The Buzz(kill) about Caffeine

Alkaline food a healthier choice

Everything you consume has a direct impact on the body chemistry or pH balance of the body. So, be wary of what you eat or drink because it is contributing to healthy or unhealthy pH levels in your blood. pH (potential of hydrogen) value gives us an idea about the acidic or alkaline nature of any liquid or solution. Human blood pH has a narrow range of 7.35 to 7.45 or in other words body can function well within this range, and we must maintain this alkaline pH for a healthy state.

Alkaline Vs Acidic Food

It's too bad that the foods we like most can make us acidic and thus sick by tipping the blood pH level from alkaline to acidic. So, what are these foods.... You guessed right:







Processed food
Sugar
Meats (aside from occasional coldwater fish)
Hydrogenated fats and trans fats
Pasta, white rice, refined flour
Excessive alcohol etc.

are acidic in nature whereas fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices are alkaline.







To maintain health, the diet should consist of 60% alkaline forming foods and 40% acid forming foods. It is very easy for the body to become overly acidic owing to the food preferences and modern lifestyle. Apart from food other factors which may further jeopardise this delicate balance are:

Stress
Toxins
Negative thoughts and emotions
Medication
Excessive exercise
Exposure to pollutants and chemicals


Under normal circumstances the body is able to counter metabolic acidosis, to maintain the blood pH in a narrow range of 7.35 - 7.45, at all the time. Lungs and kidney participate to maintain this balance by exhaling CO2 (carbon-dioxide), excreting hydrogen ions in urine and producing bicarbonate (HCO3) ions respectively. Metabolic acidosis caused by diet is marked by a buildup of acid-forming hydrogen (H+) ions in the blood. The kidneys respond to this by expelling them in the urine.

In a normal, healthy body these two systems work to maintain the blood pH balance. But, as we age, the ability of the kidneys to regulate metabolic acidosis declines. As a result, there is less bicarbonate produced by the kidneys to negate metabolic acidosis which over a period of time can lead to a low-grade metabolic acidosis. In order to maintain the acid-alkaline chemistry in the blood, body taps into another source of bicarbonates, the skeletal system or bones.

Metabolic acidosis induces a negative calcium balance (release of calcium from bone) with hypercalciuria (increased calcium loss in urine). Long term metabolic acidosis due to faulty diet or lifestyle leads to significant loss of bone mineral over a period of time. Hence, chronic metabolic acidosis and body’s withdrawal of bone-based bicarbonates to balance blood pH contribute significantly to osteoporosis.


It is important to know that true health lives in an alkaline state. The most effective way to create a more harmonious acid-alkaline balance naturally is to increase the alkaline-forming food in your diet. Another powerful mean to achieve this delicate balance is to consume alkaline water which has a pH of 7.5 and above. High pH is able to counter the acidosis and prevent the loss of vital minerals from the bone. Alkaline water helps to maintain the pH balance and provide healthy alkaline minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium etc. Modern diet, lifestyle, and stress can predispose us to premature aging. It would be wise to practice prevention well in advance.

Drink to your health....

Living Healthy- Alkaline advantage

Alkaline forming foods are an important part of any diet. They promote health and well-being by supplying essential alkaline minerals that keep the bodies' systems in balance.

One of the keys to maintaining optimal health is discovering the correct way to eat real food to maximize your alkaline potential which in turn can keep your minerals and other nutrients reserve high and also prevent chronic diseases from developing in the body. In order to do this, you have to first learn which foods are alkaline-forming and which are acid-forming, as well as how to eat them in balance.

We are oblivious to the fact that our bodies are constantly trying to achieve a state of equilibrium at a pH of about 7.35, which is slightly alkaline. To do this, the body draws from the nutrients we consume. Hence, it is very important that we constantly supply these essential, health-promoting minerals, and other nutrients to help maintain this internal balance by eating right kind of food.

When the body doesn't receive sufficient minerals from the diet, it draws from backup nutrient reserves in the bones and other organs like muscles, liver etc. Over a period of time, the backup reserve may deplete to an extent to cause a pH imbalance in the body. And that may account for the unhealthy state of the body. A much simpler solution though is to simply incorporate more alkaline-forming foods and alkaline water. Alkaline water has a high pH of 8 and above. It is loaded with healthy alkaline minerals and drinking alkaline water is a simple yet effective way to maintain this delicate balance. 

Drink to your good health...

How to prevent EMF radiation health risks

It is estimated that our generation's exposure to Electromagnetic radiation has grown exponentially in the last 50 to 60 years.

Electromagnetic fields associated with electricity and communication technology called ELF (extremely low frequency) and radiofrequency respectively, have grown 

Electro-pollution in Modern world

tremendously in the past fifty years or so. Plethora of modern household gadgets, electrical wiring, wireless devices, Wi-Fi routers, smart meters are key sources of these artificial electromagnetic radiations. Worldwide environmental scientists and health professionals are concerned about this ever rising EMF radiation and health consequences. There is substantial evidence to prove that long-term exposure to EMF radiations can have an adverse impact on human health. 

Electromagnetic fields ubiquitously present in our environment are not perceived by our sensory system because they are not visible or audible.

Sources of Emf radiation at home

   We can’t escape technology because we love our gizmos and are so dependent on modern life gadgets which make our life so much easier. Hence, it is imperative to practice some preventive measures to safeguard us and the future generation from this electromagnetic radiation onslaught.

