A Guide to Good Posture

A Guide to Good Posture

By Deepi Brar
CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE

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Simple Steps for Strong Knees

By Deepi Brar
CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE

Flash animation by Eric Turner

Improve your First Aid Skills

I would like to share the First Aid information which is very much useful for our day today marathon life.  

We must prepare yourself,  how best we can help others who can badly needs for medical emergency.  

 

Here is the simulating site for various type of accidents. 

Click Here

 

 

Improve your First Aid skills and methods of approach to save your nears and dears life.

 

The Cucumber

The Cucumber
 

 

This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phos phorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber.  Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower?  Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds?  Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long.  The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminium to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the p ool?  Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the photochemical in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite.  Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache?  Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free.  Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenishessential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge?  Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation. 
 

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes?  Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge?  Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa?  Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during fina l exams.
 

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints?  Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the photochemical will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
 

 

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel?  Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.
 
 

13. Using a pen and made a mistake?  Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!

Winter dryness: Tackle that flaky skin!

Winter dryness: Tackle that flaky skin! Irregular skin care and harsh winters can leave your skin begging for moisture! Here's help: 1. Scrub off dead cells with a gentle loofah every time you take a shower; for sensitive skin, use a bath sponge instead. A gentle, creamy body scrub once a week is a must, for all skin types. 2. Remember not to use very hot water lest you strip your skin of essential oils. After your shower, pat dry and moisturise well. Use a lotion if your skin is oily or normal, and body butter if it's dry. 3. Pamper yourself with a hot-oil body massage on a weekend and feel the difference almost instantly. Use a blend of olive oil and almond oil - both are great nourishing agents. 4. Use a moisturising sunscreen of SPF 15 regularly before stepping out into the sun - the sun's rays also strip your skin of moisture.

Coconut Water

CocoWater is naturally:

• Low in Carbs
• 99% Fat Free
• Low in sugars

Coconut Water contains organic compounds possessing healthy growth promoting properties that have been known to help -

• Keep the body cool and at the proper temperature.
• Orally re-hydrate your body, it is an all natural isotonic beverage.
• Carry nutrients and oxygen to cells.
• Naturally replenish your body's fluids after exercising.
• Raise your metabolism.
• Promote weight loss.
• Boost your immune system.
• Detoxify and fight viruses.
• Cleanse your digestive tract.
• Control diabetes.
• Aid your body in fighting viruses that cause the flu, herpes, and AIDS.
• Balance your PH and reduce risk of cancer.
• Treat kidney and urethral stones.
• Boost poor circulation.

Coconut Water -
The English name coconut, first mentioned in English print in 1555, comes from Spanish and Portugese word coco, which means "monkey face." Spanish and Portugese explorers found a resemblance to a monkey's face in the three round indented markings or "eyes" found at the base of the coconut. On the Nicobar Islands of the Indian Ocean, whole coconuts were used as currency for the purchace of goods until the early part of the twentieth century.

Coconuts are the fruit of the coconut palm, botanically known as cocos nucifera, with nucifera meaning "nut-bearing." The fruit-bearing palms are native to Malaysia,Polynesia and southern Asia, and are now also prolific inSouth America, India , the Pacific Islands , Hawaii andFlorida. The light, fibrous husk allowed it to easily drift on the oceans to other areas to propagate. In Sanskrit, the coconut palm is known as kalpa vriksha, meaning "tree which gives all that is necessary for living," since nearly all parts of the tree can be used in some m anner or another. The coconut itself has many food uses, including milk, meat, sugar and oil as well as functioning as its own dish and cup. The husk was also burned for fuel by natives, but today a seed fibre called coir is taken from the husk and used to make brushes, mats, fishnets, and rope. A very potent fermented toddy or drink is also made from the coconut palm's sap. Coconut oil, a saturated fat made from dried coconut meat, is used for commercial frying and in candies and margarines, as well as in non-edible products such as soaps and cosmetics.

