What is healthy BMI?

Adult BMI refers to the range of percentage of fats in the body that varies according to the age and height of individuals. Usually, the people are considered to be healthy if their BMI lies within the range of 18.5-25. The individuals are considered to be underweight when the BMI is less than 18.5.


On the other hand, the individuals who have BMI in the range 25-30 are considered to be in the overweighed category. Those individuals who possess BMI Rate higher than 30 are in the category of obese people and such people are more prone to getting diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. Although this is a general classification of BMI Ranges, but in certain cases, there can be exceptions such as the athletes are considered to be overweighed due to their muscle mass even when they take care of their fitness. So, such people should take proper diet recommendations from their nutritionist in order to maintain the fat balance in their body.


Health tips to maintain your body mass index

1.If you are qualifying in the category of being overweighed, then your primary goal should be to reduce the weight. Increased body weight can lead to variety of problems such as elevated blood pressure, lower good cholesterol, higher bad cholesterol, heart disease risks, diabetes risk, and other issues. It is because the fat tissues carry out a lot of important functions such as metabolism regulation and functioning of immune system and tumor development by secreting variety of hormones and inflammatory substances.

2.If you are an obese person, then you should follow 20% physical activity and 80% good customized diet with smart eating which prevents you from following unwanted and senseless restrictions to lose weight.

3.You should aim at reducing about 10 percent from your starting weight (excess fat loss) when you begin to work out. So, the time taken to reduce weight depends upon the amount of weight with which you begin and the intensity of your workout plan. Do not forget to make a count of your calorie intake because if this is inappropriate, then the results will be slow.

4.Once you have reduced your weight, then you should recommend your health practitioner in order to maintain the weight. Your health provider may recommend dietary therapy, physical involvement and behavioral therapy for continuing the maintenance of weight.

5.You need to have a healthy lifestyle in order to maintain your weight loss at least for initial six months.

6.Those who are extremely over weight people, they need to keep patience in order to reach their goal with good lifestyle as that is the only key to preserve your weight for long term.

Today with the rising instances of cardiovascular diseases, people have become really conscious about their heart's health and want to opt for items that promote good health. Oil is one of the most important components in food that is almost unavoidable so it is recommended to educate yourself about the different kinds available. Mustard oil is an age old oil that is used to cook almost all types of foods in India and then there is refined oil which is processed to meet the customers' needs. It becomes difficult to choose an oil that is actually beneficial to your health.

Health benefits

Mustard oil is derived from mustard seeds which is a little pungent and dark yellow in color. It is widely used as cooking oil in India. It is known to contain healthy fats that do not accumulate in the blood vessels and is also a source of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and decreases the cholesterol level. Mustard oil has Glucosinolate, an antimicrobial ingredient that provides protection from infections.

Refined oils are natural oils which have been processed to remove impurities, odor, and contaminants. They are chemically treated to make the oil look clearer and cater to the customers' preference. Not many health benefits of refined oil are known apart from the fact that it is rigorously treated to meet the needs of the customers such as refined oils for heart patients. Filtered oil, on the other hand, is made by only eliminating impurities without being chemically processed which is better than refined oil.



Harmful effects

Though generally mustard oil is regarded as healthy, researchers have found its downside too. Mustard oil has considerable amounts of erucic acid and heavy consumption may cause diarrhea or anemia. It is also known to cause skin eruptions and Rhinitis. It is recommended to consume moderate amounts of mustard oil so that you don't expose yourself to such risks.

Refined oils have much more harmful effects on your health than mustard oil. To begin with, the very fact that it is chemically treated makes it quite harmful. The process of refining involves nickel which has detrimental effects on the skin, respiratory system and liver. Preservatives and sodium hydroxide are also added during the processing which is harmful to the digestive system.

It is always better to go natural; so, mustard oil wins the debate but not without some glitches. It is advisable to choose your oil wisely and also monitor your consumption.

Catching a cold once in a while is nothing to worry about, but needing to take sick leave every few weeks is a sign of low immunity. Immunity can be defined as our ability to fight infections. By eating right and making a few lifestyle changes, you can easily strengthen your immune system and lower your risk of catching infections. On that note, here are 10 ways to strengthen your immune system.

Eat a balanced meal: Along with fruits and vegetables, your body also requires carbohydrates and proteins. Eating a balanced diet helps keep your blood sugar levels stable and allows your body to prioritize building your immune system over generating energy to perform normal tasks.

