found idols. These idols which comprise actors, singers, pop stars and sportspersons usually have a perfect body shape which they flaunt every now and then. As a result, children in their adolescence start dieting and copying their favorite stars by hitting the gyms.

A survey was conducted where children in their adolescents were asked how happy they were about their body shape. A whopping 50% of the teens purported that they were not happy with their physique and wanted to change it. As a result of this striking dissatisfaction, teenagers start dieting with an intention of looking thin. Now, while dieting, these growing kids should focus on eating more raw fruits and vegetables, avoid processed foods, fat, and sugar based eatables. Additionally, they should engage in workouts and other physical activities through which they can accentuate the dieting process. Workout also should be moderated by an adult. However, a common myth that not eating helps in getting thin does not let them reach their ultimate aim. The teenagers resort to advice given by their peers and completely cut off their food intake, especially breakfast, or make it minimal. This is rather harmful and reverses the dieting process. This leads to unhealthy weight loss process. Teenagers usually diet with short-term goal and leave it soon as it is difficult to stay away from food. Thus, when they quit the diet, the temptation to eat the food they were craving for, increases. In fact, people who do not diet have a greater chance of staying away from obesity in the later years of their lives; it is proven!

Now this has a scientific theory as to why dieting leads to weight gain, or at a later stage, obesity. When one starts to diet, his mind knows that he is dieting, but the body organs don’t. When the body does not get the adequate amount of food as it normally does, the body transmutes into a survival mode and the craving for food escalates. This is the reason that people who diet, end up depressed and leave dieting feeling that they have lost in the process. So, what’s the solution?

Teenagers suffer from peer pressure, emotional breakdowns and tend to become more sensitive, Out of anxiousness and boredness, they munch occasionally. The solution is, cut short those extra meals when you are not ‘actually’ hungry. Reduce the junk food amount, but always welcome the healthy food. Keep physical exercise pouring in your schedule. This is the only mantra to fitness and weight regulation!

Ways Obesity And Hypertension Are Co-related

Obesity is highly linked with cardiovascular disease and hypertension. It is very essential to have both hypertension and weight under control in order to be healthy.

As per survey, excessive body weight is the main reason of around twenty eight percent cases of hypertension in women and twenty six percent in men. Obesity can also lead to coronary heart disease both in women and men. Obese persons tend to have increased fatty tissue which enhances their vascular resistance.
What is hypertension?

Hypertension indicates the pressure, which blood flow applies on the inner parts of the arteries. The disease of high blood pressure cannot be treated if the victim is not in good health.
Several kinds of hypertension:

Generally, there are two kinds of hypertension such as primary or essential hypertension and secondary hypertension. Mostly, people tend to be affected with essential hypertension.

Health care providers often fail to describe the specific reasons of essential hypertension. This condition can be caused by kidney problems, nutritional deficiency, infections, malnutrition, and consuming drugs.

The cases of secondary hypertension are quite common when compared to essential hypertension. This condition is a fusion of pheochromocytoma, kidney disease, sleep apnea syndrome, oral contraceptives, coarctation of the aorta and Cushing’s syndrome.
How to treat hypertension?

People affected by hypertension need to opt for regular health check up. They need to be on medications which are prescribed by the physicians to achieve normal blood pressure level. But it is essential to understand that every individual reacts separately to these medicines and therefore following a healthy lifestyle is a must.

Some common examples of high blood pressure medicine include Low dose diuretic, ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blocker.
Low dose diuretic is less costly when compared to the other types of medications of high blood pressure. This treatment has little or zero impact on lipid metabolism or glucose when compared to other drugs.
What are the risk factors of hypertension?

Abnormal obesity is one of the major risk factors of hypertension. Obesity can be measured by the BMI rate which uses height and weight as a parameter. Generally, the basic BMI rate is between 20 to 25 but an obese person is more likely to have a BMI rate which is more than 30. Apart from the BMI rate, the issue of fat distribution is also important for determining the factors of hypertension. Fat distribution in the abdominal trunk is termed as abdominal obesity. This condition is defined by a waist circumference greater than 102 cm.

However, the issues of hypertension can be treated by seeking the proper medical advice.

What Is Bariatric Surgery And It’s Types?

Bariatric surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that is achieved through the modification of the stomach with the help of a gastric band. It can also be done through the removal of a portion of the stomach or by re routing the small intestine to a small pouch. Bariatric surgery is performed on those patients suffering from obesity and other weight problems.

Long term studies depict a significant reduction in weight, recovery from diabetes and reduction in mortality rate of 23% to 40% after the procedure. There are different types of bariatric surgeries that can be performed according to each patient’s condition.  Here are the different  types of Bariatric Surgeries:
Gastric Bypass:

Often considered the gold standard of weight loss surgery, gastric bypass is also known as Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. The procedure involves creating a small pouch by dividing the top of the stomach from the rest of the stomach. After this, the first portion of the small intestine is halved, and the bottom end is brought up and connected to the newly created stomach pouch. The top portion of the divided small intestine is attached to the intestine so that the acids and digestive enzymes will eventually mix with the food for seamless digestion. This type of surgery results in long term weight loss and also helps in restricting the amount of food intake.
Sleeve Gastrectomy:

This bariatric surgery involves the removal of up to 80% of the stomach. It is also known as Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy. The stomach, post surgery, resembles a banana shape and is significantly smaller than the original. This results in the consumption of smaller portions of food items and, therefore, fewer calories. It also impacts gut hormones that curb hunger, satiety and blood sugar. This surgery has been proven to control type 2 diabetes as well. This is a non reversible procedure so patients must be absolutely sure of themselves before undergoing this surgery.
Adjustable Gastric Band:

The adjustable gastric band, often known simply as the band, is placed around the upper portion of the stomach creating a tiny pouch above the band and a large segment below the band. The idea behind the insertion of the band is to invoke a feeling of fullness by consuming smaller quantities of food. The position of the band can be adjusted at different points in time by filling the band with sterile saline, which is injected through a port placed under the skin. The biggest advantage to this surgery is that there is no cutting of the stomach and rerouting of intestines. However, patients who have undergone this surgery must be extremely careful post surgery as it requires a strict post operative diet and follow up visits to the doctor.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS) Gastric Bypass:

Similar to the Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure, BPD/DS is a type of bariatric surgery where a smaller stomach pouch is created by removing a portion of the stomach. The first segment of the small intestine called duodenum, is divided into two parts. The latter portion of this is then brought up and attached to the newly created stomach. Thus, when food is consumed, it goes through the stomach and empties into the last portion of the small intestine. This helps reduce fat by around 70% and allows patients to eat normal meals after the surgery.

The above procedures all result in significant weight loss and improvement in quality of life for those suffering from obesity and other weight problems. There are certain risks and requirements for each procedure. But with a strict adherence to the doctor’s guidelines and an experienced medical team, any complications are likely to be resolved successfully.