Although it takes up to a year for coconuts to mature, the trees bloom up to thirteen times a year, so fruit is constantly forming yielding a continuous harvest year-round. An average harvest from one tree runs about 60 coconuts, with some trees yielding three times that amount. The coconut's name is a bit of a misnomer, since it is botanically classified as a drupe and not a nut. It is the largest seed known.

If you've ever opened a fresh coconut, you will have seen the thin, opaque almost clear coconut juice or water which has a slight almond flavor. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the coconut milk. However, the water is consumed as a drink fresh from the coconut by many, and it can also be used in recipes.

Here are some more information about Coconut Water -
"It's a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It's the fluid of life, so to speak." In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water - siphoned directly from the nut - to give emergency plasma transfusions to wounded soldiers.

Most coconut water is still consumed fresh in tropical coastal areas - once exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, and begins to ferment.

• Coconut Water is More Nutritious than whole milk - Less fat and NO cholesterol.
• Coconut Water is More Healthy than Orange Juice - Much lower calories.
• Coconut Water is Better than processed baby milk - It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother's milk.
• Coconut water is naturally sterile - Water permeates though the filtering husk.
• Coconut water is a universal donor - Its identical to human blood plasma.
• Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage - The same level we have in our blood.
• Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries thru Coconut IV.

"Coconut water is the very stuff of Nature, biologically Pure, full of Natural Sugars, Salts, and Vitamins to ward off fatigue and is the next wave of energy drinks BUT natural", according to Mortin Satin, Chielf of the United Nation's Food & Agriculture Organization.
Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.

• Coconut water has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200 mg.
• Coconut water has 5mg of Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars.
• Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg, compared to sports drinks at about 39mg.
  Data is based on a 100ml drink

