Here are some foods that are best for the Brain, increase its concentration:

1. Sugar

Sugar is the fuel food for Brain. Glucose is absorbed from the Sugar and Carbohydrates, we intake. 1 glass of any sweet drink can enhance our memory, mental activities and thinking abilities. Try to eat Sugar but too much Sugar can also damage your memory.

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2. Caffeine

Caffeine acts as a bullet that enhances the IQ. It helps in re boost the focus and concentration. Caffeine can be easily found in the Coffee, Chocolate, energy drinks and few medicines. The effect of Caffeine is for a short time but overdo of Caffeine can really make you uncomfortable.

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3. Breakfast

Researchers have shown that that eating breakfast regularly can strengthen the short-term memory and concentration process. People who have the breakfast can perform better as compare to others, who don’t eat breakfast.

photo by Ulises Muñiz

Breakfast should be composed of High Fiber foods, whole grains, dairy products and fruits but overeating can hinder your focus.

4. Chocolates and Nuts

Nuts are good source of Antioxidants and Vitamin E. both these elements decreases with the increase of age. Dark Chocolate is rich in Antioxidants. It contains Caffeine that can increase the thinking abilities of Brain.

photo by Chocolate-Dessert-Recipes.com

You can enjoy all the benefits of Nuts and the dark Chocolate your body needs.

5. Avocado and Whole Grain

Our body’s organs depend on the flow of Blood including Heart, Brain etc. Eating Whole Grain and Avocado can help in reducing the risk of Cardiovascular disease. It also helps in lowering the bad Cholesterol. It also decreases the development of Plaque and boosts the flow of Blood.

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Whole Grains may include foods like Popcorn, Wheat etc. Avocado contains oil in it but it is beneficial for your body. It contains Mono-saturated Fat which enhances the healthy flow of Blood.

6. Blueberries

Researches show that Blueberries can save the Brain from damage caused to the free radicals that can be affected due to Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Diet rich in Blueberries can improve the learning process.

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7. Healthy Diet

If your diet miss the essential nutrients, it becomes difficult for you to concentrate. Eating less or too much can hinder your ability to focus. An individual feel lazy, weak and hunger pangs are caused.

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Try to take a balanced diet containing all the required elements of food. These foods can enhance your focus and concentration and it will also strengthen your mental abilities.

The function of Brain Cells requires a stable delivery of Oxygen and the Glucose from the Blood. A Stroke occurs when the Blood supply to the different parts of Brain is blocked and it causes the Cells of Brain to die. Blood flow can be affected by different mechanisms.

Stroke is known as “Brain Attack”. It is an important form of Cerebrovascular Disease.
Stroke can cause the loss of speech, movement, eye sight. Cease of functioning of Leg, Arm etc. it depend on the part of the Brain that is affected due to Stroke.

Types of Stroke

There are 2 main types of Stroke

1. Cerebral Infraction

   The Stroke caused due to the Blockage in the Artery that supply Blood to the specific parts of Brain. It is the most common type of Stroke.

2. Intracerebral Hemorrhage

   This Stroke is caused due to Bleeding with in the Brain.

Every 40 Seconds, someone in the World suffers from Stroke. Every 4th Victim of the Stroke is under 65 years of age. Most of the sufferers are not even 45 years of age. Many victims even don’t know about the reason of the stroke.

Stroke Brain Human

Image by : wikimedia

Long term health factors are blame for the Stroke but the Explosions in the Brain of young people can also be one of its immediate triggers.

The researcher Shyam Prabhakaran, M.D, head of Cerebrovascular disease and Neurocritical Care at Rush University Medical Center says that the negative emotions take place in the Head such as Blood Clot. Blood clot can be life threatening.

He further says that about 50 years ago people don’t consider the Psychiatric illness as a Medical illness but now we are realizing that emotions and Pathology are interlinked.

