everybody in the family starting from a baby to grandpa’s and granny’s depend on a woman. Immaterial of whether she is a house wife or a working woman…she likes to take the responsibilities at home to the fullest extent and see that they are accomplished at time. She does all these to see everyone happy and doesnt even complain about the amount of hardships she has taken all through the day to earn a few smiles. Woman is one who makes a house into a home. If she is well…all is well. If she takes a break even for half a day due to her health problems or otherwise…everything will be disturbed.

Woman’s well being starts at home. Her physical and mental health depends on how much she is being preferred or given importance.

The factors determining and governing the well being of a woman include one or more of the below mentioned factors:

• The importance and priority shown to her by her parents and relatives even from her childhood.
• The equality and rights in respect to everything given to her along with and as equal as the male children i.e her brothers.
• The quality of education given to her…taking her choices into consideration.
• Socio-economic conditions in which she is brought up.
• Motivational or self induced involvement and participation in various activities.
• The co-operation, support and backup she gets from her friends and teachers in her study days and from her collegues and superiors at work.
• Getting equal liberty of chosing her life partner.
• Happiness in marital life with husband and in laws.
• Loving husband, caring children and a satisfactory sexual life post marriage.
• Food and nutrition she has been taking.
• Regular and comfortable monthly periods.
• Liberty of expression.

A woman should not be allowed to feel inferior to men and she should be taught about her abilities right from home. She is capable of accomplishing any assignment given to her and the only thing she requires is a total trust and pure love.

Take care of woman at your home and give value to the words…”HOME SWEET HOME”….which only she can make. Help her to be physically and mentally healthy and fit…not because she needs it…but more because we need her.

Woman friends….you too realise that you are the one who value the most…and do not under estimate yourself… You are a power house!!!

Keep yourself fit my woman friends…then only you can keep your family healthy and fit….

Do you agree???………..Share your views with me…………..

Blog by…………………Dr ManasaRaghu

You are free to contact me at:  +91-9480071322

Write to me at: drmanasaraghu@gmail.com

“Sarve Janaaha Sukhino Bhavantu……….Sarve Santu Niramaya”

“May Everybody Live Happily……….May Eerybody Live Disease Free and Healthy”

Soya bean and its products are said tobe healthy for general health post menopause. Their use has an added advantage that they keep the blood vessels of the women healthy which otherwise may be subjected to constrictive changes as a consequence of the drop in oestrogen levels.

Flow Mediated Dilation{FMD}: 

When blood flow increases through a vessel, the vessel dilates. This phenomenon has been coined flow-mediated dilatation (FMD)..which is a normal phenomenon. Drop in estrogen levels might interfere with this normal and smooth functioning of the endothelium(inner layer of blood vessel)…thus reducing the FMD and consequentially causing vascular problems.

Isoflavone: 

Isoflavones are a group of molecules that are similar in chemical structure. Isoflavones are produced only by plants in the Fabaceae (also known as Leguminosae) family, frequently called the legume or bean family. Foods that contain high amounts of isoflavones include soy, peanuts, chick peas, alfalfa, fava beans, and kudzu. When consumed by humans, isoflavones may behave like estrogen in the body.

They are antioxidants Some isoflavones and isoflavone-rich foods possess activity against cancer, including certain types of breast and prostate cancer.

A study published in the European Heart Journal has demonstrated the ability of isoflavones to reduce inflammation and improve blood flow in patients with atherosclerosis.

Research works about Isoflavone: Recent research works have shown that Isoflavone use may improve Endothelial Function in Postmenopausal Women

Read the original article below:{Courtesy Medscape}:

December 11, 2009 — Oral isoflavone supplementation enhances endothelial function in postmenopausal women with low levels of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) at baseline, according to a report in the November 18th online issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In women with high levels of FMD, no benefit is seen. 

“The risks of cardiovascular diseases increase with the decline in estrogen production after menopause in women,” senior author Dr. Ru-Tai Hui, from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, China, and colleagues explain. “Isoflavone, mainly produced by soybeans, has been suggested to have estrogenic and potentially cardioprotective effects and improved endothelial dysfunction in many experimental studies.” 

Whether isoflavone use actually improves endothelial function in postmenopausal women, however, is controversial, the report indicates. Studies investigating this topic have been relatively small and have yielded conflicting findings. “As a result, the precise effect of isoflavone supplementation has not been established.” 

Dr. Hui’s team set out to examine this topic in detail by conducting a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials identified though a search of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library database, and other sources. Of 561 articles identified, 9 were included in the review and meta-analysis. 