Fix Yourself Now

Down And Out: Symptoms like tiredness, negativity and loss of appetite need preventive diagnostic tests. LIFE Fix Yourself Now If you want to make sure you’re in good health, go ahead, sign up for an annual diagnostic test. At 35, Abhay Dogra was living life in the fast lane. The investment banker had risen up the ranks quickly and was saving millions in bonuses. He was flying high and he was living it up. In some style—Dogra’s parties were popular dos where the wines were oaky and the cheeses, smoky. It seemed nothing could stop him. Nothing, that is, but the world coming to a standstill. Unfortunately for him that’s exactly what happened—the financial meltdown brought his world to an end. Dogra lost his job, and with it, the ability to take on any more stress. He stopped throwing parties and he felt drained most of the time. He complained of erratic palpitations, eye-muscle twitching, temporary memory loss and extreme fatigue     Your body is like a lab of chemicals. If the chemicals function and react as they are programmed, the body will act normally. If not, unexpected changes can cause diseases of all kinds.     . Worried, his wife took him to a hospital for a check-up. The young man was found to have high cholesterol, high blood pressure and low haemoglobin. If undiagnosed, that lethal combo could have caused a myocardial infarction, better known as a heart attack. If really severe, a heart attack can cause a cardiac arrest—where the heart stops beating. That could be fatal. Dogra could have been dead before he had turned 40. Preventive Probes “Symptoms like tiredness, unstable weight-gain, hair-loss, negativity and loss of appetite need preventive diagnostic tests to determine the chemical changes triggering them,” says Dr Minal Taneja, 40, of Apex Diagnostics. It becomes imperative then, that you listen to your body. But it will give you signs that something is wrong only after the malaise of an unhealthy lifestyle becomes deep-rooted. What you must do is start living a healthy lifestyle now. Eat and exercise reasonably well, as suits your body. More importantly, go in for preventive diagnosis—play safe and sign up for annual medical tests. Remember, your body is like a lab full of chemicals. If they function and react as they are programmed, the body will act normally. If not, the unexpected chemical changes can cause diseases of various kinds. Just as chemical reactions can be treated with chemical inhibitors, the diseases in most cases can be treated with medication. But treatment comes with a rider—there will be side effects. It’s therefore far more prudent to prevent than to have to heal. “Fundamental bio-chemical tests are used to measure vital parameters like cholesterol and fat content, as well as prostrate, liver and kidney functioning,” says Dr Sanjeev Choudhary, 50. Dr Choudhary is the CEO of Religare SRL Ranbaxy, a chain of diagnostic labs across the country. “And predictive tests are used for gene mapping, to understand if the person is more prone to the disease due to his or her genetic make-up.” Out of seven million customers that come to Religare labs for tests, about 15%—over a million—get tests done for preventive diagnosis. Most companies these days have executive health check-ups. If yours doesn’t, investing Rs 3,500 a year on one shouldn’t be such a big deal. Go Get Checked *Complete Blood Count. **Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, a measure of the settling of red blood cells in a tube of blood in one hour. The rate is an indication of inflammation and increases in many diseases. Eat To Live “It’s not true that whenever a disease kicks in, it will give a warning sign,” explains Dr Shikha Sharma, 40, MD of Nutri-Health Systems, a company with over 100 dieticians advising people on wellness and weight loss. “It may look sudden to the person, but all the symptoms have been building up quietly inside,” she warns. “It’s like a terrorist attack. We are taken by surprise, but the terrorists have been planning their audacious moves for ages,” she concludes. These attacks are triggered by a sedentary lifestyle and lack of proper nutrition. In Dogra’s case, 13 years in a high-stress job suddenly ended one day, with him not knowing which way to turn. His stress levels rose, and his tests went awry, without him even reaching the age of 40, an age when annual tests are essential. If Dogra had exercised and eaten protective foods (two fruit, three vegetables, two or three varieties of nuts every day), his body’s response would not have been so traumatic, as it would have absorbed some of this stress. According to the World Health Organisation, “There has been a rapid increase in lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes and obesity, which account for almost 20 million-plus deaths every year.” Today, apart from the tests (see table: Double Check), if we have to prevent lifestyle diseases from occurring, we have to change our lifestyles too. It pretty much means going back to the basics. Eat to live, don’t live to eat. And, of course, oxygenate your body with exercise and breathing. Sorry, there just isn’t a short-cut to being healthy. “It’s difficult for us to explain to people that there are no miracle diets to be healthy and control weight,” explains a frustrated Sharma. “But they only want quick fixes.” These quick fixes then, rather than preventing an illness, can turn the body into a yo-yo, leading to erratic health scares. As it is with your organisation, so it is with your body. A short-term measure will only increase temporary sales. But strategic thinking for your body goes a long way in making it profitable too. So, invest in some strategic thinking for yourself. Your company won’t be your lifetime companion. Your body and family are. Take care of them.

Beetroot juice 'boosts stamina'

Nitrates seem to be the key ingredient in beetroot Drinking beetroot juice boosts stamina and could help people exercise for up to 16% longer, a UK study suggests. A University of Exeter team found nitrate contained in the vegetable leads to a reduction in oxygen uptake - making exercise less tiring. The small Journal of Applied Physiology study suggests the effect is greater than that which can be achieved by regular training. Beetroot juice has previously been shown to reduce blood pressure.  We were amazed by the effects of beetroot juice  Professor Andy Jones University of Exeter The researchers believe their findings could help people with cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic diseases - and endurance athletes. They focused on eight men aged 19-38, who were given 500ml per day of organic beetroot juice for six consecutive days before completing a series of tests, involving cycling on an exercise bike. On another occasion, they were given a placebo of blackcurrant cordial for six consecutive days before completing the same cycling tests. After drinking beetroot juice the group was able to cycle for an average of 11.25 minutes - 92 seconds longer than when they were given the placebo. This would translate into an approximate 2% reduction in the time taken to cover a set distance. The group that had consumed the beetroot juice also had lower resting blood pressure. Mechanism unclear The researchers are not yet sure of the exact mechanism that causes the nitrate in the beetroot juice to boost stamina. However, they suspect it could be a result of the nitrate turning into nitric oxide in the body, reducing how much oxygen is burned up by exercise. Study researcher Professor Andy Jones - an adviser to top UK athlete Paula Radcliffe - said: "We were amazed by the effects of beetroot juice on oxygen uptake because these effects cannot be achieved by any other known means, including training. "I am sure professional and amateur athletes will be interested in the results of this research. "I am also keen to explore the relevance of the findings to those people who suffer from poor fitness and may be able to use dietary supplements to help them go about their daily lives." Professor John Brewer, an expert on sports science at the University of Bedfordshire, said: "These findings are potentially exciting for many people involved in sport and exercise, but will almost certainly require further more extensive studies before the exact benefits and mechanisms are understood. "We must also remember that exercise and training and a sensible diet will always remain as the essential ingredients for a balanced and healthy lifestyle." Dr Simon Marshall, of the University of San Diego, has carried out work on exercise and health. He said much more work was needed involving many more subjects to draw firm conclusions. "Certainly, a diet high in nitrate-rich fruits and vegetables is good for your heart health and this study provides further evidence of this."