Factors that triggers Stroke

1. Stress

   The researcher Howard Kirshner, M.D, director of the Vanderbilt Stroke Center says that if you have the problem of Blood Pressure or you feel stressed or depressed, you ask the doctor about the risk factors of Stroke in advance. These factors may include Diabetes, Blood Pressure and Heart Diseases etc.

   If you ask a victim of Stoke, they will say Stress. Extreme Stress can cause the clots in the Brain due to the raise in Blood Pressure that ultimately makes the Blood stickier.

   The key factor is to control the Stress so that you may not suffer from Stroke.

   

   Image by : Crashmaster007

   Source by : flickr

2. Aggression

   In the National Institute on Aging, a study was conducted recently that found the people who were aggressive had thicker Carotid Arteries as compare to the easygoing people. This takes years to develop but young aggressive people show this thickening problem even in the young age.

   Dr Prabhakaran says that if this problem gets severe it can block the Blood flow to the Brain.

   The reason of Stroke in this case is that the cells in the Brain die because of lack of Oxygen that Stroke.

3. Loneliness

   Loneliness can affect your Heart and the feelings. A study on the lonely Adults conducted at the University of Chicago discovered that loneliness increase the Systolic Blood Pressure of an individual every year, independent of BMI, Smoking and the exercise habit.

   The reason of the Loneliness is connected with the higher level of Stress Hormone Cortisol. The Stress Hormone Cortisol causes the Blood Pressure and gives rise to Stroke.

4. Marital Discontent

   The people who face Marital Discontent experiences high level of Stress. An American Stroke Association found that the men who have broken marriages they have 64% higher risk of Stroke as compared to those who live in the Marital Bliss.

Dr. Prabhakaran says that if you are not happily married, you may feel loneliness even though you are not socially alone.

On Friday, May 13, 2011. A study finds that people who decrease their Caloric intake by 25% or more, they may live longer than the people who do not.

The researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that decreased Calories lower the body temperature. Provides that temperature to the body on which the functions of the body can efficiently operate. This technique can prolong life.

The recent study published in the Aging Journal 24 people in their mid 50’s who were on the Calorie restriction for 6 months. The researchers compared them with the other 24 people with higher Calorie intake.

These people were divided in to 2 groups. The core body temperature of both the groups was measured and it was found that the people on the Calorie restriction had lower average core body temperature then the other group.

The researchers say that Calorie restriction can double or triple the lifespan of organisms but it is still not clear that how much Calorie restriction may help Humans live.

The researchers noted that people who follow strict diet they can survive up to 100 years.

The researcher Jingmei Li, PhD of Karolinska Institute in Stockholm produced conflicting results about the use of Coffee and Breast Cancer but now she says that drinking Coffee can reduces the risk of Breast Cancer up to 20 %.

The researcher also considered the factors like education level, drinking of Alcohol and use of Hormone Therapy etc. it was found that the risk of Cancer was reduced to 57%, if Estrogen- Receptor Negative Cancers. This sort of Breast Cancer rarely responds to the Hormone Therapy than Estrogen- Receptor Positive Breast Cancer.

A U.S expert says that reduction in risk of Estrogen- Receptor Negative Cancers is due to chance. A researcher Shumin Zhang, MD, at Harvard Medical School says that drinking Coffee does not seem to increase the overall risk of Breast Cancer.

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Use of Coffee and Risk of Breast Cancer:

The researcher from Karolinska Institute studied the relationship between drinking Coffee and Breast Cancer risk in 2, 818 patients with Breast Cancer and he also studied the people who did not have Breast Cancer.

The patients of Breast Cancer are divided in to Estrogen- Receptor Tum or Subtypes.

1. ER- Negative
2. ER- Positive

1. ER- Negative:

The Breast Cancer Cells are known as ER- Negative if they do not have the receptors for Estrogen.

2. ER- Positive:

The Breast Cancer Cells are termed as ER-Positive if they have the receptors for Estrogen.

