The next time you feel stressed, please note that you are risking an increase in cholesterol levels. Here are three ways in which stress impacts cholesterol: Stress, anger, and negative emotions impact your heart Well, your heart truly is a delicate organ. It leaps with joy when you are happy and it feels heavy as a stone when you are low. Stress, anger, and negative emotions make an impact on your heart. A Harvard medical school research states that the average risk of a heart attack increased, two hours after the outset of anger, by two to three times. Stress leads to depression In addition to anger and distress, psychologists also emphasize on feelings of depression and helplessness having a direct link with stress. To put it simply, we are physiologically different when we are happy and sad. Release of cortisol and destruction of HDL cholesterol Even when the cholesterol level is not high enough to obstruct the arteries, negative emotions make an impact. They cause the release of a biologically toxic chemical known as ‘cortisol.’ It causes a spasm in the arteries and cuts the blood flow to the heart muscle. The result is angina pain and at times … Continue reading 3 ways stress directly impacts your cholesterol levels →

Lets face it, most of us struggle with our weight. And we all know that in order to achieve it, we need to cut down on some of your favorite junk food items. But letting go of those french fries and cheese pizzas and eating healthy and clean, is not as easy as it looks. Why? Because most of us perceive healthy food to be boring and bland, and lacking the flavour and the pleasure junk food gives us. But we can help change the way you think! Tasty can be healthy! The tastier the meal plan the more chances of you sticking to our weight loss regime. That’s why our Health Total experts will formulate a personalized weight loss plan for you, based on your individual weight loss and health needs. Here are some simple examples of the diet changes that you can include into your daily routine. Brown bread You can make your own sandwiches by replacing refined flour breads with whole grain bread. So if you want a cheese sandwich, instead of using white bread, try a brown bread vegetable and cheese toasted sandwich instead. Oats While having oats is important for good health, some can find it extremely boring. Try having … Continue reading EAT to lose weight! →

Along with managing stress and losing weight, one has to follow a nutritious diet. There are a number of foods that help keep your blood pressure in check and there are some that raise it. Let’s take a look!  Eat More Fruits & Vegetables Studies show that switching to a vegetarian diet has a magical effect on blood pressure. There is obviously something in plant food that helps depress blood pressure. Fruits are concentrated with potassium, vitamin C, sodium and loads of soluble fiber, all of which are blood pressure lowering agents. Make sure you eat generous amounts of vitamin C found in fresh fruits and vegetables. People not doing so are more prone to high blood pressure. Vitamin C supplements may help but only to a certain extent. There are other factors in natural substances too, which play a major role. Garlic It is known as a vasodilator. It dilates blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. It contains adenosine, a compound, which promotes vasodilatation and is also a muscle relaxant. Both raw and cooked garlic benefit blood pressure. But raw garlic is more potent and hence proves more beneficial. Just three months of consuming two cloves of chopped raw … Continue reading 9 foods that help you keep BP at bay →

There are numerous lifestyle and diet related factors which could be causing a spike in our Blood pressure levels. Here is a list of the most common causes of high blood pressure. Age: The older we get, the higher we face the risk of having HBP Family history: If close members of our family have hypertension, our chances of developing the condition become higher. Obesity or overweight: Overweight refers to a condition where we have extra body weight from muscle, bone, fat and/or water. Obesity generally refers to a condition of just having a high amount of extra fat in our body. Overweight and obesity are more likely to cause high blood pressure compared with people who possess normal weight. Physical inactivity: Lack of exercise coupled with a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of hypertension. Smoking: Smoking causes our blood vessels to narrow, which results in higher blood pressure. Moreover, it reduces the oxygen content in our blood and thus, our heart has to pump faster to compensate for this, which causes a rise in our blood pressure level. Alcohol intake: People consuming alcohol regularly have higher systolic blood pressure compared with those who do not. High salt intake: People who do not consume much … Continue reading Causes of High Blood Pressure →

Certain signs of Acidity can be extremely tedious to bear. When the gastric glands of the stomach produce extra acid than the usual amount, it leads to acid reflux. Here are some signs that could point towards the fact that you could be suffering from acidity. Burning throat This is the first and one of the most common symptoms of acidity that you will experience. The moment you feel the burn in your throat, it’s better to take precautions and keep yourself away from acidity. Sour Taste When the stomach acid rises back to your throat, it leaves behind sour taste. The taste is unpleasant and it is a clear sign of acidity. You may also experience a burning sensation after this. Frequent Regurgitation One of the common occurrences during acidity, regurgitation is the backlash of food particles or liquid or bile moving up your throat. Chest Burn Due to the extra heat produced during acidity, the chest starts to feel a burning sensation. At times, this sensation might be severe and could make it unbearable for you. Vomiting Acidity at times also leads to vomiting. In cases where the body is unable to hold the food back or the … Continue reading Top 5 signs that indicate Acidity →