The studies were published between 2000 and 2007 and typically ranged in size from 18 to 57 subjects with the exception of one study with 202 subjects. 

In the overall analysis, isoflavone use significantly increased FMD (weighted mean difference, 1.75%, p = 0.0002), the report indicates. 

However, further analysis showed that oral supplementation with isoflavone enhanced FMD significantly only if the age-adjusted baseline FMD level was <5.2% (weighted mean difference, 2.22%, p < 0.0001). Meta-regression analysis confirmed that age-adjusted FMD at baseline was inversely associated with effect achieved with oral isoflavone. 

Regarding potential limitations of the current analysis, the authors point out that none of the studies included men, who may respond differently to isoflavone than do women. Also, just 2 of the studies included women with high cholesterol levels, subjects who might be expected to have an enhanced FMD response to isoflavone use. 

Another issue is that the range of isoflavone doses used in the studies was fairly narrow, the authors point out. Thus, there is a need for future studies to better understand dose-response relationships. 

Lastly, the researchers note that the sources of isoflavones were not the same in each study. In six trials, the source was soy protein, whereas in three, the sources were unclear. The source of the isoflavone might influence its effect on FMD and, therefore, additional research is needed to answer this question, the researchers state. 

“The baseline endothelial profile may be an important and potential factor influencing the effect of oral isoflavone supplementation on endothelial function,” the researchers conclude. “Additional high-quality rigorous studies, especially in women with cardiovascular diseases and in men, should be performed to confirm our results and explore the exact mechanisms of isoflavone in the improvement of endothelial function.” 

Clinical Context

I as an educated and a professional woman and family member would strongly condemn the act of a reputed movie director in Kannada film industry slapping an actress on floor of his movie. A hot issue in the news yesterday night is the assault made by reknowned movie maker and director in Kannada film industry…Nagatihalli Chandrashekar slappin his heroine Aindrita Roy on the floor of his movie..Nooru Janmakoo..being finishing its final shots at Singapore. The actress has come blue and red on the director and had complained of physical and mental assault on her from the director. At the same time the director is defending himself giving reasons for him to lose his cool…backed up by his movie unit.

Whatever may be the reason….i feel that the respect of the woman…either a child or a middle aged girl or an aged woman should be safe gaurded by everyone around her. Abusing and slapping or hitting a woman is not a part of our culture. May be it is a mistake of the pampered generation of today and their hot blood which makes them indisciplined at times. But hitting is no answer. Being elders we can correct our kids in many ways…many times a cool talk will come handy. Parents too should educate and guide their children with social responsibility.

But incidents like this which come into our vision every now and then is disgracing and shameful. If responsible males in our life may be at family or outside are not safe gaurding our rights and respect…we should louden our voice against it…and wait for a realisation to come over along with responsibility. I am not giving a biased statement because i am a woman…the incident may be true on either side or may be a publicity gimic…but the fact is Women should be respected…AND OUR CULTURE SHOULD BE SAFE GUARDED……………

Do you feel the same???………….Share with me………………..

Blog by…………………Dr ManasaRaghu

You are free to contact me at:  +91-9480071322

Write to me at: drmanasaraghu@gmail.com

“Sarve Janaaha Sukhino Bhavantu……….Sarve Santu Niramaya”

“May Everybody Live Happily……….May Eerybody Live Disease Free and Healthy”

Here is a simple recipe which every house wife can effectively use to beat arthritis, joint pains, back pains….and also to prevent them.

Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 medium sized brinjals and
• 150 to 200 ml of castor oil (meant for oral consumption)- also available in the Ayurvedic medical stores as Gandharvahastadi or Eranda tailam.
• Pepper powder
• Cumin seed powder
• Salt

Method of preparation:

Steam boil the brinjals in the castor oil…on a mild flame of fire… until they are baked properly to obtain a soft texture and a golden brown appearance. Serve the brinjal recipe hot after adding a pinch of pepper powder, cumin seed powder and salt for taste.

Benefits:

• Relieves joint pains, arthritis(especially a diagonosed case of rheumatoid arthritis), back pains of chronic nature, swelling and stiffness of joints, constipation, indigestion etc
• Can be used once in a week to avoid or prevent joint problems…especially in those prone to get and also with a family history.
• Cost reliable and doesnt cost you anything.
• Patient compliance: since it is given in the form of food
• 2 in 1 effect: Apart from being a tasty food it also acts as a preventive and curative medicine.

I use this to keep the joints and back of my family members healthy…and free from pains……

Come on friends….You too try this at home and you will be happy that your deal is no raw…………

Dont forget to tell me the results…..and dont forget to pass on this information to your friends…who really care for their family……..