The receptors are the Proteins present at the outside surface of Cells, these can also attach to the Hormones in the Blood. When the Estrogen attaches to the Hormones of Blood, it enhances the growth of Breast Cancer Cells.

The age of the participants ranged from 50 to 74 years of age. All were Swedish people.

The researchers first collected the information about habits of drinking Coffee. They also asked the participants about the facts like Education, Menstrual History, Reproductive History, Family History about Breast Cancer and habits like Smoking, Exercising and drinking Alcohol etc.

The people who drink Coffee were classified in to 4 groups:

• 1 cup or less a day
• 1-3 cups a day
• 4-5 cups a day
• 5 or more cups a day

People who drink 1 cup or fewer days were chosen as the reference group.

A researcher Li says that the result of this research is convincing as Coffee contains compound which may affect Breast Cancer.
She further says that Coffee boosts the Blood level which decreases the ER- Negative risk for Breast Cancer.

Pregnancy is an important phase of a woman’s life, she needs to be extra careful during these days. People who are around her should also take care of her. During this period a woman need to tackle with sensitivity. Whatever she feels and does impacts her baby too. We are going to list some important points which need to be considered carefully during the time of pregnancy by the would be mother and her family members too, these do’s and don’t do during pregnancy points can help a woman to carry herself in a good way to deliver a healthy baby and should be careful to avoid risks of Having a Premature Birth.

Pregnancy Do’s

1. Healthy Diet

Include lots and lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Women should take at least 7 servings of fruits and veggies together in a day. Also add whole grain food in your diet like breakfast cereals, bread, and pasta. Take plenty of calcium rich food such as plain yoghurt, low fat milk, broccoli, spinach, almonds they are all good source of calcium. Your growing baby needs calcium for the development of stronger bones and teeth. Avoid eating fatty foods like butter, margarine, fatty meats.

2. Vitamins and Minerals

Women need lots of vitamins and minerals especially iron when they are pregnant. Apart from eating the iron rich food in the diet they need something extra. Doctor will suggest you to take some prenatal multivitamins.

3. Folic acid

Folic acid can be taken before and during pregnancy. It helps to prevent the major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine. All women should take at least 400 micrograms of folic acid everyday or as prescribed by the doctor. You can also include folic acid rich diet.

4. Weight

On an average the healthy weight gain after 40 weeks of pregnancy is 25 to 30 pounds. Exceeding the recommended limit may result in obesity.

5. De-stress

Take a deep breath whenever you feel stressed. Meditation and listening to the soft and soothing music is a better way to get rid of stress. It has been found in the study that most of the pregnant women who are stressed out during the first three weeks after conception are more likely to miscarry.

6. Yoga

Yoga works great when you are pregnant, most of the pregnant women who do yoga tend to have smooth pregnancy and higher chances of giving natural birth. It also helps in the physical and mental development of the foetus.

7. Prenatal Classes

Both husband and wife should join the prenatal classes. These classes prepare both of you for labor and child birth.

8. Proper sleep

Getting good sleep is very important during pregnancy. Pregnant women get pains, aches and swing of moods which keeps her away from bed. Eat dinner at least 3 hours before going to bed. Do some simple exercise like walking and try not to sleep during the day time.

Pregnancy Don’ts

1. Caffeine

An excessive amount of caffeine in your diet can cause problems during pregnancy. As far as possible avoid it.

2. Chemicals

Use of chemicals should be avoided. Pregnant women should avoid cleaning solutions which contain toxic chemicals.

3. Fragrance:

Pregnant women should avoid using fragrances like perfumes and other similar products. This can cause irritation and may affect your body with some infections.

4. Smoking

Smoking during pregnancy is very dangerous. Smoke contains nicotine which reaches the foetus and it can result in some serious implications. It raises the risk of premature birth, miscarriages, placental abruption etc. Passive smoking should also be avoided, it also affects the health of the baby. Quitting is hard but you have to do it for your baby. Take advice and help from your doctor.