Here are few tips to bring down the daily dosage of electromagnetic radiation we receive from mobile phones and WiFi system:

1.  Be a responsible cell phone user:  do not use your mobile phone for a longer duration, try to keep your calls short, or send a text instead. The reason being that 30 minutes of mobile phone usage a day results in 11,000 minutes a year of cell phone radiation. The amount of radiation is appalling!

2. Always use a speaker and hold the phone as far as possible from your head.

3. Don't carry a mobile phone switched on in a pocket.

Constant exposure to mobile phone radiation 

 As long as your cell phone is on, it emits radiation continually (to you and everyone around you within 6 to 8 feet), even when you are not making a call. So, that means your reproductive organs are being irradiated every moment you carry your cell in a trouser pocket. Scientific studies indicate that electromagnetic radiation can have a detrimental effect on the sperm and semen in men.  Similarly, it may affect the normal ovarian function in women too. However, one can significantly reduce the EMF radiation exposure from the Mobile phone with a special phone case.

4. Don't keep a mobile phone in your bra

5. Pregnant women should limit usage as much as possible and ideally switch off the phone or put it on airplane mode, when not in use.

6. Use a wired baby monitor instead of the popular wireless one to reduce EMF exposure to your baby.

7. Hold the phone correctly while in use

You will do your brain a huge favour by holding the mobile phone correctly while making a call. If you cover a large area of the phone with your hand, you reduce its ability to send or receive signals. The phone consequently transmits stronger radiation to compensate, thereby increasing your exposure to emf radiation. As mentioned earlier, try using the speaker-phone.

8. Never sleep with your mobile phone under the pillow.

   

 Put it on an airplane mode in the night. Ideally, all devices like cordless phone, mobile phone, laptop, and kindle etc. should be kept outside your bedroom.

9. Replace cordless "DECT" phones with corded versions as they emit powerful microwave continually.

10.  If you have Wi-Fi at home remember to turn it off at night.

One can start with these simple yet effective ways to reduce the daily electromagnetic radiation exposure to self and children.

To your good health...

Is your WiFi making you sick?

Modern gadgets do make our life easier but there is a downside too...

Modern life & technology goes hand in hand. In today’s world Information & Communication technology has become a necessity in our life, like all the other modern amenities for day to day living. It is impossible to imagine a life without modern gadgets for they have a profound impact on our society.  

In this age of information, Wifi has become an indispensable tool in our life.  It enables us to connect to the area network wherever we go, moreover wireless internet router can be connected to many devices at the same time like laptop, tablet, ipad and mobile phones without being physically wired to network which makes it a convenient tool for office & home use, to access internet for work, research or entertainment.

Cause of concern. Do we know that all the gadgets which operate through Wifi & Wifi router itself are a potential source of environmental pollution??.....Yes, I am referring to Radio frequency (RF) & Electro-magnetic field (EMF) radiation. Wifi modem uses EMF to send signals to all the devices connected to it. These radiations are not perceived by our sensory system (because they are not visible or audible to humans), are ubiquitously present in our environment.  Wireless network system and various electronic devices are major source of this ever increasing environmental pollution. These radiations not only permeate our surroundings but they very much INVADE us. 

Generally, we are concerned about rising pollutants in air, water and food but we are oblivious to the fact that our personal space is polluted too. It’s really scary to think that we are constantly exposed to the EMF whether we are at home, workplace, commuting or at shopping mall. So, should we be concerned about this danger lurking in our personal space?

Undoubtedly, YES. A group of environmental scientists, researchers & public health policy professionals worldwide are engaged in various scientific studies to document bio-effects and adverse health effects of non-ionizing radiations including microwave, RF/EMF, ELF (extremely low frequency). Scientists are concerned about potential EMF health risks. There is a considerable evidence and research from various scientific experts throughout the world that exposure to microwave radiation from wireless devices; Wi-Fi, smart meters and cell towers can have an adverse impact on normal functioning of human physiology.

Possible EMF health risks/Common list of  electromagnetic radiation symptoms. There has been a sharp rise in unspecific, often stress-related health problems. Physicians are often confronted with nonspecific complaints without clearly identifiable cause. Long term exposure to radiofrequency/EMF radiations can present as any of the following symptoms:

·         Headache

·         Sleep troubles

·         Chronic fatigue

·         Dizziness

·         Visual disorders

·         Difficulty in concentration

·         Behavioral problem in children

·         Depression

·         Memory problem

·         Palpitation

·         Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)

·         Nose bleed

·         Rashes

·         Burning skin

·         Weak immune system

·         Miscarriage or inability to conceive etc., phew…a long list indeed

So, the message to take home is that we have got to protect ourselves.

Stay Protected. Rapid change & advancement in technology bring forth whole new array of gizmos & devices to add comfort to our life which we gladly adopt for sake of convenience.  Modern gadgets do make our life easier but there is a downside too. My whole idea to write this blog is to help educate people & share some facts about the possible EMF health risks. Sometimes we are slow to recognize danger when it is not apparent. Science may take it’s own time to finally conclude that EMF does pose serious health risks. Since we all know that, “Prevention is better than cure”. Wouldn’t it be wise to take proactive precautionary measures to protect our health & that of our families from this invisible enemy called Electro-pollution???

Do share your views or if you do suffer from any of these symptoms, write to me. 

Keep reading,.. my upcoming blog….How to protect yourself from EMF onslaught?