Body Language

Body Language 

Body language is fascinating. People rarely recognize how much information they give off and how noticeable it is to the human eye. Even to the untrained human eye. It is said that no less that 50 percent of information on a person's character, impact and credibility is conveyed through no verbal communication.

The following list takes some common body postures and states the persons position.

Arms crossed: Defensive and cautious.
Resting chin on palm: Critical, cynical and negative towards the other person.
Dropping eyeglasses onto the lower bridge of the nose and peering over them: Causes negative reactions in others.
Slowly and deliberately taking off glasses and carefully cleaning the lens: The person wants to pause and think before raising opposition or asking for clarification.
Pinching bridge of the nose: Communicates great thought and concern.
Nose-rubbing or nose-touching: A sign of doubt, it often reveals a negative reaction.
Rubbing around ears: Performed while weighing an answer, commonly coupled with 'well, I don't know'.
Resting feet on a desk or chair: Gestures of territorial hegemony.
Swaying back: Weak ego.
Retracted shoulders: Suppressed anger.
Direct Eye Contact: Interested, likes you

Smiling Eyes: Is comfortable

Relaxed Brow: Comfortable

Limited or No Eye Contact : Lying, uninterested, too confined, uncomfortable, distracted

Tension in Brow : Confusion, tension, fear

Shoulders hunched forward : Lacking interest or feeling inferior

Rigid Body Posture : Anxious, uptight

Crossed arms : Can be just cold, protecting the body, or defensive

Tapping Fingers : Agitated, anxious, bored

Fidgeting with hands or objects (i.e., pen) : Bored or has something to say

Leaning forward : Interested

Fingers Interlocked placed behind the head leaving elbows open and armpits exposed : Very open to ideas, comfortable

Mirroring you : Likes you and wants to be friendly

Still : More interested in what you are saying than anything

Eyes open slightly more than usual: Gives people the impression that they are welcome.

Breath faster: Nervous or angry

Inhaling loudly and shortly: Wants to interrupt a speaking person

Loud sigh: Understand the thing that is being told.

Twisting the feet continuously : A person is nervous or concerned, but can also mean that a person is stressed or angry and that he don't want to show that to everybody.

Legs wide apart or Sitting straddle-legged: Shows that a person is feeling safe, and is self - confident. Can also show leadership.

A big smile that goes on longer and disappears slower.: Unreal or fake smile

Crossed legs with highest foot in the direction of the speaker.: Relaxed and self-confident and they are listening very carefully.

Rapidly nodding your head : Shows impatient and eager to add something to the conversation

Slowly nodding: Shows interest and that they are validating the comments of the interviewer, and this subtly encourages him to continue.

Dangling the loose shoe from the toes : Signals physical attraction

Rubbing your collar: Nerves

Adjusting your tie: Insecurity

Pressed Lips: Pressed lips convey disagreement and disapproval. It communicates a desire to end the discussion. A raised chin implies aggression that may be acted on if the conversation is not ended.