6. Do not drink alcohol

No research has been done that shows the exact amount of the alcohol intake which is safe for the baby and the mother during pregnancy. It is advisable to be away from drinking any amount until delivery.

7. Exercise

Heavy exercise like jogging, weight lifting should be avoided. Walking is the best exercise pregnant women can do.

8. Avoid taking bath in hot water

Do not use sauna, hot tub, tanning. Taking bath in hot temperatures can become a potential danger to the developing foetus. The temperature of the water should not be more than 100 degree Fahrenheit. Whereas taking bath in warm water is really very soothing for the pregnant women. Even doctors recommend using the warm bath because it soothes the muscular pain.

Most of the people love their pets and spend quality time with them. Dog being one of the pet is known as the faithful animal. People who keep their dogs with them during walk time will be delight to know that they have been rated as the most active people.

A research conducted at Michigan State University revealed that people who own and carry their dogs with them on walk are 35% more active in physical and routine activities. Epidemiologist, Mathew Reeves said, “ Walking is the most accessible form of physical activity available to people, what we wanted to know was if dog owners who walked their dogs were getting more physical activity or if the dog walking was simply a substitute for other forms of activity”.

This study has been published in the recent issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.This study also revealed that people, who carry their dogs with them on walk, generally walk an hour longer than the other people. Older people walk more frequently as compare to young people, if they make it a habit to carry dogs with them, they can keep themselves more healthy and active.

One surprising aspect of the study is that owing a dog develops a strong dog-human bond that positively impact on human activities. 56% American own dogs and this research revealed that majority of the people among them were more healthy and active than the rest of the people.

Dogs not only protect you, but also help you to remain fit and healthy. Hence if you own a dog, do keep it with you during your walk time, because health and fitness really matters.

Health of family is (and has to be) the top priority of head of the family. No one knows what kind of health issue arises at what time, so there has to be a backup plan that can relieve us of health related financial matters. For such purposes, a health insurance plan is usually foremost priority of most of the families all over the world.

What is a Health Insurance Plan?

A health insurance plan, as the name suggest, is an insurance plan associated with health issues and financial matters related thereto. The person who gets this insurance pays monthly premium (in most cases) for being able of getting the insured amount or the promised health care when the right time arrives. Usually we get short of money when we need it for instantaneous health related incidences. Health insurances keep us away from such worries.

How to Choose the Best Suitable Insurance Plan:

This is yet another big issue. Of course, nobody knows what kind of health issue will arise in the future and how much amount will be required for that purpose. All I can say is that you have to make the right GUESS! Yes, a guess! There are few tips in the following lines that will aid you in choosing the right health insurance plan for your family.

1. If you are an employee, best option for you is to opt for the insurance that your employer has offered to you. It will be the cheapest health insurance you can ever find, and usually it will cover most of your needs. If you have been provided with insurance plan options (from the employer) to choose from, find out the relation between your needs and your budget.
2. Now, in case you are self-employed or your employer does not offer you health insurance, you will have to look for one from the huge pile of options and choices. Formula is the same; know the relation between your needs and budget.
3. Find out whether the plan will cover dependents, too? If you are single, you will need an entirely different plan from a person who is a father of four kids.
4. How often do you or your family member get sick? Are you under a treatment where you have to visit the doc weekly, or monthly? These things are important to know in order to get the best suitable health insurance plan for your family.
5. Asking questions is a healthy habit, especially while finding out the best health insurance plan. Included (on the panel) hospitals and institutes, referrals for specialist visits, changing doctors, emergency rooms treatment etc. are the most frequently asked questions.
6. Find out whether they cover pre-existing ailments.
7. If the company denies your treatment, there must be a fair appeal process.
8. As the prices are increasing day by day, it will become difficult for elderly to get themselves treated out of their pocket. Therefore, it is better to go for long term care insurance if you are above 40.
9. If you have a specific doctor or clinic where you go for treatment, make sure that is on your insurance plan panel.
10. Start saving!