Posts Tagged ‘general health’

Breakfast!

Monday, March 16th, 2009

Mordern lifestyle has changed many things in our life. The way we dress, our attitude, work environment, idea of having fun, the list is unending. The most threatening of all is the change it had brought to our diet. Though people are more consious about their health, they think in terms of medical care rather than dietary control. Increased health awareness has to led to more number people seeking medical care instead being healthy the natural way.Yummy!

So talking about our new lifestyle, i definately ought to mention about people who skip their breakfast.

We work hard all day, party harder at night. We end up waking up late in the morning ultimately run out of time. The fear of getting late to office/college/school we often skip our breakfast in the morning.

Breakfast refers to the act of breaking our fast (not eaten since the night before).

Skipping breakfast does not end in deleterious manifestations but still there is a lot of difference. Breakfast skippers feel tired, restless or irritable in the morning. 

The biochemistry behind having breakfast (:P) :

  1. Breakfast is the first chance of the body to refuel its glucose levels, also known as blood sugar, after eight to 12 hours without a meal or snack.
  2. Glucose is essential for the brain and is the main energy source.
  3.  Blood glucose also helps fuel the muscles, needed for physical activity throughout the day.
  4. Breakfast is also very important for weight loss and weight management.
  5. It helps curb your hunger and prevent binge eating later in the day. Breakfast is important to manage your weight and potentially lose weight by eating less calories throughout the day.Delicious!

Breakfast is very essential for those who:

  1. Go to school/college/office.
  2. Want to be active throughout the day.
  3. Have to do heavy work.
  4. Take good care of their health.
  5. Have BRAINS and wants to use them.

Who would skip breakfast if someone served like this

It is not a hard fast rule that we should eat our daily breakfast. But we should take care that skipping our breakfast does not become a habit.

P.S: My mom still complains that i don’t eat my breakfast regularly on time. lol. It is all in the game :P

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Posted in Health | 5 Comments »

Hand Washing

Monday, March 9th, 2009

For those who live in chennai, water is something very precious. Uninterrupted supply of good water during summer is still a dream come true for most of them. When this is  the case, how come i have something to say about hand washing? Strange!

Hand washing though the most simple way of preventing infection, it is rarely practiced. We hear it most of the time from our parents to wash our hands before eating. Why are they so obsessed with this act?

The main purpose of washing hands is to clean our hands from dirt, chemicals, germs etc. It is very important for peolpe who handle food and work in the medical field. As I am related to the medical field, I realized the importance of washing hands. At least now i wash my hands regularly. So what do i have to say about it?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated: “It is well-documented that the most important measure for preventing the spread of pathogens is effective handwashing.” 

One should wash hands regularly throughout the day and especially at these times:

Before: 

  • Preparing food
  • Eating
  • Caring for the sick; changing dressings, giving medicines
  • Looking after babies or the elderly
  • Starting work; especially if you are a food handler or health professional
  • Putting in contact lenses

Between: 

  • Handling raw foods (meat, fish, poultry and eggs) and touching any other food or kitchen utensils

After: 

  • Handling raw foods, particularly meat, fish and poultry
  • Going to the toilet
  • Touching rubbish/waste bins
  • Changing nappies
  • Caring for the sick, especially those with gastro-intestinal disorders
  • Coughing or sneezing, especially if you are sick
  • Handling and stroking pets or farm animals
  • Gardening – even if you wear gloves
  • Cleaning pet litter boxes

 

Do we wash our hands effectively? I am afraid we do not. This picture clearly shows the areas we miss during washing.missed-parts3

The most effective way of washing our hands:

1. Wash hands with warm running water, apply soap and lather well.

2. Rub each area together for at least 15 seconds.

3. Rinse hands and dry thoroughly with dry towel.palmfingersback of handsbase of thumbsback of fingerswrist

It does make a lot of difference when one washes their hands effectively. So no matter in what field you are in, wash your hands regularly. Remember, proper and frequent hand washing is the key way to prevent the spread of many common infections. 

GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY: October 15. Does not mean that you have to wash your hands only on that day. Lol.

HAPPY WASHING!

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Posted in Social Issues | 3 Comments »