Pursed Lips: This is also a sign of disapproval. It indicates that the person has fixed views that cannot be changed. This usually reveals an arrogant and superficial character.

Biting the Lips: The person expresses embarrassment when he bites his lips. He also communicates a lack of self-confidence.

Reading Hand Signals: 
People have been granted with two hands: the left and the right hand. The left has been dubbed as the "emotional hand" since an imaginary line can be drawn from the third finger leading directly to the heart. This is why the wedding ring is placed on this finger. The right hand, literally on the other hand. has been named the "proper hand" since it is with this hand that people communicate a blocking or stopping signal.

Open Hands: Open hands may be demonstrated by showing the palm of one's hand, especially in a conversation or an argument.. This expresses a trust in other and an interest in their opinions. It also offers an opinion and invites the sharing of the other person's view.

Covered Hands: This is expressed by raising the back of one or both hands against others. This indicates the setting up of barriers or the keeping of distance. It is an act of concealing feelings and covering insecurity

Clinging Hands: Those who cling to objects, such as handbags. files or tables. show a need for support. This action conveys confusion or insecurity. It expresses fear and difficulty in coping with the current situation.

Twisted Hands ( crossing both hands then clasping the palms together) : _Expression of a complex personality. It may indicate a difficult emotional life. The way the palms are held together conveys a need to hide something.

Clasping the hands : indicates defence.

Shrugged shoulders: You can recognize stressed shoulders by the fact that they are a bit shrugged, which does make the head look smaller. The meaning of the signal comes from crouching in dangerous situations. The meaning of this posing depends on the combination. In combination with big eyes it means that someone is concerned about something that is going to happen. In combination with a face that is turned away it means that the person wants to be left alone. An introvert person has nearly always those stressed shoulders.

Difference in level of both shoulders: By most of the people the left and the right shoulder are of the same height. When they are not, it often means that someone is doubting about what he is going to do. With this movement we simulate (unconscious) that we are weighing the possibilities. Sometimes when someone makes this movement, his head will move a little like he is looking above.

Crossed arms: There are a lot of different explanations of the meaning of crossed arms. When someone has crossed arms and he is shaking his head it means that he does not agree with you. But he can also cross his arms when he is frightened, then his arms give him some protection. Another option is that he is feeling cold and he is trying to hold his body-warmth with him. When someone is sitting in a chair with his arms crossed, it indicates that the person is relaxed.

Making a fist from your hands: A fist is a sign for aggression. It comes from hitting someone. But it is seldom used with a threatening meaning. Most of the time it is used to indicate that you are angry or irritated.

Holding the hand before the mouth: Holding a hand before your mouth means that you are hiding something. In western countries it is impolite to belch or to hiccup. So someone can hold his hand before his mouth to hide that he is hiccupping. When someone puts his hand before his mouth when he is talking it indicates that he is saying something or has said something that he did not want to say.

Making the eyes look larger: The meaning of making the eyes look larger can be that someone is astonished. In that case he opens his mouth a little. It can also mean that he is happy or that he likes the thing that is talked about. And because it means that you like something, you can use it on purpose. It pleases people when you have your eyes opened a bit further. When people open their eyes a bit further it can also mean that they are unhappily surprised. Then they will frown their eyebrows.

Raising the eyebrows: Raising the eyebrows shortly means that people are surprised. They raise their eyebrows to allow them to look better. But it can also mean that somebody is looking at you, and that he likes you.

Raised forehead: A raised forehead often means that someone is remembering something he has seen. This often happens very quickly. It can also be a sign of a certain emotion. It is a biological reflex that you raise your forehead a little when you are crying so the tears can move easier.

Pursed lips: When somebody purses his lips it means that he has to make a decision and is thinking about that. Sometimes he also moves his lips, like he is saying the possibilities. When somebody purses his lips, he often looks a bit upward.

Firm Handshake: The strong, firm handshake usually is given by a person who is sure and confident of themselves.

Weak hand shake: People who give these types of handshakes are either nervous, shy, insecure, or afraid of interaction with other people.

