The first month of the year brings my thoughts to the fact that so many people think being “gluten free” is a choice and we are doing it to be in vogue. The reality is that living a gluten free life isn’t easy, just like with any other lifestyle disease that can be tough. The challenges are never ending. Just the other day my son got a rash, which is a sign of gluten allergy. I was surprised. How could it be? What could have caused it? My kitchen is…
Read MoreGrowing up, we were always told to brush twice and also shower regularly for good hygiene. It turns out that there might be little truth in this advice. According to a new study conducted at the Genetic Science Centre at the University of Utah, over-cleaning can damage the human microbiome which can have a negative impact on our immune system, digestive functions and even our heart health. The human microbiome is a collection of good bacteria, viruses and other microbes that live in your body and help in regulating day to day functions. They…
Read MoreYoga and fitness were the buzzwords in 2016. Everyone was talking about it and everyone was trying their hand at it. From unique workouts to ancient yoga asanas, they’ve become quite the rage and for good reason. But it turns out that yoga or regular exercise may not be helpful for everyone and everything. A new study, published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, shows that yoga or exercise may not help in treating hot flashes or improve sleep quality in middle-aged women. Previous studies have shown that both yoga and…
Read MoreLeave your phone at home, or at least turn it off, if you want to benefit from your workout. According to a new study, talking or texting on a smartphone while exercising and working up a sweat reduces the intensity of a workout and in fact affects your balance. Michael Rebold, Assistant Professor at Hiram College in the US found that texting and talking can have a negative effect on one’s balance during everyday activities. This is the first known study to examine the effects of cell phone use on…
Read MoreWe all have often heard of words like full figured, obese, overweight but there is a new term that is being increasingly used, overfat. It may have some similarity in the name with overweight, but they are not the same. While overweight people are distinguished on the basis of their Body Mass Index (BMI), overfat people may have an average weight but a dangerously high level of fat percentage below or above the belt or may be around other body parts. According to health experts, body fat for women should…
Read MoreSweetening your beverage with real sugar, “fake” sugar or a “natural” no-calorie sweetener makes little difference in the overall calories you consume in a day, a small new study suggests. In the study, 30 healthy men ages 21 to 50 each visited a clinic four times. Each time, they ate the same breakfast, followed by a beverage that contained one of four sweeteners: regular table sugar (sucrose), an artificial sweetener ( aspartame ), or a natural no-calorie sweetener made from either the stevia plant (rebaudioside A) or monk fruit (mogroside…
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