Drink plenty of water: When you’re ill, fluids help transport nutrients to the infected area and flush out toxins from the same. Hence, it is important to stay hydrated in order to recover faster from an illness and to build your immune system.

Probiotics: 80% of your immune system is located in the gut. Probiotics help the body produce more healthy gut bacteria. Thus, probiotics directly boost the immune system.

A good night’s sleep: Ideally, a person should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep on a daily basis. While we are asleep, the body produces cytokines ad antibodies that are vital to a strong immune system. Depriving the body of this sleep can thus make us more susceptible to infections.

Get some sun: While we put a lot of effort into protecting ourselves from the harmful UV rays of the sun, sunlight is also a rich source of vitamin D. Vitamin D helps protect us from a number of serious illnesses. Apart from sunlight we can also get vitamin D by adding cod liver oil, egg yolks and fatty fish to our diet.

Quit sugar: Sugar is an immunosuppressant and hence cutting out added sugar from your diet can have a drastic effect on your immunity. Added sugar refers only to refined sugar in cubed, crystal or powdered form and not the natural sweetners in fruits.

Exercise: Regular exercise improves blood circulation and boosts the production of antibodies. A healthy circulatory system combined with antibodies enables your body to fight infections in any part of your body.

Avoid tobacco and alcohol: Alcohol impairs the immune system and tobacco smoke weakens the body’s basic immune system. This holds true for both first hand and second hand smoke.

Reduce stress: Stress increases the production of a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol suppresses the immune system and thus makes us more susceptible to illnesses.

Prevent germs from spreading: Lastly, make simple things like washing your hands before eating and after coming home or using the toilet a habit. This prevents germs from spreading and entering our bodies.

There are many myths about how to treat a minor burn. Do I pop the blister? Do I use hot or cold water on it? Do I cover with bandages?

One of the most important things to do is to act fast and follow these tips for minor burn treatment:

Use cool (a little colder than room temperature) running water for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pain eases. A cool, clean, damp towel works, too.
Swelling may occur, so remove tight items, such as rings or clothing, from the burned area.
Do not break the blister if it bigger than your little fingernail. If the blister does break, clean it with mild soap and water. Apply antibiotic ointment, and then cover it with a bandage or gauze.
Applying moisturizer, aloe vera gel or other pain relief gels may provide temporary relief. Don’t slather on butter, as butter retains heat and it could be contaminated with bacteria.
Some over-the-counter pain reliever also may be beneficial. Ibuprofen, naproxen sodium or acetaminophen can help ease the pain.
It’s also important to ensure that you have had a tetanus shot within the last 10 years, as you can get tetanus through an open wound in the skin.
You should see your health care provider:

If the symptoms begin to get worse and larger blisters develop. Large blisters are best removed, as they rarely will remain intact on their own.
If the burn covers a large area of the body or infection-like signs begin to show, such as oozing from the wound, increased pain, redness and swelling.

Partial-thickness burns are more serious than superficial (first-degree) burns because a deeper layer of skin is burned. They are more painful, and they can get infected more easily. Also, if the burn affects more than 10% of your body, you may go into shock because you can lose a lot of fluid from the burned area.

Partial-thickness burns affect a deeper layer of skin, but they don’t damage muscle or bone. They are also sometimes called second-degree burns.

All partial-thickness burns more than 2 to 3 inches wide should be treated by your healthcare provider. Smaller burns can usually be treated at home.

WHAT CAUSES A PARTIAL-THICKNESS BURN?

Partial-thickness burns are usually caused by:

Overexposure to the sun
Contact with a hot object, such as an iron or skillet
Contact with hot liquids or steam
Exposure to flames
Burning gasoline or kerosene
Contact with harsh chemicals
Contact with electricity
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

The skin is bright red and has 1 or more blisters. The blisters usually turn white. The blisters may break open. They may leak fluid, making the skin look wet. The area may also look blotchy, with some areas redder than others. The burn is usually very painful and there may be some swelling. With larger burns, you may have nausea or headache.

HOW IS IT TREATED?

The goals of treatment for partial-thickness burns are easing the pain and preventing infection.

