healthnews
T O STA Y W E LL
Love Y our HEART
Give yourself the valentine gift of a healthy heart. Pump up the HDL(orgood
cholesterol) counts of your heart to keep it ticking happily. All it takes isafew
simple lifestyle changes. Takealookatw hatyou can do:
| A 20-30 minute aerobic exercise routine done five
times a week boosts your heart health. You can brisk walk, run, jog, play an
active sport, or swim when the weather permits; if you’re indoors, work out
on the tread mill or just go up and down the stairs afewtimes.
EAT HEALTHY
I Choose wholegrain foods, healthy fats (oliveoil, rice bran
oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, and some amount of mustard oil), and foods
rich in omega-3 (fish and walnuts). Cut back on processed foods and trans
fats (partially hydrogenated oils such as
d a ld a
and margarine) found in some
cookies, cakes, and most packaged foods.
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT
Keep a close watch onyour weight and
control it with a mix of exercise and healthy eating. Askyour doctor foryour
ideal weight based on your height, age, and health profi le.
1 Smoking increases thechances of clottinginyour heart.
Give it up! Build upyour willpower; askfriends and family to pitch in and give
their support or seek professional help. Avoid second-hand smoke too.
Rub Out Colds
You already know massages are
sure-fire stress busters. Now
comes the word that they could
slash your sick days too.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center, US, found that a
deep-tissue massage boosts the
levels of NK cells and T
lymphocytes—two types of anti-
viral defenders in the body. “This
could suggest that immediately
after a massage, you might be
less likely to catch a cold,” says
study author Dr Mark Rapaport.
Decaf Tea
If you can’t resist tea. go for
decaf. Lower the caffeine
content of your brew at home
itself. Pour boiling water over
tea leaves. Let the tea sit 30-45
seconds then pour the water
out. Brew the remaining tea
normally for the full amount
of time. You’ll still get good
flavour, minus some caffeine.
want to go a step further, you can volunteer for them as well.
n NGO
If you
IRAPHS:
IAN HOOTON/GETTYIMAGES; (TEA CUP) CLIN I ON HUSSEY/CORBIS