Cleared your throat: Nervousness.

Bitten your fingernails: Nervousness.

Wring your hands: Nervousness.

Paced the floor: Nervousness.

A person is bouncing their legs and their arms are crossed over or their torso is slumped: Closed off 

First Aid

Immediate help First aid - the care given before emergency medical help arrives - can literally mean the difference between life and death. But knowing the correct thing to do if someone has a nosebleed or cut is also important.

Saving lives In the time it takes to read this page, you could learn enough first aid to save a life. A blocked airway can kill someone in three to four minutes, but it can take more than eight minutes for an ambulance to arrive. So a simple procedure such as opening someone's airway can save their life while they're waiting for emergency medical help. The latest government figures, from 2002, estimate 2.7 million people in the UK went to A&E because of an accident in their home. Of these, 910,000 were aged under 16. Sadly, almost 4,000 people in England and Wales died because of accidents in or around their home in 2004, according to the Office for National Statistics. This means you're more likely to give first aid to someone you know than a stranger. Knowing what to do will allow you to react rapidly if an accident does happen. Top ten home accidents and injuries Falls (1,248,000) Strikes and collisions (530,000) Cuts and tears (230,000) Foreign bodies (128,000) Acute overexertion, for example moving furniture (90,000) Burns, scalds (84,000) Pinching or crushing injuries (79,000) Bites, stings (72,000) Puncture wounds (54,000) Suspected poisonings (33,000) What not to do There are many misconceptions surrounding first aid, some of which can cause serious harm. Top ten first aid misconceptions You should put butter or cream on a burn. The only thing you should put on a burn is cold water - keep the butter for cooking. If you can't move a limb, it must be broken/If you can move a limb, it can't be broken. The only accurate way to diagnose a broken limb is to x-ray it. The best way to treat bleeding is to put the wound under a tap. If you put a bleeding wound under a tap you wash away the body's clotting agents and make it bleed more. Nosebleeds are best treated by putting the head back. If you put the head back during a nosebleed, all the blood goes down the back of the airway. A tourniquet is the best way to treat serious bleeding. It's harmful to stop the blood flow to a limb for more than 10-15 minutes. If someone has swallowed a poison you should make them sick. If you make someone sick by putting your fingers in their mouth, the vomit may block their airway. If you perform CPR on someone who has a pulse you can damage their heart. The evidence is that it isn't dangerous to do chest compressions on a casualty with a pulse. You need lots of training to do first aid. You don't - what you mostly need is common sense. You can learn enough first aid in ten minutes to save someone's life. You need lots of expensive equipment to do first aid. You don't need any equipment to do first aid, there are lots of ways to improvise anything you need.

You and the casualty Giving first aid isn't always easy and you need to understand the emotional issues involved. Controlling your feelings Try to project a confident attitude to the casualty, and act calmly and logically. Explain what you're doing, calm the casualty's fears and be honest if you can't answer questions. Ask about next of kin, and whether you can pass a message to anyone. Coping with your feelings Don't blame yourself for feelings of distaste when dealing with messy or unpleasant circumstances. Expect to feel some form of delayed reaction after theemergency Expect to feel some form of delayed reaction after the emergency and don't reproach yourself for any perceived inadequacies. Protection against cross-infection The risks from HIV or hepatitis B are small and can be minimised: Wash your hands Wear plastic gloves and an apron where possible Cover any wounds on your own skin with plasters Be careful where there are needles present If, after an incident, you have any fears about infection, contact your doctor Offering assistance Don't worry that by offering first aid you're exposing yourself to the risk of legal action. If you do your best, apply your training and don't go beyond the accepted boundaries, you needn't be anxious about the consequences.

The Amazing Cucumber

The Amazing Cucumber

This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phos phorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber.  Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower?  Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds?  Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long.  The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminium to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the p ool?  Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the photochemical in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite.  Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache?  Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free.  Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge?  Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes?  Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge?  Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa?  Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during fina l exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints?  Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the photochemical will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel?  Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.
 

