Bloating

Practice Apanasana to help ease bloating

Apanasana, which comes from two Sanskrit words: “Apana” (meaning downward-flowing life force) and “asana” (meaning pose), has many therapeutic benefits.

Practicing this yoga asana helps restore proper flow and function to the organs of your torso. Known as Knees-to-Chest pose it helps relieve indigestion, bloating, flatulence, acidity and constipation by helping you get rid of excess digestive air. It is often recommended for those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. It keeps your low back limber, calms the mind and also rebalances your energy.How to do it:

  • Lie on your back with arms and legs extended.
  • Draw both knees to your chest as you exhale. Clasp the hands around them.
  • Keep the back flat on the mat. Release shoulder blades down towards the waist.
  • Draw the tailbone and sacrum down towards the mat, lengthening the spine even more.
  • If possible, move the body backward and forward or side-to-side for a gentle spinal massage.
  • Tuck your chin slightly and gaze down the centre line of your body.
  • Hold for up to one minute. Keep your breath smooth and even.
  • With an exhalation, release and extend both legs along the floor and rest.
  • Repeat up to six times.

Source: Zee news

Health and Happiness: Men beat Women

A new survey has found that men are more healthier as well as happier about their appearance than women who are more concerned about their looks, making them less happy.

Health and Happiness, a nationwide study of 2,000 men and women revealed that men reported a higher rate of happiness when it came to their weight, shape, appearance, and the way they are perceived by others.

However, the survey found women to be more self-conscious and slightly less satisfied with their happiness levels at around 49 percent.

It also said that women are much more likely to try dieting than men.

On stress levels, 60 percent of women felt anxious once a week or more while almost 60 percent of male respondents said they only felt stressed once a month.

Men rarely feel depressed as over 70 percent of them claim they rarely felt down or had mood swings, whereas half of women admitted to feeling low or unhappy at least once a month, if not more.

When it comes to wellness, men are again leading as almost half of them said they rarely got headaches compared to 64 percent of women who said they experienced them at least once a month or more.

Also, 70 percent of men said bloating and poor digestion would only occur once a month or less, while it was a daily or weekly problem for half of women.

Patrick Holford, leading nutrition expert and who conducted the research said: “The general perception is that women are more health conscious, but what this survey shows is that women do actually have more health issues to deal with, especially relating to digestion, mood, anxiety and sleep.”

“The results also show that respondents, regardless of their gender, considered the absence of disease to be an indicator of good health. But being healthy means more than that – it’s abundance of well-being indicated by good energy levels, a stable mood and a sharp mind, all of which achieve optimum health,” added Holford.

Source: Zee news

5 ways to ease menstrual cramps

Crankiness, bloating and fatigue are some of the common symptoms of painful periods. Menses can be very uncomfortable, and at times, drain out energy.

Here are a few foods that can help ease period cramps.

Dark chocolates: Eating a small amount of dark chocolate can actually help in easing PMS cramps and bloating as it acts as natural painkiller.

Green Tea: Drinking a cup of green tea can ease cramps as it contains flavanoids and antioxidants which also help boost immunity.

Salmon: Salmon is a rich source of Omega-3 and helps ease inflammation and PMS cramps.

Water: It flushes out all the toxins from the body and also provides fluidity for the flow of blood thereby easing menstrual pain.

Pineapple juice: Pineapples contain an enzyme called Bromelain which relaxes muscle and eases cramps

Source: zee News