Body Basics

Foot Care

Bathe your feet everyday. Lather with an antibacterial soap and scrub with a loofah.
Dry your feet completely when you’re done. Leftover moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria, which causes odour.
Always cut your nails and file them to a suited shape.
Take care of your cuticles and use cuticle softener and orange stick to push them back.
Buff your feet with foot paddles or pumice stone to avoid dry skin.
To relax and relieve tired feet, soak them in salt solution.
Massage your feet with foot cream and not lotions, because cream has more percentage of nourishing oil.
Apply sunscreen to protect your feet in the summer and nourishing cream in winter.
Avoid too much contact of feet water as it dehydrates the skin.
Tight shoes make your feet sweat more than normal. Make sure yours aren’t.
Sun your shoes to keep them bacteria-free.
Go barefoot. Let your feet breathe.
At night, apply moisturizer, and then slip on a pair of cotton socks for soft feet.

Anger management

How can we Reduce Anger?

Heard the saying, anger is one word short of danger? Well, it’s true. People with short temper are also vulnerable to heart-related ailments. Anger could be triggered by stress, lack of sleep, crash diets and insufficient water intake. Here are simple things one can do to arrest anger.
Practice relaxation exercises and breathing techniques to calm the mind and body.
Learn to resolve conflicts through effective communication minus outbursts.
Use problem-solving techniques such as goal setting and time management to reduce stress levels.
Eating well and at regular intervals helps to keep energy levels in check.
Get at least 6-8 hours of sleep, so that you don’t feel irritable and grouchy.
Take a break when you’re tired. This can help you rejuvenate.
Keep yourself upbeat by indulging in a hobby.
Compartmentalise your work and personal lives.
Nurture your support systems, like family and friends.
Regular exercise helps to keep the mind and body fresh.
Seek counseling for interpersonal conflicts.
Be assertive instead of aggressive.

Strategies to Control Aggression

Accept that being angry is perfectly normal.
Identfy your source/trigger of anger.
Shift your focus from ‘what was done to me’ to ‘what I can do’.
Create positive self-talk.
Identify your irrational beliefs.
Think of a more rational and adaptive plan of action.
Change thoughts that provoke anger, interpreting the situation from a different(less provocative) point of view.
Write down angry thoughts.
Focus on gratitude – make a list of things you are thankful for.

Know your Thyroid

Today’s superwoman, balancing home and carrier may be more prone to thyroid disorders than she realizes. The pressures of multitasking put her system at risk, which goes up particularly for new mothers.


What is Thyroid?

The thyroid is butterfly-shaped gland in front of the neck, which produces the hormones T3 and T4. The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) produced by the pituitary gland controls their production.

What Causes Hypothyroidism?

Stress makes the thyroid gland falter. It has a strong genetic basis and a gender bias, being more common among women.

What are the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism?

It’s often linked to depression or abnormal cholesterol and sugar levels, particularly during pregnancy or lactation. There are a number of subtle symptoms which mimic hypothyroidism, the commonest being “feeling drained or tired”. This is often accompanied by weight gain, swelling of the feet, body or face, water retention, irregular cycles, dry skin, constipation and hair loss.

How is it Tested and Treated?

Usually, blood tests of Free T3, Free T4 and TSH are conducted. The thyroid hormone replacement (T4) pill has to be taken life long.

Tips to Control Hypothyroidism?

Eat right and less, walk more, sleep well, smile.
Take medicine regularly.
Drinked boiled or mineral water; avoid water filters, which use iodine as disinfectants.
Avoid iodine-rich foods like broccoli, soya, prawns, shellfish and crabs.
Get Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D3 levels checked, particularly if you’re a vegetarian.
Test your thyroid regularly and keep it in control.
The winter season aggravates thyroid, so be careful.You Lifestyle measures like yoga have long-term benefits.