Blog by…………………Dr ManasaRaghu

You are free to contact me at: +91-9480071322

Write to me at: drmanasaraghu@gmail.com

“Sarve Janaaha Sukhino Bhavantu……….Sarve Santu Niramaya”

“May Everybody Live Happily……….May Eerybody Live Disease Free and Healthy”

Ok….we shall not beat around the bush and see what medical science and particularly Ayurveda has to say about this.

Though Buttermilk and Curds are similar in their origin, they do differ in composition and benefits. According to Ayurveda, the churning(Manthana) process involved in making Buttermilk makes it different from that of curds.

Buttermilk:

Composition and Nutrient Values of Buttermilk:

To start with lets try to know about the composition and nutrient values of the Buttermilk. They are as below said-

*Buttermilk is rich in Calcium, Pottassium, Vitamin B12 and Lactic Acid.

* Each 100 grams of Buttermilk consists of the Nutrient Values in below mentioned proportions-

• Energy – 40 kcal
• Carbohydrates – 4.8 gms
• Fat – 0.9 gms
• Protein – 3.3 gms
• Calcium – 116 mgs

Read more about Buttermilk here……

When Buttermilk should be preffered?

• The buttermilk can be used even when there is less appettite
• Obese people and all those who want to put down their weight should preferably include buttermilk in their diet.
• Buttermilk is considered as AMRITA or celestial nectar of immortality especially if used during SheetaKala(cold seasons). In this season the buttermilk from which the butter has not been separated should be taken into use.
• Buttemilk is easily digestable and also low in fat content. So it can be consumed even during night times.

When to avoid Buttermilk?

• Buttermilk should not be given to the emaciated persons or a child who is suffering from malnourishment.
• Avoid buttermilk after a long stay in hospital or after a long spell of illness.
• Avoid buttermilk in extreme hot seasons.

Curds:

Composition and Nutrient Values of Curds:

• Consumption of yogurt or curd has been associated with strengthening of the immune system.
• One serving of yogurt per day is said to be beneficial for those suffering from osteoporosis.
• Low-fat or skim curd is good for people who are suffering from higher levels of cholesterol.
• Even those who are lactose-intolerant can consume yogurt, as bacteria present in it breaks down the lactose before it enters your body.
• The bacteria in curd can help digest food and thus, alleviate the problem of stomach infection.
• Those suffering from vaginal infection have also been found to have benefited from yogurt.
• Studies have suggested that consumption of curd might help reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
• The active culture of yogurt has been found to be beneficial in case of constipation and colon cancer.
• Curd is also said to be helpful in treating inflammatory bowel disease and H. pylori infection.
• Yogurt helps you feel fuller and is thus, a very good snack for those trying to lose weight.
• Being rich in calcium, curd is good for the health of bones as well as the teeth.
• Eating yogurt on a regular basis can help you absorb the nutrients in other foods as well.

In Ayurveda Curds are called ‘Dadhi’ Let us now see what are the benefits of curds as said in Ayurveda.

When Curds should be preffered?(Benefits of curds):

• It is very palatable and good for children and lactating mothers
• It gives strength, satiety, comfort, relaxation and plesantness to mind
• Patients suffering from long standing weakness or fatigue should preferably take curds with sugar and ghee
• It is an ideal drink during rainy season and monsoons

When to avoid Curds?

• Curds should preferably avoided during night time.
• Avoid curd when there is loss of appetite
• Beware!!!!!……Curds may precipitate the problems of Obesity and Overweight
• Avoid curds during fever due to winter seasons(fevers which occur due to the effect of cold during winter)
• Avoid curds during acute running nose and in the presence of cough with expectoration of plhlegm

External use of Curds: Curd is a natural bleaching agent which is used in skin lightening therapy(especially in pigmentation disorders) and as a moisturiser.

Now…Which is betterr….Buttermilk or Curds???

It is not a comlicated question though….!!!

After seeing the above said evidences from the most ancient and the most modern concepts it can be concluded that when used in their areas of limitations both buttermilk and curds are equally beneficial. Care should be taken to use them according to recomendations and to avoid them where they are indicated not to be used. None should be taken either in excess nor in defecit.

Dont depend on myths?????

Your family doctor should be the best person to advice you so as to what is beneficial for you and when……

If you dont have one dont hesitate to discuss with me…….