13. Using a pen and made a mistake?  Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!

Bones Of Contention

Bones Of Contention

Planning a healthy retired life? Get started today with tips on how to make your bones stronger.

Mantras To Stay Fit

• Stretch when you wake up.
• Exercise four days a week. In particular, try walking, jogging, tennis, aerobics and dance.
• Fish and seafood have the highest calcium content–700-1,500 mg per 100 gms.
• Go easy on coffee, alcohol and cigarettes.
• Take calcium citrate supplements, not calcium carbonate. Citrate gets absorbed easily. 1,000 mg with 200 IU vitamin D and 500 mg of vitamin C.
• Never eat calcium with milk products. It affects absorption. Have it at night, preferably thirty minutes after dinner.
• Curd is better than milk, since curd contains vitamin C, which helps calcium absorption. 100 gm of curd has 150 mg of calcium. 100 ml cow’s milk has 120 mg calcium. 

Calcium-rich Vegetables

• Cauliflower greens – 630
• Colocasia (arbi) leaves – 250-350
• Paneer (very fattening) – 790
• Turnip leaves – 700
• Carrot leaves – 350
• Fenugreek leaves – 400
• Lotus Stem – 405

(All 100 gm/ml & calcium in mg)

How Much Is Right?

Some people are afraid of unintentionally consuming too much calcium. But up to 2,500 mg per day is okay. If you take more than the limit, it might increase the risk of, say, kidney stones. “Which is more rampant in sedentary lifestyles,” warns Talwar. The message? Get off your butt and walk!

Intake of calcium is mandatory to avoid osteoporosis—a disease where bones become brittle. The minimum amount required varies for kids, women and the aged.

“But I eat healthy foods!” Mithila wails. “And I do yoga,” I chip in. The doctor is quick to enlighten: “Yoga is great for muscles, toning, flexibility and peace of mind. But it is not aerobics, it doesn’t pump the heart or make the bones stronger.”

Talwar says women and parents of daughters need to be careful. “If the mother has low BMD, the daughter is likely to have it too. Hence, fortification at an early age is a must,” he adds. Young girls, it seems, fill up the density of their bones between 8 and 11 years, while young boys do it between 11 and 14 years. Girls, who have mothers with low BMD, need to eat calcium supplements almost all through their lives. From 35 to 65 years, 20% of men’s and 40% of women’s skeletons get depleted. Eating healthy to keep your weight under control alone won’t be enough, says Talwar.

Pension Plan

Bone density, it seems, is either close-knit or loose knit, depending on your genetic make-up. Both men and women fall into either of these knits. From 20 to 40 years, this close or loose knit bone density should remain constant, unless you have a disease or a lifestyle that depletes the bones of their density and makes them brittle. Calcium is necessary for adults who didn’t get enough of it while growing up or those who have led a stress-filled life working erratic hours, says Talwar. It is also a must-have for those who have led sedentary lives, consuming lots of coffee, cigarettes and alcohol. Besides, vitamin D and C enhance absorption of calcium. Also, one should have proteins to keep the bones healthy.

Vitamin D is more like a hormone which helps us assimilate calcium absorption. If we don’t take vitamin D, the calcium will not get absorbed by our blood stream, and hence will never reach our bones. For people aged between 19 and 50 years, 200 international units (IU) of vitamin D is required along with 1,000 mg of calcium.

Intake of calcium is mandatory to avoid osteoporosis—a disease where bones become hollow and brittle. It varies for different groups of people. For kids it is 1,300 mg and adults 1,000 mg. People aged 65 and above together with menopausal women should draw the line at 1,300 mg. And while we’re aware that 80% of us suffer from back pain due to a bad posture at work, what we don’t realise is that the investment of time in our bone health (read exercise and eating right) will lead to a happier retired life.

Bone health today is like a pension plan. Invest today, reap tomorrow. Now, isn’t that what we’re doing with our work lives? So, why not with our bodies?