For burns with closed blisters:

Flush the burn with cool running water or put cold moist cloths on the burn until there is less pain. Don’t use ice or ice water, which can cause more damage to the skin.
Remove jewelry or tight clothing from the burned area right away before the skin begins to swell. If you cannot do this, emergency rooms have special tools for removing jewelry or clothing.
Try not to break the blisters. If the blisters break, it’s easier for the burn to get infected.
For burns with open blisters:

Don’t remove clothing if it is stuck to the burn.
Run cool water over the burn unless the burn is several inches in size. Running water over a large burn might increase the risk of shock.
For chemical burns, follow these first-aid steps while making sure to avoid more contact with the chemical:

Immediately remove any clothing and jewelry on which the chemical has spilled.
Flush liquid chemicals from the skin thoroughly with running water for at least 15 minutes. Be sure to avoid splashing the chemical in your eyes. After flushing, call the Poison Control Center for advice about the specific chemical that burned you, or have someone else call while you are rinsing off the chemical. It helps to have the chemical container with you when you make the call to make sure you give the correct name for the chemical.
Brush dry chemicals off the skin if large amounts of water are not available. Small amounts of water will activate some chemicals, such as lime, and cause more damage, so keep dry chemicals dry unless very large amounts of water are available. Be careful not to get any chemicals in the eyes.
Don’t try to neutralize a chemical. For example, putting an alkali chemical onto skin that has been exposed to an acid will often produce a large amount of heat and may increase the burning.
Once all of the chemical has been removed, cover the burn with a sterile or clean, loose, dry bandage and get medical care.
For electrical burns:

All electrical burns must be examined promptly by a healthcare provider. An electrical burn may seem to have caused just minor damage, but it can go deep into tissues under the skin. The damage may not be obvious for several hours or even until the next day. Delayed treatment can cause more damage.
Cover the area of the burn with a clean (sterile, if possible), dry bandage, such as a gauze pad. Wrap it loosely. Don’t put any ointments or other substances on the burned area.
For all partial-thickness burns:

You don’t need to cover the burn or blisters unless clothing or something else is rubbing against them. If you need to cover blisters, put on a clean, dry, loose bandage. Make sure that the tape or adhesive does not touch the burn. Avoid wearing clothes or shoes or doing activities that rub or irritate the blisters until they have healed. Don’t wrap tape completely around a hand, arm, foot, or leg. This could interfere with blood flow to the area and cause more swelling after you put the tape on.
Don’t put grease, petroleum jelly, butter, or home remedies on the burn because they can make it hard for the burn to heal properly and may increase the risk of infection. Don’t put any ointment on the burn unless you are instructed to do so by your healthcare provider.
Take aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve pain and inflammation, or take acetaminophen to relieve pain.

Check with your healthcare provider before you give any medicine that contains aspirin or salicylates to a child or teen. This includes medicines like baby aspirin, some cold medicines, and Pepto-Bismol. Children and teens who take aspirin are at risk for a serious illness called Reye's syndrome.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These risks increase with age. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, don’t take for more than 10 days for any reason.

Keep burned arms or legs propped up higher than your heart as much as possible for the first day or 2. This will help reduce pain and swelling.
Call your healthcare provider right away for burns that are more than 2 to 3 inches wide, especially if they are on the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks, or a big joint, like your knee or shoulder. Medical care may include:

Extra fluids to replace the fluid your body is losing through the burned area. Your healthcare provider may give you fluids intravenously (through a tube into your vein).
Antibiotics because the burned skin can no longer protect your body from infection by bacteria that may get on your skin
Lightly bandaging the burned area with an antibacterial dressing or leaving it unbandaged, depending on the size of the burn and where it is
Medicine prescribed to kill the pain
A tetanus shot to prevent tetanus infection
Later, a skin graft so there is less scarring
HOW DO I KEEP TAKING CARE OF A BURN?

When you clean the burned area, wash it gently with mild soap and warm water. Don’t use deodorant soap.
Check for any changes or signs of infection, like pus, swelling, or increased redness.
If your provider recommended using an antibiotic ointment, use a clean cotton swab to put a thin layer of the ointment on the burn. Don’t touch the tube of antibiotic cream to the burned area. If you need more cream or ointment, use a new cotton swab.
If you need to cover the burn, cover it with a sterile nonstick bandage.
Also:

Protect the burn from pressure and friction.
Don’t bump the burned area. Try to use it less than you normally would. This can help it heal.
Drink enough water or juice to prevent dehydration.
Avoid exposure to sun and to extreme hot and cold temperatures.
Call your healthcare provider if your burn is not getting better after 2 to 3 days or you have any of the following:

Fever over 101.5°F (38.6°C)
Worsening redness of the skin
A lot more swelling of the burned area
Pain that is getting worse
Puslike drainage from the burned area
A blister filled with greenish or brownish fluid or one that becomes hot again or turns red