Blog by…………………Dr ManasaRaghu

You are free to contact me at: +91-9480071322

Write to me at: drmanasaraghu@gmail.com

“Sarve Janaaha Sukhino Bhavantu……….Sarve Santu Niramaya”

“May Everybody Live Happily……….May Eerybody Live Disease Free and Healthy”

Skin Care Measures during winter:

• Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated.
• Eat fresh fruits like oranges, lemon, sweet lime etc
• Soak almonds overnight, blanch and blend it with milk and consume early in the morning
• Groundnut Laddoos and Chikkies(Groundnut biscuits/cakes) are good for winter apart from being delicious
• Take half tsf of ghee with warm milk in the night just before bed
• Consume one cup of curd with one tsf of sugar and half tsf of ghee in the afternoons.

External Applications which can keep your skin healthy during winter…..

• Mix 2 Tsf of curds with 10 drops of Almond oil and massage your face for 10 minutes. Wash with luke warm water there after.
• Mix 10 drops of Olive oil with Milk Cream and massage it on your face
• Add 2 drops of Rose Water to 1 Tsf of butter. Use this as facial massage for 10 minutes. Wash with luke warm water there after.
• Massage the face with the White of Egg for 15 minutes and wash there after with warm water.
• Apply moisturiser and sun creem lotion liberally
• Wash face with luke warm water

Try these simple measures….and tell us how did you combat winter without compromising with your skin….??

Blog by…………………Dr ManasaRaghu

You are free to contact me at: +91-9480071322

Write to me at: drmanasaraghu@gmail.com

“Sarve Janaaha Sukhino Bhavantu……….Sarve Santu Niramaya”

“May Everybody Live Happily……….May Eerybody Live Disease Free and Healthy”

Composition and Nutrient Values of Buttermilk:

To start with lets try to know about the composition and nutrient values of the Buttermilk. They are as below said-

*Buttermilk is rich in Calcium, Pottassium, Vitamin B12 and Lactic Acid.

* Each 100 grams of Buttermilk consists of the Nutrient Values in below mentioned proportions-

• Energy – 40 kcal
• Carbohydrates – 4.8 gms
• Fat – 0.9 gms
• Protein – 3.3 gms
• Calcium – 116 mgs

Health Benefits of Buttermilk:

• Easily Digestable
• As it has less fat it can be used as both preventive and curative food drink in obesity
• Because of its high calcium content it helpw in proper development of bones
• Pottassium present in buttermilk helps in healthy heart functions
• Lactic acid present in buttermilk makes it ideal even during loose stools(diarrhea and associated conditions)

Buttermilk and Ayurveda:

Buttermilk in Ayurveda is called as TAKRA. A vast description of Takra and its uses have been given in the Ayurvedic texts.  Takra has also been called by many Acharyas of Ayurveda(Ancient Scholars and teachers) as AMRITA…i.e nectar…indicating its significance. The benefits of Takra as explained in Ayurveda is as said below…..

“Kshud vardhanam Netra rujaapaham cha Praanapradam Shonita Maamsadam cha.

Aamaabhighaatam Kapha Vata Hantru tu Ashtau Gunaa vai kathitha hi Takre” {Yo Rat}

• It increases appetite and corrects gastro intestinal functions.
• Gives strength to Optic and Occulomotor nerves…improves vision…good for eye health.
• It gives instant energy and strength because of its origin from milk…which inturn is considered as complete food.
• It helps in absorption of iron/ferrous…thus increasing the Haemoglobin content in the blood…thus becoming an important diet to be prescribed in diseases like Anaemia…good for circulation too.
• Helps in proper building of muscles and bones.
• Buttermilk from which the butter has not been removed helps in retaining the moisture of the skin during extreme cold and dry seasons.
• Dishes prepared by heating the buttermilk can be used in disorders caused by morbid Kapha…like common cold etc. 
• Takra including the butter is used to allievate the diseases having their origin from Vata.
• Takra destroys the Aama or the endotoxins and detoxifies the body.

“When the buttermilk has so many qualities….good for health…time and again….why dont we include it into our diet regularly???”

“If you have been using Takra…then continue doing it”

“If you are not using it…Start taking it right now…….”

So at home…. Make Buttermilk…Take Buttermilk

Blog by…………………Dr ManasaRaghu

You are free to contact me at: +91-9480071322

Write to me at: drmanasaraghu@gmail.com

“Sarve Janaaha Sukhino Bhavantu……….Sarve Santu Niramaya”

“May Everybody Live Happily……….May Eerybody Live Disease Free and Healthy”

Read Next:        “BUTTERMILK v/s CURDS…battle of choices!!!”

“Jai Shri Ganesha”